Sarasota rejects 58-unit apartment project north of downtown

Citing concerns of residents of The Strand condominiums along Whitaker Bayou, the Sarasota City Commission on Monday denied by a 4-1 vote a rezoning ordinance amendment and site plan application for a 58-unit apartment development across two buildings at 1701 and 1715 N. Tamiami Trail. The project is a few blocks north of downtown. 

In the planning stages since the application was submitted to the city in 2022, property owner Tammy II LLC of Chicago had encountered multiple obstacles since acquiring the site from the original master developer of The Strand, Jebco Ventures of Sarasota. 

First was the illness and death of the civil engineer, then the death of the surveyor. Then project consultant Joel Freedman developed cancer for which he underwent extensive treatment. And now, Freedman told commissioners, developer principal Jason Vondrachek is dealing with his own medical issues and had planned to sell the property once the project was approved.