Developer raises offer for county building to $25M, sale negotiations underway

As leading bidder bumps offer, Sarasota County Commissioners allow administrator to continue negotiating sale of admin building

By Louis Llovio
| 3:47 p.m. September 28, 2021
| 0 Free Articles Remaining!

FILE: Sarasota County's current administration building at 1660 Ringling Blvd. needs about $32 million in upgrades.

Manatee-Sarasota

SARASOTA — Sarasota County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday, Sept. 28, to allow County Administrator Jonathan Lewis to continue negotiating the sale of its administrative building with east Manatee County developer Benderson Development Co.

With the commission’s backing, Lewis will continue working out the details with Benderson and return to commissioners with a purchase agreement for the building, in downtown Sarasota, and two adjacent properties they can then vote to accept or reject and start the process over.