- April 5, 2026
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South Seas buys 22-acre artist retreat
The owners behind the South Seas resort on Captiva have bought 22 acres from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, a New York based arts nonprofit. The property sits near the entry to the resort and Captiva Village. It includes 10 buildings and waterfront footage along both the Gulf and Pine Island Sound, according to a statement. A South Seas spokesperson says the owners are not releasing the sale price and the foundation did not respond to questions. Lee County records have not been updated. The property, according to the foundation’s website, once served as the home and studio of 20th century artist Robert Rauschenberg. South Seas, in a statement announcing its purchase, says development plans have not yet been finalized and that it “is exploring options that align with the reimagined resort.” As part of that process, it is “looking at ways to honor the legacy of Robert Rauschenberg and his visionary artistry as plans develop for the property.”
Former Harley dealership is sold
A Fort Myers building that once housed a Harley Davidson dealership has sold. The property is at 2160 Colonial Blvd. just off of U.S. Highway 41. According to Lee County records, the 46,412-square-foot building sold for $5.55 million to a Lakeville, Minnesota, LLC that shares an address with a real estate firm named Metro Equity Partners. The previous owner paid $8.27 million for it in 2020.
Minnesota developer buys Fort Myers project site
A Minneapolis development firm has bought a 61.3-acre site in Fort Myers for $20.45 million. Ryan Cos. intends to build a large-scale, mixed-use project on the site, which it’s dubbed Dia Crossings, according to a statement from Fort Myers-based LSI Cos. The property, at U.S. 41 and Alico Road, required full rezoning and the rescission of a former Development of Regional Impact (DRI) designation. Now approved, the site can have 350 multifamily units, up to 200,000 square feet of commercial space and 150 hotel keys. The seller is Holes Jared Trustee, according to a statement. Ryan, in a separate statement, says it plans to build an eight building, 350-unit community on the site. It will be named Trailside at Dia Crossing and include 148 one-bedroom units, 168 two-bedroom units, 24 three-bedroom units as well as 10 townhouses. The community is expected to be move-in ready early next year. LSI’s Alex Henderson and Max Molloy, along with Phil Fischler of Fischler Property Co., represented Ryan. Michael Frye of Re/Max Realty Group represented the seller.
Second Gasworx community is open
The Stevedore, the second apartment community built in Tampa’s Gasworx development, has begun pre-leasing and opened April 1. The 390-unit community includes studio units starting at 457 square feet and topping out at two-bedroom units at 1,084 square feet. Month rent for the studios start at $1,876 with the rent for the largest two bedrooms set at $3,513. The building also has about 9,700 square feet of ground floor retail. The developer, Kettler, says the retail tenants will be announced in coming weeks. Gasworx is a 50-acre development outside Ybor City that when complete will include 5,000 new residences as well as 500,000 square feet of office space and more than 140,000 square feet of retail. The Stevedore was built adjacent to La Unión Residences and Social Hall, a 317-unit community that opened in 2024.
Kenworth property sold to Baltimore firm
Greenspring Realty Partners, a Baltimore area real estate firm, bought a Polk County property that houses truck dealer Lakeland Florida Kenworth. County records show the 2.46-acre property at 5004 Combee Road N. sold for $1.9 million to an LLC with Greenspring’s address. The seller is Polk Truck Sales Inc. According to the property records, the land was transferred to Polk Truck from The Flat Iron Land Co. in 2001 for $10. Flat Iron, which paid $160,000 for it in 1994, shares an Orlando address with Polk Truck.
46 townhomes proposed to replace bowling alley
A townhouse community is being proposed on the site of a bowling alley in Sarasota, a few blocks east of Main Street. The project, 2250 Fruitville Townhomes, would bring 46 townhomes to 2250 Fruitville Road, where Sarasota Lanes is located. Property owner Sarasota Lanes LLC has submitted an application and site plan with the city of Sarasota to redevelop its 1.94 acres. Sarasota Lanes, a 29,700-square-foot bowling alley, would be demolished to make way for the residential project. It is permanently closed for business. Tom Hubbard, the manager of Sarasota Lanes, is listed as the applicant, and he is seeking a few modifications from the city to accommodate the project. The property at 2250 Fruitville Road is currently zoned commercial general with a future land use of urban edge, and Hubbard seeks to change the zoning to downtown edge. The site is surrounded by a parking garage, retail and other commercial uses, the application says.
Furniture retailer closing local location
A furniture store with two locations in Florida is going out of business, and as a result, its Sarasota store is closing. Leather Gallery and Bedding Center is holding final sales at 5251 S. Tamiami Trail. The company opened the 8,000-square-foot store off US 41 in 2014. It was one of three Leather Gallery locations — the flagship store in Hudson opened in 1984, before shuttering in 2025; a second location in The Villages opened in 2006 and is also holding closing sales. As the business winds down, it is offering discounts on home furnishings, including leather furniture, mattresses and accessories, according to a statement. Leather Gallery and Bedding Center is shuttering after more than 40 years in operation. The company began in 1984 when Bruce Weintraub launched the business with his father, Harold. After his father died in 1993, Weintraub grew the business, expanding into The Villages and Sarasota, according to the statement. Now, the stores in The Villages and Sarasota are closing as he has decided to retire. Liquidation sales began in February. A time frame for the Sarasota store’s closure was not immediately available.
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