A remnant of Sarasota’s growth in the 1970s standing at the historic center of downtown, the city’s Development Review Committee has had its first look at plans to demolish and redevelop The Zenith building at Five Points, the roundabout at Main Street and South Pineapple Avenue.
Developer Jebcore Z Tower of Sarasota, a subsidiary of Jebcore Companies, is seeking administrative site plan approval to build an 18-story, mixed-use residential tower consisting of 96 dwelling units and 41,837 square feet of commercial and office space. Of the 96 residences, the prices of seven will be attainable as the project will take advantage of the city’s affordable and attainable housing bonus density.
Existing on the just more than 1-acre site is the 12-story Zenith building, which is vacant, and a four-level parking structure at 1390 Main St.; and a two-story office building at 40 S. Pineapple Ave. The site is split-zoned with 1.07 acres in Downtown Bayfront, which permits 18 stories, and 0.11 acre in Downtown Core, which limits building heights to 10 stories. The entirety of the 18-story portion will be located in Downtown Bayfront and, thus, will not require rezoning.
The two-story building will also face demolition and replaced with three stories of retail and commercial space incorporated into the podium and parking structure…