Ringling Area of Sarasota? (University, University Park: for sale, real estate, insurance)

[karenkellywriter]

We are also looking at vintage homes in the Ringling area of Sarasota (1920s houses abound). Any advice/experience from people who actually live in this area? Schools? Walkability? Safety? Thank you!

[jan meyer]

For a lot of reasons I sincerely doubt anyone spending time on THIS website, actually lives in the Ringling Museum area.


Some sales people that hang out here might have opinions, but that's it.


As an investor in RE and other investments, and as a very longtime resident, I have my own opinions. Unless you have money to burn, I wouldn't touch most of the older pieces of junk, regardless of their alleged "great location". the actual "ringling area" is quite small, and lots of people label the area even around USF and even further south as the Ringling area, which it's not. There are tons of examples of great areas actually extremely close to the Bay that are quite picturesque and renovated to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars - others are in the millions.


Again, it depends on your tolerance for financial renovation pain.


Schools? depends on which county. The Ringling area traverses 2 counties and two different school districts and demographics - none of the designated schools with the exception of one elementary zoned SRQ schools are worth a crap, that goes especially for middle and high schools in Manatee County and esp Sarasota County.


Walkability? there is nothing really "to walk to"...i.e. shopping, strolling etc, other than to walk you dog through the neighborhood. No areas are gated.


During a possible hurricane hitting the Bay, this is one of the last places I would want to own a house.


Safety? check the local crime mapping website for yourself. All of this area is literally a couple of blocks from US 41, one of the most well-traveled dangerous roads in Florida. It's also a few blocks from Sarasota International Airport and another major corridor of University Parkway

[jan meyer]

My opinion only, is that if you gave me one of those older houses, if would be for sale the same day. Again, people can differ.


Too much work, too much money, too much hassle, too much ego, too many poseurs , too much insurance, too much tax, too old....but the "West of the Trail Crowd" have always thought themselves a bit too "special". I'll let them deal with the "ambiance" of The Ringling Museum Area". It takes all kinds in the real estate/house market!

[karenkellywriter]

Where do you live "Jan"?

[QuilterChick]

Originally Posted by karenkellywriter

We are also looking at vintage homes in the Ringling area of Sarasota (1920s houses abound). Any advice/experience from people who actually live in this area? Schools? Walkability? Safety? Thank you!

If you don't mind spending hours on end in traffic ... go 4 it.

[5florida5]

Originally Posted by karenkellywriter

We are also looking at vintage homes in the Ringling area of Sarasota (1920s houses abound). Any advice/experience from people who actually live in this area? Schools? Walkability? Safety? Thank you!

We are also looking in this area as well as it is on our short list. For us it would be way less traffic and easier access to things and places we use on a frequent basis. We love the community feel, and often see families and others at the playground and out walking.

The schools in that zone are not ranked highly, but that is not of a concern to us as our kids are in private school now, and Sarasota county does have school choice.

What is it about this area that you enjoy or you are looking for? For us it is proximity to the water, amenities, and downtown along with the larger lots. There are complaints about planes due to the proximity to the airport.

[Sunshine Rules]

Originally Posted by 5florida5

We are also looking in this area as well as it is on our short list. For us it would be way less traffic and easier access to things and places we use on a frequent basis. We love the community feel, and often see families and others at the playground and out walking.

The schools in that zone are not ranked highly, but that is not of a concern to us as our kids are in private school now, and Sarasota county does have school choice.

What is it about this area that you enjoy or you are looking for? For us it is proximity to the water, amenities, and downtown along with the larger lots. There are complaints about planes due to the proximity to the airport.

Regarding school choice, many of the most popular schools are either at full capacity or quickly become full capacity at open enrollment time, so while technically there is school choice that doesn't mean you actually get to pick the school of your choice for your students. That is also applicable to a number of Manatee county schools as well.

[5florida5]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Rules

Regarding school choice, many of the most popular schools are either at full capacity or quickly become full capacity at open enrollment time, so while technically there is school choice that doesn't mean you actually get to pick the school of your choice for your students. That is also applicable to a number of Manatee county schools as well.

Yes, this is true that many are at capacity. For us that is not as much of an issue because our children are in a private school now. We are more interested in middle (possibly) and high school choice, and those are almost always open.

[SouthSota14]

I see 100% ZERO appeal in the Ringling area. Sure they may have nice homes in some pockets, a what looks to be nice shopping center with Publix but when I went in there before, it felt like Dorchester or somewhere like that or Mattapan. It was not safe like they like making you think and they LOVE hiding crime in the entire city on the whole, but a lot of it is Ringling area. Better than South St Pete? Yes but by much? no. These artsy types will move to places like this, they'll get red pilled so for that, it serves a purpose but no more than that. This is a very dangerous area.

[karenkellywriter]

I wish there weren't so many trolls on this site. Jan Meyer is a troll who operated under several different names. It really ruins everything.