But this may not be the last word on the land in the Alta Vista neighborhood.
By Reece Helmick
Original Air Date: August 6, 2025
Host: The Sarasota City Commission on Monday voted down a synagogue’s plan to sell six acres of its land in the Alta Vista neighborhood to a developer to build a 275-unit apartment complex. Reece Helmick reports.
Reece Helmick: The Sarasota City Commission voted against Temple Beth Sholom’s request for a zoning change to build an apartment complex on the land they use for worship. The plan was to sell six out of their 10 acres of land on the corner of Tuttle Avenue and Bahia Vista Street to Gilbane Development Company for construction of 275 market-rate apartments in a four-story building. None of them would have been affordable.
The majority of the more than 10 public speakers at the commission meeting opposed the development of the apartment complex. Most of the concerns brought up by the residents were about traffic and the surrounding neighborhood near the temple. The opponents delivered a petition signed by 430 Alta Vista residents.
The neighborhood petition mentioned opposition to the inadequate number of proposed attainable units, a loss of green space and more traffic brought by hundreds of new residents in the area.
Roger Diaz, an Alta Vista resident, was among those who signed the petition. He mentioned that, in June, the expert board that makes recommendations to the city commission about development projects voted unanimously to reject the rezone.
Roger Diaz: The planning commission denied this 5-0. The First Congregational Church of Sarasota has written two letters to you, stating their objection and the reasons for their objection to this going forward. There’s a petition from the neighborhood with 430 signatures on it. This is our neighborhood. I was astounded this morning when the developers brought up the fact that, “Well, if you don’t do this, then we’re going to do this.” I feel like that’s a threat.
Despite the planning board’s recommendation and the neighbors’ opposition, two of the five commissioners still voted for a rezone. Mayor Liz Alpert and Commissioner Kyle Battie were the two in favor of the development, arguing the project would improve the area’s walkability, and that two schools in the area have been closed, which results in reduced traffic.
It’s possible this is not the last word. The temple is still looking to use about 7 acres for assisted living, nursing homes or residential treatment facilities.
Also, a new Florida law could empower Beth Sholom to come back with an updated proposal. Tagged “Yes In God’s Backyard,” it was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis July 1. This legislation allows religious institutions to build housing on their property, regardless of zoning, as long as 10% of the housing is considered affordable.
In Sarasota, that means these apartments should be within reach for a household of three people that makes $82,000 a year.
To be eligible, religious institutions have to hold public worship on the property, or next to it. A Florida Housing Coalition analysis found that 30,000 parcels across the state could qualify for development under the new legislation. In Sarasota County alone, more than 300 parcels are eligible, and 450 in Manatee County. The Florida Housing Coalition noted that churches and local governments across the nation have already begun this practice, namely in Virginia, Texas and Georgia.
This has been Reece Helmick, reporting for WSLR News.
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