Newsletter 107

NEWS FROM THE SUNCOAST

CREATING NEW BUSINESS MODELS

When Florida restaurants closed except for takeout and delivery to contain the spread of COVID-19, Pier 22 in Bradenton and Grove in Lakewood Ranch moved to an “online grocery market” model. Customers could order items online, then pick them up at either one of the sister restaurants, in a no-contact system where groceries were loaded into their car’s trunk. Since the governor announced that restaurants could open with 25% indoor capacity and outdoor seating, with social distancing of at least six feet for both, Pier 22 and Grove have returned for dine-in, while still providing groceries. Both restaurants will also offer takeout, and soon hope to introduce delivery. To read more on this story, courtesy of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, please click here: Restaurants Adapt

CITY COMMISSION TO CONSIDER CLOSING MAIN ST

City commissioners appear to have an appetite for a proposed plan to turn Main Street, or at least part of it, into an avenue of restaurants. Under the plan, the city would close all or parts of Main Street so it would be available for walking and seating. Vice-mayor Shelli Freeland Eddie said that any changes should not only affect downtown Sarasota but all of the city. The city of Venice opened three parks in April to be used by food trucks. Residents recently told commissioners they would also like to see surrounding roads, such as Lemon Avenue, included in these discussions. Lemon Avenue hosted the Saturday Farmers Market until the city shut it down in March over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. A decision is expected May 18. For more on this story, please click here: Street Closures

PUSH TO OPEN LIDO BEACH FAILS AGAIN

The Sarasota City Commission recently put off a decision on whether to open Lido Beach until May 18. That’s also the day they hope to have relevant data from the state COVID-19 testing site at the Mall at University Town Center that will give a majority of the board enough confidence to finally vote to open Lido Beach to the public. Commissioner Hagen Brody, who cited the plight of St. Armands Key business owners – who attribute much of their foot traffic to beachgoers – made the most fervent case. Adjacent county beaches opened about two weeks ago. Please follow the jump for more on this story: Lido Beach Still Closed

PUBLIX LINKING FARMS, FOOD BANKS

Publix announced recently that it will purchase fresh produce and milk to help farmers who have been hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. The supermarket chain will donate these products to Feeding America member food banks operating in the communities they serve. The initiative will support Florida produce farmers, southeastern dairy farmers and the growing number of families looking to Feeding America for fresh fruit, vegetables and milk during the coronavirus pandemic. The initiative is expected to run for several weeks. However, such a move could be too little, too late for some Florida growers. There’s more on this story here: Publix Donates

REALTOR ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT UPBEAT

The local real estate market appeared in good shape when David Clapp took over as president of the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee. But less than three months into the year, the coronavirus pandemic led to a widespread economic shutdown that impacted the real estate market and RASM’s 7,000 members. Clapp, who adopted the phrase “Together We Win” as his leadership theme for the year, is confident that the Sarasota-Manatee real estate market will bounce back from the current slowdown. He’s seen more than one economic downturn during his 42 years in the real estate business. Please click here for more: Real Estate Recovery

FOCUS ON HOMEBUILDERS

New home construction remained solid in Southwest Florida in early 2020, but the housing outlook has changed dramatically in the last month. Housing starts in the Sarasota-Manatee-Charlotte region are now likely to resemble a Nike swoosh – a big
crash with a slow recovery, according to a new report from data supplier Metrostudy. The sharp downturn – driven by the economic shutdown from the coronavirus pandemic – come after the region’s pace of annual home starts during the January – March period was the highest level since the housing bust in late 2006. Builders poured slabs on 1,892 local single-family homes in first-quarter 2020, down 4% from the previous quarter but up 39% over the year, Metrostudy said. The annual starts pace of 7,529 homes rose 8% from the previous quarter and 21% for the year. But that demand, driven in large part by retiring baby boomers, has stalled for now. Click here for more: New Home Activity

HISTORIC SPANISH POINT TO JOIN SELBY GARDENS

Two hugely popular Sarasota County amenities are coming together: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and Historic Spanish Point. The move has been in the works for some time but was hastened by the impacts of the coronavirus. Historic Spanish Point has not been able to raise enough money to support its operating budget, an issue exacerbated by the virus’ impacts. The Gardens’ board of trustees announced last month that Historic Spanish Point would be joining its organization as a companion-campus on May 1. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens will now showcase air plants of the world, native nature and regional history through both its downtown campus and its new Historic Spanish Point site. There’s more here: Spanish Point & Selby Gardens

CITY OK’S ROUNDABOUT FUNDING

Sarasota city commissioners recently approved a funding agreement that will help pay for building a roundabout at the U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue intersection, one of several planned for the busy Tamiami Trail corridor. The $8 million Florida Department of Transportation Project is expected to alleviate traffic woes along a critical and overwhelmed gateway to Lido Key. As the roundabout prepares to move into the construction phase, the city has agreed to and Sarasota County will consider contributing $4 million in the form of road impact fees. The county previously approved part of the funding to help pay for the roundabout design. The additional funding will cover the cost of design, right-of-way acquisition and construction of the five-to-six lane roundabout. The rest of the funding will come from the state. Click on the link for more: Roundabout Funding Approved

SEA TURTLES’ RETURN STARTS ON SIESTA

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium volunteers found the first sea turtle nest of the season recently, a loggerhead, the region’s most abundant nester. Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program (STCRP) began monitoring Sarasota area beaches last month. Other signs of sea turtles included a false crawl – when a sea turtle comes on the beach but returns to the ocean without creating a nest – on Longboat Key, also recently documented. On the west coast of Florida, Sarasota County is the most dense area of loggerhead nesting. Green sea turtles nest on area beaches as well, and although relatively low in number, Mote has documented an increase in green sea turtle nests in Sarasota in the last 20 years. Please click here for more on this story: Sea Turtles’ Return

STUDY EYES RED TIDE’S EFFECTS ON HUMANS

A new study into the neurological effects of red tide on humans could lead to a simple test to determine if an illness is caused by the deadly algae’s brevetoxins. Nearly a dozen researchers from the Roskamp Institute in Sarasota have begun a study with a $400,000 federal grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to advance their work on brain health. The non-profit has studied the causes and potential cures for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease, multiple sclerosis and Gulf War Illness. More than 400 volunteers in Sarasota and Manatee counties are being sought for the study. If you’d like to learn more, then click here: Study On Red Tide’s Effects