Developers plan to publicly launch the Risdon on Fifth project in January and break ground in March, but interest has already been high. “We have almost 70 percent of the units reserved,” said Steven Bradley, Risdon Group principal. “Today, the market is clearly accepting and embracing new development in the Rosemary District.”

Bradley, who has been living in the Sarasota area since 1987, said he had been impressed at the rising interest in the Rosemary over the last year and a half. Risdon on Fifth is planned to have 20 residential condominiums, four penthouse units and six commercial spaces, according to the development's office website. The company right now is marketing units from about $300,000 for a one bedroom with 750 square feet to nearly $800,000 for still-available three-bedroom lofts with two terraces.

The project comes as the housing industry as a whole recovers from a deep recession, but more than ever, Bradley sees an appetite in the market. “Having been here a long time in Sarasota,” he said, "today there is very specifically a vibrancy and an energy and a progressive nature to it all that is really quite nice. It’s a great time to be in Sarasota.”