Westminster Bradenton can now fill its empty lots with buildings up to 12 stories.
By Noah Vinsky
Original Air Date: August 15, 2025
Host: The Bradenton City Council on Wednesday okayed the potential expansion of a senior living community despite its encroachment on a historic near-downtown neighborhood. Noah Vinsky reports.
Noah Vinsky: The council passed three zoning changes that would allow Westminster Bradenton to expand its waterfront senior living community in the Point Pleasant neighborhood.
The land use change re-designates close to 16 acres, changing it from residential to Urban Core Business District, which allows for more high-density development. It permits Westminster to build up to 12 stories, more than doubling the number of units it already offers in two complexes on the campus. Two of the zoning changes passed with a 4-1 vote. Councilmember Lisa Gonzalez Moore voted no on both of the changes.
Westminster owns that 16-acre space but currently only takes up 11. The community plans to expand into the remaining space.
The planning commission heard the zoning request at a meeting in January, but failed to come to a recommendation on a 2-2 vote. Residents expressed their disapproval of Westminster’s expansion. Some cited increased traffic concerns, saying it would impede on the character of the historic neighborhood. Others had concerns over the sewage system, which one public commenter called not adequate for the area’s population density.
Map of Point Pleasant with Westminster land outlined in red.
The Point Pleasant neighborhood is essentially a peninsula jotting into Wares Creek, where it flows into the Manatee River. It dates back to the 19th century. It was named Curry’s Point, after early Bradenton resident Henry F. Curry, who bought the 15 acres and built a home in 1882. The neighborhood boasts an assortment of vintage homes with a mix of architectural styles.
According to the Manatee Library Historic Collections, Westminster Point Pleasant opened in 1966, when it was originally named Asbury Towers. The community is now run by Westminster Communities of Florida, a faith-based non-profit that operates 10 continuing care retirement facilities in the state.
Noah Vinsky for WSLR News.
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