A for-profit Sarasota County charter school is a step closer expanding at a coveted location along Fruitville Road east of Interstate 75
The Sarasota County Planning Commission voted unanimously this week to grant a special exception for Red Apple Development
a Fort Lauderdale-based charter school contractor
a playground and an amphitheater for of a new charter school at 8751 Fruitville Road
5 approval followed a withdrawn petition that Red Apple filed last April
which the planning board opposed because of to traffic concerns
a future charter school that the Sarasota County School Board signed off on in March
The Classical Academy is gradually transitioning students from its current campus to its new location at 8000 Bee Ridge Road, though an ongoing lawsuit from neighboring residents against the school argues the new location isn't compatible with its surrounding residential developments
Though the lawsuit is still open — and plans for The Classical Academy's Bee Ridge campus could go back to the drawing board if a judge rules in favor of the neighbors — the Fruitville Road address is still the presumed location for the new school
More: Concerns about reduced meeting schedule cited at final 2024 Sarasota School Board session
already has a special exception attached to it that allows The Classical Academy to operate
Sarasota County Commission approval to extend this exception would allow the future school to build the additional classroom buildings
Red Apple Development filed its initial a special exception request under the “Fruitville Charter School” in April
Resident concern about approving the special exception stemmed mostly from traffic on the road
which they said the new school would exacerbate
“There’s no way you can call what happens at the access point to this school to be safe,” Susan Schoettle
a former assistant county attorney and responsible growth advocate
very aggravating situation that should not be allowed to be made worse.”
The developer withdrew this application and presented a new one to the planning board Dec
The timeline and new site plan accommodate a planned widening of Fruitville Road with the addition of a turn lane and amended rights-of-way
Planning commissioners were brief in their remarks
quickly casting an 8-0 vote to recommend approval of the exception by the County Commission
Planning board member Alan Maio said he was satisfied with the application and confident it would smooth traffic concerns
“These changes are thought out and will work much better than the previous,” Maio said
More: Former Florida ballerina seeks to be released on bond pending appeal, hearing set for new year
listed in application material to the planning board as the “Sarasota Charter School,” will cap its student body at 1,105 and plans to phase students in over time
The soonest it would open for kindergarten through sixth grade students is the 2026-27 school year
with seventh-graders beginning to attend in the 2027-28 year and eighth graders in the 2028-29 year
board members also said the future school's location was a question mark
Florida statute makes a school board denial of a charter school an uphill battle
with limited discretion and the board on the hook for the charter school’s legal fees should it challenge the school at the state level
Board members cited the charter school’s approval as a “foregone conclusion” during its March vote and ultimately voted in favor of it
The County Commission will make a final decision on the school’s special exception at a future meeting
Contact Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@gannett.com
Tikka Indian Cuisine is now open in the Sarasota Crossings shopping plaza at 5445 Fruitville Road, the former space of Royal Peacock Indian Kitchen
along with its original Venice restaurant in Bird Bay Plaza at 525A U.S
and its previously opened Sarasota spot at 3550 Clark Road in Beneva Village Shoppes
under the slightly different name of Spice Indian Cuisine
One of Florida’s top chefs to open two Sarasota restaurants — here’s what to know
Sarasota area waterfront restaurant named one of the best in the U.S.
Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday
co-owner of Tikka along with partner Radhakrishna Sureddy
said they were interested in the 5445 Fruitville Road space back when they were looking to open a second location a few years ago
even when they had another Sarasota location
“This is a nice location — it’s just right off of the (I-75) exit
"So I know the inside restaurant is smaller compared to Tikka in Venice
The new Tikka has the same menu as its other two locations
including curries such as tikka masala and clay-oven dishes such as tandoori chicken
Tikka was the only Sarasota-Manatee establishment to make the top 20 of Yelp's Top 100 Florida Restaurants 2023 list
with Pla-Tu Sushi Thai Tapas in South Miami winning the top spot
modern presentations of authentic North and South Indian dishes — from clay-oven-baked meats to biryani rice blends," its "'everything-from-scratch cooking'" and "ingredients plucked from local gardens or shipped fresh from India."
