Developer plans apartments near UTC Mall

More development is slated for the University Town Town Center area.

Lockredge, Fl.-based Remi Properties hopes to construct 233 apartments on 18 acres at the southeast cornerof Honore Avenue and Desoto Road.

The firm hasn’t filed any permits, but Sarasota County commissioners on Tuesday authorized for Remi Properties and its agent, Crystal Allred of Stantec, to initiate a comprehensive plan amendment to change the property’s designation from medium density to high density residential.

The project is located near The Mall at UTC and apartments planned by Benderson Development for the southeast corner of Desoto and Cattlemen roads. Allred said the change will make the allowable uses consistent with Benderson's apartment project.

“It’s close to UTC,” Allred said said of the site. “It’s close to grocery stores. It’s close to Honore. The county needs a lot of apartments. The developers like this area.”

Developers will hold a neighborhood workshop in early April. The project then will go to the state and county for site plan and other approvals, likely in the fall, Allred said.