Pictured: The Waldorf Astoria Sarasota will begin sales on January 28. Credit: Photo courtesy of Meredith Bennett.

Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota, ahead of sales launching on Wednesday, will hold an exclusive preview event on Tuesday in anticipation of the brand-new building’s opening in Downtown Sarasota. The building will feature 86 private residences, ranging in size from one to five bedrooms, and several amenities including a wellness center, recreational areas and a 30,000 square foot elevated garden. Ahead of the event and the launch of sales, SRQ Magazine spoke with panelist Sadek Omar, a partner at ORE Development, a subsidiary of the building’s developer Jebcore Companies.

How did Jebcore Companies come to be interested in this development?

The project's location is what we like to describe as the heart of downtown Sarasota. It is, for us, the most important site in the Downtown market because it's the epicenter and pivotal to themarket's vitality once reimagined. When we started the project, our partners, WMG Development, who took the risk and safeguarded the site for the right use, have always been hyper-focused on giving back to the city and creating something meaningful. When we were discussing the partnership, our group stepped up, committing to executing a once-in-a-lifetime project. When analyzing the right brand for the project, we studied the nuances. We thoroughly enjoyed the Waldorf Astoria’s commitment to creating special, standalone residential experiences. Those two critical points aligned with our vision.

What was your key focus in developing this building?

In unison with Waldorf Astoria, we really wanted to create something unique. We endeavored to assemble the best and brightest team for this project. We cut no corners, and I think we created a building design that is worthy of the site that it sits on. We take that commitment to heart, and we're really, really proud of that. We've also had several meetings with neighbors and had an involuntary community workshop, which is indicative of the effort and care we put forth in our relationship with the local community.

What do you hope the new building will contribute to the Downtown Sarasota community?

The corner where Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota will be is currently dull. Our project will transform it into a vibrant and walkable space for the community to enjoy. Outside of quality residences, I'm hoping that with the amount of investment we put into delivering a great commercial experience, it drives the opportunity for us to attract the top retailers and restaurateurs in the world. We're aiming for the best of the best, but when I say that, I don't mean to make it cost-prohibitive for the community to enjoy, but it just means the best in any sector that we can reach. We aim to revitalize an abandoned corner and create a thriving downtown sector, which can be the playbook for the future of our beautiful city. That is critical.

Waldorf Astoria Residences, 1390 Main Street, Sarasota, michaelsaunders.com/new-developments/waldorf-astoria/

Pictured: The Waldorf Astoria Sarasota will begin sales on January 28. Credit: Photo courtesy of Meredith Bennett.