I am really sad to see what is happening in Sarasota (Tampa: appointed, condo)

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Rules

Growth, if properly controlled, can be a good thing for an area. Unfortunately, often those in charge put revenue ahead of quality of life when it comes to growth and developers.

However, the opposite of growth can also be detrimental to an area. I'm originally from a town that had a population of about 65,000 in the early 1980's. It had been a vibrant town with manufacturing in the 60's, but most of the manufacturing had moved elsewhere by the 80's. As the jobs left, so did a number of people. The current population of the town is 38,000.

As more people left, the demand for housing & rentals also dropped, many local businesses and restaurants closed one by one. Schools were closed and consolidated due to less students. One of the two local hospitals closed. I have a good friend who was diagnosed with cancer just before Christmas and she literally had just TWO oncologists to pick from in my old home town. Most doctors have moved on to other, larger locations. Those that need specialists have to travel up to 300 miles away to larger cities to find care.

Last time I visited, I was surprised by the number of vacant lots scattered around. According to my brother, properties are being abandoned and then the local government ends up tearing them down when no one else is willing to step in and purchase them. This is going on in both residential and business areas. As properties disappear, the tax burden gets shoved onto those that remain.

Lack of growth is not healthy for a community either.



Gypsychic brought up Lakeland. Hubby and I have good friends who have lived in the Lakeland area since the mid 1980's, and we therefore have traveled there often over the years. So I've watched the changes in Lakeland over time. What is going on there now in the way of growth is very similar to what is happening here in Sarasota. I read recently that the Lakeland - Winter Haven metro area is the second fastest growing metro area in the state at the moment.

Developers have bought up almost all of the vacant land, putting in miles and miles of subdivisions on ever smaller lots. The developers are winning when they go up against locals who don't want certain tracts of land developed for whatever reasons. In spite of all the new housing going up, the local government is dealing with a lack of affordable "workforce" housing.

Businesses and industry are also moving into the area, bringing more jobs but also more population to compete for housing and rentals.

Local governments are struggling to keep up, provide adequate schools, roads & other infrastructure for all these new residents.

Lakeland is no longer the quiet, charming town it used to be.



People "vote" with their feet. Perhaps if the local elected officials put a priority on improving roads, schools, adding parks and community centers vs rubber stamping developer plans people would want to stay in an area instead of moving on to what they perceive as the next opportunity. A concept of growing better vs just bigger. However, how many politicians do you know that would be willing to lose the campaign donations by those backing growth? That would be willing to work for long terms goals for their community vs short term gains?

Lakeland is a "boomtown" and yes it is growing. But the difference here it is pretty balanced - a FAR CRY from what is happening in Sarasota with the extreme overbuilding (and lack of infrastructure) especially of multi-million $$ condos. Also, Lakeland is BIG into preserving vintage buildings, and also acquiring land for increasing our wonderful parks and recreation. I am not against development at all, but at least here; for the most part, they get it right and keep it balanced. Being away from the coast helps in that it is not a "tourist town" per se. So far we are extremely happy with this city; and the residents here seem to actually have a say when it comes to development. One thing that helps is that there are "old money" families here who constantly invest into the town in positive ways, like our beautiful Bonnet Springs Park, which was entirely privately funded by philanthropists.

As far as "Lakeland no longer being the charming quiet town it used to be" I couldn't disagree more! For us, it is a Goldilocks town and it's just perfect. Not too quiet, not too busy.

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

Developers pay off local politicians, & visual blight follows. There's no stopping it, we can just slow it down until we don't want to look at it anymore...then leave.

It is one of the downsides to our economic system.

The only way to build on the water here, is to go vertical. We're built out, & the land is too valuable for smaller residences.

Even if it all floods, only the parking garages and 1st floor will be severely impacted. The rest will just have mold.

If I were a Billionaire, I'd buy out the high rise condo owners along the beach in Venice, then raize them to open up the view to all....forever. Those circa 1950's condo's are ugly, & block the Gulf totally from view.

