South Sarasota will have a new mixed-use town center in the coming years as Torburn Partners has received the go-ahead from the Sarasota County Commission to redevelop the largely vacant Sarasota Square Mall.
The Illinois-based developer envisions converting the 93-acre site into a mix of retailers, restaurants, offices and apartments, bringing an upscale lifestyle experience to the site south of the city and adjacent to Palmer Ranch. Aside from three big-box businesses, the mall has been a nearly empty wasteland occupying prime commercial property for several years.