Mar Vista seeks second story

The vision started with the view.

A few months ago, Ed Chiles climbed onto the roof of Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub and was overwhelmed with the expansive view of Sarasota Bay before him.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Chiles said. “The view up there is really something.”

Chiles was so taken aback that the visit to the roof has spawned his plan to add a second story to the restaurant, which was built in approximately 1915 and is listed with the state as a Longboat Key historic structure.

At its Tuesday, Nov. 16 regular meeting, the Planning and Zoning Board will review a site-plan amendment and a special exception request for the second story, which Chiles says will update the restaurant, while maintaining its historical charm.

“Our plan is to take 60 seats of the 70 seats located downstairs and move them upstairs,” Chiles said. “We only plan on leaving 10 seats (barstools) downstairs for the bar.”

The second story, which will act as an open-air, tree house balcony, will be the main dining room. The second story, Chiles said, will blend in nicely with the new wooden deck that was built last year among the trees near Sarasota Bay.

“It will allow for fabulous views for our customers,” Chiles said. “We are looking forward to presenting this plan to the public and to the Planning and Zoning Board.”

Town Planner Ric Hartman said town staff has been working with Chiles for months leading up to the planning board hearing later this month.

Hartman said he has not yet written his final comments for the project and has not finalized his decision to either recommend or not to recommend the project to the planning board.

“We are still reviewing the plans and writing final comments,” Hartman said.

Hartman told The Longboat Observer that the second story would only overlap the existing first floor restaurant by 1-to-2 feet on all sides, explaining that the structure is 65 feet in length and 34 feet in width.

The special exception request would allow Mar Vista to move its seats from the first floor to the second floor. In total, the restaurant would retain its current 169 seats; the number of parking spaces would need to be increased.

Hartman said the second story would be supported independently from the first-floor restaurant.

The second story, which will have a waist-high wall and screens above the wall, includes plans for an elevator and two sets of stairwells. One stairwell would be used for employees, and the other would be used for restaurant patrons.

On the first floor, Hartman said the existing bathrooms would also be renovated and expanded. And a storm-water drainage area would also be created.

Chiles said he will hold a Village neighborhood meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Mar Vista, 760 Broadway, to inform neighbors of the plans.

“I think everyone will be pleased,” Chiles said. “This project keeps the charm and the character of the original structure intact.”

The vision started with the view.

A few months ago, Ed Chiles climbed onto the roof of Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub and was overwhelmed with the expansive view of Sarasota Bay before him.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Chiles said. “The view up there is really something.”

Chiles was so taken aback that the visit to the roof has spawned his plan to add a second story to the restaurant, which was built in approximately 1915 and is listed with the state as a Longboat Key historic structure.

At its Tuesday, Nov. 16 regular meeting, the Planning and Zoning Board will review a site-plan amendment and a special exception request for the second story, which Chiles says will update the restaurant, while maintaining its historical charm.

“Our plan is to take 60 seats of the 70 seats located downstairs and move them upstairs,” Chiles said. “We only plan on leaving 10 seats (barstools) downstairs for the bar.”

The second story, which will act as an open-air, tree house balcony, will be the main dining room. The second story, Chiles said, will blend in nicely with the new wooden deck that was built last year among the trees near Sarasota Bay.

“It will allow for fabulous views for our customers,” Chiles said. “We are looking forward to presenting this plan to the public and to the Planning and Zoning Board.”

Town Planner Ric Hartman said town staff has been working with Chiles for months leading up to the planning board hearing later this month.

Hartman said he has not yet written his final comments for the project and has not finalized his decision to either recommend or not to recommend the project to the planning board.

“We are still reviewing the plans and writing final comments,” Hartman said.

Hartman told The Longboat Observer that the second story would only overlap the existing first floor restaurant by 1-to-2 feet on all sides, explaining that the structure is 65 feet in length and 34 feet in width.

The special exception request would allow Mar Vista to move its seats from the first floor to the second floor. In total, the restaurant would retain its current 169 seats; the number of parking spaces would need to be increased.

Hartman said the second story would be supported independently from the first-floor restaurant.

The second story, which will have a waist-high wall and screens above the wall, includes plans for an elevator and two sets of stairwells. One stairwell would be used for employees, and the other would be used for restaurant patrons.

On the first floor, Hartman said the existing bathrooms would also be renovated and expanded. And a storm-water drainage area would also be created.

Chiles said he will hold a Village neighborhood meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Mar Vista, 760 Broadway, to inform neighbors of the plans.

“I think everyone will be pleased,” Chilessaid. “This project keeps the charm and the character of the original structure intact.”

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Historic Haunt
Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub, 760 Broadway, was built in approximately 1915. It’s a historical cement blockhouse and one of the only structures known to withstand the hurricane of 1921. Mar Vista is considered one of the 12 oldest surviving structures on Longboat Key. The restaurant, which was also once operated as a bait shop, was first the residence of Village resident Rufus Jordan.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].