The new Tikka is open 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4-9 p.m. daily except for Wednesday, when the restaurant is closed. For more information, call 941-413-5691 or visit tikkasarasota.com
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing
Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSARASOTA
(WWSB) - One person is dead after a late-night Sarasota crash
Several crews responded to a major crash on Fruitville Road and Tuttle Avenue shortly before 10 p.m
Traffic camera video shows two vehicles involved
ABC7 will update this story as more information is available
(This story was updated to add new information.)
DeSantis highlighted the construction at a media event on Friday in Manatee County
The governor also took the opportunity to thump presidential hopeful Kamala Harris on economic policy and said Florida has created programs to help counteract feared negative impacts on the economy
The road construction is a part of the Moving Florida Forward program DeSantis proposed in January 2023 and was funded as part of the budget approved by legislators last year
He said it was also designed to help create jobs while ensuring long-term transportation needs like the Fruitville Road interchange continue to be met
Last time: Gov. Ron DeSantis visits Sarasota, calls VP Harris 'vapid,' and defends election night
"This is one of our 20 major infrastructure projects under the Moving Florida Forward initiative," DeSantis said
"This was not scheduled to even begin until the year 2030
Because of Moving Florida Forward it will be completed in 2027."
"It will end up being $7 billion to accelerate projects
"A lot of these projects will get done this decade and they wouldn't have even started until next decade
Some of the projects are going to be done 15 years ahead of schedule."
DeSantis says diverging diamond I-75 interchange in Sarasota County at Fruitville Road will improve safety
trafficDeSantis said the diverging diamond
which will be the third in Sarasota County
it's predicted that it will increase daily volume capacity by more than 40,000 drivers."
DeSantis said $100 million in additional state funding will help the state secure the necessary materials for infrastructure improvements and storage
"The Legislature set aside $100 million for a five-year investment in projects to improve capacity for transporting and storing aggregate materials through what we're calling supply chain grants," DeSantis said
"Today I'm proud to announce the award of $18 million in supply chain grants."
He said examples include funding for aggregate terminals in Lake City and Plant City
funding for Capital Asphalt out of Tallahassee for an additional 80,000 tons of aggregate
and $6.2 million for a new aggregate terminal at the Port of Tampa Bay
DeSantis took the opportunity to bash proposals made by Vice President Harris while on the campaign trail
He touted efforts like not taxing baby items and toll relief programs as ways Florida has reduced the daily cost of living for residents and an attractive business environment as factors in the state's economy
He also blamed higher grocery prices on "supply chain disruption from the COVID nonsense
the massive amounts of printing and borrowing of money
all this stuff that's happened that absolutely gets passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices."
"It's effectively like a major tax on people that's just invisible."
He also criticized economic proposals to tax unrealized gains supported by Harris while on the campaign trail
"Who knows what's on the horizon if you get somebody like Harris who tries to tax unrealized gains this country would go into a depression
"You'd see a massive flight of capital out of the United States
and I think that would hurt our state in particular
It's lunacy to say you're going to tax someone's investment before they've even realized a profit on it."
Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the award of $18 million in funding to invest in Florida’s supply chain and boost aggregate storage for critical infrastructure and asphalt and concrete production
These awards specifically are the first of $100 million to be invested over five years
The first five recipients of these grants will create an additional 1.2 million tons of aggregate materials storage and enable more rail access to existing aggregate storage facilities
This material will support major projects under the Moving Florida Forward Initiative
Governor DeSantis announced the groundbreaking of the I-75 interchange at Fruitville Road
This project will transform the existing traditional cloverleaf configuration into a diverging diamond design
"A strong supply chain is key to Florida's economic strength
We can't rely on Washington—we need Florida-based solutions,” said Governor Ron DeSantis
“These grants will help our state boost capacity and ensure vital materials reach projects on time.”
“Many Floridians don’t spend a lot of time thinking about construction materials until a disruption in our ability to supply those materials impacts their community,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W
“With the support and action of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature
the transportation construction industry will be able to access these much-needed materials for our infrastructure projects that will help keep construction moving and on time.”
