Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Today's Sarasota Herald announced "Sarasota could be a 'WALDORF' city".
Now if you ever had any doubts about the potential for this area's explosive growth in the near future...read this article! We all know what the addition of the Ritz-Carlton did for Sarasota's world wide image. Now imagine what the combination of this project (Lion's Gate) and the old Quay BILLION dollar development across US 41 from each other will do for this city!
Both mammoth projects will be marketed internationally with enormous focus on our city throughout the world.
please read on...
Article published May 16, 2007
SARASOTA -- Hilton Hotels Corp. has signed a tentative agreement to bring the Waldorf-Astoria brand to Sarasota -- part of a push to expand the famed New York hotel flag nationwide.If Waldorf-Astoria does eventually anchor Lion's Gate Development Group Inc.'s planned Proscenium project, designed for a six-acre tract on U.S. Highway 41 near downtown, it would be the latest evidence that the nation's premier brands, retailers and investors remain focused on Southwest Florida."Hilton is rolling the concept out," said Lion's Gate president Gary Moyer about the Waldorf-Astoria Collection hotel line, "and they're looking for gateway cities to enter."Within the past year, upscale department store Nordstrom Inc. and massive equity fund Blackstone Group Inc. have made major investments in the region. The companies hope to capitalize on the area's existing wealth, along with the increased mobility and spending power of the estimated 78 million baby boomers who will retire with unprecedented inherited fortunes.Hotel chains like Waldorf-Astoria, Westin and others are eyeing Sunbelt and Southern resort cities as attractive destinations for international travelers able to take advantage of favorable monetary exchange rates."Names like Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis and Waldorf-Astoria are synonymous with great places and great cities, and Waldorf-Astoria would be a good fit," said Kevin Daves, co-owner of the 266-room Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the resort that ushered in the current wave of upscale brand interest locally when it opened in 2001."If you develop a checklist of things people want, with our weather, arts, cultural, beaches, Sarasota has just about everything," Daves added. "For a lot of brands, being here is more a question of why not than why."The Proscenium Waldorf-Astoria, a Hilton brand that for decades has been linked exclusively to a 47-story, five-star hotel in midtown Manhattan, is being designed to contain 225 rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting space.Lion's Gate also intends to buy the Coquina on the Beach Resort, on Lido Key, and develop a 57-room hotel with amenities such as a cafe and swimming pool. It also would be operated by Waldorf-Astoria."This says there are serious commitments for, and to, Sarasota, and it dovetails with the larger trends of things going upscale in the U.S. travel market," said Virginia Haley, president of the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau."Waldorf-Astoria would give us the three major brands in the entire industry right here: Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton/Marriott, and Hilton," Haley added.A Waldorf-Astoria official, citing Hilton policy, declined to confirm the chain's involvement with Proscenium."Sarasota is definitely a market that is desirable for customers" of the Waldorf-Astoria level, said Jeanne Datz Rice, a Waldorf-Astoria spokeswoman. "We'd love to see it go through."Lion's Gate and architect Perkins Eastman, of New York, plan to augment the five-star hotel, which will be housed in an 18-story building on U.S. 41 from Fourth Street to Boulevard of the Arts, with 360,000 square feet of office and retail space and an 800-seat performing arts center.Unlike several planned real estate projects, Proscenium will not be reliant on, or dominated by, residences. Only 175 are planned, including 50 that will be managed by Waldorf-Astoria.If the planned luxury hotel reaches fruition, it would become one of only eight Waldorf-Astoria hotels worldwide, joining New York; Phoenix; La Quinta, Calif.; Maui, Hawaii; and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Another pair of Waldorf-Astoria hotels are under construction in Beverly Hills, Calif., and Bonnet Creek, near Orlando.Both will open in late 2009. Lion's Gate hopes to complete the Proscenium project in late 2010.The original Waldorf-Astoria debuted in 1893 and opened in its current site 38 years later.The 1,245-room hotel, owned by Hilton since 1949, remains one of the world's most posh and is among the most recognizable names in the world.More locally, Lion's Gate intends to hold a design workshop with Sarasota city planners later this month to tackle what are expected to be traffic and other issues.Moyer said the development team will be "proactive" regarding traffic and parking."Our project will be a modern interpretation of the classic," said Karen Cook, Moyer's wife and a Lion's Gate vice president.
