By Sarasota Surroundings

On Tuesday evening, Seaward Development and its team of consultants presented their plans for Mira Mar Plaza during a Comprehensive Plan Amendment & Rezone Community Workshop. The event drew a full house of stakeholders, neighbors, business owners, and community members. By the end of the meeting, many attendees left more informed and satisfied with the revised proposal than when they arrived.

The presentation opened with Patrick DiPinto, Principal of Seaward Development, who shared a brief history of the Mira Mar project. He acknowledged that a prior attempt to demolish the building was made too hastily. After the plan was denied, the team listened to community feedback and returned with a solution aimed at preserving Sarasota’s historic heritage—albeit with a slight compromise.

Rick Gonzalez, Principal of REG Architects and one of Florida’s leading preservation experts, then educated the audience on the complexities of restoring historic buildings. To return the century-old Mira Mar Plaza to its original glory would require an estimated $29 million—a significant financial challenge.

This is where the proposed solution comes into play. Igor Reyes, Principal of Nichols Architects, introduced a 70-residence condominium project as the financial engine to fund the restoration. The plan includes two 18-story buildings, carefully designed with generous setbacks to allow for ample light, air circulation and view corridors.

But why the need for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment?

Seaward explained that in order to make the rehabilitation financially feasible, they require the additional revenue from the condominium sales on floors 11 through 18. This design, they argue, offers significant benefits over the current zoning allowance, which permits a 10-story building with no setbacks. By building taller and incorporating setbacks, the project enhances view corridors, improves air circulation, and creates a better overall environment for the surrounding community both in the air and at street level!