A waterfront home at 3975 Shell Road on north Siesta Key sold May 5 for $5.6 million, making it the fourth highest selling residential property year-to-date in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. With nearly three full acres, the estate property includes two large parcels fronting the Gulf of Mexico and Big Pass, a third that includes a boat dock; and a 5,000-square-foot vintage Old Florida beach cottage. On the market for the first time in 40 years, the property was listed for $6.25 million by Anne Mitchell, and the buyer was represented by Rinat Sikdar; both are with Michael Saunders & Company.  CG Shell Siesta Key, LLC, whose managing partner is Crossgate Partners, was the buyer.  Crossgate recently completed the construction and sale of the 11-unit luxury Gulf-front condominium complex, Infinity on Longboat Key. 

 And a brand-new, four-bedroom condominium in Longboat Key’s Aria complex sold for its asking price of $4.15 million, making it the top residential sale in Sarasota County in April. The 3,920-square-foot condo is one of just 16 in this newly completed luxury complex, which sits on 300 feet of beachfront on the site of the old Villa am Meer mansion on south Longboat Key. It’s the Boheme beach villa, with nearly 3,100 square feet of terraces, private elevator access, private infinity-edge pool, a fire table, three-car garage and direct walk-down access to the beach. Amy Drake of Ascentia Realty Group was the listing agent; Patrick DiPinto of Ocean Real Estate was the selling agent.

Villa am Meer was built in 1935 for the original owners of Tropicana by famed architect Dwight Baum. (He also designed John and Mable Ringling’s Italianate mansion, Ca d’ Zan.) The home is being restored by the developers of Aria to serves as Aria’s private beachfront Residents Club.