Now if you ever had any doubts about the potential for this area's explosive growth in the near future...read this article! We all know what the addition of the Ritz-Carlton did for Sarasota's world wide image. Now imagine what the combination of this project (Lion's Gate) and the old Quay BILLION dollar development across US 41 from each other will do for this city!
Both mammoth projects will be marketed internationally with enormous focus on our city throughout the world.
please read on...
Article published May 16, 2007
SARASOTA -- Hilton Hotels Corp. has signed a tentative agreement to bring the Waldorf-Astoria brand to Sarasota -- part of a push to expand the famed New York hotel flag nationwide.If Waldorf-Astoria does eventually anchor Lion's Gate Development Group Inc.'s planned Proscenium project, designed for a six-acre tract on U.S. Highway 41 near downtown, it would be the latest evidence that the nation's premier brands, retailers and investors remain focused on Southwest Florida."Hilton is rolling the concept out," said Lion's Gate president Gary Moyer about the Waldorf-Astoria Collection hotel line, "and they're looking for gateway cities to enter."Within the past year, upscale department store Nordstrom Inc. and massive equity fund Blackstone Group Inc. have made major investments in the region. The companies hope to capitalize on the area's existing wealth, along with the increased mobility and spending power of the estimated 78 million baby boomers who will retire with unprecedented inherited fortunes.Hotel chains like Waldorf-Astoria, Westin and others are eyeing Sunbelt and Southern resort cities as attractive destinations for international travelers able to take advantage of favorable monetary exchange rates."Names like Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis and Waldorf-Astoria are synonymous with great places and great cities, and Waldorf-Astoria would be a good fit," said Kevin Daves, co-owner of the 266-room Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the resort that ushered in the current wave of upscale brand interest locally when it opened in 2001."If you develop a checklist of things people want, with our weather, arts, cultural, beaches, Sarasota has just about everything," Daves added. "For a lot of brands, being here is more a question of why not than why."The Proscenium Waldorf-Astoria, a Hilton brand that for decades has been linked exclusively to a 47-story, five-star hotel in midtown Manhattan, is being designed to contain 225 rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting space.Lion's Gate also intends to buy the Coquina on the Beach Resort, on Lido Key, and develop a 57-room hotel with amenities such as a cafe and swimming pool. It also would be operated by Waldorf-Astoria."This says there are serious commitments for, and to, Sarasota, and it dovetails with the larger trends of things going upscale in the U.S. travel market," said Virginia Haley, president of the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau."Waldorf-Astoria would give us the three major brands in the entire industry right here: Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton/Marriott, and Hilton," Haley added.A Waldorf-Astoria official, citing Hilton policy, declined to confirm the chain's involvement with Proscenium."Sarasota is definitely a market that is desirable for customers" of the Waldorf-Astoria level, said Jeanne Datz Rice, a Waldorf-Astoria spokeswoman. "We'd love to see it go through."Lion's Gate and architect Perkins Eastman, of New York, plan to augment the five-star hotel, which will be housed in an 18-story building on U.S. 41 from Fourth Street to Boulevard of the Arts, with 360,000 square feet of office and retail space and an 800-seat performing arts center.Unlike several planned real estate projects, Proscenium will not be reliant on, or dominated by, residences. Only 175 are planned, including 50 that will be managed by Waldorf-Astoria.If the planned luxury hotel reaches fruition, it would become one of only eight Waldorf-Astoria hotels worldwide, joining New York; Phoenix; La Quinta, Calif.; Maui, Hawaii; and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Another pair of Waldorf-Astoria hotels are under construction in Beverly Hills, Calif., and Bonnet Creek, near Orlando.Both will open in late 2009. Lion's Gate hopes to complete the Proscenium project in late 2010.The original Waldorf-Astoria debuted in 1893 and opened in its current site 38 years later.The 1,245-room hotel, owned by Hilton since 1949, remains one of the world's most posh and is among the most recognizable names in the world.More locally, Lion's Gate intends to hold a design workshop with Sarasota city planners later this month to tackle what are expected to be traffic and other issues.Moyer said the development team will be "proactive" regarding traffic and parking."Our project will be a modern interpretation of the classic," said Karen Cook, Moyer's wife and a Lion's Gate vice president.