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) identified priority investments to strengthen links in the supply chain and increase storage capacity to allow more aggregate material to be readily available for these critical FDOT projects
Projects were prioritized based on overall project cost
ensuring the state can begin relying on these investments as soon as possible
Here's some good news for Sarasota drivers — improvements to the Interstate 75 interchange at Fruitville Road will be done years ahead of schedule
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the change on Friday in Bradenton, crediting the Moving Florida Forward initiative
Construction is set to start this year
with scheduled completion moved up from 2030
it will be completed in 2027," DeSantis said
fully funded and years ahead of where it would even have broken ground originally."
The project will transform the existing cloverleaf configuration into a diverging diamond design
DeSantis says the new interchange will increase capacity by about 40,000 cars every day
DeSantis also announced nearly $18 million in grants for port
rail and other infrastructure-related projects
The grants included $6.2 million for a terminal at Port Tampa Bay that can handle an additional 500,000 tons of lime rock a year and $3.9 million for a new CSX aggregate terminal in Plant City
and Capital Asphalt will also receive funds
The supply chain projects are designed with construction and expansion of roads in mind
“Many Floridians don’t spend a lot of time thinking about construction materials until a disruption in our ability to supply those materials impacts their community,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue
“The transportation construction industry will be able to access these much-needed materials for our infrastructure projects that will help keep construction moving and on time.”
Lakewood Ranch Southeast will be north of Fruitville Road and west of Verna Road near the Manatee-Sarasota County line and will now be headed for approval for a rezoning of one of the first phases of the large project
This phase of Lakewood Ranch Southeast Project calls for 910 single-family homes and 490 multifamily units on 546 acres in the first of seven planned areas
The project has a total of 5,000 dwelling units across the 4,100 acres of developable property
The project would be a continuation of the Manatee County-centered Lakewood Ranch
The more than 33,000-acre project now has a population of 72,000 people
The master developer of Lakewood Ranch is Schroeder-Manatee Ranch Inc
Last week Sarasota County planning advisory board recommended approval of rezoning the land from the current rural classification that had allowed just one unit per 10 acres to a residential category that will allow up to 3.5 homes per acre
despite the residents' continued confidence they will prevail
Area residents continue fight against Lakewood Ranch projectMike Hutchinson and Eileen Fitzgerald filed a legal challenge over the changes
arguing the increase in residential density broke promises made to the county's rural community when it updated its growth plan in the early 2000s
Hutchinson and Fitzgerald have appealed an order that went in favor of the county in 2023
with arguments scheduled in their appeal of the 2023 decision
Previous reporting: Lakewood Ranch tops list of master-planned communities for all ages for sixth year
Hutchinson attended the rezoning hearing before the Planning Commission last Thursday
telling the board that the process was a waste of time since he would be winning the appeal
If Hutchinson and Fitzgerald were to win the appeal
the project would not be able to proceed as envisioned
The Lakewood Ranch Southeast asked for a wavier from holding an additional neighborhood workshop
Sarasota County requires community workshops within nine months of when the project receives approval
with an the ability to extend the window by an additional 12 months
A county neighborhood workshop for the project was completed in March
The planning board recommended that the county approve the waiver
in addition to recommending the County Commission grant the rezoning request
This phase of Lakewood Ranch Southeast Project will see 910 homes and 490 multifamily units built on 546 acres in the first of seven planned areas
A date when the topic will head to the Sarasota County Commission has not been set
Image: Courtesy Photo
The Sarasota Orchestra is making strides on its new Music Center
orchestra leadership shared a first look at the initial designs for its new HQ at 5701 Fruitville Road
The multiphase design process will be led by architecture firm William Rawn Associates
The designs for the Music Center incorporate lots of natural light
