SOME RECENT POSTS THAT ARE NO LONGER CURRENT EVENTS ("THE PARTIAL ARCHIVE"}
PLEASE NOTE THAT LINKS IN OLD POSTS ARE NO LONGER UPDATED AND MAY BE OBSOLETE.
Oct 26 AVNA Meeting, 7pm at YMCA, Euclid & Bahia Vista. Guest Jon Thaxton
City Commission APPROVED the Midtown Plaza redevelopment 10/19/2026, which was appealed after rejection by Planning Board. See our Midtown Plaza page for more details.
Next AVNA Meeting Sep 28 6pm at YMCA, Euclid & Bahia Vista. Guest new City Manager, Karie Friling. Focus on Property Tax Referendum coming up in Nov election.
Sep 21 Regular City Commission meeting. 9am, City Hall. On the agenda: SOUND ORDINANCE! If unreasonably loud noises bother you, if you care about the soundscape of our neighborhood and city -- including loud sounds from Club Sarasota High (the football stadium P.A.), you might attend, and speak up, at this meeting!
The City Sound Study (Phase 1) is available now (263 pages). To read it, see City Commission Sep 21 agenda, Item XI Unfinished Business, click on Backup Documents.
Speaking of which, a sound study specific to SHS (61pp) is out. See Schools Update page to read conclusions excerpt.
March 2026 - 2028 New Water Meters project
All residences will be getting new, updated water meters. City-wide project began March 2026, expected to take 2 years. Residents will be notified by mail for dates they will be doing your block. (a few people here & there have already had new meters installed if they had meter issues.) No, you don't need to be home, but they do need to access the water meter out in your front yard. Water will be off for merely minutes! Details at the vendor's website National Metering Services (NMS).
School Zone Speed Limit Times??? The local school low-speed zone signs on Hatton and Shade show inconsistent hours: various restrictions include "when blinking," mornings and afternoon times, and one All Day 7am-3.45pm sign (next to the automatic speed ticketing camera). The City Engineer has acknowledged that this is a city-wide issue; they are working on updating signs as needed (Aug 2026).
July 2026 The Reserve at Bahia Vista, a.k.a. Bahia Vista Apartments, the new apartment development at Tuttle and Bahia Vista, opened 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.
Sep 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.)
Hatton Street Canal area debris issue. Several years ago -- before Gilbane SHS projects -- a few large cable spools were left by the canal near Shade Ave, across Hatton from the SHS batting cage, by one of the communications companies doing cable/internet in the 'hood (AT&T, Verizon, Frontier, et.al, who can keep track?!). These appear to have been forgotten -- essentially abandoned, now serving only as eyesores. Local resident Mrs. M. has been working with County Stormwater department staff, on an ongoing basis, on issues regarding the Canal and its lands, including litter cleanup procedures, regular mowing, clearing canal obstructions, etc., and work requests have been filed with the County and the City too. (County and City have a long history of disputing which is responsible for what, exactly.) Happy to report that the black spools have now been removed!; the giant red spool remains (7/28)...for now.
City Noise Survey - open now thru Aug 31. Sometimes some noise can be disruptive to our lives; changes to Noise Ordinances are under consideration. This is an opportunity to share your concerns. With Phase 1 of a citywide sound study approaching completion, Siebein Acoustic, the City’s sound consultant, is inviting residents, business owners, and visitors to share their experiences through a brief online survey. See City noise survey news page for details and the link to take the survey.
Primary Election Day Aug 18. Check out sarasotavotes.gov for info.
Here is a page listing who's running for what, specifically for OUR area. Note that we are in Congressional District 17 (not District 16, where Kelly Kirschner is a candidate).
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.
July 20 Deadline to Register to Vote (if you are not registered already) (or to change your party affiliation) to vote in the August primary election.
Website change 6/15: just changed website and domain (from Weebly/GoDaddy to Articulation). Things may look just a bit different, and I'm still figuring it out, but If you encounter problems, please email webmaster (bottom of page).
