Downtown Sarasota continues to attract all forms of luxury development, as affluent residents seek waterfront condominiums and exclusive clubs, all complemented by a vibrant coastal lifestyle.
The Sarasota Motor Club, a members-only automotive club under construction at 1060 Goodrich Ave. in downtown's Gillespie Park neighborhood, is one of the projects driven by this ecosystem. The third-space concept, founded by resident and car-lover Scott Stevenson, is set to open its rack storage downtown in January. The social club component will debut July 2027.
“There's boat clubs for boaters and golf clubs for golfers, but there isn't really a car club for car enthusiasts,” Stevenson said. “Sarasota is a car community. People do enjoy their cars and driving
around in nice vehicles. There really isn't one place that car people can kind of get together and connect.”
The social club will consist of 8,000 square feet of gathering and amenity space for members, Stevenson said. An additional 5,000 square feet will serve as public event space.
Both areas overlook the collector car storage space, where members can elect to display their vehicles. Dubbed “The Sky Gallery,” the vehicle storage rack system will feature up to 100 vehicles at any given time, stacked three high.
“It’s more of an art gallery rather than a storage facility. These cars are on display, and it’s a really cool social space," Stevenson said.
The warehouse space is a car condominium storage alternative, offering vehicle owners a secure, climate-controlled option that comes with a social club aspect. Members who want to store their cars on-site will have access to concierge vehicle management, as well as complimentary detailing and light maintenance.
Stevenson said that the club has already been selling memberships, following “a lot of positive feedback from the community, and a lot of prospective member interest.” The club will be capped at 250 members, and base membership pricing starts at $25,000. Members can then store their collector or exotic vehicles in the facility for an additional $595 per month.
The motor club will also offer full dining and bar service, as well as a golf and racing simulator, podcast room and other exclusive amenities. Members can additionally join the fleet service, with access to various sports cars and collector vehicles that they can drive.
In other automotive news, Car Bank SRQ broke ground on a luxury car garage condominium complex last month, fueled by demand from automotive collectors. This followed the debut of luxury storage condos near Sarasota for RVs, boats and cars by SR 64 Executive Storage in July.
The Goodrich property in downtown Sarasota
The Sarasota Motor Club purchased the 25,000-square-foot building last November for $5.8 million, according to the county property appraiser. It was previously a warehouse facility for a drone manufacturer, Lumenier, and online retailer, GetFPV.
Both tenants outgrew the space and relocated to a different facility, following the expiration of their leases, Stevenson said.
He added that the building has been under renovation for about a year. Since the space is only being remodeled, the construction is on schedule to finish by the end of the year and welcome the first collector cars on the rack by January, he said.
Multiple local companies are involved in the renovation of the motor club project. Sarasota-based firm DSDG Architects is the architect for the project, with Mise En Place Design planning the kitchen and the exterior being plotted by DWJA Landscape Architects.
The motor club additionally purchased adjoining property to supplement parking options near the facility. Stevenson said he donated a 1920s bungalow that was on the property to the developing Sarasota Bungalow Village.
The quaint, 1,048-square-foot building, previously located at 1716 10th Way, will be the new home of The Breakfast House, one of the local businesses relocating, following the development plan for its former home on Fruitville Road.
As previously reported by the Herald-Tribune, five bungalow-based business owners are relocating because Tennessee-based Bristol Development Group plans to build a five-story multifamily housing complex to replace the colorful bungalows.
The 3.5-acre parcel was home to 17 small businesses. Several of the shop owners are spearheading an effort to create a Sarasota Bungalow Village about a mile east of the original property.
Kendal Asbury is the real estate and development reporter for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Have an idea, tip or question about development? Send her an email at kasbury@usatodayco.com. Connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram @wordsbykendal, and support local journalism by subscribing to the Herald-Tribune.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Exclusive car club with $25,000 memberships coming to downtown Sarasota