which orchestra leadership says is a metaphor for "the musician's journey": educational spaces receive lots of eastern morning light; meanwhile
symbolizing the evolution from student to professional
Early designs also incorporate the region’s natural beauty
an open-air courtyard and strategically placed shading
visitors find the Florida Gulf Coast’s first concert hall purpose-built for acoustic music
Next up: The project is progressing toward schematic design
during which architects will refine the early plans based on additional input from orchestra leadership and stakeholders and technical analysis
and will further define the building’s form and programmatic needs
The orchestra expects to share updated schematic designs this fall
(WWSB) - An early Sunday crash caused significant delays on I-75 northbound
We know now that the incident involved multiple cars
but little other information has come to light
We’ll keep you updated on air and online as we learn more
A new phase of Lakewood Ranch has cleared two major hurdles after Sarasota County commissioners gave their stamp of approval to the community's continued expansion
while the developer scored a legal win in a two-year fight over the growth
Last Tuesday the 5,000-home project on 4,100 acres west of Verna Road and north of Fruitville Road in rural Sarasota County received approval to rezone more than 2,200 acres to a special category called Village Transition Zone that only applies to Lakewood Ranch Southeast
Before the county rezoned the property last Tuesday
only one residence per 10 acres was allowed
with restrictions as low as one unit per acre 160 acres
But county commissioners approved a change to allow Lakewood Ranch to build up to 3.5 units per acre in east Sarasota County
The first ruling in the legal challenge came in June 2023
with the couple appealing the decision in favor of the developers
Florida's Second District Court of Appeal sided with Lakewood Ranch
ending the rural residents' effort to limit growth in the area
A phone call to the attorney representing Fitzgerald and Hutchinson was not immediately returned
Lakewood Ranch celebrated the legal victory
noting it viewed the effort to stop its project as unreasonable
"Florida and our region will continue to grow
and that growth must be met with responsible
"Lakewood Ranch has always set the standard for thoughtful
high-quality community development — delivering infrastructure amenities
and neighborhoods that enhance quality of life while supporting the broader region."
“When our rights and proven approach are unreasonably challenged
we will stand firm in defending our track record
and our commitment to building a community that serves both present and future generations,” Jensen continued in the statement
The Lakewood Ranch statement said the developer will invest $200 million in infrastructure for the project
including construction of a 4.8-mile four-lane roadway extension at Bourneside Boulevard to Fruitville Road
a 2.8-mile expansion of University Parkway to four lanes between Lorraine Road and Bourneside Boulevard and connections to the Florida Gulf Coast Trail throughout Lakewood Ranch Southeast
typically placing behind only the age-restricted property in Central Florida called The Villages
who voted against the project's four rezone petitions last week
"One thing about Lakewood Ranch — it is beautiful," Knight said before voting against the rezoning
He said that in many ways Lakewood Ranch does an amazing job developing property
but that the county hasn't done as well at readying the areas surrounding Lakewood Ranch for the coming development
is maybe we should learn from them," he said
"because we sit her today trying to protect us from ourselves
and we continue on with saying everything's going to be okay
Smith also had reservations about the ability for east Sarasota County infrastructure to keep up while at the same time admiring the large
before adding that he couldn't support the property's development intensification due to unresolved issues with a conservation easement held between the land owner and the oldest environmental group in the region — Manasota 88
Manasota 88 contends that Lakewood Ranch has violated terms of the easement
Opponents of the project also raised concerns about the lack of a lining of some of the retention ponds in the Lakewood Ranch Southeast project that will use reclaimed wastewater to keep them full
"If those preliminary designs on storm water don't work out
I can't support it because of the fact it's too early."
Teresa Mast and Ron Cutsinger voting in support
Mast noted that while change can be challenging
Lakewood Ranch Southeast would benefit the region as it develops
"I've lived in this area my entire life and I think that when there are premier projects
I'm very supportive of them even when there are challenges that go with them."
