UPCOMING MEETINGS, NOTICES & HAPPENINGS
March 31st, Monday, 7pm: next AVNA meeting, at which members in attendance will vote for AVNA President seat. Two candidates are Larry Silvermintz (incumbent) and Steve Martinucci. The other 3 seats were uncontested and incumbents vowed to continue their service. Guest Jerry Fogle, head of Parks.  See also AVNA candidates page for full info.
Beth Sholom Apartments update: Traffic Impact Study is now available online (89pp).  Open the City e-docs page, search Search Type = Development Applications Keyword, Application Number =  *25-TCS-07*  (be sure to include the asterisks in the search). Also, other application backup for this project is likewise available thru same webpage, but it's a bit confusing because some docs are under Project Name = ​*Temple Beth Property Redevelopment* but other documents are under ​*Temple Beth Redevelopment* 
Midtown Plaza Redevelopment
For this shopping plaza. currently home to Panera, a Starbucks, Massage Envy, Michaels On East, and various other popular shops and services, an application is underway to replace the "WinnDixie" side (south portion) of Midtown Plaza with hotel, apartments, retail and garage.  For more details see Midtown Plaza page.
Payne Park construction Feb-Mar-?: many sidewalk sections being replaced around walking track; watch for temporarily fenced-off areas; use caution.
In Payne Park Construction has begun on the Alderman MURT, extending the Legacy Trail ped/bike path from School Ave west across the south edge of Payne Park to connect, behind Sarasota Ford, to both Alderman Street and to a new park entrance at East Ave (from which it's one short, low-traffic block to the Publix). Projected Feb - Jun 2025. See Alderman MURT page for City's notification of residents (details) and City contact info.
Traffic Calming, City Survey.  With more ongoing, widespread concerns about heavy traffic speeding through neigborhoods... Survey now open (thru April 20) for your input.  The City is doing outreach for their comprehensive new Traffic Calming Plan, a proactive approach to auto traffic calming (slowing speeding) on residential streets throughout the neighborhoods.  See Traffic Calming Plan. on City website for more details, and to take the Survey.  There is also an interactive map (scroll further down) where residents can drop a pin (mark a location) of local speeding problems, including adding comments.  Later this year the staff will be meeting with neighborhood associations to bring more outreach throughout the City to develop the plan. So first, take the Survey. !
Tues April 15, 5.30-8pm at Police Dept, Adams Lane at East Ave.  Sarasota Police Dept SPD annual National Night Out.  Community event with fun family stuff.  AVNA will host an info table.  
Second Sundays at the SAM.  Did you know that on the Second Sunday of each month the Sarasota Art Museum (SAM) (the old Sarasota High School building on Tamiami Trail) hosts free admission days, with special activities for kids and adults alike.  Check it out!
Hatton Street traffic enforcement. The City is now enforcing normal traffic rules that prohibit drivers from blocking the street on Hatton Street by School Ave, a location that has, for years, gotten totally blockaded by parent pickup line for SHS in the afternoons on school days, often from about 1:30-2:30pm. This is a major change, allowing this roadway to actually be used by the public as a road, so be aware. The City will also give attention to similar problem further East on Hatton/Shade by Alta Vista Elementary School.
School Zone automatic traffic speed cameras & ticketing. Effective January 2025, the City installed speed enforcement cameras in School Safety Zones on school days,  including around Alta Vista Elementary (and to be implemented later, around Sarasota High School). These camera systems WILL send you a traffic ticket if you speed in the posted school zones.  So, maybe just don't exceed speed limits, okay?  Okay!
Where did Checkers go? Checkers fast food haven at East & Ringling has been razed to build new apartments, see below. 
Sarasota Grows:   new nearby developments
Yes, many MANY new developments in and around the neighborhood, much increased density, Here is a very rough graphic (8/2024) of higher density projects done plus in planning, in and right near the Alta Vista neighborhood. In 2000, Alta Vista neighborhood (just within the green border) had under 700 residential units; between 2000 and 2024, constructed plus in-planning adds another 500 units (just within green Alta Vista border, not including "nearby" projects).
Here's how to review all the "backup" documentation for yourself, including architectural view pictures, and landscaping graphics, for every project in development stages with the City.

The City has a map showing all City of Sarasota Applications Under Development Review

For full backup info on a project, open City's online records portal webpage edocs.sarasotagov.com/publicaccess/edocs/search/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery, then do a search:  Search Type = Development Applications - Keyword, then enter  *Application Number*
Apartments at Temple Beth Sholom
Proposed 175-unit apartment building at corner of Tuttle & Bahia Vista. For details see: Temple Beth Sholom Apartments page.
  
Midtown Plaza Redevelopment

At this shopping plaza. currently home to Panera, a Starbucks, Michaels On East, and various other popular shops and services, an application is underway to replace the "WinnDixie" side (south portion) of Midtown Plaza  with hotel, apartments, retail and garage.  For more details see Midtown Plaza page.
Checkers Apartments

East @ Ringling Blvd (where Checkers used to be). New development application for a 6-story mixed-use building: a restaurant and retail on the ground floor; upper floors 22 residential units (2 attainable). Downtown Core = Administrative Review. 25-ASP-05, 25-ADS-04
 ON THE PARK
In early planning stages (May 2024), 49-unit apartment complex. Land donated by Michael Saunders to One Stop Housing, who plan to develop project with all units restricted to residents with income up to 80%AMI, with half set aside solely for employees of Sarasota County Sheriff's Department.  Retail on first floor, apartments (studios, 1 & 2br) above.

