Nine Houses That Define Sarasota's Architectural History
By Robert Plunket December 1, 2018 Published in the December 2018 issue of Sarasota Magazine
1917
3308 Higel Ave. Even 100 years ago Sarasota had some impressive homes, and the Higel estate on north Siesta Key was one of the finest. Yes, this was the Higel—the home of Harry Higel, a founding father and former mayor of Sarasota. Over the years the home has been beautifully enlarged and updated. Many original features remain, though, including the pecky cypress interior and sleeping porch. A complementary “guest lodge” was added in 1988. There’s also a dock on a wide canal behind the home. Priced at $2,685,000.
1917
3308 Higel Ave.
1917
3308 Higel Ave.
1925
2825 W. Tamiami Circle Most people in the 1920s lived in bungalows of the type designed and sold by Sears Roebuck. They’re rare these days, so the survivors are highly sought after. This renovated example located off the North Trail shows how charming they can be. At just 900 square feet, it comes with the requisite white picket fence, wood floors and fireplace. It’s priced at $295,000.
1925
2825 W. Tamiami Circle
1925
2825 W. Tamiami Circle
1928
325 Whitfield Ave. The rich newcomers of the 1920s clamored for the Spanish-style homes being built by John and Mable Ringling and their friends near the Ca’ d’Zan. Today they remain among the most iconic homes in town, with their arched windows, tiled roofs and other period details. This three-bedroom, 3 ½-bath home on Whitfield Avenue has weathered its 90 years in great shape. It sits on more than half an acre and has a pool. $524,900.
Photography by Courtesy Michael Saunders and Company
1934
4820 Riverview Blvd., Bradenton Not much was built during the 1930s—nobody had any money. Except perhaps for the Bishop family of Bradenton (as in Bishop Planetarium) who built this 11,000-square-foot Georgian manor on the banks of the Manatee River in 1934. Subsequently home to the McClure family (who made their fortune growing tomatoes) it has an interior as grand as any home on Park Avenue: coffered ceilings, intricate paneling and a total of 10 delightfully tiled bathrooms. It’s set on more than three acres and has a 300-foot-long dock. $4.9 million
1934
4820 Riverview Blvd., Bradenton
1934
4820 Riverview Blvd., Bradenton
1934
4820 Riverview Blvd., Bradenton
1946
1735 Seventh St. The homes built right after World War II were small, practical and traditional. The innovations that turned the ’50s and ’60s into a building boom hadn’t quite kicked in yet. But these simple early post-war homes are solid and well-proportioned and can be easily updated. This 1946 cottage in Gillespie Park has been given a very stylish makeover that’s turned it into a chic urban home. With a new kitchen and bathrooms, plus new mechanical systems, it’s just a short walk from downtown. $499,000
1946
1735 Seventh St.
1946
1735 Seventh St.
1960
1125 Center Place The 1950s were our moment in the sun. The Sarasota School of Architecture earned national attention for ultra-modern lines and innovative technology, and over the years these homes have become a symbol of the city’s sophistication. The examples still standing have been researched and studied endlessly. This 1960 home in Lido Shores has an impeccable pedigree. Designed by Philip Hiss, it was sensitively redone by Guy Peterson in 2013. The spare but glamorous lines are still there, along with a newly added host of luxury features. $2,195,000
1960
1125 Center Place
1964
2406 Sunnyside Lane Sarasota School homes were built by artsy rich people. Everyday Sarasotans, plus all the newcomers arriving daily and looking for low-cost retirement, were the perfect market for the classic Florida ranch. Thousands can still be found all over town. This one in South Gate (three bedrooms, two baths) is as solid as ever and still boasts many midcentury touches—terrazzo floors, pierced concrete accents, and yes, it has a pink bathroom. $335,000
1971
1427 Pine Bay Drive The 1970s were a time of change. Homes were getting bigger as the country became more prosperous, and a traditional, all-American look became the favored style. This home in the understated and upscale neighborhood of Oyster Bay epitomizes the height of ’70s elegance. It has wraparound porches on both levels, and the layout, with its formal and informal living areas, sets the tone for what was to come. $1,775,000
1983
5314 Siesta Cove Drive Architecture loosened up in the 1980s as Sarasota rediscovered its tropical roots. Interior spaces opened up and the outdoors moved in. Asymmetrical geometry took hold as ceilings vaulted, levels split, and decks and balconies appeared everywhere. Siesta Key was the perfect location for this modern look, like this canal-front home in Siesta Cove. It has four bedrooms and three baths and is a short bike ride from the beach. This style didn’t last long, though. By 1990 the Spanish Mediterranean look had taken over and dominated the town for the next 25 years. $1,495,000
Sarasota has fabulous older homes. Our problem is that we tear them down to put up something new. But increasingly, people are discovering our town’s history and looking for homes that are part of it. Here are nine examples of historic homes—and each one is currently on the market.