During its regularly scheduled City Commission Meeting on Monday, July 7, the Sarasota City Commission unanimously approved a rezone request for the Mira Mar building on South Palm Avenue, changing the 1.2-acre site from downtown core to downtown bayfront zoning.

Two buildings, reaching a maximum of 18 stories, will rise behind the almost 400-foot-long plaza, much like the old hotel used to rise behind it, and revenue from the condo sales, many with expansive water views, will assist with funding the rehabilitation.

“Finally, we have a developer and architectural team willing to make something other than a cube with walls that go all the way to the sidewalk,” said Bob Keagy, a neighbor on Palm Avenue. “There’s actually greenspace, landscaping and setbacks. The double buildings are appealing from all angles, and sunlit corridors within the space will add to the connection and activation on Palm Avenue. It will be a much more visually appealing structure than what the past zoning allowed for, and I think this is a generous approach for the property from the owners who are taking a business risk to save the building.”

The new Mira Mar plan calls for large view corridors, massive setbacks and sidewalks on all sides, space for outdoor cafes, affordable office space and wide walkways throughout the property. “I love that the front will look like the original and the back will be more modern. It’s almost like the back two tiered buildings are going to wrap their arms around the 100-year-old building in front,” said Diane Lane, a massage therapist who has worked in the building for 20 years.

“We’ve hired the best and brightest minds in historic preservation to come up with a plan to save this building,” said Patrick DiPinto, principal at Seaward Development.

The architecture team consists of Rick Gonzalez of REG Architects, one of Florida’s leading architects for historic preservation and Igor Reyes of Nichols Architects. Specialists in mixed-use projects, the team at Nichols Architects is well versed on restoration and expansion of historic structures, including the St. Moritz Hotel and expansion to a Loews Convention Center Hotel in Miami Beach and the revitalization of the Seville Hotel into the five-star EDITION Miami Beach Hotel. In Sarasota, Nichols Architects designed Epoch, a residential condominium building inspired by the Sarasota School of Architecture, further showcasing their commitment to innovative and adaptive design.

The renovation for the building is expected to begin in late 2025, with reservations for condominium sales opening in late summer. For more information, visit MiraMarSarasota.com.

 

Source: Sarasota City Commission gives green light for Mira Mar rehabilitation project – Bradenton Magazine