Plans for dozens of new homes to be built on the site of an iconic bowling alley near downtown Sarasota that opened in the 1950s are moving forward.
The proposal to replace Sarasota Lanes — a longtime bowling alley that operated for more than six decades before it was severely damaged during the 2024 hurricane season — with 46 townhomes moved closer to fruition after receiving partial signoff from the city of Sarasota Development Review Committee.
The 1.92-acre site is currently zoned commercial general and must be rezoned downtown for the development to proceed.
The partial sign-off means the project won’t be facing the DRC again, but it does need to address the remaining comments it received before obtaining full sign-off.
Updates to the plan that must occur range from ensuring the appropriate water hookups for fire suppression are used and obtaining an easement for utility lines under a defunct spur of the Legacy Trail to ensuring that owners are notified that the neighboring car wash may be noisy.
What is the townhome proposal?
The townhomes would be constructed in connected buildings that contain five or six units each.
That means a total of 11 buildings would be constructed to face either East Main Street to the south or Fruitville Road to the north.
The parcel is bordered by Coastal Express Car Wash to the east and Kane Plaza to the west.
Four six-unit buildings would be constructed in the interior of the site, and face either east or west.
The entrance to the complex would be from East Main Street.
Each townhome would consist of three habitable stories, with as many as four bedrooms, an elevator and a staircase.
Each unit should contain more than 2,400 square feet of habitable space, not counting the garage.
The ground floor would include a rear-facing two-car garage, one potential bedroom and a bathroom.
The second floor would include a kitchen, dining area, great room, a second room that could be used as a den, and a half-bath.
The third floor would include an owner’s suite, two additional bedrooms, two bathrooms and a laundry room.
Each home would also have a rooftop deck.
What is the history of Sarasota Lanes?
Sarasota Lanes was built in 1958, according to the Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s website.
Local author and historian Jeff LaHurd noted that in his youth, after Bernie Levkoff built the original bowling alley it was the place to be in Sarasota County – especially for the youth.
In 1975, Dick Hubbard Jr. bought Sarasota Lanes and two other area bowling alleys.
The Hubbard family owned two small bowling alleys in the Detroit suburbs.
Throughout the mid-1980s, Hubbard Jr., Hubbard III and his brother, Tom Hubbard, took turns running the various lanes in Michigan and Florida as their father acquired more bowling alleys in both states, including the former Rip Van Winkle facility on U.S. 41 near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
Tom and Lori Hubbard are listed as managers of Sarasota Lanes LLC by the Florida Division of Corporations. Neither Hubbard could be reached for comment.
The property is currently under contract with a buyer through Michael Saunders Commercial Real Estate.
What’s next?
The Sarasota Planning Board will review the complete site plan and then make a recommendation to the Sarasota City Commission, which will host two public hearings on the proposal prior to a final ruling.
Information from Herald-Tribune archives was used in this report.
Earle Kimel primarily covers local governments in Sarasota County as well as land development and environmental issues for the Herald-Tribune. Follow him on Facebook, and X. He can be reached by email at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Townhome project moves forward at beloved Sarasota bowling alley site
Reporting by Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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