County seeks plans for Main Street property

After negotiations with a developer hoping to build a 10-story luxury hotel on Main Street broke down late last year, Sarasota County has issued a new invitation to negotiate for the valuable piece of county-owned land.

"Sarasota County is seeking respondents who have the financial and organizational capacity to successfully implement the proposed development in a timely manner,” according to the solicitation. “Who can demonstrate the positive economic impact on the community and who provide a favorable revitalization vision for the property."

As recently as November 2014, Rod Connelly was confident his vision for a 150-room Kimpton Hotel on what is now an 86-space surface-level parking lot across from the Sarasota County Courthouse woud come to fruitition. The plans included a rooftop bar and restaurant at the street level fronting Main Street.

SHD Partners would have been required to build an 86-space parking lot at 2051 Main St., which would then have been transferred to the county, and provide $958,000 to the county to cover the difference in the value between the two properties.

When the commission approved the deal last February, multiple commissioners voiced concern about potentially getting burned after the Dec. 31 closing date. Connelly stressed he was determined to make the proposal a reality, but two commissioners still voted against an agreement.

Although Connelly is reportedly still pursuing those plans, the county began accepting proposals for the property today, and will collect responses through Oct. 14.

"Proposed developments should result in measurable positive economic development impact on the community,” according to the bid documents.