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income and has outgrown its use," said Ernie Ritz, chairman of the city's DID. Last month, Ritz contacted then-County Commission Chairwoman Carolyn Mason about his proposal for moving the station a mile east to a county parcel near Ringling Boulevard and School Avenue and then sell- ing the downtown parcel to a developer who could build on it. The County Commission had already directed staff to look into the possibility of undertaking the move. Ritz, who lives across from the station, said he has seen it become more crowded with buses. In its place, he envisions a project that could generate new energy and business in the center of downtown Sarasota. Ritz talks of a four- or five-story structure with retail on the first floor. "It could be anything on the floors above," Ritz said. "It could be condos, could be rental apartments, could be office space or could be another proposed hotel." Right now, the 18,000-square-foot (.41 acre) parcel is "prime property just sitting there" without bringing in ad valorem tax revenue, Ritz told The Sarasota News Leader. At just under half an acre and zoned Downtown Core, it is a good size for a project that would not be a "mega development," Ritz pointed out. During the Jan. 22 County Commission meet- ing, Commissioner Joe Barbetta agreed, saying the site is prime for economic devel- opment — if the county can move the bus station to the edge of downtown. "It's getting more crowded with buses," Barbetta added, concurring with Ritz's point. Homeless people commonly gather at the bus station on Lemon Avenue in Sarasota. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader February 7, 2014 Page 36