News Briefs

+ The Pines buys adjacent cement plant
The Pines of Sarasota senior-living community purchased the adjacent 8.6-acre cement plant, 1502 N. Orange Ave., for $1.9 million.

The property, which is south of Pines’ 17-acre existing campus, includes a steel building and a separate 4,000-square-foot warehouse building.

Although there are no immediate plans to develop the parcel, the Pines will immediately remove the steel building and plant minimal landscaping so the property can be used as a park-like setting.

The nonprofit will hold a variety of community meetings in the future to facilitate the development of a plan for the site.

+ City Commission supports Marina Jack
In the face of allegations from a former employee at Marina Jack, the City Commission moved Tuesday to support the bayfront restaurant.

The long-standing dispute resurfaced recently when former employee Andrew Frazier alleged code violations at the restaurant, which leases land from the city.

“We are fully compliant in what we are doing,” said Bob Soran, president of Jack Graham Inc.

Meetings & Agendas
• Regular City Commission Meeting — 2:30 and 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 4, City Hall, Commission Chambers, 1565 First St., Sarasota.
• City and County Joint Commission Meeting — 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, 1661 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.