Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/231222
A BOLD BOULEVARD PLAN An aerial view shows Fruitville Road west of Interstate 75, with Richardson Road to the north. Image from Google Maps AS THE NEXT BIG STEP FOR THE FRUITVILLE INITIATIVE AREA, A NEW KIND OF ROAD IS IN THE WORKS By Roger Drouin County Editor The Fruitville Initiative aims to make a village would bring jobs, additional property tax value and new vibrancy to the southern out of cow pasture east of Interstate 75. edge of the growing I-75 corridor that has Now in the third of four phases, the plan lays seen newer development already — includout a proposal for rezoning that would result ing the Shoppes at University Center and the Nathan Benderson in a "gateway village" Park rowing facility. featuring employment The University Town centers and shops. If It caught FDOT's attention. Center mall and the the project comes to proposed project The Jonathan Paul fruition, proponents Venue at Lakewood Interim Director of Transportation say the large-scale New Sarasota County Ranch townhomes will Urbanist development add to that growth.