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
RIVO PREVIEW
Maureen and I went by Rivo at Ringling Wednesday and got a preview of the just completed condos there. The event was hosted by our friend Louise Guido and she did a great job as usual. The food was yummy and Michael Flannigan brought the wine. Rivo sales consultant, Diane Skelly, was knowledgeable and fun. We got the chance to see 10 different units and found a lot to like: great views, spacious rooms, beautiful atrium, quality construction, and ample amenities. Most units are sold by now but there are a few resales and about 11 developer units still available. Prices are from the mid 500s to just over 1.5 million. We both felt the "bang for the buck" was better here than most other projects completed to date. Location was good (near upper Main) but some of the lower units will have thier bay views blocked by other buildings on lower Main. Hey no big deal...it's DOWNTOWN!
Maureen and I went by Rivo at Ringling Wednesday and got a preview of the just completed condos there. The event was hosted by our friend Louise Guido and she did a great job as usual. The food was yummy and Michael Flannigan brought the wine. Rivo sales consultant, Diane Skelly, was knowledgeable and fun. We got the chance to see 10 different units and found a lot to like: great views, spacious rooms, beautiful atrium, quality construction, and ample amenities. Most units are sold by now but there are a few resales and about 11 developer units still available. Prices are from the mid 500s to just over 1.5 million. We both felt the "bang for the buck" was better here than most other projects completed to date. Location was good (near upper Main) but some of the lower units will have thier bay views blocked by other buildings on lower Main. Hey no big deal...it's DOWNTOWN!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Downtown Sarasota was the place to be yesterday as the Sarasota County Arts Council had their 17th annual Arts Day. Fantastic sunny and warm weather greeted the crowds of people who came out for the event. Some of the performers and exhibitors included Ringling School of Art and Design students, dancers from the Florida Ballet Arts Academy, and Juliana Parente, who performed with the Rhythms Dance Studio. Palm Avenue was the perfect location for the event with it's many galleries and antique shops. What a great city we live in!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
More big news for downtown! Another posh hotel may join the Ritz and Quay projects near Fruitville and US 41. Here's the article in today's newspaper about the project:
SARASOTA -- A local development firm is proposing a massive mix of hotel rooms, condominiums and commercial space for a downtown site on U.S. 41 that would rival the planned Sarasota's Quay revival in financial size and scope.Lion's Gate Development Group Inc.'s plans call for as many as 300 upscale condos and 250 hotel rooms operated by Four Seasons or another luxury chain.The Sarasota company also hopes to develop up to 360,000 square feet of high-end retail and office space, and provide an entertainment component such as a theater or small art cinema.In all, it estimates the project would cost $750 million to $1 billion to design and build."What is really exciting about this is that it's a truly mixed-use development," said Gary Moyer, president of Lion's Gate. "We envision it as a place where you can work, a place where you can shop, have a drink, eat, stay at a luxury hotel. That mix is the key to the whole project."The centerpiece, proposed for a six-acre swath from Fourth Street to Sixth Street, would be a five-star hotel with 40,000 square feet of meeting space -- twice as much as in