Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/218481
Sarasota News Leader November 29, 2013 Page 41 as opposed to the catalyst that draws people to that site." One project considered in the past for that location, she added, was a new facility for The Jackson Laboratory, but the county ultimately could not ante up a large enough incentive to lure the firm. "The first thing we all need to understand is it is very, very difficult to attract a user and say, 'Hey, come to our community, and a year from now, we'll have a facility ready for you,'" Fineberg responded. Commissioner Christine Robinson prepares Tenants like Jackson Laboratory, he added, for the start of the meeting. Photo by Rachel "come around once every several years. We Hackney take a shot at [them], and we haven't had a lot GOODSPORTS' PLAN of success. … What we do propose is to provide facilities. … To me, that's a tremendous Anthony Homer, vice president of development for Goodsports, explained to the positive." commissioners that the firm's founder and If an area lacks the types of facilities firms CEO, Jerald Good, relocated the headquarneed when they are seeking new locations, ters from Indiana to Sarasota several years he stressed, the firms have to look elsewhere. ago after falling in love with the community. "We want something meaningful in there," The firm has 39 years of development and Robinson told Fineberg. "How can you make management experience, Homer added. sure that that's what we're going to get there?" Given the growth of sports tourism, he continThe character of the structures is important, ued, Goodsports' proposal for the Fruitville he replied. Firms involved in research and property would be obvious on the weekends, development and engineering, he added, are when all sorts of amateur events would take place on the site. The goal, he said, was to the prospective tenants Benderson would be create "a network of consistent bricks and seeking. mortar" for such events around the country. When Hines asked how the project would The firm recently signed a $9.5 million develcompare to the Interstate Business Center opment agreement with the City of Wichita, at Jacaranda Boulevard and Interstate-75 in KS, for a similar project, Homer pointed out. Venice, Fineberg said the Benderson proposal Another is in the works in Ohio, he added. featured larger buildings with a "park-like "We would love to have a project in our own setting." backyard."