3 weeks ago Share From Main Street parallel parking to a garage at the SCAT transfer station site, merchants and property owners are discussing long-term strategies for reshaping the city’s commercial center.
Mark Kauffman knows the idea is ambitious, but he thinks it’s worth the time and effort to fully explore it and perhaps make it a reality.
Kauffman, a downtown property owner and member of the Downtown Improvement District, sees an opportunity to dramatically reshape the 1500 block of First Street, home to City Hall and the Sarasota County Area Transit bus transfer station. He envisions consolidating several properties, including the bus station and surface parking lots next to City Hall, into the foundation for a large mixed-use facility that works to address multiple community needs.