State issues historic preservation grant for Federal Building

The Florida Division of Historical Resources awarded the city of Sarasota nearly $300,000 in grant money to improve the Federal Building at 111 S. Orange Ave.

The Federal Building, built in 1934, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984. Now, with help from the state, the city will undertake a project to help restore and preserve the structure.

In addition to the $296,948 state grant, the city is providing $148,474 in matching funds toward the improvements. The project will install protective screens on 63 windows, improve air cooling, clean the exterior of the building and restore the balustrades surrounding it, according to a city release.

The state grant money will be available through 2019, and the city has already begun reaching out to architects as part of the improvement effort, according to Grants Coordinator Laura Wittenbauer.

The Federal Building houses city employees and the Sarasota office of U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan.

The city previously received a $500,000 historic preservation grant for renovations to the Municipal Auditorium and Bayfront Community Center. Those projects will receive $279,600 in matching funding from the city.

Wittenbauer said city officials are eager to explore all avenues for preserving historic structures.

“Maintaining historic buildings is something special, and it’s something the city embraces,” Wittenbauer said.