News Briefs

+ Sarasota Memorial entrance is permanent
A Sarasota Memorial Hospital parking garage entrance that was intended to be temporary is becoming a permanent entrance.

Hospital officials attended a July 5 Development Review Committee meeting to discuss amending a site plan to put in a permanent parking garage entrance off Waldemere Street. The proposed entrance has been in operation for two years, and staff suggested it doesn’t have a problem with the proposed amendment.

+ Lido Beach Park restroom revitalized
The city of Sarasota could re-approve a South Lido Beach Park restroom building that was previously approved in 2009 but fell to the wayside due to funding concerns.

At a July 5 Development Review Committee, board members discussed a proposal to re-submit plans to replace the existing restroom at South Lido Beach Park with a raised restroom facility, access ramp and central deck. The existing shell parking lot in the area will be converted to handicap-accessible paved parking and a paved sidewalk that will connect to handicapped spaces. 

+ The Salvation Army hearing is set
The city’s Planning Board will review a proposal Aug. 8, to use a vacant city police substation building for The Salvation Army.

A $1-a-year lease with The Salvation Army has already been crafted with city staff for the use of the empty Central Avenue Sarasota Police Department substation building at 890 Central Ave.

The building, which has four offices and a couple of classrooms, will be used to house from 10 to 30 homeless people.

On one side of the police substation building, a Salvation Army jail release program and the Street Teams division can hold training; there can also be an office for the Street Teams supervisor.

David Sutton, Sarasota Salvation Army’s director of programs and facilities, said the building is ideal because some homeless people have nowhere to go from 5:30 to 8 a.m., when the Resurrection House opens for breakfast and provides the homeless a place to wash their clothes and take a shower.