The Sarasota Bradenton Internal Airport breaks ground today on a terminal expansion adding five new gates. SRQ Airport CEO Rick Piccolo said the project will increase capacity for the once-tiny airport to serve as many as 7 million passengers a year.

An 11 a.m. event on Air Cargo Avenue kicks off the $71-million vertical construction phase, representing the most significant portion of the $100-million terminal project. This follows a three-year period when traffic to and from SRQ tripled, making it the fastest growing airport in America.

“I’ve been in airports for 50 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Piccolo said.

Over a decade before the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility saw roughly 1.3 million passenger flights a year. But the airport in 2022 saw nearly 4 million passenger flights, and Piccolo believes it will see 4.5 million in 2023. That has all been in facilities built with a maximum imagined capacity about 3 million passengers a year.

The airport at the dawn of the pandemic hosted six airlines with nonstop flights to 12 destinations. Today, 11 airlines fly in and out of SRQ, heading to and from 55 nonstop destinations.

The primary purpose for the new terminal simply will be to serve the swelled growth already experienced by SRQ since 2020. Better scheduling software and the hiring of 100 additional staff in the last three years allowed the airport to serve more passengers, and extra gates, concessions and simple indoor space will ease the capacity issues that exist now.

But the efficiency improvements spurred by necessity make Piccolo confident the airport can do much more once extra facilities open. The airport will see $200 million in improvements in the next 18 to 24 months, including the new terminal, a $50-million baggage system and a series of other improvements. Once that work concludes, Piccolo expects airlines will want to add service and destinations in the next year.

Florida tourism saw a burst in visitation after the start of the pandemic when it began lifting lockdown restrictions ahead of tourism destinations. But growth at SRQ continued well past that. Piccolo attributes a number of factors.

One is tourists introduced to the Gulf Coast in 2021 who returned for repeat visits. Many even bought homes here, whether seasonal or permanent. “Out little secret is gone,” Piccolo said.

But the increase in road traffic between Sarasota and Tampa International Airport, the largest major airport, also made for longer car trips that have to be calculated into travel plans. While SRQ once bled a significant number of passengers to TIA, an increase in destinations from the local airport allowed more to choose to depart from here.

When the new terminal opens, it will be called Terminal A and have no connection to the existing terminals. Travelers going to the airport will stop at existing ticketing stations but then go to separate security checks depending which gate they use. Decisions have not been made as to which airlines will operate from the new gates.

But Piccolo is already thinking about the future. Plans already exist for another phase of construction adding three gates and connecting the terminals. That could cost $150 million to $200 million and happen in the next decade depending on growth. 

United Way of South Sarasota County’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides FREE federal income tax preparation to individuals and families with a yearly household income of up to $74,000. By using the VITA program taxpayers save between $200-$500 on tax preparation costs and gain tax credits and refunds! Tax preparation is completed by IRS-certified preparers and is by appointment only. On April 1st, 2023 United Way will be hosting its first-ever Tax-A-Palooza from 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM. During this time Free Tax Preparation is being offered to all on an appointment basis. From 11:00 AM- 4:00 PM, free food and childcare will be provided during the duration of your appointment. There will be activities such as face painting and crafts for the children to enjoy while their guardian has their taxes prepared. Appointments for Tax-A-Palooza can be made right now by visiting: www.uwssc.org/vita or by calling (941) 484-4811. To learn more about the VITA program, required documents, and locations with appointment availability through April 18th, 2023, please visit www.uwssc.org/vita. If you have questions, please contact Teri Andrews, Director of Programs, at tandrews@uwssc.org or by calling 941-484-4811 ext. 104. 

Mary Dougherty and Irene Fleshner, RN have joined the Board of Trustees at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital. Both are leaders in the community and in their professional roles. They will advise hospital leadership on quality and operations. The board follows standards set by The Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals. Mary Dougherty is the Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange which represents commercial contractors in Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties. She previously served in the same capacity at the Manatee Homebuilders Association. She also worked as the Deputy County Administrator for state and federal relations in Desoto County. Mary is the Past President of the Board of Teen Court Sarasota and is the current Board Chair of Honor Animal Rescue. Irene Fleshner, RN, MHA, recently retired as Principal with Reno, Davis and Associates, Inc. where she provided consulting services to healthcare organizations, suppliers, and professional associations. She specializes in areas of clinical operations, business strategy, and workforce development. She spent 15 years as the Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer with Genesis Health Care and worked as the Vice President of Operations and Professional services at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. She began her career as an acute care nurse and nursing administrator at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. She serves on the board of Center Place Health, a federally qualified health center, in Sarasota. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, the honor society of nursing, and is a Life Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. 