the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.Although neither Moyer nor company Vice President Karen Cook would comment, citing confidentiality agreements, it is believed Lion's Gate has a tentative pact with Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts Inc.Officials from Four Seasons, which hopes to open as many as eight new properties annually, according to its Web site, did not return a telephone call for comment.If Four Seasons does commit, it would mark the second time the Toronto-based hotelier has considered Sarasota.A decade ago, when plans to develop a Ritz-Carlton were jelling on an 11-acre tract on U.S. 41 at First Street, Four Seasons scouted the area and met with local economic development officials.Kathy Baylis, president of the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County, said the company sought demographic and other material. Four Seasons has not contacted her of late, she said.To make the project more palatable to Four Seasons, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts or InterContinental Hotels, Moyer said Lion's Gate also has signed a contract to buy a site on Lido Beach, near the Ritz-Carlton's $30 million Beach Club.There, Lion's Gate hopes to obtain approvals to develop up to 59 hotel rooms and related space. That way, guests of the five-star hotel could have both a downtown and beach experience, Moyer said."The opportunity would allow the hotel operator to offer beach access and amenities, and also provide hotel rooms for rent on the beach," said Cook, who had until recently worked as a commercial agent and broker at Michael Saunders & Co. Inc.She and Moyer, who are married, are jointly developing the San Marco Plaza in Lakewood Ranch.Lion's Gate intends to make a formal submittal for its project to city officials within 30 days, Moyer said. If approvals are obtained, Lion's Gate would begin construction sometime in early 2008, and complete the project in phases beginning in 2010.Lion's Gate has retained renowned New York-based architect Perkins Eastman and local firm Lawson Group Inc. to design the 400 N. Tamiami Trail project.The firm also is working with Freedman Consulting & Development LLC, a leading Sarasota land planning firm.It has also hired Hotel Dynamics, a company led by the former head of Prudential Life Insurance Co.'s hospitality division, to assist with the hotel.Tourism officials said a new, five-star hotel would boost marketing spending on the area and allow Sarasota to attract larger, higher-end meetings that presently are unable to squeeze into the 266-room Ritz-Carlton."Sarasota offers enough downtown amenities to make such a project attractive," said Virginia Haley, president of the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Look where the demand is in Sarasota; it's for hotel rooms in town."Even the proposed hotel's chief competitor acknowledged a Four Seasons or like brand would help, not hurt, business.Jim McManemon, the $130 million Ritz-Carlton's general manager, said a second five-star hotel would "reaffirm what the Ritz-Carlton did by opening in 2001.""If Four Seasons came, it would be great for Sarasota and great for us," McManemon said. "Four Seasons is a very good name. It's luxury. If they chose to come here, it would say something."Four Seasons, which operates 73 hotels worldwide, has just a single lodging property in Florida, in Miami. Its average hotel contains 250 rooms.But Lion's Gate's project faces a series of regulatory and other hurdles.The biggest challenge will be traffic generation, and in meeting state and city concurrency rules.To achieve the density it proposes, Lion's Gate also might require a series of zoning changes.Perception could also be an issue, because the tony project would sit directly across Cocoanut Avenue from the Sarasota Housing Authority's 11-story McCown Towers, a 101-unit apartment complex occupied by senior citizens and poor, handicapped individuals.But Moyer said McCown Towers' presence won't be an issue. Moreover, he said Lion's Gate is considering ways to alleviate potential gridlock and meet traffic concurrency.He is buoyed by the fact that in addition to U.S. 41, the site has access from Cocoanut Avenue and roads east.For now, the Lion's Gate team said they are confident and optimistic about the project."Hopefully the city will be just as excited about it as we are," Moyer said.
