History

Below are some key dates and events with regard to commercial development on St. Armands:

Date Uncertain (pre 1994)

St. Armands Commercial Tourist (CT) District Created

The intent and purpose of the CT district is to serve the nonresidential needs of tourists by providing a variety of goods and services for tourists. The application of this district is restricted to St. Armand's Key. (click here to view definitions of City commercial districts)

January 16, 2001

National Historic Designation

The Harding (St. Armands) Circle Historic District received registration on the National Register of Historic Places on January 16, 2001. It encompasses the Harding Circle Park, adjacent medians along John Ringling Blvd. and the Boulevard of the Presidents, and associated Ringling-era statuary.

From the agenda of the April 1, 2002 Regular City Commission Meeting:

BOARD ACTIONS RE: REPORT RE: HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD’S REPORT OF MARCH 12, 2002 – APPROVED THE EXPENDITURE OF $525 FROM THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION DEMOLITION FUND FOR AN HISTORIC MARKER FOR THE HARDING CIRCLE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND FOR A CONSULTANT TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION; RECEIVED REPORT (AGENDA ITEM II-1)

July 16, 2002

St. Armands Business Improvement District

City Commission establishes the St. Armand’s Special Business Improvement District (BID) with Ordinance No. 02-4382.

The BID is authorized to levy an ad valorem tax on real and personal property within the District up to two mills annually, and it may use special assessments to support planning and implementation of District improvements up to $500 per parcel per year.

The BID has a very specific list of powers related to maintaining, improving, safeguarding and marketing the District and is not authorized to exceed those powers.

The BID had a 10 year lifespan when created, and it was renewed once for an additional 10 years. But the BID ceased to exist on September 30, 2023, due to failure to receive enough votes to renew it for an additional 10 years.

Observer article: Disheartening demise

December 15, 2008

Master Plan of the Commercial Tourist District on St. Armands Key

A consultant prepares this 87-page St. Armands CT District Master Plan for the City. After the City, the BID is the next entity in the list of acknowledgements. The document recommends the addition of a boutique hotel and a market for St. Armands (just one of each, not multiple), but it does not say that the Coastal Islands Overlay District is an obstacle that needs to be changed or removed in order to accomplish this. Plus, much has changed on St. Armands, in Sarasota, and throughout the region since 2008 and we believe that a lot of the findings and recommendations in this document should be re-evaluated by an unbiased third party.

November 2, 2009

Coastal Islands Overlay District

The City's Conservation Overlay District (COD) was amended to become the Coastal Islands Overlay District (CIO) and providing development limitations (Ordinance No. 09-4888).

The Coastal Islands Overlay is intended to protect the environmentally sensitive and fragile nature of the coastal islands and their evacuation needs. The regulations address the density, intensity and scale of development consistent with the Environmental Protection and Coastal Island chapter of the Sarasota City Plan.

St. Armands Residents Association

P.O. Box 2482, Sarasota, FL 34230

e-mail us at: st.armands.residents.assn@gmail.com