Ringling Trail (Ringling Blvd Complete Streets project). On Feb 1 2021 the City Commission voted unanimously in favor of this project (Agenda Item X.1 Discussion Re: Ringling Trail and Concept Plan Approval). See Ringling Trail page for additional details plus link to City Commission documents and meeting video.
Schools News for Fall 2021: Community Day School is relocating from the Temple Beth Sholom campus (at Tuttle and Bahia Vista) to their new location over on Wilkinson. New K-5 dual-language English-Spanish charter school Dreamers Academy will open at Beth Sholom campus.
New Downtown Cooling Plant: this Sarasota County construction project on School Ave. near Ringling Blvd and along Adams Lane (between School Ave and Police Department building), is now wrapping up; replacing the old, outdated A/C plant to provide A/C to multiple nearby Sarasota County buildings. CIP #83304, est. completion Sept 2021. AVNA will look into the possibility of getting a mural painted on the exterior facing the Park.
Mon, 9 August 5:30pm City Community Workshop meeting (on Zoom): New 250-unit apartment building, in application process, for corner of Bahia Vista and Tuttle. See Bahia Vista Apts for proposed development details.
Wed June 16 DCR meeting, 9am, City Hall. New high-density apartment development: Bahia Vista Apartments Back on the table, the site at the SW corner Tuttle & Bahia Vista (just across from our 'hood). Now applying for rezoning to high density, for a 250-280 unit apartment development, with renovated (existing) parking garage. See City DCR Meeting agenda21-PRE-16 for backup with details, plus check the Arlington Park websites. See Arlington Commons page for info about last year's Arlington Commons site proposal (withdrawn after extreme neighborhood opposition).
New Trash Cans !!! Thanks to Pete Theisen and Concordia Lutheran Church for installing handsome new trash cans along the School Ave sidewalk near Wood Street! Litter in our neighborhood is a big problem in certain areas; having convenient trash cans helps!
Update on the tile Mural at the old Ringling Shopping Center: lost forever. I recently inquired of Richman Group, the developer, what plans are, now that Phase I (Lyra Apartments) is nearing completion, for the tile mural from the old Publix, that they were going to save, prior to demolition, hopefully to reinstall on the back wall of their garages building, along the soon-to-be Legacy Trail. Neighborhood initiative encouraged them to save portions of the mural, not original from the 50's, but still a much-loved local iconic work of art. Alas, the Richman Group reply: "In regards to the Publix mural, unfortunately we were unable to salvage any of the tile to be repurposed. There was a good amount of damage from vandals right before the demo and it wasn’t possible to keep the mural intact."
Thurs March 18, 2021, Parks&Rec Advisory Board Meeting, 5pm at City Hall. On the Agenda: discussion of: Sarasota Orchestranew Music Center local site, potentially in Payne Park. City Commission also discussed at this at their March 1 2021 meeting.
March 15 6pm City Commission Meeting, City Hall. On the Agenda: SHS (Sarasota High School) Pedestrian improvements around west side of campus (including pedestrian/bike shortcut between Sarasota Art Museum parking lot and Circus Arts/Bahia Vista parking lot); discussion of changes, lighting and landscaping. For more detail, see City Meetings webpage, click on Regular City Commission meeting March 15 agenda (Item IX.1) which includes 37-pg backup document; Page 3 shows detailed site plan for MURT. Also see MURT page for more details.
City Mature Tree Pilot Program incentive program open again Feb 2021, Phase II: See City News webpage or detailed guidelines. You purchase, have professionally installed, and maintain a tree, the City subsidizes. First-come, first-serve, 75 slots.
New Downtown Cooling Plant: this is the Sarasota County construction project on School Ave. Watch for partial temporary roadway closures... on School Ave at Ringling Blvd; this replaces the old, outdated A/C plant for these buildings, and will provide A/C to multiple nearby Sarasota County buildings. CIP #83304, est. completion Sept 2021.
Sarasota Orchestranew Music Center Monday 22 February, 2021 7PM AVNA Meeting by conference call. The AVNA Board has written a letter to the City Commission "No Orchestra Near [ed. italics] Payne Park!" on behalf of the neighborhood organization, which has not yet, but will, hold general member discussion on Monday. To participate in AVNA meeting upcoming you need to RSVP or send email to AltaVistaSarasota@gMail.comto get the call-in code beforehand.
Sarasota Art Museum updates: Also, THANKS to Anne-Marie Russell, Executive Director and Chief Curator, who will be moving on (remaining as consultant): What a Trooper!! Ann-Marie worked for years on the planning, and then re-planning, of The SAM, throughout the lengthy construction, arranging art talks & performances pre-Museum, lining up years of internationally-rated exhibitions, finally the Opening of the new museum (followed fast by COVID-closing), and now, hopefully, the present and future success of this awesome new museum!
Congratulations to our neighbor Sarasota High School's Principal David Jones, district Principal of the Year.
Fall 2020 City Survey about Bike Lanes on Ringling Boulevard (Lime to Pineapple). In conjunction with the Ringling Blvd Complete Streets planning. A few more details here. Read all details & take survey.
New Affordable Housing development to be built in Alta Vista? Stormwater Infrastructure to be compromised??? Sarasota County is selling off their parcel of vacant land at 899 School Ave a.k.a. Hatton Street, which includes the stormwater drainage canal. See Hatton St Affordable Housing pages for details. UPDATE: This issue is NOT moving forward at this time. This is NOT on the JULY 7 or 8 County Commission Meeting.