SARASOTA -- A local development firm is proposing a massive mix of hotel rooms, condominiums and commercial space for a downtown site on U.S. 41 that would rival the planned Sarasota's Quay revival in financial size and scope.Lion's Gate Development Group Inc.'s plans call for as many as 300 upscale condos and 250 hotel rooms operated by Four Seasons or another luxury chain.The Sarasota company also hopes to develop up to 360,000 square feet of high-end retail and office space, and provide an entertainment component such as a theater or small art cinema.In all, it estimates the project would cost $750 million to $1 billion to design and build."What is really exciting about this is that it's a truly mixed-use development," said Gary Moyer, president of Lion's Gate. "We envision it as a place where you can work, a place where you can shop, have a drink, eat, stay at a luxury hotel. That mix is the key to the whole project."The centerpiece, proposed for a six-acre swath from Fourth Street to Sixth Street, would be a five-star hotel with 40,000 square feet of meeting space -- twice as much as in the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.Although neither Moyer nor company Vice President Karen Cook would comment, citing confidentiality agreements, it is believed Lion's Gate has a tentative pact with Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts Inc.Officials from Four Seasons, which hopes to open as many as eight new properties annually, according to its Web site, did not return a telephone call for comment.If Four Seasons does commit, it would mark the second time the Toronto-based hotelier has considered Sarasota.A decade ago, when plans to develop a Ritz-Carlton were jelling on an 11-acre tract on U.S. 41 at First Street, Four Seasons scouted the area and met with local economic development officials.Kathy Baylis, president of the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County, said the company sought demographic and other material. Four Seasons has not contacted her of late, she said.To make the project more palatable to Four Seasons, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts or InterContinental Hotels, Moyer said Lion's Gate also has signed a contract to buy a site on Lido Beach, near the Ritz-Carlton's $30 million Beach Club.There, Lion's Gate hopes to obtain approvals to develop up to 59 hotel rooms and related space. That way, guests of the five-star hotel could have both a downtown and beach experience, Moyer said."The opportunity would allow the hotel operator to offer beach access and amenities, and also provide hotel rooms for rent on the beach," said Cook, who had until recently worked as a commercial agent and broker at Michael Saunders & Co. Inc.She and Moyer, who are married, are jointly developing the San Marco Plaza in Lakewood Ranch.Lion's Gate intends to make a formal submittal for its project to city officials within 30 days, Moyer said. If approvals are obtained, Lion's Gate would begin construction sometime in early 2008, and complete the project in phases beginning in 2010.Lion's Gate has retained renowned New York-based architect Perkins Eastman and local firm Lawson Group Inc. to design the 400 N. Tamiami Trail project.The firm also is working with Freedman Consulting & Development LLC, a leading Sarasota land planning firm.It has also hired Hotel Dynamics, a company led by the former head of Prudential Life Insurance Co.'s hospitality division, to assist with the hotel.Tourism officials said a new, five-star hotel would boost marketing spending on the area and allow Sarasota to attract larger, higher-end meetings that presently are unable to squeeze into the 266-room Ritz-Carlton."Sarasota offers enough downtown amenities to make such a project attractive," said Virginia Haley, president of the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Look where the demand is in Sarasota; it's for hotel rooms in town."Even the proposed hotel's chief competitor acknowledged a Four Seasons or like brand would help, not hurt, business.Jim McManemon, the $130 million Ritz-Carlton's general manager, said a second five-star hotel would "reaffirm what the Ritz-Carlton did by opening in 2001.""If Four Seasons came, it would be great for Sarasota and great for us," McManemon said. "Four Seasons is a very good name. It's luxury. If they chose to come here, it would say something."Four Seasons, which operates 73 hotels worldwide, has just a single lodging property in Florida, in Miami. Its average hotel contains 250 rooms.But Lion's Gate's project faces a series of regulatory and other hurdles.The biggest challenge will be traffic generation, and in meeting state and city concurrency rules.To achieve the density it proposes, Lion's Gate also might require a series of zoning changes.Perception could also be an issue, because the tony project would sit directly across Cocoanut Avenue from the Sarasota Housing Authority's 11-story McCown Towers, a 101-unit apartment complex occupied by senior citizens and poor, handicapped individuals.But Moyer said McCown Towers' presence won't be an issue. Moreover, he said Lion's Gate is considering ways to alleviate potential gridlock and meet traffic concurrency.He is buoyed by the fact that in addition to U.S. 41, the site has access from Cocoanut Avenue and roads east.For now, the Lion's Gate team said they are confident and optimistic about the project."Hopefully the city will be just as excited about it as we are," Moyer said.
