One of Sarasota’s most storied athletic institutions appears ready to return along with more than 250 homes.
Bath & Racquet Residences & Club, the reimagined version of the iconic Sarasota facility that drew Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova to its courts in the 1970s, is rising on the same 13.4-acre property off Robinhood Street where the original club opened in 1969 and thrived for decades before closing in 2020.
Developer Silver Sky Global Capital broke ground April 9, 2025, and recently invited the Herald-Tribune on a hard hat tour of the site.
“We are extremely excited and proud of the product we are building and its impact on the vibrant community,” said Jack Dolgin, Silver Sky Global Capital’s vice president of development.
The project has been years in the making — a back-and-forth between the developer, nearby residents and city officials that finally cleared the way for construction on one of Sarasota’s most recognized properties. Sarasota Springs LLC purchased the 13.4 acres on the 2100 block of Robinhood Street for approximately $15 million in 2022, a change of hands that came after the previous owner’s original redevelopment plans fell through. The site sits just behind the Trader Joe’s at 4101 S. Tamiami Trail.
The new Bath & Racquet Residences & Club features a four-story, all-concrete post-tension structure — built with hurricane-impact-rated windows and located outside of any flood zone — that will house 256 condominiums across a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units finished with Italian cabinetry and Bosch appliances. Phase one covers 161 units, with move-in targeted for fall 2026. Cabinets are scheduled for delivery within days.
From the unfinished floors, the outline of what will become a residents-only pool courtyard is taking shape below — a quieter, more private amenity tucked apart from the club’s larger resort-style pool. More than 500 parking spaces, 350-plus of them covered, will serve both residents and club members.
The club, a 32,000-square-foot indoor sports facility, will anchor the athletic programming, featuring 11 outdoor tennis courts in both clay and hard surfaces, indoor tennis, 12 indoor and four outdoor pickleball courts and padel. A spa, gym, massage rooms, yoga area, restaurant, café and kids’ area round out the offerings. Non-resident membership will be limited, with unit owners given priority access.
At its peak, the original Bath & Racquet Club carried a membership of more than 4,000. Its courts hosted some of the sport’s biggest names. Then came decades of decline, a closure in 2020 and years of uncertainty about what — if anything — would rise in its place.
Today, move-in is expected this fall. The club follows shortly after. And according to Dolgin, the condominium inventory is close to selling out.
Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota sports landmark poised for luxury condo comeback
Reporting by Samantha Gholar, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
