The site and development plan for Home Depot, the first major occupant of Venice Crossing Commercial Center, received unanimous approval Jan 6 from the Venice Planning Commission.
The decision clears the way for construction of the first big box store in Venice city limits.
The other major commercial occupant of the 83-acre development will be Walmart, which, in July 2025, bought 22 acres in the commercial center.
Other verified occupants of land once known as “the Hurt Assemblage” include a proposed car wash, a Panda Express and Laurel Civic — which would relocate from its current home in the Sandra Sims Terry Community Center.
Northeast Venice residents previously opposed big box stores
Prior to the Great Recession, Northeast Venice residents vocally opposed the development of big box stores on Laurel Road — specifically at the northeast intersection of Laurel Road and Knights Trail Road, where a Walmart was once envisioned.
That area is ultimately being developed as Mirasol Town Center.
Hospital opening spurs development boom
The region has been booming since Sarasota Memorial Hospital opened its Venice campus on the southeast corner of Honore Avenue/Pinebrook Road with Laurel Road in 2021.
Twin Laurel Boulevard, a crescent-shaped private road that may one day connect Honore Avenue and Laurel Road, is a key roadway for much of that development.
Twin Laurel, a mixed-use development northwest of the Sheriff Tom Knight Support Services facility for the Sheriff’s Office, received five key approvals from the County Commission in 2023.
In 2023, that proposed development included 421 residences, a hotel, assisted living facility, storage units, commercial space and offices on about 32 acres, as well as direct access to Honore Avenue via Twin Laurel Boulevard and two other entrances.
Developers involved with that project — including SteeleHarbour Capital Partners and MidCity Real Estate Partners, are also developing Venice Crossing.
But while those entities control both ends of Twin Laurel Boulevard, they have not been able to work out an agreement with the owners of the center section of the private right of way that would create a full road segment.
Earle Kimel primarily covers south 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: A new Home Depot will open in northeast Venice
Reporting by Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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