Benderson Development’s interest in acquiring historic building prompted several board discussions over past year
A 4-1 vote of the Sarasota County commissioners on May 5 appeared to end a saga that began more than a year ago regarding the 261 S. Orange Ave. home of the nonprofit Architecture Sarasota in downtown Sarasota.
Commissioner Teresa Mast cast the “No” vote during the board’s regular meeting that day, which was held in Venice. As she has in the past, Mast stressed the need for the commission to make the most money possible from the sale of county property that has been declared surplus.
“I think the actual sale of this is what we need to do,” she began. “I think the current potential buyers would be incredible stewards of it, because I think the historical integrity of this is important,” Mast told her colleagues.
However, she continued, “What I am very adverse to is the fact that it was appraised at $3.5 [million] to $4.8 million. We’re letting it go for $2.5 [million]. These are public dollars,” Mast pointed out.
As she did last year, Mast called for seeking bids on the property. “Any time we can collect as many dollars as possible, I think it’s prudent for us to do that,” she said.
Nonetheless, Mast told her colleagues, any bid advertisement should make clear that the building would have to be maintained because of its history.
“If they’re the highest bidder,” Mast noted of Architecture Sarasota, “I think that’s great.”
As The Sarasota News Leader has reported, on March 26, 2025, Matt Osterhoudt, director of the county’s Planning and Development Services Department, told the commissioners during their regular meeting that day that Benderson Development Co. had expressed an interest in purchasing the parcel located at 261 S. Orange Ave. In late 2021, the county commissioners seated at that time agreed to sell the company the county Administration Center property located at 1660 Ringling Blvd. in downtown Sarasota and two related parcels used for parking. The South Orange Avenue property is located within close proximity of those parcels, as shown on a map that Osterhoudt presented to the commissioners that day.
Ultimately, following their discussion after his remarks, the board members agreed to take more time to decide how to proceed on the future of the Orange Avenue site. Commissioner Joe Neunder, who was the board chair at the time, stressed that he wanted to be able to discuss the prospective sale with leaders of Architecture Sarasota.
As the News Leader noted, on its website, Architecture Sarasota explains that it “stewards the legacy of the Sarasota School of Architecture and provides a forum for the education, advocacy and celebration of good design in the global built environment.”
The county had owned what is known as the Scott Building since June 23, 1998, as pointed out on one of Osterhoudt’s slides.
Starting with that initial discussion, Commissioner Mast contended that if the county owns parcels for which it has no use, the property should be put back on the tax rolls, to provide a “financial benefit to the community.”
‘To me, it’s about historic preservation’
During the May 5 commission meeting, the proposed sale of the structure to Architecture Sarasota was listed as an item on the Consent Agenda of routine business matters, which the board members routinely approve without discussion, unless one of them pulls an item for comments or staff remarks. That day, Chair Ron Cutsinger indicated, Mast had pulled the item to offer her comments on the proposal.
Commissioner Mark Smith, a long-time Siesta Key architect who has championed the sale of the structure to Architecture Sarasota, pointed out that the “county in-house appraisal” was the one with the $3.5 million value. The “third-party, independent appraisal,” which was $4.8 million, was based on the assumption that the new owner would tear down the building and construct a new one on site, he noted.
Then Smith explained that the Center for Architecture, the predecessor nonprofit organization to Architecture Sarasota, “remodeled the old, dilapidated county print shop for a million dollars.”
After county staff chose to cease operations in that shop on Orange Avenue, the Center for Architecture leased the structure for its work, county records have shown.
Given that earlier, $1-million investment in the historic building, Smith continued, and the price of $2.5 million, Architecture Sarasota essentially would be paying the $3.5 million.
“To me, he said, “it’s about historic preservation. It is a fair evaluation based on keeping the building as is,” with the square footage and the values of comparable structures in downtown Sarasota, he indicated.
Thus, Smith told his colleagues, he was in favor of approving the sale.
Commissioner Tom Knight announced that he agreed with Smith. “To put it out to bid and have it torn down would be a detriment to this community,” Knight added.
“I’ll just pile in very briefly,” Commissioner Neunder said. “Historic preservation in Sarasota County is something that we all feel very adamantly about here in our community.” Neunder then referenced “the history of architecture” in the county and the renown it has brought the county.
Paul Rudolph is one of the most famous architects who has worked in the county. As the Sarasota Art Museum explains, he “was one of the pioneers of the Sarasota School of Architecture, a group of post-war modern architects (1941-1966) known for thoughtful consideration of how architecture should adapt to local climates and landscape. Before moving to Sarasota in 1941 to work for Ralph Twitchell, Rudolph studied architecture at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) and received a Master of Architecture from Harvard.”
“I’m in favor of this [sale],” Neunder told his colleagues. “I think this is a good thing to put to bed.”
Then Mast stressed, “At no time am I suggesting that this [building] be torn down. I specifically said this building needs to be preserved.”
As for Smith’s comments about the improvements to the structure that the Center for Architecture undertook, Mast said, “Any time you are renters and you make improvements to any infrastructure that you’re renting, that is at your own expense.” She pointed out, “That has absolutely nothing to do with the value of this.”
Again, she stressed her desire to see the county make as much money as possible from the sale.
Smith ended up making the motion to approve the sale to Architecture Sarasota, and Neunder seconded it.
Chair Cutsinger said, “I appreciate Commissioner Mast’s comments.” Nonetheless, he noted that the $2.5-million price is based on the continued use of the building, “as is. I find it hard to believe that we would ever say, ‘Tear it down.’ ”