A planned redevelopment of the southern portion of Midtown Plaza near downtown Sarasota, anchored by award-winning restaurant Michael’s on East, received full sign-off from Sarasota’s Development Review Committee.
A note about the approval appears at the bottom of the agenda for the July 1 meeting of the administrative body.
It received partial DRC sign-off in January.
The plan to redevelop the 3.32-acre parcel was first envisioned by Midtown Associates principal Gavin Meshad in 2018 though plans were not submitted to the city of Sarasota until June 2025.
What is planned for the site?
The proposed mixed-use development would replace a defunct 45,860-square-foot Winn-Dixie Supermarket with a 145-room hotel, 95-unit apartment complex, 4,697 square feet of commercial space and a three-story parking garage.
A height bonus allowed in the Commercial General District allows for the residential structure and hotel to each be 65-feet tall.
A total of 23 homes, or 25% of the complex, will be marketed as attainable for households at or below 120% of the area median income.
What would the new development mean for the area?
Midtown Plaza, located on the southeast corner of U.S. 41 and Bahia Vista Street, was once occupied by Sears, which ultimately moved to Sarasota Square Mall about 40 years ago.
Michael’s On East, which is located at 1212 East Avenue, is the longest-running occupant of the center.
Restaurateur Michael Klauber, who, along with Philip Mancini, owns and operates Michael’s On East, told the Herald-Tribune he was looking forward to the development.
“We’re excited about it,” Klauber said. “The combination of hotel and residences really seems to make sense, especially since we’re near the hospital.”
“I think having another hotel is going to be good, especially the way our hospital has expanded,” he added.
In the 1930s, the site at Bahia Vista Street and U.S. 41 was occupied by Fred’s Cottages, which at the time was the second motel development in Sarasota County, according to the website Sarasota History Alive!
In the 1950s, the site was home to a Sears, Roebuck and Co. store and a Food Fair supermarket before being replaced in the 1970s by Midtown Plaza.
What’s next?
Now that the proposed development has been approved by the Sarasota DRC, it must be reviewed by the Sarasota Planning Board.
It does not need approval by the Sarasota City Commission.
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: Major Sarasota redevelopment near downtown moves forward
Reporting by Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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By Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
