Sarasota Square Mall redeveloper releases first group of retail tenants
The redeveloper of the former Sarasota Square Mall has revealed new details of its 96-acre mixed-use project at the corner of U.S. 41 and Beneva Road. Whole Foods Market will anchor Phase One of the retail development, leasing approximately 35,828 square feet of space. Adjacent to Whole Foods, home decor and...
Storm-battered Florida landmarks and homes get new help to preserve their past
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As Hurricanes Helene and Milton tore through Florida in last year, several homes and businesses were destroyed. The powerful winds and high water levels wiped away irreplaceable pieces of the state’s history. Now, an effort is underway to assess and restore some of the most iconic structures...
Manatee County resident gives lawn care advice for people during drought
PARRISH, Fla. — Much of the Tampa Bay area is experiencing moderate drought conditions. In the Sarasota–Bradenton area, while the yearly rain total is only two inches below average, our Weather Experts say a lack of rainfall over the last three months has created these conditions. For over...
Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota: A Landmark 18-Story Luxury Tower Poised to Elevate Downtown Sarasota
Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota: 18-Story Luxury Tower Set to Transform Downtown at Five Points. SARASOTA, Fla. — Downtown Sarasota is set to welcome one of the most significant luxury developments in its history: the Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota, an 18-story residential tower planned for the iconic Five...
On Fruitville Road, a Long-Delayed Affordable Housing Plan Moves Forward
For more than a decade, an undeveloped stretch of Fruitville Road lingered in dispute as Mark Vengroff and his father, Harvey, tried to advance a plan that never found traction. “It’s been 12 years in the making,” Vengroff says. “My father wanted 400 apartments that were truly workforce, and it...
Historic Sarasota tiki bar named among best dive bars in America
A Sarasota bar has earned its spot among the top dive bars in the county.
‘Our town belongs to us:’ Artists to file suit against FDOT over sidewalk art
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Artists are intending to file a federal lawsuit against the state of Florida after their work was scrubbed from Sarasota streets and sidewalks. In June, the Florida Department of Transportation issued an order declaring “all traffic control devices, including pavement surface markings, be...
Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery service launches in Ruskin
RUSKIN, Fla. (WFLA) — Amazon’s Prime Air delivery service launched at Amazon’s TPA1 fulfillment center in Ruskin on Tuesday. Amazon officials said drones will bring “ultra-fast delivery” to local neighborhoods in select areas of Tampa Bay. According to Prime Air, drones can deliver packages weighing up to five pounds...
Increased Police Presence in Sarasota: Operation or Coincidence?
Residents of the University Town Center (UTC) area in Sarasota have noticed an unusual increase in police presence recently. The sudden surge in law enforcement officers patrolling the streets at all hours has sparked curiosity and speculation among the locals. They are wondering if there's a special operation...
For Kelly Rozelle, Sarasota County Schools’ Teacher of Year award all about ‘My students’
Last year, when Superintendent Terry Connor handed Kelly Rozelle a bouquet of flowers and announced her as a finalist for Teacher of the Year, the Venice High School teacher could only shake her head and say, “I am in total shock.” She was still processing it all when, just a few weeks later, she was named Sarasota...
