More new condos on tap for Ringling Boulevard

As redevelopment extends eastward from the core of downtown Sarasota along the Main Street and Ringling Boulevard corridors, the corner of Ringling Boulevard and Osprey Avenue is the next up for a proposal to change in the coming years.

A condominium development at 1776 Ringling Blvd. made its first appearance before the city’s Development Review Committee on Dec. 17.

Under the working name Ringling & Osprey Condos, PFI 721 Development, in collaboration with DSDG Architects, has proposed a 10-story, 50-unit multifamily residential project at the southwest corner of the intersection. It joins the eastward migration of improved properties that included the recently completed Aster & Links Apartments and the under-construction Caragiulo’s at Ringling and Links Avenue.

It also comes at a time when Benderson Development is making plans for the redevelopment of the former Sarasota County Administration Center just one block west at 1660 Ringling Blvd.

The project is planned for two parcels totaling 0.64 acre. The parcels are divided by an unused dead-end public right of way, for which the applicant is pursuing a vacation by the city under a separate application. 

Currently on the site is a multistory office building and a multifamily residential building, both of which will be demolished. There is no rezoning request from the current Downtown Core district nor future land use designation, meaning the project qualifies for administrative approval. 

Additional density for the project is achieved by including two residential units priced as attainable under the city’s affordable housing bonus density ordinance, one priced as attainable for households earning 80% or below area median income and the other at 80% to 100% AMI. 

According to documents filed with the city, the project will include a two-level podium lined with habitable space on the first two levels to provide an enhanced pedestrian experience, along with amenities including a gym, meeting rooms and a pool deck.

Located at the northern edge of the historic Laurel Park neighborhood, “The project contributes to the diverse mix of building types and ground-floor uses to promote functional and visual vitality,” reads the application. “At the rear of the site, the transition to the Downtown Edge District is carefully managed to respect the adjacent Laurel Park neighborhood. … The development’s scale and configuration are intentionally modulated at this edge to maintain the compatibility with the walk-to-town neighborhood emphasized by the (2020 downtown) master plan. The proposed development is compatible with the growth patterns of the surrounding area and nearby developments.”

With a number of comments remaining to be addressed with staff reviewers, the project is required to make a resubmittal before the entire DRC.

Receiving partial sign-off, though, was 333 Cocoanut, a project proposed by Colonial Brick Co. of Chicago in collaboration with Halflants + Pichette Architects of Sarasota for a 12-story, 18-unit condo tower with 10 levels of residences above a two-story parking structure capped by a rooftop terrace.

Image courtesy of Halflants + Pichette

Documents on file with the city show vehicle ingress via an alley off Cocoanut Avenue just north of Fruitville Road, which is shared with the adjacent Encore condominiums. Egress is shown onto westbound Fruitville Road just west of the Encore. 

Concurrent with the administrative site plan application, requested are three administrative adjustments. They include:

• An approximately 18% reduction in parallel facade coverage necessary for the placement of utility infrastructure fronting the street.
• A 25% adjustment to permit projection of balconies to 3 feet, 9 inches. 
• An 25% reduction from 12 feet to 9 feet in setback of from the front facade for the mezzanine located within the first story.

All of those adjustments may be approved by the city’s director of development services.