Benderson Development has expressed interest in purchasing parcel where Architecture Sarasota operates in historic building
With Sarasota County Commissioners Ron Cutsinger and Teresa Mast in the minority, the board members voted 3-2 this week to put on hold for 18 months any discussion about the fate of county-owned property standing at 261 S. Orange Ave., near the County Administration Center in downtown Sarasota.
Commissioner Tom Knight proposed the action on the basis of concerns that representatives of Architecture Sarasota, who had spoken with him following a board discussion that he missed on March 26. Architecture Sarasota rents the property from the county.
Mast had urged her colleagues to provide direction to county staff in crafting an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN), which could be advertised while the nonprofit organization explored its options for another home. She pointed out, as well, that Architecture Sarasota is paying the county only $10 a year in rent, even though the South Orange Avenue parcel has a market value of more than $5 million.
Staff has reported that the current lease was executed in 2023, and it is valid for five years. It also provides for two, five-year renewal periods.
Neunder also pointed out that the City of Sarasota zoning for the site allows for a structure up to 10 stories in height.
Cutsinger suggested that whoever ended up purchasing the property could work out an agreement with Architecture Sarasota, so the organization could remain in the building for a couple of years. He felt confident, he added, that such a discussion could lead to a resolution agreeable to both parties.
Further, Cutsinger emphasized that the board members would have to approve the stipulations of an ITN. Yet, Knight’s motion did not allow for staff to work on the ITN during the 18-month period.
As The Sarasota News Leader has reported, Matt Osterhoudt, director of the county’s Planning and Development Services Department, explained to the commissioners on March 26 that representatives of Benderson Development Co., of University Park, approached county staff in September 2024 about acquiring the property located at 261 S. Orange Ave. Just before the end of 2021, Benderson finalized its purchase of the County Administration Center standing at 1660 Ringling Blvd. and two adjacent parcels used for parking. The county has been leasing the property for $1 million a year until the new County Administration Center has been completed on Fruitville Road, which is expected later this year. Company staff and Philip DiMaria, a professional engineer with the Kimley-Horn consulting firm in Sarasota, have conducted discussions with residents of the surrounding are about potential plans for use of the county property after county operations move to the new structure.
Because state law would not allow a direct sale to Benderson, Osterhoudt recommended that county staff issue an ITN, with direction from the commissioners on details they would like to have it include. One option, he suggested on March 26, was requiring the new owner of the South Orange parcel to allow Architecture Sarasota to stay in what is known as the Scott Building until the nonprofit’s lease term expired, even if a sale of the property occurred beforehand.
The building is on the National Register of Historic Places, Commissioner Mark Smith, a decades-long architect with an office on Siesta Key, told the other commissioners on March 26.
‘A lot of calls’
During his report to his colleagues on April 8, Knight said that he had been receiving “a lot of calls” about the Benderson proposal.
Glancing at Smith, Knight smiled as he acknowledged that he has no expertise in architecture. However, Knight continued, “There are ways to … keep history like that and build around [such structures]. That’s been done in many different parts of our nation. It looks unique and neat.”
He then pointed out, “We have so much going on.” Therefore, Knight said, “I would like to push that [decision on the Scott Building] back a couple of years.”
The news that the commission might sell the property, Knight continued, referring to leaders of Architecture Sarasota, “kind of got on top of them pretty quick. That creates a lot of anxiety, and not the type of thing that we want to do to our community.”
Knight proposed that he and his colleagues give the leaders of Architecture Sarasota “an opportunity to breathe a little bit while they look for their future, and we get an opportunity to talk about the future of that location.” Perhaps the commissioners should wait until the end of 2026 before discussing the Scott Building again, Knight added.
“I agree with you,” Chair Joe Neunder told Knight. “It’s a piece of history here in Sarasota County.”
Then, as he did during the March 26 discussion, Neunder noted that he lives in Venice — along with Knight — and Venice residents are “very passionate about preserving history.”
