St. Armands median project starts this week

A $450,000 St. Armands Circle median enhancement project will begin this week, according to St. Armands Circle Business Improvement District Chairman Marty Rappaport.

At the Sept. 13 St. Armands Business Improvement District meeting, Rappaport told those in attendance that motorists will begin to see the start project construction in the next few days.

The project, which is not expected to create any traffic congestion for motorists, will be complete by Thanksgiving.

Sarasota-based contractor John F. Swift Inc. has received general permits for the work, and Rappaport said the medians near the Longboat Key thoroughfare would be completed first to avoid any potential traffic conflicts when residents come back to the island for season.

The project will install sidewalks along the Circle’s four medians. The sidewalks will allow visitors to exit there and walk down the center of the median to the pedestrian crosswalks near the center of the Circle. The sidewalk medians were added to address concerns expressed at traffic workshops about pedestrians exiting their vehicles and jaywalking, creating potential hazards.

All of the medians will be completely overhauled with new benches and new landscaping that includes shade trees.

The medians of each quadrant also will have a different theme.

Overall, the project is aimed at enhancing the appearance of the district while improving safety.

The project is being performed through a partnership between the city of Sarasota and the St. Armands Business Improvement District.

Once the project is complete, Rappaport said the Circle will have one last stage left for its capital improvement project.

“The next stage is landscaping for the Circle, removing the exposed power lines and building a multi-story parking garage,” he said.

That last step could take years to complete, Rappaport said, and depends on when city funds would be earmarked for the garage that could be built near the Circle’s fire station.

The city’s master parking plan, Rappaport said, shows the Circle has a shortage of more than 1,000 parking spaces during season.

The merchants also are considering holding a contest in the coming months for a new St. Armands Circle sign, or signs, drawn by local artists.

Median Makeover
A St. Armands Circle median project contains the following components:
• Refurbishment of medians
• Sidewalk installation for safer pedestrian crossing
• New benches
• New landscaping with shade trees
• A different theme for each median