Hopes for extending the life of the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area in Sarasota were dealt a heavy blow in September when Sarasota County Commissioners said the tax district should be allowed to sunset next year. But some city officials are dedicating themselves to bringing that conversation back to the table.

“There may need to be some changes, but we don’t just decide we’re not going to have that discussion anymore,” said City Commissioner Shelli Freeland Eddie. With the county and city set to meet this Friday regarding a different issue, homelessness, Eddie asked that her board broach rekindling the CRA discussion as well. Ultimately, city commissioners on Monday said the matter could be raised but that there should not be a detailed discussion, as staff for both the county and city would need time to prepare and the public would need better notification. 

Sarasota County Commissioner Paul Caragiulo, whose district includes the City of Sarasota, agreed with that, and said diving into the CRA debate after an expected hours-long discussion on homelessness might have poor results anyhow. “I wouldn’t want to compromise the potential that exists, however large or small that may be, because of the volatility of the homeless issue,” he said. Caragiulo, while he supported a resolution at the county level to let the current CRA expire in late 2016, stressed he would still like to explore having a new CRA or some similar mechanism continue to finance redevelopment. “I’m more curious than anybody about what that would look like,” he said.

Eddie is fine with the discussion waiting, and hopes perhaps another joint meeting can be scheduled in early 2016 to discuss the CRA. She notes the county's decision on the CRA is not final until the end of next September. She would still like to see the current CRA extended so that tax increment financing can be based on years of increased property values, but said the city should be willing to make some changes to governance. In the meantime, some important projects, such as the Bayfront 2020 discussion about redevelopment of a cultural district, could linger without a source of revenue to bring them to fruition. 

In my capacity as a volunteer usher at The Sarasota Opera House, I’ll be standing this Wednesday in the aisle at one of my favorite venues in Sarasota, taking in a performance of La Boheme and reflecting on the delicious meal I enjoyed Monday night at Roast. Roast occupies a beautiful, Ringling-era Sarasota building adjacent to the Opera House and the La Boheme-inspired menu that Chef Andrew Thompson is offering during the run of the popular opera is as sumptuous as the music itself. The three-course menu, only $39, includes a glass of earthy Bordeaux that pairs beautifully with the meal. The first course is presented on a wooden board with artfully arranged charcuterie, delicate slices of pate, pickled vegetables, smoked sausages and a couple of slices of crusty toasted bread. The entrée is Beef a la Bourguignon with Horseradish Mashed Potatoes. This dish is sinfully good. The meat has been braised until it is so tender and juicy it melts in your mouth, and the mashed potatoes are imbued with the unmistakably sharp tang of horseradish, the ideal complement to the beef. Dessert is an Orange Scented Crème Caramel, which is famously ordered in the opera by lead character Mimi. Chef Andy’s version is subtle, creamy and not overwhelmingly sweet—for which you will be thankful after having eaten every bite of the decadent previous courses.

Pictured: Roast Charcuterie 

Roast, 1296 1st Street, Sarasota, 941-953-1971

Carrie Zeisse joined United Way Suncoast as chief operating officer, a newly-created position aimed at ensuring organizational alignment as the United Way works to achieve its five-year strategic plan to break the cycle of generational poverty. Zeisse comes to the organization from United Way of Greater Portland in Maine, where she served in a similar capacity. Zeisse will oversee the administration, finance, operations and technology departments of the organization, as well as collaborate with staff and the board of directors to lead the development, execution and monitoring of the organization’s strategic plan. 

United Way Suncoast

A groundbreaking ceremony has been scheduled on Friday from 11-11:30am for a new Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Control Tower at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. The new tower construction is co-funded by the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. 

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport

Get Loose Tea in Sarasota and Beach Bistro on Anna Maria Island are recipients of the Fred Bollaci Enterprises’ Golden Palate Partner Certificate of Excellence, and  are also newly named Charter Members. Fred Bollaci, The Global Healthy Gourmet and CEO of Fred Bollaci Enterprises, is a resident of Sarasota and Palm Beach. 

Fred Bollaci Enterprises

Thank you SRQ DAILY Readers for your tremendous response to the 2015 SRQ DAILY Readers Online Survey. We've received a record number of surveys chock full of your favorite departments and new ideas for where you'd like to see our writers focus for the coming year. If you haven't already taken the survey, it's not too late. We'd love to hear from you. It will only take a few minutes.  

Click here to take the short survey.