Somehow, Vero Beach has resisted developers after their twin towers were built on the beach in 1967. They outraged everyone so much, residents forced the polititicians to make 4 stories the new limit. Its been holding up in the courts for 55 years. The Vero Beach shoreline is the best I've seen in developed areas. That is how all of Florida should look.

We almost moved to Vero, but then the Briteline Trains emerged, & we didn't want to be subjected to 32 trains/day, so here we are.

Totally agree!!!

I'm afraid Ft. Myers beach will become another Sarasota or Naples with the high rise condos on the water since all the land is getting bought up after Ian because they can't afford to rebuild. It will be high rise hotels and condos. parts of Naples are ruined with these stupid fugly buildings.

That's what I like about Englewood Beach and Venice beach. Don't have the ugly hotels and apartment high rises.

Ft. Myers beach a lot of the locally owned businesses are getting pushed out after Ian. Will be all large corporations owning the businesses and hotels etc. now.

[beach43ofus]

Venice, North of West Venice Ave, is visual blight of 1950's condos...can't see the Gulf until you reach the inlet...for the most part...political malpractice for decades.

I demand reparations be paid by their survivors of all politicians survivors dating back to 1950.

[wondermint2]

Another high-rise hotel/condo being built in downtown Sarasota.

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay...-sarasota.html

The 16-story tower will be located at 1703 Main Street and sit on the corner of Goodrich and Main Street. The building will stand above a four-level, 144-space parking garage, including valet for hotel guests.

SOTA Hotel & Residences will have 35 luxury residences and the 120-key hotel will be a Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Commonwealth Hotels will manage it. There will also be a 4,500-square-foot restaurant in the space. There will be separate hotel and residential lobbies on the ground floor. Hotel and reception amenities are on the fifth floor. There will be six floors of condos starting on the eleventh floor.

Michael Saunders & Co. will sell the two-and-three-bedroom residential condominiums. The starting price will be $1.8 million. The sales gallery is located at 1734 Main Street.

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Another high-rise hotel/condo being built in downtown Sarasota.

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay...-sarasota.html

The 16-story tower will be located at 1703 Main Street and sit on the corner of Goodrich and Main Street. The building will stand above a four-level, 144-space parking garage, including valet for hotel guests.

SOTA Hotel & Residences will have 35 luxury residences and the 120-key hotel will be a Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Commonwealth Hotels will manage it. There will also be a 4,500-square-foot restaurant in the space. There will be separate hotel and residential lobbies on the ground floor. Hotel and reception amenities are on the fifth floor. There will be six floors of condos starting on the eleventh floor.

Michael Saunders & Co. will sell the two-and-three-bedroom residential condominiums. The starting price will be $1.8 million. The sales gallery is located at 1734 Main Street.

Dumb! If you're that rich enough to afford to buy an almost $2 million dollar condo why not buy a nice house?

So you have to go up and down an elevator, park in a parking garage. Versus having a house, big yard, nice pool, 3 car garage. Yea, it has a restaurant but I'd get tired of the same place.

[NSHL10]

Originally Posted by MOforthewin

Dumb! If you're that rich enough to afford to buy an almost $2 million dollar condo why not buy a nice house?

So you have to go up and down an elevator, park in a parking garage. Versus having a house, big yard, nice pool, 3 car garage. Yea, it has a restaurant but I'd get tired of the same place.

People rent them out to recoup the costs. Vegas has condos/hotels too.

[beach43ofus]

What are the rental restriction for the high rise condo's in downtown SRQ?

[wondermint2]

Some people think it's status to live downtown and "be where the action is".

[DovieHarding]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Some people think it's status to live downtown and "be where the action is".

TRUE. Problem is that there is no Action in DT. Again, many are trying to NY our Florida through stupid new urbanism and collectivism where the persnickity, prissy dog-walkers and latte-sippers congregate amongst the other personnes de pied-à-terre. High density, stacked living is quite wrong in that location. LOL

Almost 2 million dollars, er, okay lol

[NSHL10]

Too bad Florida doesnt have a state income tax. The state could be profitting wildly from the influx of rich people instead of just having them price the locals out of existance.

Maybe if there was a state income tax, then the state wouldn't have had the huge influx of those dreaded out of state transplants that locals are complaining about in the first place?