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Longboat Key | News

Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Director Allen Parsons (left), Public Works Director Charlie Mopps (center) and Town Manager Howard Tipton answered questions from the community at the monthly “Let’s Talk Longboat” meeting at the Bayfront Park recreation center Tuesday, Oct. 14.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 19, 2025
Streetlights to illuminate Longboat's main road

An update on the Buccaneer Restaurant, the town's stance on chain businesses and updates on light fixture installations were topics of an informal town meeting.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The entrance to the SRQ, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 17, 2025
SRQ named best resort airport by USA Today

The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport heads the list of Top 10 Resort Airports as ranked by USA Today.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Shoppers and diners have returned to St. Armands Circle a year after the devastation wrought by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 16, 2025
Storm-weary businesses anticipate return to normal season

Sarasota's tourism destinations are polished up, opened up and ready for snowbirds and visitors one year after hurricanes cost businesses the 2024-25 season.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Longboat Key resident Audrey Bear is adamantly against changing the name of Gulf of Mexico Drive, calling it a “vanity project” that would cause a major hassle for older residents who live on the road.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 15, 2025
GMD renaming would require homework from residents, businesses

Paperwork, addresses and bills will all need updates if Longboat Key changes the name of Gulf of Mexico Drive.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A banner announcing a new Starbucks location still sits inside the storefront of 3174 Gulf of Mexico Drive, but interior work is yet to begin.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 15, 2025
Longboat Starbucks 'on hold' with build-out yet to start

It has been eight months since the arrival of Starbucks to Longboat Key was announced, and interior work is yet to start.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
The Gulf Islands Ferry launched in 2023 and has experienced growing ridership and increased investment from Manatee County.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 14, 2025
As Manatee County looks to grow ferry, Longboat stop discussed

Longboat Key leaders see a potential traffic benefit from the Gulf Islands Ferry but no suitable location for a stop on the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A Goodwill bookstore and donation center will occupy the new outparcel building at 3150 Gulf of Mexico Drive by the end of the year.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 13, 2025
Goodwill sets up first Longboat Key location

The bookstore and donation drop-off at the outparcel of the new Brista Commons commercial complex is expected to open by the end of the year.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Charlie Kirk, left, and Chris Pavlovski share the stage at a Turning Point USA event. Pavloski, chairman and CEO of the video platform Rumble, said Kirk was an early investor in Rumble and played a large part in bringing Rumble's headquarters to Longboat Key.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 10, 2025
Portion of Fruitville Road could honor Charlie Kirk

Sarasota County commissioners vote to seek state designation as a memorial highway.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mark Ursini, owner and developer of Brista Commons at the 3100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive, said the commercial complex will be open by December.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 10, 2025
Shopping plaza opens soon with furniture, windows, flooring tenants

Brista Commons, a new commercial complex on Longboat Key closing in on completion, will feature everything needed to build and decorate a home.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Yoga instructor Angela Mali has been leading by-donation sunset yoga classes on Longboat Key for three years. Whether she will be able to continue the classes is in question as she and town leaders debate usage of the beach.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • October 8, 2025
Yoga instructor, town officials at odds over beach classes

Longboaters debate beach usage after a yogi faces new fees and regulations for sunset classes at Bayfront Park beach.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key Public Works Director Charlie Mopps speaks at a town commission meeting Oct. 6, 2025 where he spoke about the rebuilding efforts of the town following back-to-back hurricanes in 2024.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 8, 2025
Longboat Key waits on insurance, FEMA money from storm cleanup

A year after hurricanes Helene and Milton ravaged the Gulf Coast, town officials are still rebuilding.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Buttonwood Harbour in Longboat Key was one of many residential communities that experienced significant storm damage in Manatee County from 2024 hurricanes. Manatee County’s Local Mitigation Strategy explains the threats facing the county and unlocks state and federal funding for participating municipalities like Longboat Key, which passed a resolution in October to renew its participation.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 8, 2025
Mitigation plan unlocks state, federal funding for Longboat Key

Storm-proofing buildings, raising roads and stormwater enhancements are among projects eligible for federal mitigation funding.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key town attorney Maggie Mooney spoke about several issues including a potential Gulf of Mexico Drive renaming and a proposed communications policy at Town Commission's Oct. 6 meeting at town hall. Commission voted to approve a contract, if needed, with outside counsel to represent the Zoning Board of Adjustment in a potential variance hearing with St. Regis.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 7, 2025
St. Regis, town could square off in hearing

The case centers around whether the resort's sea dam satisfies waterproofing requirements in the town's flood code.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Ryan Gandy has lived in Sarasota for 21 years, but started with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program in 2024. This November, he will take over as the new executive director of the program.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 6, 2025
Sarasota native picked to lead Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

Ryan Gandy describes Sarasota Bay as a unique habitat that's a "well-respected jewel" more accurately described as a coastal lagoon, not a bay.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Tingley Library on Bradenton Beach may be used as a short-term solution for the lack of community meeting space on the north end of Longboat Key, according to county commissioner Tal Siddique.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 5, 2025
North-end Longboat community center remains in the works

As property deals have fallen through, Manatee County has begun to look at short-term solutions off the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
With a sparkle in his eye and a wave of the hand, jolly old St. Nick illuminated the lights on St. Armands Circle's 60-foot Christmas tree at a lighting festival on Dec. 5.
  • December 7, 2025
St. Armands celebrates magical Christmas tree lighting
2
Brent Piersma and Beverly Sutton fill seed packets for Hope Seeds.
  • December 5, 2025
Hope Seeds seeks extra hands
3
A satellite image of Hurricane Irma.
  • December 4, 2025
Hurricane season ends without Florida landfall
4
Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager speaks at a Rotary Club of Longboat Key meeting Tuesday, Sept. 16. Mager, who spent nearly three decades in law enforcement primarily in Delray Beach, said LBKPD has training requirements similar to the much larger city of Delray and that officers on the Key are well prepared for any event that may take place thanks to partnerships the department has with neighboring jurisdictions.
  • December 4, 2025
Longboat police chief begins community video series
5
Sidewalks on the southern portion of Gulf of Mexico Drive will be closed nightly as construction crews begin work to install a gas line to accommodate a dredging project in Sarasota Bay.
  • December 3, 2025
Expect road, sidewalk closures on Longboat Key

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