Sarasota News Events:: An OurTownSarasota Exclusive

Sarasota has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 10 years. Recently, it was fueled by northerners wanting to move south due to COVID-19 and the new ability to work out of home. With its high taxes and expensive real estate, California also made Sarasota a magnet town.

It was the perfect storm. The local government didn’t seem to mind all the new buildings going up and changed zoning to encourage new growth. Unfortunately, the roads and the residents paid the price with more traffic, higher real estate prices, and higher taxes.

The figures in the chart do not include new residences in the City of Sarasota. The City’s population has grown from 55,000 to 86,000, with another 4 units on the drawing board or approved. Many new city residents moved there to be close to the downtown amenities but complained about the noise and traffic from social activities downtown. The population has grown from 152,00 in 1979 to 486,00 now. I guess you could say it has tripled.

In 1980 Sarasota County put in place a building moratorium. Current politicians will have none of that 🙂 Sarasota has benefited from Florida residents vacationing here in the summer months. Back in the 1980’s local businesses stagnated during the summer months, now they are busy all year round.