Sarasota identifies potential developer for affordable housing
SARASOTA – Gracewater Community Development will have the first chance to negotiate the right to develop over 114 acres at 2501 Dr. Martin Luther King Way, Sarasota, with the caveat that its proposal includes a grocery store, pharmacy and that at least 50 % of housing is available to residents earning less than 60% of the area’s median income (MAI).
If negotiations with Gracewater fail, the Sarasota County Commission has allowed staff to work on a bid prepared by Habitat for Humanity and Benderson Development.
The board retained these two proposals out of six submissions, with a unanimous vote on Tuesday.
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Commission President Alan Maio has been most adamant about the need for groceries, pharmacies and the 60% MAI cap.
Gracewater offered the highest purchase price for the property, $ 4.4 million, which Sarasota County declared surplus in December 2020, for use in affordable housing and labor. artwork.
He is also redeveloping an adjacent 139-acre parcel of Rolling Green Golf Couse – something that was not lost on commission members.
The original residential-only proposal called for 620 housing units in total with a housing mix of 176 single-family homes ranging in size from 1,700 to 2,800 square feet; 134 townhouses between 1,200 and 2,300 square feet; 54 semi-detached villas between 1,500 and 2,400 square feet; and 256 coaches in two-story elevator-free buildings.
The number of homes and the mix of home types would likely change to accommodate the addition of a grocery store and pharmacy.
Habitat for Humanity and Benderson have offered $ 3.5 million for the property.
This proposal included a 30-acre employment center, centered around a 500,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center, as well as a community park.
Habitat would build at least 350 homes, at least half of which would be considered affordable. All units sold or rented would be to households earning 80% or less of the IAM; at least half of them would be at 60% of the MAI.
During public comments, Chris Johnson, CEO of the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, praised the board for taking action, but noted that the 80% AMI ratio cited in the proposals was too high and that there was a significant need for 30% AMI, which would represent a rental rate of $ 579 per month.
“The need for our community is for truly affordable rental properties,” Johnson said.
The 2021 MAI for Sarasota County is $ 77,200; 80% of that amount is $ 61,750, with a maximum mortgage of $ 237,423 and a maximum rent of $ 1,544.
Invitations to negotiate were submitted through global real estate company Colliers International.
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Gracewater was the first choice of Commissioners Mike Moran, Ron Cutsinger and Christian Ziegler, who all also cited Benderson / Habitat as their second choice.
Maio and Commissioner Nancy Detert placed Gracewater in second place, behind Blue Sky Communities and CASL.
Ziegler had the Northern Sarasota redevelopment partnership as a second choice.
Northern Sarasota had wanted to center a proposal around a stadium for the Sarasota Metropolis minor league football franchise and food court, as well as a charter school and a credit union.
It was a bit too outside of the original scope, in the eyes of Detert, who also questioned the prospect of Benderson’s warehouse proposal.
“I’m not looking for a football stadium, I’m not looking for a warehouse and I’m not looking for a school,” Detert said. “I am looking for housing for people.
In other actions
Also on Tuesday, the Sarasota County Commission:
• Heard a request from several residents during the public portion of the meeting, asking Sarasota County to consider authorizing an increased density traffic impact study on Siesta Key – in particular four new proposals hotel – and possibly assess the impact of the four proposals.
• Heard an update on the scope of services and budget from Visit Sarasota County. Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, noted that the county has rebounded, as evidenced by the average occupancy rate of 78% in May, against a national average of around 50%.
• Heard Updates Water Quality, Sarasota County Septic Tank Replacement Implementation Plan, and Conversion of Central County and Venice Gardens Wastewater Treatment Plants to Standards advances in water treatment, which would reduce the level of nutrients in the recovered water used for irrigation.
• Approved on the Consent Agenda a resolution providing a process for owners of commercial property adjacent to the Legacy Trail to request direct trail access.
• Approved, on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Nancy Detert disagreeing, a waiver to allow a pool on the sea side of the coastal setback.
Earle Kimel primarily covers southern Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be contacted at [email protected]. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune.