Florida couple saves Sarasota cottage village from demolition, protecting 17 businesses
A group of small business owners in Sarasota, Florida, successfully prevented the demolition of their historic cottage village after a developer's plan to build an apartment complex fell through. The owners of the property decided to take the site off the market, preserving the local landmark.
Why it matters
This reflects the ongoing tension between urban development and the preservation of local community character and small business ecosystems.
A cluster of colorful cottages along Fruitville Road in downtown Sarasota has been spared from demolition, at least for now. The Historic Downtown Village, home to 17 locally owned businesses, was under contract to be sold to a developer who planned to replace the bungalows with a 324-unit apartment complex. In early October, owners Alex and Marlene Lancaster told tenants the deal had fallen through and that they would continue owning and managing the property, taking it off the market entirely. The reversal ends months of uncertainty for shop and restaurant owners who had been weighing relocation options, according to reports by Sarasota Magazine and MySuncoast.A village of small businesses in bright cottagesThe Historic Downtown Village sits on about 3.44 acres between Fruitville Road, Fourth Street, North Osprey Avenue and Gillespie Avenue.
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