But two high-profile projects near downtown are left in limbo.
By Ramon Lopez
Original Air Date: January 14, 2026
Host: On the agenda of the Sarasota County Commission meeting yesterday was a decision on how to disburse $30 million worth of federal disaster recovery funds for affordable housing projects. Applications amounted to close to $100 million, which made it a hard choice. How did two high-profile projects near downtown Sarasota—including one that would replace a controversial concrete crushing plant—fare? Ramon Lopez reports.
Location of the US Recycling concrete crushing plant at the south end of the Cocoanut-Central neighborhood. The neighborhood association has endorsed replacing the plant with affordable housing.
Ramon Lopez: The Sarasota County Commissioners yesterday reviewed and approved selected funding allocations submitted under the Resilient SRQ Multifamily Affordable Housing Program. But funding for one controversial project was snubbed entirely, and another saw the conditional allocation severely slashed, placing it in jeopardy.
US Recycling crushes cement from demolitions. This process generates dust which strong winds can carry up to three kilometers from the plant. Photo via Google Maps
The county board handled the handouts because federal money is involved, awarded to support recovery from 2024’s Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. A total of $30 million was available in grant funding. But developers of the 16 affordable housing projects submitted wanted $105 million, so some had to go.
In the end, four were selected. Community Assisted & Supported Living (CASL) got $11.2 million versus the $15 million sought after. It is for North Port’s Rosedale project. Family Promise of South Sarasota County’s Parkside Villages in Venice received the requested $2 million. Harvest Tabernacle of Sarasota sought and got $2.5 million. Venice Avenue Apartments, handled by One Stop Housing, received the sought-after $11.2 million. The four projects soaked up $26.9 million of the $30 million available.
The rest of the $30 million, $3 million, would go to Miami-based McDowell Housing Partners. It wanted $15 million fed dollars for its Ekos Cocoanut building project.
But award of the $3 million is conditional, tied to the project’s future. At issue is whether loss of $12 million will preclude a pending McDowell deal to buy a controversial concrete crushing plant from US Recycling and replace it with affordable housing.
We tried to reach McDowell Housing Partners for comment, but were not successful before deadline.
The concrete dust air pollution is affecting the south end of the Cocoanut-Central neighborhood. Meanwhile, Suncoast Waterkeeper, an environmental group, has filed a lawsuit against the company over water contamination.
Rendering of the McCown Towers North project in the Rosemary District. Courtesy Sarasota Public Housing Authority
Left off the win column was the Sarasota Housing Authority. It hoped for $7.75 million for work on Sarasota’s McCown Tower public housing project in the Rosemary District. It hinged on getting the federal money. The Housing Authority and the City of Sarasota wanted to build a garage at the core of the complex. Existing McCown Tower residents opposed it. But the neighborhood association wanted public parking.
Tuesday’s meeting also included discussion about a bill filed at the current legislative session in Tallahassee. The commissioners must decide whether to back it. It would create an independent special improvement and taxing district for Benderson Development’s University Town Center.
The UTC area consists of one of the region’s largest commercial, retail, sports and tourism destinations. Plans call for more growth there, which supporters say highlights the need for a special district.
Finally, county staffers briefed the commissioners on the status of the Live Local Act. Opponents say it erodes local authority and home rule.
This is Ramon Lopez for WSLR News.
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