- March 30, 2026
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Nearly two years after former Sarasota City Manager Marlon Brown presented the concept of building workforce housing on property along First Street near City Hall, the initiative will again appear before the City Commission at its next regular meeting on Monday, April 6.
The vision was to acquire parcels between First Street and Main Street, bounded by North Orange and North Lemon avenues — specifically 1544 and 1590 First St. — and develop two towers with funding support from local nonprofit organizations. An additional parcel at 1558 First St. was mentioned at the time as a possibility.
Brown proposed the city lead a project to build two 10-story buildings totaling 192 affordable and workforce-priced apartments.
The city acquired the parcels for a total of $7.1 million. Including acquisition fees, the total cost was $7.38 million, of which $2.9 million came from the city’s general fund.
As the planning progressed, the prospect of acquiring 1558 First St. emerged. The city already owns an adjacent parcel, currently used as a surface parking lot, at 1530 First St. Acquiring 1558 First St. would result in contiguous property ownership spanning nearly the entire northern half of the block, separated from Main Street by an alley. A commercial strip at the corner of First Street and North Lemon Avenue occupies the remainder of the block.
City staff and Ian Black Real Estate are negotiating final terms of an option agreement 1558, the location of First Street Credit Union, and is seeking from the commission input on potential terms.
City staff and First Street Credit Union are undergoing due diligence on a new location with the assistance of an architecture firm retained by the credit union.
Another item on the agenda, seeking to satisfy the dual needs of an expansion of senior affordable housing and city parking space in the Rosemary District, the Sarasota Housing Authority will ask the City Commission for an additional $4 million in bond funds for 3 McCown Tower.
The SHA is proposing a four-story affordable housing building on property it currently owns at 1300 Boulevard of the Arts. The expansion of current facilities there would include 96 units of senior affordable housing and 316 parking spaces. Along with development partner Fortis, SHA has secured $9.12 million in state funding for the project. The authority also applied for a Sarasota County Resilient SRQ Community Development Block Grant, but was unsuccessful.
On Jan. 5, 2026, the City Commission approved $8 million to fund the parking garage as part of the development. Planned are 160 city-owned parking sports within the garage at a construction cost of $50,000 per parking spot. The 4-1 approval also directed staff to collaborate with SHA on a two-story parking garage as part of the development and to present a design at a later date.
The SHA will request a total parking bond, to be paid by parking revenues, of $12 million, to complete the development’s capital stack. The land for the deck would be provided to the city free of charge, which the SHA says could be sold for approximately $3 million.
Among the meeting's consent agenda items, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is requesting a transfer of $1,265,000 from Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Fund to the Van Wezel Capital Projects Fund.
Because of the timing of a pending state grant and city match requirements, the Van Wezel needs to accelerate the existing improvement plan schedule for theatrical upgrades, costs currently in the capital improvement program for the facility in future years. The timing of the work also must be coordinated with that of scheduled performances.
The planned work includes:
As an enterprise fund, the Van Wezel supports its expenses through the revenue it generates. The transfer is internal to the Van Wezel’s funds and does not impact the city’s general fund.
Commissioners will consider placing term limits on members of the Downtown Improvement District Board of Directors.
At its Jan. 6, 2026 workshop and at its Feb. 3, 2026 regular meeting, the board discussed term limits and recommends adoption of an ordinance to provide that members shall not serve more than two full consecutive terms. After a one-year period of not serving, proposal allows a member to become eligible for a new appointment term.
