New beginnings

In luring one of the region's premier residential real estate services firms to relocate its downtown Sarasota sales office to its ground floor, the owner of the 13-story Ellis Building is embarking on a long-anticipated reinvention of the Main Street tower.

Benderson Development Co. is planning a series of improvements at the 1605 Main St. building in the wake of brokerage Michael Saunders & Co.'s decision earlier this month to lease 15,200 square feet most recently occupied by Bank of America.

The improvements will include a new façade, ground-floor lobby, aesthetic pavers and parking enhancements. The building also is expected to be renamed to reflect Wells Fargo Advisors' tenancy there by the time the renovation is completed in February 2016.