West of trail for families in SRQ? (Tamiami, Sarasota: skateboarding, insurance)

[5florida5]

Hello. Which neighborhoods would you suggest for families in Sarasota that are west of trail?
I am curious about Indian Beach-Sapphire Shores versus the Southside village area to the south Siesta bridge. Any thoughts on this? We are not concerned with schools as kids currently attend a private school. We are also not interested in being too far East in Lakewood Ranch/etc...
We are boaters and enjoy the water and the beaches as well.

[gypsychic]

Sapphire Shores is a beautiful area close to Ringling Museum. Broad winding roads and far less congestion than the neighborhoods south of downtown. Larger lots for the most part, too. Prices are probably a bit better there as well.

[Sunshine Rules]

Museum Area - West of Trail

North of downtown Sarasota, running all along the west side of US41 to north of the airport are a number of neighborhoods in what is generally called the "museum area."

The best known neighborhoods in that area are Indian Beach and Sapphire Shores. The area is known for it's mix of both home styles and residents. Regarding residents, you'll find a bit of everything - retirees, families, college students, college teachers, artists and some of Sarasota's most socially prominent families.

Indian Beach is probably one of my favorites because most of the streets are lined with century old oak trees, many with dripping moss (yes I know it's not really moss, but that's what most people call it). The homes are a mixture of mainly older cottages and bungalows, although you will find some mid century ranchers and 2 story "colonials" thrown in the mix. There are also some spectacular mansions along the bay front.

There is a little beach on Indian Beach Drive with a little observation area.

Sapphire Shores trends into less tall oaks, more pine trees mixed in, more "newer" homes built in the 1960's - 1980's can be found mixed in with the 1920's - 40's bungalows and cottages. There are also some beautiful mansions, some 1920's John Ringling era and some that have actually appeared in architectural magazines.

Sapphire Shores has a small, somewhat hidden park that has a playground.

North of the Crosley Estate, in south Manatee county is a group of small neighborhoods, with Ballentine Manor & Whitfield Estates being the best known. Ballentine Manor was originally a pineapple plantation by the way. This area is similar to Sapphire Shores in style and residential mix.

Indian Beach - Saphhire Shores has an association, as does Ballentine - Whitfield. Both of the associations have websites.



Southside Village Area - West of Trail

The Southside Village area generally runs south of Bahia Vista and north of Siesta Key, west of US 41 (aka Tamiami Trail). The area is popular for a number of reasons, location to downtown Sarasota and the bay, historical neighborhoods, popular school districts and the Southside Village shopping district, which includes the landmark Morton's Gourmet Market, several restaurants and other shops. It is considered one of the more walkable areas of Sarasota by various sites.

Neighborhoods such as McClellan Park and Cherokee Park were developed in the 1920's and 30's, with a mixture of bungalows and luxury homes set on large, landscaped lots along the winding roads. Other neighborhoods are a mixture of homes built from FL ranchers, to bungalows, to Sarasota School of Architecture to new construction. Harbor Acres and Hudson Bayou offer waterfront homes.

This area is very sought after for the reasons given above, plus the fact that Sarasota Memorial Hospital is located literally next to Southside Village, so medical professionals who need to be near the hospital are also competing for homes here. Prices in the Southside Village area reflect the large demands for homes in that area.



Alternatives

A nearby alternative to Southside Village that I would suggest is the Arlington Park area located east of US41 & Southside Village. The area near Arlington Park (yes, there is a park with recreational facilities and walking trails) is known for it's many vintage cottages, bungalows and FL ranchers on tree lined streets. The close vicinity to Sarasota Memorial Hospital and downtown Sarasota add to it's popularity. Some of the streets in the area are in flood zone A and would require flood insurance if you get a mortgage. Arlington Park is popular with nearby homeowners for it's pool & recreational acitivities as well as the picnic areas and winding sidewalks. Developers have been snapping up older homes in that area for the lots, building new construction luxury homes.

Alta Vista and Paver Park are other popular nearby neighborhoods with buyers. Paver Park homes were built mainly in the late 50's and early 60's by the Paver brothers, Stanley and Paul. Home styles included the typical FL rancher and some great mid century modern homes. Alta Vista means "high view" and the Alta Vista neighborhood (south of Ringling and north of Bahia Vista, west of Tuttle & east of US301). The neighborhood is rated one of the 10 most walkable in Sarasota. These 2 neighborhoods are also close to Payne Park, which offers playing fields for sports, walking paths and a skateboarding park. Alta Vista has quite a mixture of living options, from modest bungalows to higher end homes and duplexes.

[5florida5]

Thank you so much for the replies. We went driving around the area today, and your suggestions were very helpful. We really do love the museum area, it looks like we will have to wait a bit to find something we love to come on the market though.

We went all the way down and even checked out the Landings. We liked the neighborhood feel, but enjoy the other areas more. The Southside area was congested, and some of the streets have different feel than others- but we saw several families and that was great to see.

We will keep looking, but thanks for the tips!

Also, if there is somewhere East of trail we should really check out let me know.