By now, Sarasota is no stranger to crane-streaked skies and the sounds of new construction. In fact, a recent Insurify report ranked our region No. 1 on its Top 10 Home Markets to Watch in the country list.

The national online insurance marketplace showed that new units built in our metro area—which includes Sarasota and Manatee counties—increased by 24 percent between June 2022 and June 2023, and that our population shot up nearly 7 percent between 2020 and 2022. For comparison, the national rate of population increase was 0.6 percent.

Our metro area also showed the greatest number of new residential units in the country, with 218.37 under construction for every 100,000 residents. But new area development is going far beyond just those residential units. At yesterday’s special joint city commission meeting with the Town of Longboat Key, a City of Sarasota development update highlighted the scope of what’s going on—and what's going up.

In the last year, eight projects in downtown Sarasota were approved, bringing 573 residential units and 3,692 square feet of financial institution space. Additionally, there are 14 projects within the downtown and major corridors—that is, Fruitville Road, U.S. 301 and U.S. 41—that are under construction. Those 14 projects equate to 1,457 residential units, 104 assisted living units, 37 independent living units, 20 memory care units, 156 transient lodging units, 124,362 square feet of commercial space and 45,169 square feet of office space. 

Within the city and those major corridors, there are also 14 projects under review and pending site plan approval. That equates to 1,262 residential units, 109 transient lodging units, 31,939 square feet of commercial space and 7,720 square feet of office space.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening.

Major Projects Approved within the Last Year

Progress at University

1400 DeSoto Road

Progress at University is bringing 280 multifamily units in four, four-story buildings with amenities on a 16.57-acre parcel. The parcel is now vacant and previously served as overflow parking for the dog track. It's located at the southeast corner of Desoto Road and the Seaboard Coastline Railroad, south of University Parkway.

Sapphire North Apartments

4501 and 4415 N. Tamiami Trail

This project will be two parcels totaling a little more than 2 acres, which will house a four-story, 75-unit, apartment building.

Sapphire South Apartments

4229 and 42110 N. Tamiami Trail

Comprised of three parcels spanning just more than 2 acres, which will house a four-story, 59-unit apartment building.

Quay Sarasota Blocks 7 and 8 (Ritz-Carlton Residences Tower) 

0 Quay Commons

This project will have 78 condominium units on Blocks 7 and 8 of the Quay Sarasota site, with a ground-level parking structure and a fitness facility. The almost 2-acre site is a part of the larger 14.7-acre Quay Sarasota General Development Plan. Approval to allow for a roughly 9,100 square-foot private club for recreational activity is also requested.

Chase Bank

1836 and 1850 Fruitville Road

This project will see an almost 4,000-square-foot bank with drive-through lanes spanning roughly 1.3 acres.

2101 Main Street

A 14-unit, four-story multifamily apartment building on a roughly 0.3-acre site.

1800 Residences 

1800 N. Tamiami Trail

A three-story, 33-unit multi-family apartment building on roughly 1.13 acres located at the three points corner of North Tamiami Trail, 18th Street and Panama Drive.

780 SRQ Condos 

1351 Fruitville Road

Thirty-four residential units above ground level parking in a five-story building on the north side of Fruitville Road, between Central and Cocoanut Avenues on a roughly 0.7-acre site.

What's Under Construction Right Now

The DeMarcay 

33 S. Palm Ave

The project is bringing 39 residential units and 2,850 square feet of commercial space to Palm Avenue.

SOTA Hotel

1703 Main St.

SOTA will provide 150 hotel units and 17,437 square feet of commercial space.

Sarasota Bayside 

850 Cocoanut Ave.

This project will have 253 residential units and 7,885 square feet of commercial space.

Sarasota Main Plaza

1991 Main St. and 100 Links Ave.

Sarasota Main Plaza will have 418 residential units, six hotel units and 56,500 square feet of commercial space.

Cocoanut and Fourth

1329 Fourth St. 

This project is bringing 62 residential units and 2,459 square feet of commercial space.

LaVerne Concierge Living Building

307 S. Orange Ave.

This "concierge living" facility will have 7 independent living units, 104 assisted living units, 20 memory care units and 1,293 square feet of commercial space.

Quay Block 10 Building

501 Quay Commons

This project will have 15,000 square feet of commercial space.

Villa Ballada

430 Kumquat Court

Villa Ballada will see 22 residential units and 1,500 square feet of commercial space.

Quay Blocks 2 and 3 

468 Quay Commons

This project will have 240 residential units and 13,942 square feet of commercial space.

City One Stop Shop

1575 Second St.

City One Stop Shop will offer 29,060 square feet of office space.

Quay Blocks 4 and 5 Building (Bayso)

301 Quay Commons

The Bayso development will have 149 residential dwelling units.

Bath & Racquet Club

2170 Robinhood St.

The new Bath & Racquet Club will have 256 residential units and 16,109 square feet of commercial and office space.

Sarasota Car Wash

2290 Fruitville Road

The car wash will span 3,739 square feet.

Zahrada II

1558 Fourth St.

This project will see 18 residential units and 1,758 square feet of commercial space.