Sarasota News Leader
November 29, 2013
Page 37
Patterson said the Benderson plan "really
changes the whole concept of what's been
thought of for the Fruitville area." She added,
"This is like your key chess piece in this whole
development," referring to the Fruitville
Initiative.
Commissioner Joe Barbetta pointed to
Fineberg's remarks about opportunities
Sarasota County had lost to lure new companies because it had no appropriate facilities to
offer them. Those comments, Barbetta said,
"are precisely what we've been talking about
at the [Economic Development Corp.] for the
However, Commissioner Christine Robinson past couple of years."
said of the Benderson proposal, "I was interThe other proposal for the site — a sports
ested in a stable economic driver … The track complex with a hotel and field house at its core
record that Benderson has had brings a lot of — was offered by Goodsports Enterprises
relief to me as far as their ability to attract Global LLC. One factor commissioners cited in
quality tenants …"
turning down that idea was the firm's request
Goodsports Enterprises proposed an athlete-centric hotel and field house on the site. Image courtesy
Sarasota County