Monday, August 14, 2006
SARASOTA ASKED TO CONSIDER "SKY PLAZA" - See Image
SARASOTA -- First it was a 107-foot-wide bridge, then a 27-foot-tall statue.The next big thing to be proposed for Sarasota's bayfront: a 180-foot-long platform that would hang over U.S. 41 traffic, forming a sort of elevated concrete park for pedestrians on their way from downtown to the water.Those who are championing the $7 million "sky plaza" say it's needed to help residents and tourists safely cross the busy thoroughfare.City commissioners got their first glimpse of the plans on Wednesday."I think it looks like something out of the 'Jetsons'," said Mayor Fredd "Glossie" Atkins. "I'm willing to look at other options."
That's OK with the sky plaza's supporters -- who just want the pedestrian issue to be addressed."Traffic keeps getting more concentrated," said resident Gil Waters, also of a group called Mobility Now. "The complaints from downtown residents keep increasing. This is the right time to be planning for downtown."Foes are already lining up against the colorful sky plaza, which could have sitting areas and even an ice cream stand."The only things that are missing are a ringmaster and a calliope," said downtown resident Tom Pocorobba. "I think this will be an eyesore. It serves no functional purpose."
John Moran, president of the Downtown Sarasota Condo Association, sees another "Unconditional Surrender" on Sarasota's hands.Like the giant statue of the kissing sailor and nurse that was on the bayfront for months, the sky plaza seems to be a polarizing force. The 107-foot-wide John Ringling Causeway bridge, the other grand public project in the neighborhood, caused similar debate in the 1990s.
Moran, who was among those who spoke in favor of the sky plaza, emphasized that the drawing is just a concept and not the final product."We have to come together for something that's universally acceptable," he said. "It's clear we're together on the goal."The sky plaza, suspended from huge concrete arches, would span 180 feet across U.S. 41. It would hang 20 feet over traffic. Pedestrians could get to the escalators and elevators from Main Street.Waters said he believes that residents could raise more than $1 million for the sky plaza. Supporters would like the city to put up $4 million. Commissioners sat silent through the presentation, but shared their concerns later."It's too big," said Commissioner Lou Ann Palmer. "It's intense."But Palmer is willing to look at helping residents and tourists reach the bayfront from downtown."
We know we have to do something about easier access across (U.S.) 41," she said.Save Our Sarasota, a local advocacy group that has voiced concerns about downtown development, has also opposed the plaza. Members say it is "inappropriate in character and overwhelming in scale and would detract from the beauty of our bayfront," according to an e-mail. Residents who opposed the sky plaza gathered outside the City Commission chambers."If anything else, it's shocking us into paying attention," said resident Martie Lieberman.
By MIKE SAEWITZ
mike.saewitz@heraldtribune.com
SARASOTA -- First it was a 107-foot-wide bridge, then a 27-foot-tall statue.The next big thing to be proposed for Sarasota's bayfront: a 180-foot-long platform that would hang over U.S. 41 traffic, forming a sort of elevated concrete park for pedestrians on their way from downtown to the water.Those who are championing the $7 million "sky plaza" say it's needed to help residents and tourists safely cross the busy thoroughfare.City commissioners got their first glimpse of the plans on Wednesday."I think it looks like something out of the 'Jetsons'," said Mayor Fredd "Glossie" Atkins. "I'm willing to look at other options."
That's OK with the sky plaza's supporters -- who just want the pedestrian issue to be addressed."Traffic keeps getting more concentrated," said resident Gil Waters, also of a group called Mobility Now. "The complaints from downtown residents keep increasing. This is the right time to be planning for downtown."Foes are already lining up against the colorful sky plaza, which could have sitting areas and even an ice cream stand."The only things that are missing are a ringmaster and a calliope," said downtown resident Tom Pocorobba. "I think this will be an eyesore. It serves no functional purpose."
