I took some photos of the new building projects going up in downtown Sarasota, primarily the Five Points Plaza, Lemon Street, and the Whole Foods Market. Unfortunately, I was unable to take a couple of shots of the Courthouse Centre at the east end of downtown due to time constraints. The photos were taken on 9/30/04.

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The above picture is Five Points Plaza. Workers said that they are working on the 10th floor. The building is 16 floors when completed. This is at the corner of Main Street and Pineapple.

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Above is the Whole Foods Market project. This will have condo's, and at this corner will be a ten story building. Downtown Sarasota badly needs a supermarket, and this is in the best location for it. Just off to the right is the Selby Library, a popular public hangout.

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Above is the Five Points Plaza, viewed toward the northwestern corner.

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The above image is looking east down First Street between Five Points Plaza and the Whole Foods Market building. In the distance you can see the Bank of America building (a.k.a. the Ellis Building) and the Wachovia Bank building.

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The above picture is looking at Lemon Avenue northward, just north of Main Street.

For Sarasota's population, it has one of the most vibrant downtowns in the state. And this boom is pretty amazing.

Even more amazing is that 1) there is a ton of more planned, 2) there are a bunch of little projects going on in and around downtown and 3) people actually go downtown.

Sarasota is a bit more centralized in a way that reminds me of smaller Northeast cities. Its certainly unique among Florida cities, yet gets overlooked often, probably due to location.

Go Sarasota!!...I am thoroughly impressed!

Everyone: thanks for the replies! I'll head to downtown Sarasota sometime soon (probably Monday) to take some more photos. Hopefully I'll get some of the Courthouse Centre on the east end of downtown.

Also, I am wondering if the Five Points Plaza building will actually top out higher than the 180' that Skyscrapers.com says it will be when completed. Comments anyone??

My guess is that it will be right in that zone - certainly not more than the 200' limit. That's what makes dt sarasota looks so dense - it actually is not that large in terms of office space - if you put one 300' building it would look a lot different.

Also, try to get out on the Ringling Causeway and get a shot - great vistas from the hump on the south side (not a bad walk, especially this weekend.)

I've always enjoyed Sarasota - St. Armands Circle, stay at the Ritz Carlton, but now a Whole Foods Market? Now I'm really impressed! When will this project with the Whole Foods Market be done? This will give me another excuse to stay at the Ritz Carlton and visit Sarasota some weekend.

Also, try to get out on the Ringling Causeway and get a shot - great vistas from the hump on the south side (not a bad walk, especially this weekend.)

I've driven over the 'new' Ringling Causeway, and it's a WHOLE LOT BETTER than the old bridge. It's much higher than the old one and you get a better look at the skyline. I've seen pedestrians/joggers on the bridge, and it's nice that both sides are open. I'll have to park the car by Hart's Landing and walk over the bridge westward and get some shots. I am not sure how well my Kodak digital camera will get since it's five years old and only 1 MegaPixel. Monday's weather forecast looks good!

I've always enjoyed Sarasota - St. Armands Circle, stay at the Ritz Carlton, but now a Whole Foods Market? Now I'm really impressed! When will this project with the Whole Foods Market be done? This will give me another excuse to stay at the Ritz Carlton and visit Sarasota some weekend.

I think that the Whole Foods Market should be open about a year from now. The building is still under construction and hasn't been topped out yet. I'm staying at the Ritz for my 'honeymoon' in a couple of months. Nice!

My guess is that it will be right in that zone - certainly not more than the 200' limit. That's what makes dt sarasota looks so dense - it actually is not that large in terms of office space - if you put one 300' building it would look a lot different.

Well, I was thinking how that the Ritz Carlton was given an OK to have a 180' roofline, but the actual building topped out at 261' (according to skyscrapers.com) because of the additional height from the elevator tower and porticoes on the very top. I would think that the city gave the developers a 180' height limit to the roofline, but didn't limit the height of the building's elevator tower and the roof that covers it. Many new buildings in Sarasota have a 180' roofline but are actually taller because of the elevator shaft tower and any decorative lines/spires/porticoes added to the roof. Methinks that the Five Points Plaza will actually top out higher than 180', perhaps a little over 200'.

