Infill Residential Projects Pick Up in Rosemary District


 

Migrants drawn by the growing business and employment opportunities in the urban center of Sarasota need not stray too far from the city’s downtown for rentals or searching for Sarasota homes for sale as permanent residences. Just across Fruitville Road at the northern periphery of the downtown lies Rosemary’s District which is abuzz with new developments, echoing the din of similar construction projects at Sarasota’s city proper.

Moving forward to the second half of 2015, new construction projects in this historic district is already near the dozen mark. One major stimulus to these infill ventures is the trebling of the density of the Rosemary District Overlay to 75 units per acre, a measure which the city’s planning authorities approved in 2014.

Vanguard Lofts up front

Infill Residential Projects Pick Up in Rosemary District

Propitiously, an infill development called the Vanguard Lofts is among the frontrunners of new Rosemary district residential properties already in the MLS listing of Sarasota homes for sale. This project, located at 4th Street, is programmed for just six townhomes specifically designed under the urban infill philosophy.

As of July 2015, only three of its units remain available in listings of Sarasota homes for sale. These residences are priced in the $500s and $600s, featuring two bedrooms and two baths within floor areas measuring 1,468 square feet.

For resale townhomes, the eight-unit Encore just off Fruitville Road is worth putting on a watch list of Sarasota homes for sale. Recent closed sales in this property were inked in the $300s for rarely available two-bedroom units having floor areas of about 1,600 square feet.

Hunters of pre-owned Sarasota condos for sale at Rosemary District can also check out the 205-unit Alinari at 800 North Tamiami Trail. Here, units with living areas from around 1,300 to 2,300 square feet are currently available at asking prices from the $400s up to the $700s.

Boutique townhouses

More plentiful choices are also coming soon in the Valencia at Rosemary Place, a $2.2 million project for some 30 luxury townhomes with floor plans ranging from 1,900 to 2,500 square feet, the building permit for which has been filed in February 2015. This development is located at Cocoanut Avenue and Boulevard of the Arts and enjoys proximity to Sarasota Bay and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Behind this project is Icon Residential, a developer of boutique communities in the most sought-after locations. This company is also proposing two 37-unit townhouse complexes: one at 41 School Avenue near Ringling Blvd. and the other at Audubon Place and 1st Street, both a short distance east of Rosemary District. Besides Sarasota, this company also has communities in five other Florida locations plus another one in Georgia.

Mixed-use projects

Residential occupancy-wise, among the largest Rosemary District developments are three apartment complexes now in the pipeline. One is Cityside between 6th and 10th Streets which is programmed for a total of 400 residential apartments, with construction of its 200-unit first phase already underway. The other two are: the $35 million Sarasota Flats at 1401 Fruitville Road, with 228 units plus 3,000 square feet of retail space; and a yet unnamed proposed apartment building at 7th Street with a planned 295 residences.

Another heavyweight is the $20-million mixed-use Rosemary Square project expected to begin construction in the 2015 second half. Located at 1440 Boulevard of the Arts, this project is geared for 39 residential apartments and 30,000 square feet of retail space.