SARASOTA – For those of you who have dreamed about a glorious retro ranch house from the 1950s, terrazzo tiles and all, now is the time. Sarasota, home of the Sarasota School of Modern design, is the place you want to be looking. Other than Palm Springs, California, this is the place. Prices have dropped, and there are some great deals.
Before you come, think about the following areas to look:
South Gate: Just south of downtown; some of it is in the city of Sarasota and some just outside in Sarasota County. Houses are three bedroom or so, and built in the 1960s. Part of the original development is the Westfield Southgate Mall, which has a Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and Dillards, all within walking distance. The Sarasota Memorial Hospital is nearby.
Gulf Gate: This area is less than a mile from Siesta Key, and just off Tamiami Trail. The houses here are smaller, some two bedrooms. Not as architecturally interesting as South Gate, but some great houses nonetheless. A great shopping area, also called Gulf Gate, is part of the neighborhood. This shopping area includes all manner of funky bars and restaurants, as well as Publix, Stein Mart, Books a Million and Old Navy. Nearby are all the major car dealers, and bike trails in Palmer Ranch are adjacent. The Catholic Church sits in the middle of the neighborhood; its Sarasota School too.
Paver Park: One of many groovin’ neighborhoods in Sarasota is Paver Park, which sits just east of downtown. Smaller houses, but some really good ones. Paver also developed Kensington Park, seen above in an old advertisement.
There are other pockets of modern are all across the city. Siesta Key has many gems, including some by top architects. These tend to be waterfront extravaganzas, and while their prices have moderated, there are no cheapies less than $200,000 to be had.
