​$25M Sale Of County's Downtown Building Approved: Report

Sarasota FL

15 November, 2021

1:56 PM

Description

SARASOTA, FL — Sarasota County will sell its downtown Sarasota administrative building to Benderson Development for $25 million, the Observer Media Group reported. County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to sell the Sarasota County Administration Center at 1660 Ringling Blvd. and two nearby buildings to the developers. The county plans to move from downtown Sarasota into a new operational headquarters that will likely be built on Cattlemen Road property near I-75, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported. County Administrator Jonathan Lewis told the newspaper that the move will allow the county to better serve its residents in unincorporated areas. "So, from a service perspective, we're not close to the people who so frequently come to this (current downtown Sarasota) building for services," he said. Like what you're reading? Invite a friend to subscribe to free Sarasota newsletters and real-time email alerts. Lewis also sees it as a win for the city of Sarasota and an opportunity for downtown economic development there. Efforts to move the county from the Ringling offices, led by Commissioner Al Maio, began in December 2019, according to the Observer. The current administrative center was built in 1973. The county has said it would cost $49 million and take 20 years to address all the issues with the building, including leaking roofs, reports said. According to the contract with Benderson, the county will remain in the Ringling Boulevard facility under a four-year lease. Rent will cost the county $1 million each year. The development company will maintain the building's roof and structure, while the county handles other maintenance.