City of Venice demolishes public works building for redevelopment

The city of Venice recently oversaw the demolition of its public works facility on Seaboard Avenue as it makes way for redevelopment.

The former public works site at 221 Seaboard Ave. encompasses about 2.5 acres. It is adjacent to 3.3 acres of cleared property also owned by the city, so the combined area is about 5.8 acres, according to a statement.

Historically, Seaboard has served as the city’s industrial district. In 2025, Venice approved a Seaboard Master Plan that established a new vision for the area that will transform it into a walkable, mixed-use district, the statement says. The plan is to create an area that can accommodate residential, commercial, retail and continued light-industrial activity.

“Seeing the Public Works facility come down was bittersweet for many of our long-time employees who spent more than 20 years of their careers there,” Venice Public Works Director Ricky Simpson says in a statement.  “But we are also excited to see the property become part of the larger vision for Seaboard and be put to a use that will benefit the community for generations to come.”

Along Seaboard Avenue, the city’s long-term redevelopment concept includes new mixed uses and extensive streetscape improvements, according to the statement. Among them are landscaping, on-street parking, pedestrian improvements and stormwater and utility infrastructure upgrades.

“The Seaboard redevelopment represents the most exciting project in my 24 years working at the City,” Venice Planning and Zoning Director Roger Clark says in the statement. “It has the potential to create a vibrant new neighborhood with its own distinct characteristics.”

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Public works personnel are now working at 1280 US 41 Bypass South or at 1350 Ridgewood Ave., where operations and maintenance have been located since 2021, according to city of Venice spokesperson Lorraine Anderson. Last year, the city of Venice purchased 1280 US 41 Bypass South from Douglas Jeep for $11.8 million. The 4.7-acre site houses solid waste, recycling and fleet maintenance staff.

There is no timeframe set yet for the redevelopment of Seaboard Avenue, according to Anderson.

Before work begins, the City of Venice will collaborate with Sarasota County Environmental Services and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on environmental cleanup and remediation, Anderson says in an email. City officials have previously said there was a petroleum contamination at the public works site recorded in 1990 that needs to be addressed.

"The city will then begin exploring future partnership opportunities from the private sector to help move the Seaboard plan forward," Anderson says. "The city may decide to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) from the private sector to see what kind of responses we receive. Anything proposed will be required to be consistent with the intent of the Seaboard Master Plan and more than likely would include some involvement from the city if city property is included, possibly in the form of a public/private partnership. The timing is yet to be determined."