But – a year of repairs and going – the flood-damaged artist retreat could end up in the hands of the non-profit that runs it.
By Noah Vinsky
Original Air Date: September 26, 2025
Host: The Hermitage Artist Retreat has been sitting on land owned by Sarasota County for nearly forty years. After lengthy hurricane repairs, the county commission this week discussed how to get the job done, ahead of deciding on an offer by the non-profit that operates the Hermitage to buy the land. WSLR’s Noah Vinsky has the details.
Drone footage of the 9-acre Hermitage Artist retreat. Screen grab WEDU
Noah Vinsky: The Hermitage Artist Retreat is a hotspot of the creative community in Sarasota County. For over two decades, the retreat, which spans almost nine acres on Manasota Key in the southern tip of the county, has been the temporary home to award-winning artists, authors and poets.
Like many beachfront properties, Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc on the Hermitage last October, causing structural damage to most of the campus’s five buildings. Now, the Hermitage would like to acquire the property from the county to speed up a slow restoration process. During its meeting Wednesday, the Sarasota County Commission discussed whether to sell the property to the Hermitage or to maintain control over the rebuild.
Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Director Nicole Rissler told the county commission completion of the repairs could still be a year away. Even though the Hermitage is footing the bill, It’s been engaged in a battle with the county over the repairs.
Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg said the county is violating some of the language in Hermitage’s lease, specifically that repairs would be completed in a reasonable time.
Andy Sandberg
Andy Sandberg: We would argue that this being a year and potentially another year is not reasonable in our opinion.
NV: Rissler presented the commissioners with two options: proceed with the county-provided restoration or turn repairs over to the Hermitage. She also said the commissioners will have to decide if they want to go ahead with Hermitage buying the property.
The non-profit is already responsible for all routine repairs and maintenance, in exchange for its $1-a-year lease. But both sides have been tussling with each other over the big repairs. The Hermitage grew frustrated with a slow permitting process after the county accused the retreat of multiple permitting violations, ordering a cease and desist on the restoration. Commissioner Theresa Mast encouraged both parties to tone down their frustrations over the restoration and act in the best interest of the taxpayers.
Theresa Mast: The emotions need to come down from everybody. I’ve read a lot of emails that have come across rather passionate, and I know that means you care very much about what you’re doing, and it is a very, very incredible asset to Sarasota County. I would say you need to help us so we can help you.
NV: Sandberg says the retreat has been cooperative with the county since the immediate aftermath of Milton. He says he is hoping for cooperation with the county in getting immediate repairs completed.
AS: It is very emotional for us. It is our business, it is our livelihood, we have been operating with a dismantled version of our business for nearly a year now.
NV: As to selling the property, the Sarasota County Commission is slated to take a decision on October 8. If the acquisition is approved, Hermitage will pay the county just $600,000—way below the price the county paid when it bought the property—in exchange for a series of commitments and guarantees. The Hermitage’s Board of Directors already approved the plan to take over the property.
Noah Vinsky for WSLR News.
WSLR News aims to keep the local community informed with our 1/2 hour local news show, quarterly newspaper and social media feeds. The local news broadcast airs on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm.
