The commissioners’ decision was unanimous. Now it’s up to the artist retreat’s board of trustees.
By Noah Vinsky
Original Air Date: October 10, 2025
Host: After some community members expressed concern, Sarasota County decided not to sell the land on which the Hermitage Artist Retreat stands. But how will the hurricane-battered building finally be fixed? Noah Vinsky brings us the details.
The Sarasota County Commission voted to not sell the land the hurricane-battered Hermitage Artist Retreat sits on. But, amid bickering between county staffers and the non-profit that runs the high-profile institution on Manasota Key, getting it fixed is complicated. Noah Vinsky explains.
Noah Vinsky: Wednesday’s Sarasota County Commission meeting marked yet another round of discussion over what to do with Hermitage Artist Retreat, which sits on nine acres of county-owned beachfront land.
Joe Neunder
Joe Neunder: This is the Hermitage. We want to get it right. Believe me, we want to get you guys open. But this process has led us down a very tumultuous road for all of us here with the emails and the phone calls all at the same time, and at the end of the day, we just want you guys to get open.
NV: That was Board Chair Joe Neunder, frustrated after several meetings and multiple failed motions. On Wednesday, after nearly two hours of deliberation, commissioners reached a tentative solution on how to get the building fixed. And it does not involve a sale of the land.
The Hermitage had expressed its interest in purchasing the property from the county, But four of the five commissioners were not interested in going through with it. Board member Mark Smith proposed that option Wednesday, which promptly failed with a 4-1 vote.
Instead, the board unanimously agreed to reimburse the Hermitage approximately $172,000 in exchange for the retreat amending its lease to foot the bill for any future storm repairs. The decision is now awaiting the approval of the Hermitage Board of Trustees.
It’s a much different option from the two the commissioners were previously presented with. The first option was to proceed with the county-approved repairs. That option was proposed by Commissioner Tom Knight and swiftly withdrawn.
The board previously discussed the two options during its last meeting yet didn’t take a vote. Neunder grew dissatisfied with the repeated back-and-forth discussion.
JN: I’d like to be able to have a dialogue and put something out there because we need direction. You guys want to be open, and at the end of the day, all that wants to be done is for you guys to open up and run your business, and I get that.
NV: That led to the third option proposed by Commissioner Run Cutsinger: giving the Hermitage money for repairs while amending the lease so the retreat is liable for all future storm damage. Hermitage President Carole Crosby said it’s an option the retreat would consider but could not agree to until a vote by the Hermitage Board of Trustees.
The commissioners agreed to the third option unanimously. If the Hermitage board cannot agree on that option, the commissioners will proceed with the county-provided repairs.
Noah Vinsky for WSLR News.
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