July 27 next AVNA meeting.  See our AVNA page for upcoming meeting schedule and July 4th e-newsletter.

WARNING Editorial Comment:  re AVNA CCNA Membership. 

AVNA does not have a regular CCNA representative for their monthly meetings.  AVNA president Larry is the official alternate rep, but he does not participate in these monthly CCNA meetings.  Linda K. was invited to be rep, but declined.  Local neighborhood activist Steve M. requested to be rep, but AVNA board refused to allow him.  I (Linda K.) insist that AVNA needs to be more inclusive.  AVNA neighborhood folks, please voice your views to AVNA Board on this, as CCNA is an important opportunity for our neighborhood to have a voice in the City!

Primary Election Aug 18.  Check out sarasotavotes.gov for info, including viewing your specific sample ballot ahead of time.

AUG 5 Deadline to request vote-by-mail ballot (request must be RECEIVED by Aug 5); VBM requests from before 2025 have expired.   Note that we are in Congressional District 17 (not District 16, where Kelly Kirschner is a candidate).  Here is a page listing who's running for what, specifically for OUR area.

August 10  School starts.  Expect heavy morning/afternoon traffic on School Ave, Shade, Bahia Vista, and the whole area, to resume; it's always worse at the beginning of the school year, as parents figure out dropoff and pickup.  SHS has a new principal, too:  Sean Donovan.

July 15:  The Reserve at Bahia Vista, the new apartment development at Tuttle and Bahia Vista, opens for rentals.  Advertised as luxury housing, "Resort-inspired living for everyday life," with studios starting around $1,500/mo.  But there are also some "attainable" (more affordable) apartments available to income-qualified renters; check their website:  reserveatbahiavista.com   .  Let's keep tabs on how this development's car traffic to/from Briggs St. impacts the Tuttle/Bahia Vista intersection, especially because there's ANOTHER large apartment development planned for just across Bahia Vista near Temple Beth Sholom.

Payne Park:  Future Plans community meetings in 2026:  NOT!  

If you recall, plans were for public meetings for future plans for Payne Park, in 2027 budget, sometime later in 2026.  Because of severe city-wide damages and budget impacts from the 2024 hurricane -- as with so many City plans -- that's going to be delayed.  See our PaynePark New Developments page.  

Vacant US301 Lot by Tennis Center:  At the PREP (Parks Rec & Environmental Protection) advisory board meeting May21/2026, Board Member Watts suggested that that vacant lot (which had been very tentatively considered for future Players Theater building opportunity, but never cemented by contract) at US301 and Laurel Street, be incorporated as part of Payne Park and earmarked for Payne Park Tennis Center expansion of tennis courts and pickleball courts, to be put on future PREP agenda for further discussion.  However, subsequently, in 7/13/26 email responding to my inquiry, Parks Director Fogle wrote:  "There are currently no plans for the vacant 301 lot.  The Payne Park Tennis Center Team is in the process of developing a plan to repair the irrigation system for the clay courts.  Although this project may not occur in the near future, I would like to ensure we are prepared once funding is secured.  At this time, there are no plans to expand the tennis courts or to add pickleball courts on the vacant 301 lot."   So, the future of that City-owned vacant lot remains in limbo for now.

July Update: Hatton Street (Gilbane) Construction fenced-areas finally wrapping up.  Gilbane has dismantled their "construction corrals" on Hatton, east and west of Shade Av.  They will retain a smaller "corral" at the west end of the old shell parking area until they finish the Tennis Courts project. (BTW, that is County land containing the Euclid stormwater Canal.)

Watering Restrictions EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 1, 2026 ! due to Extreme Drought. Lawn irrigation systems limited to once a week; hand watering allowed any day but only before 8am or after 6pm.  See City News article for details and/or our Drought FAQs page. with Q&A directly from SWFWMD.