Plans to redevelop the long-vacant Marian Anderson property in Sarasota’s Newtown community are advancing after the City Commission unanimously approved a key land use change, setting the stage for the site’s sale and transformation into a commercial and job-generating hub.

At its Nov. 3 meeting, the commission approved an amendment to Sarasota’s Comprehensive Plan, reclassifying 9.2 acres of the 13.9-acre city-owned site from Community Commercial to Production Intensive Commercial. The change allows developer Newtown Gateway LLC to move forward with plans for a mixed-use concept — including a health care clinic and medical offices on the north side and light industrial and logistics operations, such as packaging and shipping, on the southern portion.

The property, previously used as an unlicensed landfill, is designated as a brownfield site, meaning it requires environmental cleanup before redevelopment can begin. The parcel sits along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and is bordered by U.S. Highway 301 and the Seminole Gulf Railway tracks, marking the line between the city and Sarasota County.

Newtown Gateway LLC — a partnership including Miami-based investor Barron Channer of Woodwater Investments and Newtown residents Keith DuBose, Ernie DuBose, and Al Davis — plans to purchase the site from the city for $50,000. The group’s proposal has already earned unanimous support from the Sarasota Planning Board.

Before development can begin, several procedural steps remain, including rezoning the property. City officials may add restrictions during that process to prevent certain heavy industrial uses, such as concrete pulverizing — a concern raised by Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch due to past air quality issues at another recycling operation nearby.

Vice Mayor Debbie Trice expressed strong support for the redevelopment, while noting the importance of long-term safeguards to ensure future owners uphold community standards.

Channer emphasized that the development team has no plans to alter its original 2021 vision for the property, reaffirming its commitment to the proposed health care and light industrial uses. The next step will be a second reading to finalize and codify the land use amendment.

Source:  Business Observer