Proscenium land closing elusive

The land deal for the Proscenium project, a proposed $800 million redevelopment of six acres just north of downtown Sarasota, could be on life support.

The official spokesperson for the project, Sarasota entrepreneur and developer Zeb Portanova, didn't return phone calls or e-mails regarding the status of the deal. But when interviewed in late January, Portanova said he was confident the $74 million deal for the land, in the 400 block of North Tamiami Trail, would close by mid-February, and if not then, by mid-March. Self-imposed closing deadlines of August, October and December also came and went last year.

With both those dates history and the economic climate for development deals icy, the question lingers as to if and when the deal for the land will actually close.