Over a six-week period beginning in January 2024, Architecture Sarasota hosted a four-part lecture series titled Downtown Sarasota: Hindsight, Insight, and Foresight. During a time of rapid growth and transformation, the series was conceived to spark an informed and constructive community-wide discussion about how the city has evolved over the past two decades, what is happening at the present, and what type of community we hope to be in the future.

The four distinguished experts and speakers traveled to Sarasota and spent 48 hours touring the city, visiting sites and projects, and interacting with key stakeholders including City of Sarasota officials and employees and downtown residents and business owners. Renowned architect and New Urbanist Andrés Duany, Founding Principal of DPZ CoDesign, kicked off the series. In the late 1990s, Duany was part of the team who helped develop the city’s current master plan, Sarasota 2020. Duany was followed by futurist David Houle, urban planner Mitchell Silver, a Principal of McAdams, and architect and urban planner Victor Dover, Founding Principal of Dover, Kohl, & Partners.

Aligned overall in their assessments and viewpoints, the speakers lauded, among other attributes, Sarasota’s distinct character and sense of place, vibrant lower Main Street, and green public spaces like The Bay. There are, however, challenges these experts identified that need attention: ensuring more affordable and attainable housing, improving public transportation, preserving the city’s architectural heritage, and attracting younger residents. In addressing these challenges, Mitchell Silver and Victor Dover both suggested creating experiences that would benefit residents and attract visitors. They also suggested enhancing existing and designing new urban spaces with street-facing buildings and amenities that encourage more social interaction and green space.

As part of the series that sold out at 500 tickets per presentation, Architecture Sarasota undertook an informal survey asking for a single word to best describe attendees’ hopes and fears for our community and their perspectives on the greatest opportunities and challenges. This was followed up by an online survey. While we continue to analyze the data, the overwhelming sentiment of respondents was to: Encourage development that allows Sarasota to retain and enhance its distinct character; Provide affordable and attainable housing that helps support diversity; Create a sustainable urban environment that addresses the impacts of a changing climate and increasingly vulnerable coastline.

Hopefully, these items can be addressed in a new master plan. Last month, Sarasota’s City Commissioners voted unanimously to initiate a new planning process, citing Architecture Sarasota’s Downtown Sarasota series as a catalyst and an example of how to engage leading experts to assist in this public-private collaboration and imagine the future.

Architecture Sarasota’s mission is to steward the Sarasota School of Architecture and to provide a forum for the education, advocacy, and celebration in the global built environment.

To view the Downtown Sarasota series videos and l earn more about organization’s work at www.architecturesarasota.org.

Morris “Marty” Hylton III is president of Architecture Sarasota. Architecture Sarasota’s mission is to steward the Sarasota School of Architecture and to provide a forum for the education, advocacy and celebration in the global built environment. 

Rendering courtesy 2020 Downtown Master Plan

There are many words that come to mind when I explore The Bay Park – community connection, environmental restoration, family fun, transformation, access for all and mental and physical wellness. But there is one word – more than any other – that resonates the most for me when I visit The Bay: tranquility.

At Gulf Coast Community Foundation, we believe it is essential to support The Bay in transforming a 53-acre parking lot into a thriving blue-and-green oasis. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and I’d like to share about how connecting green space to mental wellness benefits our community, while also sharing how to participate in our match by becoming a Friend of The Bay. Together we can uplift mental wellness resources and support this beneficial landmark for decades to come.

We have an exciting opportunity for you to be a part of restoring, preserving and activating a world-class park in the heart of downtown Sarasota. Our Board of Directors recently approved a $1-million challenge match that has been doubled by generous Gulf Coast donors, to make a $2 million matching pool available through the end of the year. You can double your impact now through December by visiting The Bay’s website to become a Friend of The Bay.Together, we can show the power of common goals and strategic focus, leadership and innovation by supporting The Bay – One Park for All.

The Bay needs community members like you to join together in partnership to ensure the continuous growth and activation of “One Park for All.” By supporting this transformational project, you are partnering with local government, businesses and philanthropists to solidify your support for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in our community. You can help create a park that will be a resource for our children and our children’s children.

In thinking about our signature public park and the word tranquility, did you know that there is substantial research on the benefits of green space to mental wellness, particularly having it close to where you live? Spending time outside can increase feelings of well-being and relaxation which can be very helpful particularly post-pandemic. The United States Surgeon General identified the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. Strengthening social infrastructure including access to parks, playgrounds, trails, and programming that brings people together can reduce isolation by creating social connections that benefit our entire community. From cozy nooks, an ADA-accessible kayak launch, walking paths, a living shoreline, a fountain garden and generous acres of inviting green space, The Bay Park creates many possibilities for social connection and connection to mother nature.

Join us in celebrating all that The Bay offers during May, Mental Health Awareness Month. Together we can inspire a healthier, happier community. Be well, friends.

Phillip P. Lanham is President and  CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 

Photo courtesy Photography by The Bay

On June 4 in Venice, the County Commission will be having a discussion on eliminating the business license tax in Sarasota County. The Argus Foundation supports the continuation of the business license tax for a public-private partnership for economic development. 

According to the history as provided by the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, the Committee of 100, the business leaders of our community at the time, partnered with the county in the early ’90s to ensure the business license tax went to economic development. This gave birth in 2005 to a great public private partnership which became the EDC of Sarasota County.