Next steps:  the usual City application planning process (DTE zone = Downtown Edge), so it's administrative approval, not public input).
Sarasota Lanes Townhomes

​Just north of Alta Vista neighborhood, in initial plan stage, pre-application for zoning change to develop purple bowling alley Sarasota Lanes property, over on Fruitville, into 52-unit townhome development (with 1 home priced "attainably"). Entrance off East Main St just west of Lime Av (kinda behind Shamrock Pub).  Aug 13 was community workshop; Sept 4 was DRC meeting; next step TBA Planning Board meeting.   24-PRE-18
Payne Park Townhomes

A new 50-unit rental development next to Payne Park. This project HAS BEEN APPROVED. Construction has begun (Feb 2025) See PPT page for details.
Picture

BAHIA VISTA APARTMENTS

Now well under construction, large new apartment complex at Tuttle & Bahia Vista intersection. See Bahia Vista Apartments for more info.
, 
ARTIST'S COURT

Artist Court 2 (24-ASP-05, 24-ADS-03) 200 South Washington Blvd. (nearby Alta Vista, just across Washington Blvd from the Terrace Building).  This project HAS BEEN APPROVED.  

A 10-story, 242-unit rental apartment building, zone Downtown Core (DTC). including attainable housing.  

More details, see Artist's Court page.
PARK DISTRICT  major development project
PARK DISTRICT    A major mixed-use development nearby Alta Vista, north of Payne Park, off Fruitville.  The property of 8.5 acres, to be developed in phases, covers land between Main St & Fruitville, from Washington Blvd all the way to Audubon Place (just west of School Ave).

Phase I has been approved:  a mixed-use project with 331 multifamily apartments, both market-rate and affordable, and 7,772 square feet of retail, between Fletcher and East Avenue.  

The entire Park District could eventually include more than 1,700 units.  With the quadruple downtown density bonus allowing 50 units per acre, Park District is eligible for 1,728 units of residential and commercial space if 15% of its units are priced more affordably than market rates for at least 30 years.

Park District (22-ASP-13) ...Downtown Core (DTC) zone. The applicant will be required to provide 10% of the total units to be attainable. See also DRC 11/16/22 and 8/2/23. Staff contact: Alison Christie, [email protected]. 941-263-6516
About AFFORDABLE housing?  Some projects include some affordable housing (below market rate), usually a Very Small number of units, for a density bonus that allows them to build more units, larger and higher buildings.  That doesn't necessarily mean inexpensive apartments!  What does it actually mean?  AMI = area median income.  Each project featuring "attainable" units specifies how many apts of the total units will be offered to residents earning income at each level of percentage of AMI by family size, i.e. 3 units at 120%AMI, 3 at 100%AMI, 3 at 80%.  It's a 30-year rent control commitment, not "forever"; but hey, who knows what will be, that far ahead!   See chart below.   AMI 2024 for Sarasota is about $97,000!  

Housing affordability as of 2024 is at crisis level in Sarasota; see more at City website about affordable housing initiatives.

Citizen Participation in local government.  Do you know about CityPAC Sarasota: a local nonpartisan civic political organization that holds City Commissioners (and candidates) accountable based on "resident-friendly positions on issues relevant to a liveable city", including discussions and votes on all things pertaining to responsible and balanced development -- always an issue here in Sarasota, as well as ordinance enforcement on residents' quality-of-living-here.  On their website they monitor current issues and commissioner votes. You can also subscribe to their free e-news City Hall Monitor, which gives good summaries of things discussed at each City Commission meeting, plus useful links and upcoming things to watch.
City webpage where you can easily find info on all active City capital projects!  See City Public Works Capital Improvements Program Viewer .
Click-2-Fix: the City's mobile app. Free; search for “CoS Click-to-Fix” on your Apple or Android app store. 
311Connect: the County's mobile app (new March 2022). Free; search for “311Connect” on your Apple or Android app store. 
See also Useful Links for descriptions. 
GET YOURSELF IN THE CITY NEWS PIPELINE!

In case you ever wondered how to keep up with City news, a few good sources for City news are:

- City webpage news tab: features the list of recent news item announcements.

- City list of upcoming public meetings.  Includes agenda items and links to backup documents. Scroll down for archives of past public meetings, including always-essential detailed backup documents.

- City News: comprehensive weekly email from mayor's office, which also includes upcoming City meetings with links to agendas. Sign up to receive this and/or other communications from City. at  https://www.sarasotafl.gov/services/email-subscriptions​
This website was created as a bulletin board, not a discussion forum, to share info focussed on the Alta Vista neighborhood.
It is independent of the Alta Vista Neighborhood Association (AVNA).              Brought to you by Linda Kitch...
Contact   [email protected]
Picture