The proposal to build a five-story apartment complex to replace the collection of colorful cottages home to popular restaurants and shops in downtown Sarasota has been called off, local business owners say.
A multifamily development, called 1899 Fruitville Road, was formerly set to replace the local business center with a five-story, 324-unit apartment development on the 3.5-acre property bound by 4th Street, Gillespie Avenue, Fruitville Road and Osprey Avenue.
The controversial construction project called for the demolition of the 1920s and 1930s bungalows that make up one of Sarasota's signature clusters of shops and restaurants.
The owners of Siegfried's Restaurant posted on Facebook on Oct. 5 that the property "was no longer under contract,"
and that the German restaurant and biergarten would be able to remain at its signature cottage at 1869 Fruitville Road. The property owners sent an email to tenants Oct. 3 informing them that they no longer planned to sell the land, according to the social media post.
"We are not listing the property, marketing the property or seeking a buyer. The property is not being offered for sale," the email sent to tenants read. "Our intentions is to continue owning and managing the property and providing the stability and continuity you have come to expect prior to the offer we have received."
Tennessee-based Bristol Development Group and national planning group Kimley-Horn were involved with the multifamily housing project, and it had recently received partial approval from the city's Development Review Committee.
The Herald-Tribune reached out to both companies but did not hear back by the time of publication. It is currently unclear what caused the plan to fall through.
How does this affect the new Sarasota Bungalow Village?
The change of plans comes as several leases were set to expire on the property and several of the businesses were planning a collective move farther east on Fruitville Road. The proposal, headed by some of the local business owners, is going before the DRC on Oct. 7.
Five of the bungalow businesses, including two well-known restaurants, had planned to relocate to a site at Fruitville Road and Briggs Court and create a new dining and shopping village.
The Breakfast House, a family-owned restaurant that’s been in its yellow bungalow for the last 16 years, is one of those local favorites. With a yellow bike and a sign out front promoting its popular pancakes, the breakfast and lunch restaurant has been an integral part of the block for years.
Other businesses that had previously planned to relocate include Siegfried's Restaurant and German Biergarten, The Artful Giraffe, Discover Sarasota Tours and The Cookie Cottage.
The owners of the businesses previously coordinated with the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation and Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County for guidance on how to move the bungalows and how to go about establishing a small dining and shopping campus.
Now that the owners of the property, Alex and Marlene Lancaster, no longer plan to sell, the question is what the local business owners will do about the bungalows.
The Herald-Tribune reached out to the locally owned businesses for an update on their relocation plans, which some owners said were uncertain.
Cathy Vande Mheen, owner of Cookie Cottage, said in a text message that the businesses that had planned to relocate are meeting Oct. 6 to discuss the path forward, as they had previously planned to take the cottages slated for demolition.
Wendy Lee Goldberg, owner of The Breakfast House, closed on the purchase of a tract of land at Fruitville Road and Briggs Court on May 12, where she said that she plans to build a "dream" retail village designed as a gathering place about a mile east of the current downtown Sarasota location.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Herald-Tribune reporter Earle Kimel contributed to this report.
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: Downtown Sarasota apartment plan called off, saving beloved local shops