The public funding stream to the EDC from the county has remained flat with increases only experienced due to population and business growth.

The business license tax is an important dedicated economic development funding stream as requested by the business community that should not be done away with or absorbed into the general fund. A public-private partnership, which has been encouraged by the legislature, is the most effective and efficient way of administering these funds for a better return. 

I served on the Sarasota County Commission during the economic downturn, I took office when unemployment was 12.2% and workers were moving away for opportunity elsewhere as businesses were folding and our tax base dropped. Our main objective in the downturn was to preserve health, safety, and welfare before anything else. We worked hard to make sure we kept our deputies, firefighters, and county mental health funding stable. Economic Development does not fall within this label and would have been cut if it did not have a dedicated funding stream and was within the general fund. It would have been cut, even though an economic downturn is when you need economic development the most. 

Today, we are beginning to show falling economic numbers in tourist development tax collections and real estate numbers. This is not the time to eliminate this funding stream as we will need it if these trends continue.  

While the economic downturn was occurring, an economic development department existed within the county government. It was a huge failure. They had no initiative, they simply were contract monitors for the EDC, what is now Visit Sarasota County and the Arts and Cultural Alliance. These two existing agencies are not tasked with business acquisition/retention/growth.

During my six years in office, the county economic development department had no impact on the community other than some government outreach which did not result in any fundamental change in the county processes to make them more business friendly.  In short, we have tried having economic development in the county before, it was a failure. We should not repeat that mistake and create additional bureaucracy that has no idea how business works within county government. 

If the county should redirect their monies from the EDC to focus on a county economic development department, the economic development monies contributed by the private sector, which is over 42% of the EDC funding, and growing, would likely disappear. The business community would not invest in government for economic development-based upon its poor track record.

The Argus Foundation urges the County Commission to retain the business license tax for a public-private partnership in economic development envisioned by business leaders twenty years ago. Unfortunately, this important dedicated funding stream may be needed more sooner than anyone realizes.

Christine Robinson is executive director of The Argus Foundation. 

Graphic courtesy Pixabay.

The first week of May at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota is always bittersweet. Ceremonies marking century-old traditions happen nearly every day for various academic programs. Students are preparing to graduate and begin their next journey while the faculty and staff celebrate this shared milestone and plan for the next semester. 

Honors convocations are among the first ceremonies. Held at SCF Bradenton and Venice, they celebrate and recognize our students for their distinguished academic achievements and service to SCF and our community. We take great pleasure in seeing students honored for their hard work, commitment to representing this college, and ability to overcome life’s challenges. 

Angell Jennings, the recipient of SCF Venice’s image award, graduated with an associate in science degree with an emphasis in Accounting and Budget Operations Management. A student veteran, she has continued her public service by dedicating her time to helping her fellow students by ensuring they know how to access vital services. In addition to Angell’s studies and a challenging schedule, she went above and beyond by volunteering her time for club events, student committees and recruitment efforts.

SCF’s health sciences programs, including Nursing, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy host pinning ceremonies before our spring commencement. The pin signifies the student's shift from learning to the clinical setting. In addition to pins, SCF’s Dental Hygiene program honors each student with a white coat to signify their transition. A testament to each program’s quality and the students’ preparedness, 100% of the graduates pass their national licensure exam. Additionally, 100% of eligible Occupational and Physical Therapy graduates have secured employment in the field, showcasing these program’s success in preparing students for their careers.

At each commencement, we honor an Outstanding Graduate who has demonstrated exceptional achievements in leadership, community service, academic achievement and school spirit. Our Spring 2024 awardee, Braydon Bernard, an accelerated dual enrollment student, graduated with his associate in arts degree and a 4.0 GPA. 

“While most 10-year-olds were playing on the playground or eating lunch at school, I was preparing to have a craniotomy,” shared Bernard. He never let his health challenges deter him. Instead, his successful surgery and compassionate healthcare staff, particularly his surgeon, inspired his career goals. Bernard intends to transfer to the University of Florida in the fall to study biochemistry, continuing his arduous path toward a future in pediatric neurosurgery and as a mentor to other children in need.

“Starting college is challenging and scary, but starting college at SCF is far from this.” He always felt that at SCF, there was a resource he could rely on to ease his struggles. SCF’s personalized attention and faculty-to-student ratios helped him fall in love with the science of chemistry. As part of the dual enrollment program, he was able to be independent and harness his full potential. 

If you follow my column, you have frequently read about the dedication and grit of SCF students as I share their triumphs. This Spring's graduates are no exception—our beach volleyball athletes missed their own commencement ceremony to play the championships and placed third in the nation. 

On Friday, May 3, we bestowed more than 1,090 degrees and certificates, including our collegiate high school graduates who receive a high school diploma in the morning and their associate in arts degree in the evening. During my final commencement address, pending my July 1 retirement, I shared these parting words with the students that I would like to share with you. 

Aristotle said, “It’s the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought, but not accept it.” As SCF graduates embark on their future, enter the workforce and represent SCF, I am confident that everyone will see what I’ve always known-that the future is in capable hands. 

Dr. Carol Probstfeld is president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. 

Photo courtesy SCF.