John Moran, president of the Downtown Sarasota Condo Association, sees another "Unconditional Surrender" on Sarasota's hands.Like the giant statue of the kissing sailor and nurse that was on the bayfront for months, the sky plaza seems to be a polarizing force. The 107-foot-wide John Ringling Causeway bridge, the other grand public project in the neighborhood, caused similar debate in the 1990s.
Moran, who was among those who spoke in favor of the sky plaza, emphasized that the drawing is just a concept and not the final product."We have to come together for something that's universally acceptable," he said. "It's clear we're together on the goal."The sky plaza, suspended from huge concrete arches, would span 180 feet across U.S. 41. It would hang 20 feet over traffic. Pedestrians could get to the escalators and elevators from Main Street.Waters said he believes that residents could raise more than $1 million for the sky plaza. Supporters would like the city to put up $4 million. Commissioners sat silent through the presentation, but shared their concerns later."It's too big," said Commissioner Lou Ann Palmer. "It's intense."But Palmer is willing to look at helping residents and tourists reach the bayfront from downtown."
We know we have to do something about easier access across (U.S.) 41," she said.Save Our Sarasota, a local advocacy group that has voiced concerns about downtown development, has also opposed the plaza. Members say it is "inappropriate in character and overwhelming in scale and would detract from the beauty of our bayfront," according to an e-mail. Residents who opposed the sky plaza gathered outside the City Commission chambers."If anything else, it's shocking us into paying attention," said resident Martie Lieberman.
By MIKE SAEWITZ
mike.saewitz@heraldtribune.com
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
PARTY AT RIVO ON RINGLING TOMMORROW!
Got the announcement that there is an agent/broker party over at the hot downtown Sarasota Rivo on Ringling new construction project! As you know, I went over to the broker tour at Kanaya a few weeks ago and reported all about it. I will absolutely do the same for Rivo tomorrow. I am starting to go crazy with the direct upload Audio Blog feature here so I will most probably call in a report while standing on the roof gazing at the Sarasota bay views! I love these tours as it really gives you a look at how the building is put together - in its raw stage. Rivo on Ringling is a project I have been watching progress from the ground-breaking and it really is spectacular.
Got the announcement that there is an agent/broker party over at the hot downtown Sarasota Rivo on Ringling new construction project! As you know, I went over to the broker tour at Kanaya a few weeks ago and reported all about it. I will absolutely do the same for Rivo tomorrow. I am starting to go crazy with the direct upload Audio Blog feature here so I will most probably call in a report while standing on the roof gazing at the Sarasota bay views! I love these tours as it really gives you a look at how the building is put together - in its raw stage. Rivo on Ringling is a project I have been watching progress from the ground-breaking and it really is spectacular.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
THEY ARE A COMIN' DOWN
Took the kids over to the Marina Jack park yesterday (the waterpark is a great place to get 3 kids tired out in the summer) and saw the first public indication of the Quay re-developement. The Splash building on the corner of US41 and Fruitville road is no-longer. They had the bulldozers out there clearing the land with eyes on the other buildings around the Quay landmark. The Irish born developer is set to change the layout of the downtown sarasota bayfront. It will be interesting over the next couple months. I'll keep you updated. E-Mail or Call Office - (941) 377-4854 x315 with any downtown condo real estate questions, or any others you may have.
Took the kids over to the Marina Jack park yesterday (the waterpark is a great place to get 3 kids tired out in the summer) and saw the first public indication of the Quay re-developement. The Splash building on the corner of US41 and Fruitville road is no-longer. They had the bulldozers out there clearing the land with eyes on the other buildings around the Quay landmark. The Irish born developer is set to change the layout of the downtown sarasota bayfront. It will be interesting over the next couple months. I'll keep you updated. E-Mail or Call Office - (941) 377-4854 x315 with any downtown condo real estate questions, or any others you may have.
