Newsletter 158

NEWS FROM THE SUNCOAST

AREA DEBBY DAMAGE TOPS $100M

Damage from Tropical Storm Debby has topped $100 million in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Sarasota County officials provided an updated damage assessment Thursday evening calculating $57.9 million in damaged property, including within the city of Sarasota. County staff identified $12.9 million in storm damage classified as major, with $26.1 million in estimated minor damage in unincorporated Sarasota County. Another $8.3 million was to buildings “affected” by the storm. Overall, 1,047 residential structures in unincorporated Sarasota County and the city of Sarasota were included in the damage estimates.

Arts Scene Scrambles After Veto

Debby Damage Tops $100M

MANATEE EXTENDS STATE OF EMERGENCY

Manatee County extended the local state of emergency for Tropical Storm Debby on Thursday for an additional week as residents continue to recover from an estimated $55 million in storm damage. The county also announced plans for a third-party investigation into response and recovery during the tropical storm, including circumstances surrounding the Lake Manatee water release.

Manatee Extends State Of Emergency

MASSIVE SEWAGE FLOW SENT TO BAY

The city of Sarasota’s advanced wastewater treatment plant discharged 6.2 million gallons of raw sewage and 11.5 million gallons of partially treated wastewater into Sarasota Bay after Tropical Storm Debby’s historic rainfall. The latest information comes after earlier reports in the Herald-Tribune of 6.6 million gallons of wastewater discharged across the region.

Massive Sewage Flow Sent To Bay

PAYING A PRICE FOR GROWTH IN SARASOTA COUNTY

This is an Op-ed By Sarasota Herald-Tribune Columnist Carrie Seidman. Just what, or who, is responsible for the devastating flooding in the wake of Debby has been the subject of debate since the massive tropical storm inundated parts of Sarasota County.

Paying A High Price For Growth

HOME SALES, PRICES LEVELING OUT

Lakewood Ranch has remained on a strong sales pace in 2024, ranking as the top all-ages master-planned community in the nation through the first six months of the year, according to a report by a national consulting firm.

Home Prices, Sales Leveling Out

LAKEWOOD RANCH SALES STAY STRONG

Lakewood Ranch has remained on a strong sales pace in 2024, ranking as the top all-ages master-planned community in the nation through the first six months of the year, according to a report by a national consulting firm.

LWR Sales Stay Strong

CITY GETS DRAFT PLAN TO DIRECT GROWTH

Sarasota city commissioners are considering updates to how the city will regulate development and construction for years to come. Sarasota’s Engineering Design Criteria Manual (EDCM) – which has not been revised since 2002 − is a “comprehensive guide to the construction and reconstruction of the right-of-way and land development” within Sarasota, according to a presentation to commissioners at a workshop recently. The new, 534-page draft for a new manual was created after city officials consulted with local developers, planners, engineers and public workers for the design of new roads, improvements to infrastructure or property redevelopment. It focuses on regulating subdivisions, street and drainage design, utilities engineering and solid waste. The manual does not touch on public transportation, parks and open space, land use and zoning, or building facades and structural requirements. City Manager Marlon Brown emphasized that the manual revisions are not finished, with a future public hearing planned. The city staff began to meet with focus groups in September 2022 on the revisions, including people who work in development, such as architects and environmental engineers; agencies such as the Florida Department of Transportation and the Sarasota County government; and with various neighborhood associations and community groups such as the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations. Three public meetings were held between November 2022 and July 2023; and city staff received 260 responses from their resident surveys. Staff members also told the commission that after a recommendation from the city attorney, the platting process – the subdivision of property for official records – will be removed from the manual and left to the zoning code. The new manual divides Sarasota into seven “context classification” zones to provide “high-level planning guidance to the application of engineering principles.” Please click on the link for more: City Gets Draft Plan To Direct Growth

EVO GYMNASTICS CELEBRATES PARIS MEDAL

Stephen Nedoroscik and Brody Malone earned bronze medals at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. The Sarasota residents were joined by three-time Olympian Sam Mikulak, a coach for EVO Gymnastics and Team USA.

EVO Gymnastics Celebrates Paris Medal

SARASOTA’S DEAN CAPTURES BRONZE MEDAL

Clark Dean, a Sarasota rower, was part of the U.S. Olympic Team crew that finished third in the Men’s Eight at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The U.S. earned their first medal in this event since 2008.

Sarasota’s Dean Captures Bronze Medal

ST. REGIS LONGBOAT KEY HAS SOFT OPENING

The prestigious St. Regis Hotels & Resorts chain unveiled The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort on Friday. This is the largest hotel opening in Sarasota County history, and the property boasts luxurious beachfront amenities.

St Regis Hotel LBK Has Soft Opening

THREE POPULAR EATERIES ARE SOLD

Three of the Sarasota-Bradenton region’s most famous waterfront restaurants have been sold to Beachside Hospitality Group. The restaurants are Sandbar, Mar Vista, and Beach House.

Three Popular Eateries Are Sold

CULVERHOUSE FUNDS EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCES

Attorney and developer Hugh Culverhouse Jr. is stepping up to fund the popular Embracing Our Differences exhibition after recent funding cuts. His donation will allow the program to continue its annual event in Sarasota’s Bayfront.

Culverhouse Funds Embracing Our Differences

PROPOSAL CALLS FOR 4,303 HOMES EAST OF I-75

A proposal for a new town center development east of Interstate 75 at a planned interchange with State Road 681 has been presented, with plans for 4,303 homes on about 2,152 acres. This is part of Palmer Ranch East.

Proposal For 4,303 Homes East Of Interstate

SELBY MAKES LIST OF WORLD’S GREATEST PLACES

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is one of only eight places in the United States included in Time magazine’s list of the World’s Greatest Places. The garden recently completed the first phase of its major transformation project.

Selby Makes Time’s List Of World’s Greatest Places

ARCHITECT TO BE NAMED FOR ORCHESTRA CENTER

The Sarasota Orchestra has announced plans for its new music center, which is scheduled to be completed by 2029. The design architect will be announced soon.

Architect To Be Named For Orchestra Home

ONCE AND FUTURE MASTERPIECE

Victor Lundy, one of the leading architects of the Sarasota School of Architecture, will be celebrated in a new exhibition. His masterpiece, the Galloway’s Furniture Showroom, will be featured in the exhibition after being hidden from view for decades.

Once And Future Masterpiece

Please visit our website for more information on our services, and learn how we can assist you with your home in the Sarasota area: Suncoast Home Concierge

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