HOLD YOUR HORSES! As of Apr 3, School Dept Project Manager Chad Brogdon informed me that they have decided NOT to raze this building. A FOIA inquiry response stated that the building will be utilized for non-instructional purposes. (No further details at this time.) Details at Lundy Butterfly Wing Bldg to remain
AVNA is the local neighborhood organization that is supposed to represent resident concerns to the City et.al. Are you interested in participating by being on the Board? AVNA now taking nominations, and at Feb meeting, to be presented in February, voted on at March AVNA meeting. Last Chance to throw your hat in the ring for the upcoming year! See AVNA page or go to their Facebook page for details.
Sarasota Players is the area's first performing arts organization, and proceeds from the fundraiser are going towards the old auditorium's transformation into their new theater space.
For some history of this project see our Players Payne Park page.
See The Sarasota Players website (theplayers.org) for details & to buy your tickets!
In spring/summer 2024 FPL did a storm hardening project throughout Alta Vista neighborhood, installing a number of new utility poles. This is good, as it strengthens our electrical grid.
How this is supposed to work: FPL installs new poles, relocates electric wires, notifies telecom companies (mainly Comcast) so they can move THEIR lines to the new poles, and cuts the old poles off just above the telecom wires ("deadheading"); then later FPL comes back and yanks out the old duplicate poles. Telecom companies have 180 days, by law, to relocate their lines; however, they often fail to do so, leading to a visual clutter of poles that blights our neighborhood. For the lawyerly amongst you, reference FL Law CHAPTER 2021-191, Section 4; and Florida Statutes, Section 366.97 Redundant poles
The old pole removal process hasn't been working well, city-wide. Public Works director Nik Patel and staff have been working with FPL, Comcast, and other franchisees to enhance this process.
Tuesday August 19 2025 FDOT public meeting, 5-7pm, Selby Library: Future Repaving US301/Washington Blvd between Mound Street and 10th Street. Early design phase of project. Project includes adding a pedestrian crossing light at South Payne Parkway, a.k.a. Alderman Street, across to Senior Friendship Center, north side of that pedestrian-horrible Mound/Washington intersection.. More info, see FDOT website at https://www.swflroads.com/project/451017-1
Monday August 18 2025 City Commission Mtg 9am City Hall: County plans to build a new Criminal Judicial Center (currently next door to the jail) on Ringling Blvd. Considering two alternate sites nearby.
June 18 2025, 9am, City Hall: DRC (Development Review Committee) Midtown Plaza project. See City Agendas site for background documents. (DRC meetings are technical evaluations of details of planned project; public is welcome to listen but no public comments at this venue.) See Midtown Plaza page for details.
Feb 24 & Feb 25 2025: Temple Beth Sholom Apartment development project Neighborhood Presentations. Joel Freedman will be presenting on this proposed 270-unit apartment building project, at corner Tuttle & Bahia Vista, at AVNA meeting Mon Feb 24, 7pm, YMCA, and at APNA (Arlington Park) meeting Tues Feb 25, 6pm, Arlington Park Gym. Bring your questions and comments! For more info see Temple Beth Sholom Apartments page.
Wed, Feb 5 2025, 9am, City Hall, Development Review Committee meeting: Temple Beth Sholom Apartment development project Application Documents here (large), in two portions; the second portion pp 1-181 of 202 pages pertain solely to tree analysis. Remember, DRC meetings are public for observation only, with no public comment portion.
Notice all the orange Gilbane fencing along Hatton Street; that shell lot west of Shade (across from the batting cage), plus the grass field east of Shade. Using it for staging materials & equipment, worker parking, and other construction needs, for the major renovation of buildings at Sarasota High, East Campus: new HVAC (air conditioning) system. Expected to take 2+? years. No, nothing's being "built" there, just construction staging.
