Sarasota city, county to discuss possible Ringling Boulevard land deal

Sarasota County officials would like to have a discussion with their Sarasota city counterparts about a piece of land owned by the city for a potential new location of its Criminal Justice Center. 

The building, which currently houses the offices of the state attorney, the public defender and some records departments at the northwest corner of Ringling Boulevard and East Avenue, will need to eventually be razed for a future expansion of the Sarasota County Jail. 

The county wants to explore using — either via lease or purchase — a city-owned parking lot across Ringling adjacent to the county courthouse, formerly the site of the Sarasota Police Department headquarters. 

By unanimous vote at its Aug. 18 meeting, the Sarasota City Commission unanimously approved Deputy City Manager Patrick Robinson’s request to engage in that exploratory conversation and report back. 

“What the county has asked is a thumbs up or thumbs down if you would like city staff to engage with the county, to have a discussion about if we would even be willing to entertain a building going on that lot,” Robinson said. “If there's no taste for it, they just would like to know ahead of time so they can work on other options.”

At least one other option is a surface parking lot at the southwest corner of Ringling and South School Avenue, a less than ideal location that is farther removed from the courthouse.

Exactly what kind of deal that could be made is not yet evident. According to Robinson, it could be a partnership between the two governmental entities. It could be a sale or possible a land lease.

Currently, most usage of the parking lot is for city paid parking. Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch asked how much revenue the lot is generating.

“Some,” Robinson replied, his tone suggesting the sum may not be considerable. Although voting to approve the discussion to move forward, Ahearn-Koch said she is not inclined to consider selling more city land at the present.

“We as a city are growing,” she said. “Our needs are growing, and I think it's important to think long term about what we have, where we want to be, what we want to do with our current assets, and just be very strategic and careful about that.”

Vice Mayor Debbie Trice said she is under the impression that the city buys land high and sells low, and that any negotiation regarding the site should stop short of an outright sale. 

Whatever the outcome of the initial discussion, Robinson said any decisions remain well into the future.

“I think it makes sense to entertain it,” said Mayor Liz Alpert, an attorney by profession. “I don't think we should limit what can be discussed. I think they should be allowed to talk about whether it's a sale or a lease — or whatever it is — and let that discussion happen. We don't have to agree to it, but in my view, as a user of the courthouse and the Justice Center, I think that's a great location because it's right next to the courthouse.”