(WHP) — Police are asking the public for help identifying two people who allegedly tried to get an 8-year-old to follow them while at a Manheim Township store
The "suspicious incident" happened Monday at the At Home store on 1890 Fruitville Pike
the two pictured males walked up to an 8-year-old girl
police urged parents to talk with their children about "stranger danger" and to make sure kids know they can get help if they ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable
the safety of our community is a collective responsibility
and your help in identifying these individuals can make a significant difference in preventing similar incidents in the future," police wrote
Anyone who can identify the two pictured males are asked to call the Manheim Township Police Department at (717) 569-6401 or to submit a tip online via Crimewatch
2025 at 2:43 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A driver speeding along Fruitville Road early Saturday died after hitting a power pole and retention wall
FL — A speeding driver was killed in an early Saturday morning crash at the intersection of Fruitville Road and Golden Sands Drive
according to a Sarasota Police Department news release
Officers responded to the area around 1:30 a.m
after calls came in about a vehicle speeding eastbound on Fruitville Road
They found the vehicle had driven off the road
was the only person in the vehicle at the time of the crash
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sarasota Police Department at 941-316-1199. Report anonymous tips to CrimeStoppers of Sarasota County at 941-366-8477 or submit a tip online
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Image: Kim Doleatto
downtown Sarasota is going through rapid changes
And here comes more: a new 10-story hotel is in the works on Fruitville Road
The project will require the demolition of a string of single-story shops at 1524
replacing the 9,919 square feet of existing retail space with a 120- to 170-room hotel and possible ground-floor commercial space
the design is being led by Chris Gallagher of Hoyt Architects
According to a recent first submission to the City of Sarasota Development Review Committee
which is slated to become a Tempo by Hilton hotel
initial plans show 72 parking spaces and an amenity floor with a fitness center
The parcels were previously owned by Donna and Lawrence Lerner
who once ran Miner's Patio and Casual Furniture
which was originally established by Donna Lerner's parents
It closed in 2006 after 54 years in business
Facilitated by Steve Horn and Lauren Dixon of Ian Black Real Estate, the addresses sold for a total of $5.25 million. They include Antiques & Chatchkes, Summer Home and Garden, Todburn Antiques and Downtown Hair Studio
Image: Sarasota County Appraiser
"We haven’t been given a timeline [for construction]
"It was kind of a bombshell," Ken Davidson
We’ve had a fantastic relationship over the years
The properties fall within the "downtown core" zoning district
an area designed to encourage mixed-use and pedestrian-friendly development
are listed in the Florida Master Site File (FMSF) for their historic significance
A historic review is required before demolition permits can be issued
The buyer and developer is Dunedin-based AV Florida Sarasota Hotel LLC.
led by Benedikt Fritzsche and his wife Eliza Garcia Bello
"We’re very excited about what’s ahead," Fritzsche says
"I used to work in Sarasota so I’ve always had a connection to the area
and I did my research—the airport is expanding
and downtown has this great balance of a big-city feel with small-town charm
and there’s a lot of business activity around the location too."
"It took us about eight months to work through everything before purchasing the land."
Fritzsche is in conversations with NDC Construction Company and the Hilton brand to develop a Tempo by Hilton Hotel
but those details are still in the works."
it will be his first development in Sarasota
This Sarasota project would be our third hotel
not as part of an investment group," he says
"We’ve also got a restaurant project in Dunedin in the pipeline
Donna Lerner has been a vocal public opponent of the sky-high Obsidian (renamed 1260 North Palm Residences) development planned to go up on North Palm Avenue
which would be the tallest building in Sarasota County
She gathered more than 2,500 signatures for a petition against the luxury condo project
citing concerns about scale and community impact
But while the Lerners are selling their Fruitville properties to a developer
the Tempo hotel’s comparatively modest scale is less contentious
Tempo by Hilton is a relatively new lifestyle hotel brand
it's designed to cater to those who prioritize wellness and productivity during their stays
The brand includes a café-style restaurant with a focus on healthy dishes and hotels often include fitness centers
nightly rates typically range from $150 to $300
The submitted proposal includes an outdoor bar on the tenth floor
but that requires a major conditional use approval from city officials
which has not yet been sought by the developer
The city also stipulates that outdoor bar patrons must vacate by 11:00 p.m
on weeknights and by midnight on weekends and holidays
To meet City of Sarasota requirements for public art contributions
the developers will also need to either include public art onsite or contribute to the city's public art fund