The only problem that I think is 'wrong' with Sarasota's skyline is the lack of any distinguishing tall buildings, with exception to the Ritz. If only a 300'+ building could go up.......

Also, try to get out on the Ringling Causeway and get a shot - great vistas from the hump on the south side (not a bad walk, especially this weekend.)


I've posted pics like that before (you know that). The walk is easy, though I just pull my car over and turn on the hazard lights... Bird Key is another personal favorite, though you have to get a resident to let you into their back yard. (not hard to do at all. I always get back there on the first try)


BTW, in case folks missed it, my g/f starts a new job in DT Sarasota tomorrow, in the old Kress building. I will definitely be going down there much more frequently now. I might even entertain job offers down there if her job turns out well, with the intention of moving there for a couple years. More likely is that we would just move to Brandon or something, so that I can still get to USF.

Yes, and they were nice pcitures as well. NEw ones would be good becuase of all the construction.

I've taken some photos off of my Kodak digital camera yesterday & posted them here! Enjoy.....

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^^^ Above is the corner of the Whole Foods Market, looking upon the SE corner. The supermarket entrance is on the opposite side. The place was mobbed!

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^^^ Above is Lemon Avenue looking north from Main Street. On Saturdays, there is a farmer's market in DT Sarasota, and you can buy more than just fruits & veggies.

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^^^ This is a view looking west/northwest from Lemon Avenue just south of Main Street (I believe this is on State St.). The building on the left is the Zenith, and the one on the right is the newly constructed Five Points Plaza. I think that the building is nearly completed, at the fifteenth floor. When finished, Five Points will have 16 floors, and should top 200'.

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^^^ Five Points Plaza looking northeast.

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^^^ Five Points Plaza, looking straight up! Notice the different styles of windows being placed on this side.

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^^^ Five Points Plaza looking westward down Main Street, from Lemon Avenue.

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^^^ Five Points Plaza again.

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^^^ Close up looking northwest toward Five Points Plaza.

I like the development in Sarasota, but they are forcing everyone to build poorly massed squat buildings with their extreme restrictions - good job Duany

^^^Very true, but its not all Duany's fault, the city could have bent the rules some, as alot of people and developers wanted so that the buildings wouldn't have been so bulky. But the real problem with Sarasota isn't the bulk, its the fact that everyone's hair color is blue or grey, especially downtown. Its too bad everything is so overpriced that young people are forced to live in distant suburbs.

anyone know the status on
1350 main
ringling court
kanaya condos

Kanaya is in sales, isn't it?

I believe that the site where Kanaya was being built is in the process of clearing the lot. I drove by it while I was in DT Sarasota; I believe it's on the SE corner of Palm Avenue and Ringling, which sets it back about a block from the other waterfront buildings. The Church of the Redeemer (Episcopal) has a prominent lot site right on the waterfront, and Kanaya will overlook this spot.

I don't know anything about 1350 Main or Ringling Court. I'll have to go downtown at a later time and see if anything is being done there.

I will probably be DT on Monday next week. I will try to remember to take my camera with me to get some shots, and check up on project sites.

I believe that the site where Kanaya was being built is in the process of clearing the lot. I drove by it while I was in DT Sarasota; I believe it's on the SE corner of Palm Avenue and Ringling, which sets it back about a block from the other waterfront buildings. The Church of the Redeemer (Episcopal) has a prominent lot site right on the waterfront, and Kanaya will overlook this spot.

I don't know anything about 1350 Main or Ringling Court. I'll have to go downtown at a later time and see if anything is being done there.

Actually, Kanaya is at the corner of Orange Ave. and Morrill near Laurel Park. The Savoy on Palm is the condo going up on Palm Ave. a block from the waterfront buildings.

Ringling Court has walls up, and the parking lot that will be 1350 Main was torn up Monday. They took down the sign and put up fencing around the site. I also noticed that the penthouse unit for Plaza at Five Points was finally sold.

^^^

Thanks for the correction!

If I'm up there this Monday, I'll take some more photo's and post them here by next weekend.