WHAT'S HAPPENING | Week of May 21, 2015

County will revisit options for planned Kimpton hotel site

As recently as November, Rod Connelly was confident his vision for a Kimpton Hotel on county-owned land at U.S. 301 and Main Street would come to fruition.

Now, although Connelly is reportedly still pursuing those plans, the county is likely to re-examine its options for the land after the developer failed to close on a deal by Dec. 31. The 10-story, 150-room hotel was tentatively approved in early 2014.

County spokesman Drew Winchester said county staff was planning to once again solicit offers for the land, currently used as a parking lot — although he said staff doesn’t currently have a precise timeline for when it would begin the process in earnest.

“What’s likely going to happen is we’re going to initiate an invitation to negotiate process to have folks offer their vision and their plans for the property,” Winchester said.

Siesta Center sells for $4.6 million

A 300-foot block of storefronts on the main drag of Siesta Key Village changed hands this month. The sale marked the most expensive commercial real estate transaction on the island in at least 15 years. And the investor is aggressively seeking more Siesta land.

Jeff Berlin bought the Siesta Center on Ocean Boulevard for $4.6 million May 12, adding another four parcels to his company’s local real estate assets since he moved six years ago to Sarasota. The roughly 20,000 square feet of retail space is 85% leased, with tenants that include the Village Café, the recent addition of Siesta Key Mermaids and a Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office substation.

“It’s one of the three unique, crown-jewel locations in the county,” Berlin said. “It’s in the category of St. Armands Circle and Main Street — it’s a unique commodity that can’t be reproduced.”

A firm headed up by local philanthropist Dennis McGillicuddy bought the properties for $1.1 million in 1994, and Berlin said the recent sale came about through discussions between the parties without the use of a broker. The new owner has already hired Sarasota-based Hembree & Associates Inc. to manage the property, and it is planning upgrades to the buildings.

Siesta Key Mermaids owner Jayde Morgan said a paint job and more signage would be a boon to her business, which had been buoyed by media coverage.

“We’d like to attract retail that will generate a little bit more traffic for the existing tenants there,” Berlin said.

What’s the buzz?

Has traffic affected Sarasota County tourism?

County Commissioner Christine Robinson, during a Tourism Development Council presentation Tuesday, said the rumor mill about traffic woes hurting the tourism industry are wrong.

Visit Sarasota County President Virginia Haley backed that up with survey data that showed 97% of visitors were satisfied with their visit, and 93% of tourists said they would return.

Here’s what you said about traffic:

Social stats

Likes: 20 

Comments: 34

“This was the worse season ever and I have lived here since 1986! Too many cars not enough road!”

— Gayle Livermore-Sowell

“No way! We hardly leave Siesta at all when vacationing there. We are there for the beach! Consider more bike lanes!” 

— Ravioli DaVinci

“Take the bus. It is fairly efficient and you can catch up on emails, texts or reading on the trip out and back. Don’t have to look for a parking spot either.”

— Barbara Powell Harris

“This is a resilient City Commission. This commission has faced mockery, slander, conspiracy, treachery and even to the point of extortion, and we did survive.”  

Mayor Willie Shaw, during Friday’s state of the city address at City Hall