The site plan also calls for additional architectural enhancements to break up the blank walls on the building’s east and west sides
Suggestions include incorporating public art into the design
the current shop owners are still open and welcoming customers
"Come visit us while we’re still here," Davidson says
(WWSB) - The Sarasota Police Department has arrested Joshua Slieff
in connection with a deadly crash that occurred at 9:51 p.m
at the intersection of Fruitville Road and Tuttle Avenue
Video evidence and witness statements indicate that Slieff was speeding when he rear-ended a Toyota sedan stopped at a red light
The passenger of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene
while the driver remains in critical condition
Police say alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash
Slieff has been charged with the following:
The Sarasota Police Department’s Traffic Unit is continuing to investigate this crash
Anyone with information about this crash is asked to call the Sarasota Police Department at 941-263-6025
Slieff is being held in the Sarasota County Jail without bond
This post was updated because a previous version contained incomplete information
Sarasota County commissioners have slammed the brakes on a plan to split the $28 million cost of a road widening with a planned super development called Hi-Hat Ranch
The County Commission faced immediate backlash on social media for what many saw as the public subsidizing a private development when it agreed in January to pay $14 million to widen a portion Bee Ridge Road from Bent Tree Boulevard to Lorraine Road
even though officials said there is no need for it beyond access for the development
This week the commission directed its staff to bring the agreement back to them within six months
The board also decided to hold a public workshop on the road plan in the meantime
The County Commission last month voted 4-1 to split the cost of the road with Hi-Hat Ranch’s developer
The Hi-Hat Ranch development calls for 13,000 homes on 10,000 acres stretching between Clark and Fruitville roads about four miles east of Interstate 75
Hi-Hat has access to both Clark and Fruitville
The developer of Hi Hat Ranch said it would pay the to extend Bee Ridge Road for about a mile from Lorraine Road eastward into the planned housing community on the ranch's east side
The ranch sought the road widening of Bee Ridge to its property
along with other improvements to the eastern end of the road because development plans are for the project's first phase to be on the west side
not along the ranch's current access points to public roads
According to a memo by county Planning and Development Services Director Matt Osterhoudt obtained by the Herald-Tribune
the developer estimated last October that the road widening would cost $14 million – which it would pay for
that projected cost had doubled with a new estimate by the engineering firm Kimley-Horn
with the county to pick up half of the cost and right-of-way property issues also in the plan
The entire road deal was negotiated by Alan Maio – a principal at Kimley-Horn and former Sarasota County Commissioner
Knight criticized the deal again on Facebook
“Apparently county staff KNEW this was a bad deal from the beginning and they KNEW that it would make an already bad traffic problem much worse, but somewhere along the line they flipped and actually RECOMMENDED that the commission pass it,” Knight posted, along with an angry emoji, in reference to reporting by the Florida Trident.
Commission Chairman Joe Neunder first brought the topic up Tuesday as soon as the meeting began
“Last agenda meeting we had a discussion on the Hi-Hat Ranch negotiation and deal,” Neunder began
a lot of thought and information has been brought to my attention
Neunder then asked if there was a board consensus to direct county staff to not move forward with its Hi-Hat agreement
The commission chair said he wanted to take a much closer look at the details
“I think we want to reconsider some things and ask some more questions,” Knight said
“This is a big project that involves millions of millions of citizens’ dollars.”
The commissioner called for an “open dialogue” workshop
Both motions to stop the road deal and do conduct the workshop passed unanimously
Knight asked whether there was a county need for this project now
the driving nexus for widening Bee Ridge Road would be that development," Osterhoudt told Knight
Sarasota County spokesperson Jamie Carson said in an email that the workshop will be scheduled for some time before the six-month deadline
“The commissioners will be able to provide their questions about the topic to staff before the workshop so that staff will be able to gather information and data for the workshop,” Carson said
Herald-Tribune Staff Writer Derek Gilliam contributed to this story
The Sarasota Orchestra announced that a donor has given a total of $60 million to advance the planning and construction of orchestra's new Music Center
the center will be the area's first concert hall built specifically for acoustic music
The $60 million gift is one of the largest to any orchestra nationwide
and a record-setting philanthropic contribution for performing arts organizations in Florida
Moved by Sarasota Orchestra’s dedication to build a future home for the Music Center