Residents have begun moving into Tropia Wellen Park, the 13.6-acre luxury apartment community located along U.S. 41 in Downtown Wellen. Tropia offers private amenities, including a resort-style pool, two-story fitness center, dog park and pet spa, as well as the prime convenience of a high-energy downtown lifestyle. Created by Davis Development, Tropia Wellen Park’s 279 one- to three-bedroom luxury apartments offer 684 to 1,548 square feet of living space, bedrooms with large walk-in closets, washers and dryers, kitchens with spacious islands and feature upscale modern finishes like wood-look vinyl floors throughout, quartz countertops in kitchens and bathrooms, sleek matte black fixtures, two-tone paint color schemes and smart-home Nest thermostats for improved energy efficiency. Most units have patios and balconies, primary bathrooms with soaking tubs, and garages attached by indoor corridors. The four-story buildings showcase views of Downtown Wellen and scenic sunsets along the 80-acre Grand Lake. Headquartered in Atlanta, Davis Development has built 25 communities in Florida with many more in planning or under construction. Davis Development oversees day-to-day management operations at Tropia Wellen Park and curate monthly events. Tropia’s amenities cater to a resort-inspired lifestyle and include an expansive resort-style pool with sun shelves and cabanas along a large deck, a game room featuring a golf simulator, a movie-theater, cyber bar, private offices, a gourmet coffee and tea bar, and a clubhouse social lounge. The two-story fitness center offers barre, spin, resistance and free weights, cross training and cardio equipment. Two guest suites with private lounges accommodate residents’ overnight guests. As a pet-friendly community that welcomes larger breeds, Tropia also offers a dog park and pet spa and the added convenience of Spruce, a user-friendly app to schedule dog walking, pet sitting, household chores and cleaning. In partnership with Experian, residents in Tropia can also build their credit for future homebuying, simply by paying their rent on time. Residents also enjoy the steps-away proximity to Downtown Wellen, a pedestrian-friendly gathering and social destination with dining, shopping, entertainment and outdoor recreation opening later this year. Tropia rents currently start at $1,899. Residents also have options to rent climate-controlled storage units and garages, with monthly rents starting from $25 and $225, respectively. Future residents can view Tropia’s available apartments and apply for a lease by calling 941-265-1023 or visiting tropiawellenpark.com. To learn more about living at Wellen Park, call 941-960-7805, go to wellenpark.com or visit the Welcome Center, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Pictured: The first of Wellen Park’s rental communities has officially opened, Tropia Wellen Park provides residents with the prime convenience of a high-energy downtown lifestyle located within walking distance of Downtown Wellen..

Houzz, an online community for interior design and home- improvement, has selected Nautilus Homes, a Sarasota-based luxury builder, as the top regional winner in five categories in its “Best of Houzz Design” awards: Best
kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, bedroom, and living room. This marks the sixth consecutive year that Nautilus has won Best of Houzz awards. Nautilus Homes was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than three million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals. Established in 2012, the annual Best of Houzz awards recognize the top-rated home pros and most popular designs on Houzz across the country and around the world. Winners are determined by more than 65 million Houzz users’ reviews or photos they save to idea books. 

Pictured: Nautilus Homes won awards for the bedroom in the Magnolia House, which was inspired by farmhouses of a bygone era.

Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates reminds taxpayers with unpaid 2022 taxes to take advantage of the various payment options to avoid additional charges before taxes become delinquent on April 1st. “The quickest and easiest way to pay is at www.SarasotaTaxCollector.com. After the online payment is complete, a receipt can be printed immediately,” Mrs. Ford-Coates explained. Onlinepayments must be made by 11:59 pm (EDT) on Friday, March 31st. Other payment options include: in a 24-hour drop box at any location: Downtown Sarasota, Mid-County, Venice andNorth Port City Hall (Checks only; please do not place cash in the drop box.), by mail with a postmark of Friday, March 31st, in person by scheduling an appointment at www.SarasotaTaxCollector.com The penalty for missing the deadline is no small matter. Accounts unpaid as of April 1st are delinquent and a penalty is added. On May 1st, additional fees are charged and accounts are advertised pursuant to Florida law. If the taxes remain unpaid, the amount due will increase substantially on June 1st. Visit www.facebook.com/SarasotaTaxCollector for office updates and information. 

JMX Brands, the leading retailer of Amish furniture at www.dutchcrafters.com, recognized Steve Doe with the Category Manager Award at the company’s annual awards ceremony for the second year in a row. Product Management and Innovation (PMI) Manager Seth Carter presented the award, which was created to recognize the hard work and impressive results of a specific product category manager whose contributions have served a vital role in the organization’s success. Doe joined JMX Brands in 2018 as a furniture specialist and became a category manager with responsibility of the dining room category in 2019. A University of South Florida alum, he also serves as the chairperson for the sustainability committee at JMX Brands. He led the initiative to install solar panels at the company headquarters and DutchCrafters Showroom in Sarasota, Fla. Doe previously served on the family and events committee, participated in JMX Brands’ gardening club, and won the Work Without Veneers award, which JMX Brands gives quarterly to an employee who embodies the company’s core values of authenticity, sustainability, creativity, giving and excellence. 

Photo courtesy of JMX Brands.

The Tower Residences at The Ritz-Carlton offer a luxury lifestyle guaranteeing world-class signature service and amenities on the Bay in culturally rich downtown Sarasota. The Tower Residence 905 is one of the most sought-after and rarely available three plus bedroom, four bath, private corner Tower Residence. The floor plan lives like a single family home and offers beautiful bay and panoramic vistas from every room in the Residence along with two spacious terraces. Owners enjoy an opulent lifestyle with signature service provided by the Ladies and Gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton including concierge, 24-hour in Residence dining and VIP status at all Ritz-Carlton Hotels around the world. Building amenities include a fully equipped fitness center, massage room, steam shower, outdoor heated resort style pool and spa, private home theatre and two elegantly appointed social and recreational rooms. Known as the “cultural capital of Florida” Sarasota boasts the finest offerings in theatre, opera, ballet, symphony and art with fine dining and shopping within walking distance. Nearby are picturesque beaches, marina, Selby Botanical Gardens, and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. Luxury Knows No Limits. 

Pictured: Sunset at 35 Watergate Drive Residence 905. Photo courtesy of GianFranco Spagnolo Photography.

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ROOTED IN FARMING | Springtime Produce from local farms dedicated to providing our community with high-quality products, March 2023. 

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