Goodwill proposed for North Trail

The city of Sarasota will review a site plan this fall for a Goodwill Superstore planned for the North Trail, just south of University Parkway. But some nearby residents have voiced displeasure with the proposal.

A 29,699-square-foot Goodwill retail store is planned for 5150 N. Tamiami Trail, the former site of a barbecue restaurant that sits adjacent to a Barnacle Bill’s Seafood Restaurant.

Some Sapphire Shores residents believe the Goodwill store is not proper for an intersection that sits close to the Ringling Museum.

“I have nothing against Goodwill in general,” said Sapphire Shores resident Bob Casella. “But this intersection sets the tone for any North Sarasota revitalization going forward, and a vanilla Goodwill store doesn’t fit here.”

Plans call for increased landscaping and parking for 125 cars located north, south and west of the proposed building, according to city senior planner Harvey Hoglund.

The Goodwill store would replace an existing Goodwill located in a plaza at 3333 N. Tamiami Trail.
The new store will have approximately 80 employees, compared to the 60 employees at the current location.

The store, if approved, would sit approximately 12 blocks away from the site of a new Walmart grocery store that has already received a building permit.

“There is a lot of interest on what’s going on and what will be developed on the trail,” Hoglund said. “This will go through a similar review process that Wal-Mart went through.”

LuAnne Kirschner, director of public relations and communications for Goodwill, said the superstore would be identical to the superstore at Honore Avenue and 17th Street.

“It’s a community-based store that works to provide free social services to the community and help people receive assistance,” Kirschner said.

Goodwill donations, Kirschner said, are used to fund mission services in the community such as home renovations, down-payment assistance for homes and a neighbor services center that, for example, helps people find jobs.

If the Sarasota Planning Board approves the Goodwill store later this month, it will be the latest renovation for the North Trail.

Casella, meanwhile, said the real problem exists with city zoning codes that allow for a store such as Goodwill to be approved by the city.

“I realize this (Goodwill) is a permitted use,” Casella said. “The problem is there is no plan for our area to promote and encourage uses that are better than used furniture stores. We need development that raises the bar for North Sarasota and need to stop thinking that any sort of development on the North Trail is positive.”