Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/143399
Sarasota News Leader July 12, 2013 Page 40 "This will actually help protect neighborhoods, because instead of always going to the highest bidder who will build the most intense use, we can actually pick someone who will build something that fits in the character of the neighborhood," Robinson pointed out. Both developers plan to include public parking spaces to replace those currently used while people are conducting county business, said County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh. 301 and Main Street in downtown Sarasota as surplus property and approved a timetable for an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) aimed at bringing development to the site, which serves as a parking lot. Barbetta voiced concern that advertising the property for even 15 days longer, combined with a lengthy negotiating period, could cause the county to "end up missing" an upswing in the real estate market. Hines said the U.S. 301 parcel is "too good" for use as a parking garage because of its prime The new ordinance provides "more flexibility in returning the property to tax rolls," said Lin location downtown. Kurant, real property manager for Sarasota Commissioners disagreed about the timeCounty. frame to advertise the property. Barbetta and Robinson pushed for the 45-day period, while U.S. 301 AND MAIN STREET Hines and Commissioner Nora Patterson arThe commissioners on July 9 also approved a gued for at least 60 days. Hines said the lonresolution declaring two parcels as "surplus property," the first step in a process to sell or ger period would give prospective national developers time to get information about the transfer ownership of the land. initiation to negotiate and submit a bid and One resolution classified the 42 acres at Copreliminary plans. Hines wanted to see the burn Road and Fruitville Road, east of Interprocess opened "to a wide variety of people state 75, as surplus. The commissioners also deemed a highly visible, .95-acre parcel at U.S. who might not be sitting here today." The Invitation to Negotiate will be advertised "Forty five days is plenty of time for people to for 45 days, starting at the end of July. express interest," Barbetta noted. Rod Connelly, president and founder of Civix Inc., a Sarasota-based real estate development Robinson said she did not want to jeopardize company, wants to trade with the county so the efforts of the two current prospective dehe can build a hotel on the U.S. 301 property. velopers by delaying the process. He has met with county officials. "We know there are folks out there interested Within the past three weeks, a second develnow," Robinson said. oper also has pitched a plan to the county. "We have two letters of interest in the Main As the county advertises the U.S. 301 parcel, Street parcel," said Tom Harmer, deputy coun- it will also get current appraisals for the value of the land. % ty administrator.