Alta Vista Sarasota current events

UPCOMING MEETINGS, NOTICES & HAPPENINGS

Our new City Commission District 3 commissioner is Kathy Kelley Ohlrich.

Hurricane DEBRIS Final pass for storm debris collection to begin Nov. 25

Residents are asked to prepare all Hurricane Helene and Milton-related storm debris for collection by Monday, Nov. 25, when the City’s contractors will begin the final pass for pickup.

“We are encouraging residents to take time this weekend and prepare any remaining storm debris for collection,” said Todd Kucharski, Public Works Department General Manager. “Debris must be hurricane-related to be collected. Residents will need to call the Solid Waste Division for special pickup of non-hurricane-related items. This final pass of storm debris pickup brings us one step closer to restoring our city and putting the 2024 hurricane season behind us.”

Since storm debris collection began 37 days ago, City contractors have removed 291,310 cubic yards, or 407,834 tons, of debris citywide. This figure is more than eight times the amount of debris collected in the same amount of time following Hurricane Irma in 2017.
8,743 truckloads of debris have been picked up, which is approximately 73% of the total estimated hurricane debris to be collected inside city limits.

When preparing storm debris, continue to observe the guidelines:

Separate debris into piles for vegetative debris, construction/demolition debris, bulk items, and white goods (appliances).
Do not place any storm debris in plastic bags.
Ensure debris piles are at least 6 feet away from obstructions including utility poles, mailboxes, backflow preventers, water meters, trees, and vehicles.

Vegetative waste that is still green, recently cut or newly fallen (lawn clippings, leaves, sticks, and tree limbs) will not be collected by storm debris contractors and should instead be properly prepared as regular yard waste for pickup.
For special pickup of non-hurricane-related items, call the Solid Waste Division at 941-263-6170.

A storm debris collection map is available for city residents throughout the remainder of the debris pickup process.

FEMA Storm Debris hotline is 833-947-7739; City Solid Waste Dept is 941-263-6170.

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.

For most new developments, you'll want to be fully informed before you form an opinion, right? So do your research; it's easy. 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.

Open webpage edocs.sarasotagov.com/publicaccess/edocs/search/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery (just click on this link), then do a search: Search Type = Land Development Applications - Keyword, and try entering the Application Number (or, Name of development).

Bowling Alley Townhomes

Don't know official development NAME yet. 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

Apartments at Temple Beth Sholom:next big new development.

In very preliminary stages, plans were discussed at Aug 14 Community Workshop: subdivide the 10-acre property, with the north 4 acres retaining the synagogue; other buildings removed; relocated parking lots; on the south 6 acres, Gilbane to develop a 4-story, 270-unit apartment building (10 units "attainable") plus parking lot plus 433-car garage.

Major community concern is traffic: this 270-unit apartment building, right across from the Bahia Vista Apartments, a 250-unit apartment building now in construction, at the corner of Tuttle & Bahia Vista, an already "failed" street that backs up horribly, and often; all car access for the entire project is Briggs off Bahia Vista (opposite Bahia Vista St access on Briggs for Bahia Vista Apartments).

Again, very preliminary stage. Zoning change and development plan applications expected to be submitted to the City later this year, with their hoped-for opening date in 2026. This project will go through the full "regular" development application process, with Planning Board, Development Review Committee, then City Commission meetings. Application 24-CW-21.

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).

Payne Park Townhomes

A new 50-unit rental development next to Payne Park. See PPT page for details.

BAHIA VISTA APARTMENTS

Summer 2024 under construction, large new apartment complex at Tuttle & Bahia Vista intersection. See Bahia Vista Apartments for more info.

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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)

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

The latest step in the approval process was DRC (Development Review Committee) review March 20, 2024.

More details, see Artist's Court page.

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. Park District could 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, often as a density bonus that allows them to build more units, larger and higher buildings. What does this actually mean? AMI (area median income) in 2024 for Sarasota area, for a family of 4, is $98,700 income per year. (This is calculated each year and does change...)

So "X" number of apartments committed to at 80% AMI doesn't mean the apartment will be inexpensive; rather, it will be considered affordable for tenants who make about $80,000 a year, which is calculated at about 30% of annual income. Number of affordable units and level of affordability is a commitment specified in each development application. It's a 30-year rent control commitment, not "forever"; but hey, who knows what will be, that far ahead! Rough calculations below:

So for 2024, units offered at 80% AMI: income for family of 4 up to about $80k (~$2,880/mo), couple up to about $64k (~$2,330/mo), single up to about $56k (~$2,016/mo)
Apartments offered at 50% AMI = considered affordable for family of 4 with income of $50k (~$1,800/mo), couple $40k (~$1,440/mo), single $35k (~$1,260/mo);
Apartments offered at 30% AMI = considered affordable for family of 4 with income of $31k, couple $27k, single $21k.

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.

New City webpage (April 2024) 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