Condo development partners with country club for shared benefits

The developer of a planned downtown condominium project and a major country club lifestyle operator have joined forces for a mutually beneficial partnership. 

Chicago-based GSP Development, which is developing the 282-unit Saravela between Fourth and Fifth streets on North Tamiami Trail, has announced a partnership with Virginia-based Heritage Golf Group that will provide Saravela buyers with a one-year complimentary membership at The Sports Club at TPC Prestancia. In exchange, Heritage Golf members will gain access to preferred pricing and selection for residences at Saravela.

The membership at The Sports Club at TPC Prestancia includes access to dining, social events and a wellness complex with more than 20 racket sport courts, fitness center and wellness programming with no initiation or monthly dues during the first year. Saravela owners will have the option to continue with a monthly membership without the cost of an initiation fee, or upgrade to a golf membership at TPC Prestancia by paying the initiation fee difference between the sports and golf memberships.

“We are thrilled to begin offering this extraordinary new value to our future residents,” said Larry Debb, founder and president of GSP Development in a news release. “This is truly a win-win arrangement with Heritage Golf, and we are honored to partner with them on this innovative project.”

Heritage Golf acquired the The Sports Club at TPC Prestancia, which is adjacent to the country club, in July 2025, and has since embarked on a multimillion-dollar renovation of the facilities including new tennis, bocce, pickleball and padel courts; enhanced pool facilities; expanded social programming; and a fully renovated clubhouse, restaurant and bar.

Located across North Tamiami Trail from The Quay, Saravela is planned to include 40 attainable, for-sale condos in addition to 11 townhomes. The developer is proposing condominium owners be permitted to offer minimum three-day rentals of their units, all managed internally, which by city code requires a recategorizing of the project as a condo-hotel.

In an email dated April 1 to the Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association — which opposes the Saravela plan — from Sarasota Development Services Director Lucia Panica, DSCA President Patrick McNamee was informed that change is being considered.

“We are considering the change of use from residential to condo-hotel, a substantial change even if physical changes are not made to the site plan,” Panica wrote. “To clarify, the site plan hasn’t been approved and is still in the Development Review Committee review process.”