05/06/2024
in 2016 My family and I moved to Sarasota Florida from NJ.
It was the second time that we officially had tried living in Sarasota, the first being in 2010-2011, when there was still a major recession going on, and Sarasota was starting to really grow and ramp up.
Sarasota County has grown tremendously since that time, and we have lived in many different neighborhoods in Sarasota since 2016. Most recently my family and I lived in the Sarasota Springs area for 6 years, and enjoyed living there a lot.
It is centrally located to a lot of movement in the Sarasota area, but recently my family decided to make a REALLY big change, and move to DOWNTOWN!
For many years I thought to myself, "I don't know if I could live the "downtown" lifestyle", but after our first month living there, we are LOVING IT!
We've discovered new playgrounds, and beautiful neighborhoods, such as laurel park playground, and SOOOO much history downtown! A lot of buildings and landmarks, and neighborhoods are turning 100 years old this year!
This brief synopsis is a little story on what we are experiencing downtown and the growth and changes that are happening there!
1.) We are in an area of downtown, that borders the larger high-rise buildings, living in the New development called Lofts on Lemon. It was a Sarasota Housing Project Building completed in 2022 and Opened in 2023. It is a highly vetted building, with a great incentive of low rental pricing for working-class residents, with upscale features in the building and in each unit. Very spacious, and bright units. The rental costs are income-based, on a sort of sliding scale, so pricing varies. We have a 2/2 Unit, about 900 SQ FT for a low $ 1,400 monthly rental.
This is not typical, and the nearest rental buildings are much higher priced for this, BUT there is a call for growth in this sector of having affordable housing for residents. There is a constant waiting list, and a strong vetting process, that makes this type of living very attractive for young families, and anyone who is transitioning into housing.
Some of the perks of living downtown are by FAR the access to TOP TIER Public Schools, such as Southside Elementary and Alta Vista, and of course private and religious-based schools are also close.
Downtown is always hopping with constant new growth, thousands of new planned residences, The Bay is continuing into development, and proximity of St. Armand's, Longboat Key, and Lido Beach are also very attractive options. Not to mention Siesta Key being just about a 10-minute drive along Osprey and Orange Avenues from Downtown.
Recently Bayfront Park's New Playground and Water Splash Pad have opened, and it is Beautiful and inviting for young families.
One of the Largest Libraries in the County, Selby Public Library is a favorite hangout spot, and within walking distance to spend some time studying/reading after school.
Having an electric vehicle is still somewhat of a challenge, but there are many options to public charging in downtown, and we are always on the lookout for new charging options that are slowly starting to pop up more around town.
By far our favorite thing to do on Saturday Mornings is of course the Downtown Sarasota Farmer's Market! We are within a 5-minute walk to the market, and it is a crowd draw every single Saturday throughout the YEAR! It is not just a seasonal Market!
The amount of activity that occurs downtown on a daily basis is amazing for families to discover things to do, so there is never a dull moment. But, at the same time, it still FEELS small, and cozy, though that may be hard to believe, it feels very personable.
The biggest change is actually being closer to everything! We feel like being able to get to businesses on University Parkway is much closer, going up US 301, and Fruitville Road Businesses are also very close. There is still a good amount of congestion on Fruitville road, because there is a lot of Residential growth and construction happening in the areas of Fruitville and 301.
A new Sprouts Market should be up before the end of the year, near the corner of Fruitville and 301 area.
Some top places and things to do on our list:
1.) Sunflower Market!- Our NEWEST TOP Grocery Discount Liquidation Shopping trip- Make this one a top must-go check out! Amazing finding this place on the Corner of Lime and Fruitville, and we have added this to our Bi-Weekly rotation for grocery shopping! Imagine "Whole Foods" at a 75% Discount!
2.) The Children's Garden- Still a magical place to take the kids to, bring them back into old Florida charm, and help them capture their imaginations!
3.) Latin Quarter's- For anyone looking for a night of "Salsa" and Latin dancing this is the place to go!
4.) McCurdy's Comedy Club- A fun place, that makes it very affordable for a nice night out of simple bar foods, drinks, and laughs!- Some awesome well-known comedians come through here every year!
5.) Bayfront Park Splash Pad!
Lastly, don't miss out on This week's first " Siesta Con", one of Sarasota's First Comic Cons in the AREA! May 11, 2024, at Robarts Arena.
I plan to have a new blog highlighting our downtown adventures starting this summer! Stay Tuned for future stories!
https://www.sunflowerdiscountmarket.com/
https://siestacon.com/
https://sarasotafarmersmarket.org/
https://www.mccurdyscomedy.com/shows/
https://www.thebaysarasota.org/calendar/
http://www.sarasotachildrensgarden.com/