the donor—who wants to remain anonymous—initially made a $10 million gift to help the orchestra purchase the land for the center
They later committed $50 million to advance the planning of the Music Center for a total of $60 million
“These gifts are not only a humbling display of the donor’s generosity
but also underscore their belief in Sarasota Orchestra’s artistic and educational excellence," says Sarasota Orchestra president and CEO Joseph McKenna
says they see their gifts as a legacy project
the Music Center will comprise a concert hall
native landscaping and multiple rehearsal and practice rooms
The facilities will add needed capacity for Sarasota Orchestra and other regional performing arts organizations that face challenges securing performance and rehearsal dates
The center will also provide expanded space and opportunities for the growth of youth orchestra programs
The orchestra’s previous feasibility study estimated project costs between $375 million and $425 million
with a final project goal to be determined and approved by the orchestra's board of directors in early 2026
(WWSB) - A downed tree near Cardinal Mooney High School is causing traffic issues
Westbound lanes are down to one lane and eastbound lanes are currently closed at Beneva
Please be prepared for long waits if you are headed to school
Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInUPDATE: All lanes are now open
(WWSB) - First responders are at the scene of an injury crash on I-75 SB near Fruitville Road
The crash is on the SB shoulder of the Interstate near exit 211
First responders are blocking the far right lane
the public will have the opportunity to visit this massive new brewery
which is in the burgeoning Fruitville Commons neighborhood
Best waterfront restaurants: 10 favorites I love to recommend in Sarasota and Bradenton
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restaurant and beer garden today in Sarasota's Fruitville Commons"We open at 4 p.m
tomorrow," Seidensticker texted me late Monday
"Dinner only this week then full open for lunch and dinner starting on Monday (June 11)."
Big Top made the official announcement via social media
"The moment you’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived!" reads the post
"We are thrilled to announce that Big Top Brewing Co.’s brand new location is officially open
Join us for an unforgettable evening of craft beer
we are open exclusively for dinner from 4 p.m
To ensure everyone has a wonderful experience
The last reservation of the evening will be taken at 8:45 p.m."
Reservations can be made by emailing Kaylee at KKERN@clearplateconcepts.com
Parties of six or more may be sat at two different tables but next to each other
Big Top Brewing opens its new facility and will begin brewing its beer there "to keep up with demand," Bisaha told me in March
Big Top's new facility aims to be a community meeting spot
“Sarasota has never seen anything like this
and that gets us the most excited," Bisaha said
"We built and designed this place for family and friends to gather.”
In addition to brewing and serving its beloved beers
Big Top's new facility features a restaurant
full-liquor bar and beer garden with lawn games
Seidensticker and Guli have crafted food and drink menus that should appeal to the customer base they built at Oak & Stone
Libby's and Circo without using the same recipes
"It’s really elevated brewery food," Seidensticker told me in March
Highlights of the menu include wood-fired pizzas with hand-pulled mozzarella and other artisanal toppings
a signature burger with a brisket blend and Manchego cheese as well as a vegan option consisting of a house-made falafel patty
and tacos such as the Cubano with mojo pork and Nashville Hot with tofu
There are also a bunch of "beer bites" such as Giant Chicken Meatballs
and spicy tuna served on top of crispy sushi rice
in addition to "kitchen specialties" such as crispy chicken breast served with pesto
as well as a barbecue platter for two featuring Hazy Sky Wire-braised 48-hour ribs
While most Big Top guests will want to pair their food with locally brewed beer
there are wine and cocktail options such as a margarita that the menu describes as a "balancing act between sweet and tart." Other mixed drinks include a daiquiri that is "strong and punchy
just like Ernest Hemingway," and a smoked old fashioned laced with locally sourced honey
it's really exciting to bring the food and management aspect to this unique space that is groundbreaking for this area," Seidensticker said
"We know what we want to see at these places and this is our hometown
and we wanted to knock this one out of the park."
with 200 inside and 500 outside in the 28,000-square-foot beer garden featuring two huge oak trees
There's everything from 30 televisions to three big fire pits at Big Top
a game played with wooden balls shaped like cheese wheels
an option that the owners are considering for the future
he sounded most excited about the food that he will be able to pair with his acclaimed beers
he's most excited about the pizza and the meatballs
"Those are things out of our realm of expertise
which is why we wanted to partner with Joe and Joe to put out food that represents the beer well
and beer that represents the food well," Bisaha said
"We wanted to make sure our world-class beer could be paired with exceptional food."