Neunder added that he had met with representatives of Architecture Sarasota, a step he stressed on March 26 that he wanted to take before any decision was made about an ITN.
He needs “to do some more research,” Neunder said, but he also pointed out, “We have a lot going on in our county at the moment. This is not very high on my priority list.”
Further, Neunder noted that he believes that a tenant of a local government has some expectation that that local government will honor the terms of a lease, as a matter of “equal, fair protection under the law.”
He also talked of his respect for the architects working with Architecture Sarasota, saying his “first touch with them was fantastic.”
At that point, Commissioner Mast told her colleagues that she had read the lease. “They’re paying $10 a year.” She stressed that: “Ten dollars a year,” when the value of the property would indicate a lease calling for a payment between $5,000 and $10,000 a month. So when we talk about being good stewards of our taxpayers’ dollars,” Mast continued, “that is a huge issue for me.”
She did add that she believes “we should always help individuals that are giving back to our community,” but she again questioned the low amount of rent.
While she concurred that a decision on the property should not be rushed, Mast said, “I think we definitely need to look at it.”
Then Mast pointed out that she hears about “significant infrastructure issues … every day.”
She indicated that a sale of the property could generate revenue needed for county initiatives.
Knight agreed with her that the commission will need significant funding for upcoming projects.
While she was willing to delay a discussion on the future of the parcel, Mast added, she did not want to set a specific timeline.
Moreover, Mast said, the commissioners could ask staff to structure an ITN that called for keeping the Scott Building in place.
Commissioner Smith said he believes that what formerly was the Center for Architecture “did put about $1 million” into the renovations of the building. He characterized that as “a sizable investment.”
Even with the rent’s being only $10 a month, Smith continued, he believes the commission should give Architecture Sarasota a “grace period” to find a new home before proceeding with plans to invite bids for the property. “I don’t see the hurry of pushing this forward.”
He concurred with Knight and Neunder about an 18-month hold before the board makes any decision on how to proceed with the handling of the property.
Knight suggested that perhaps county staff members could talk with representatives of Architecture Sarasota about their feelings regarding the organization’s future. As for the low rent, he said, “It is what it is.”
Knight then made a motion calling for the commission to refrain from allowing staff to issue an ITN for the property until the end of 2026, and Commissioner Smith seconded it.
Mast did ask Knight whether he would be willing to amend his motion to provide that an ITN staff could draft would require the new property owner to allow Architecture Sarasota to remain as a tenant for a specific period of time. She indicated that the development of the ITN and its advertising would take as much time as the delay he was seeking. Therefore, Mast said, the commissioners should allow staff to proceed with crafting the ITN.
On another point, Chair Neunder asked County Attorney Joshua Moye whether the board could rescind the motion, if it passed, and Architecture Sarasota ended up finding a new home before the end of 2026.
“That is correct,” Moye replied.
Nonetheless, Neunder stressed, “The protection for the next 18 months is key.”
In a subsequent exchange between Knight and County Administrator Jonathan Lewis, Lewis pointed out that the commissioners on March 26 directed him to have staff discuss the situation with leaders of Architecture Sarasota. However, representatives of the organization refused to meet with staff, Lewis said, because they had decided to meet with the commissioners instead.
Lewis also stressed that staff would not advertise an ITN for the property without having the commissioners approve the draft of that document.
Yet, Neunder said again, “I feel they need to be protected … for the 18 months. … This is out in the community.” He added, “They might be looking for something else.” If the leaders of Architecture Sarasota find another location within that period, Neunder continued, then the county can proceed with issuing an ITN.
Near the end of the discussion, Mast stressed that the ITN could be issued with language specifying that Architecture Sarasota could remain in the Scott Building for 18 months.
County Attorney Moye also explained that if the majority of the board members did not like any of the responses to an ITN, then they would not have to approve one.
Knight told Neunder he did not want to amend his motion to include any provision for an ITN to be advertised during the 18-month period.
When Neunder called for the vote, the result was 3-2, with Smith joining Knight and Neunder in the majority.