The Sarasota County Commission has approved a general plan that will open up the central portion of Hi-Hat Ranch for development by paying half the cost for the widening of Bee Ridge Road deep in rural east Sarasota County with taxpayer money on county-owned land
The developer of the Hi-Hat Ranch would pay for the cost of the mile-long extension despite the 10,000-acre property already having access to Fruitville and Clark roads
Other road improvements in the area are also planned
Sarasota County staff told commissioners there is currently no transportation need for the extension beyond serving the development project
Hi-Hat Ranch received approval in 2021 to build up to 13,000 homes on the sprawling property about four miles east of Interstate 75
near Lorraine Road between Fruitville and Clark roads
Hi-Hat developers sought the land deal because their current plans are for the project's first phase to be near the Bee Ridge Road extension
Bee Ridge Road widening talks involved former county commissionerThe land deal — under negotiation since at least September 2023 — was reached last December with the help of former two-term County Commissioner Al Maio
a principal with engineering firm Kimley-Horn who had also previously served on the county's planning board
The project's cost to taxpayers is currently estimated at $14 million
which happens to also be the estimated mobility fees the development would pay for the construction of the roughly 3,000 homes built in the first phase
Mobility fees are one-time payments by developers to local governments to help fund transportation infrastructure
meaning the entire first phase's fees to offset transportation impacts will be spent on extending Bee Ridge to the developer's property line and widening about a mile of Bee Ridge Road to four lanes west of the ranch
The county would also temporarily swap some property with the developer in exchange for land that could be used to widen Fruitville Road
which would also benefit the developer's project by adding traffic capacity along a major road future residents will use to access the Hi-Hat Ranch development
The developer would dedicate the roadway built through the county's land back to the county after the Bee Ridge Road extension is constructed
according to the county presentation on Tuesday afternoon
The land deal would see the developer extend Bee Ridge Road through the county's land where Sarasota County has an Animal Services station and a waste water treatment facility while also widening a mile-long section of Bee Ridge between Bent Tree Boulevard and Lorraine Road
The Hi-Hat developer would also cover the cost of expanding the roundabout at Lorraine and Bee Ridge Road to four lanes
The developer would begin construction within six months of all terms in the land deal being accomplished and complete the project within two years
The County Commission voted 4-1 to approve the terms
with a formal agreement to come back to the county later
even as some commissioners seemed uncomfortable with whether the project meets a county growth policy that requires development projects to not impact county budgets
Both Commissioners Mark Smith and Tom Knight raised questions about this "fiscal neutrality" policy after concerns hearing concerns from constituents
Critics of increasing east county development have for years pointed to the thousands of approved but not yet built homes in Sarasota County as budget busters for roads
despite the county's policy stating that development projects should pay for themselves
the county's director of planning and development services
told Smith that fiscal neutrality becomes an issue later in the development review process
the only commissioner to vote against the project
asked whether there was a county need for this project now
While Knight pressed Osterhoudt on the details of the project
other county commissioners viewed the deal's elements as positive
noting that growth in that area of the county would require the improvements sooner rather than later
County Commissioner Teresa Mast said the developer would invest "$50 million of infrastructure improvements that will be made that will not come from taxpayer dollars."
Osterhoudt said he could not confirm the $50 million figure
but that the improvements would be "a public benefit for the long-term for our thoroughfare plan."
Commissioner Ron Cutsinger pointed to the long negotiation period
noting he viewed the results as a "fair deal."
"I think it's good for the county," he said
"I think it's good for future growth and I'm going to support it."
(WWSB) - The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol are investigating a crash that happened in Sarasota County over the weekend leaving westbound and eastbound lanes of Fruitville Road at Vic Edwards Road closed for hours
a pick-up truck swerved into the wrong lane crashing into another truck head-on
The 24-year-old driver from Lakewood Ranch and his passenger of the first truck were hospitalized and critically injured
The 70-year-old driver from Sarasota of the second pick-up walked away with minor injuries
(WWSB) - The Sarasota Police Department has upgraded the charge against Joshua Slieff from D.U.I
with Serious Bodily Injury (felony) to D.U.I
This change follows the passing of the driver