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SRQ DAILY Sep 17, 2014

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WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

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"We have potentially great plans we are not prepared to talk about yet but that will blow your mind if this comes to be."

- Mark Kauffman, Rosemary Square
 

[Development]  Rosemary Square Deal Could Spur Vitality
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

A new development agreement for shopping area and residential complex, with plans for a new theater to follow, moved forward this week as Sarasota City Commissioners approved a deal with Rosemary Square.  

Mark Kauffman, a general partner with Rosemary Square, said the deal will turn the corner at Boulevard of the Arts and Central Avenue into cultural center in North Sarasota. In June, City Commissioners voted to move ahead with the sale of city land there to Rosemary Square, and now plans for the site include 61 residential units, 15,000 to 16,000 square feet of retail space and as much office space as well, all in buildings planned to be five stories tall. The project even in early stages has already drawn queries from 

Already, the project has drawn interest from three professional firms interested in office space, a major restaurant, and a nonprofit agency willing to acquire roughly half the residential units. "We have potentially great plans we are not prepared to talk about yet but that will blow your mind if this comes to be," Kauffman told City Commissioners.

Mayor Willie Shaw said the project will be an enhancement to North Sarasota. City Commissioners unanimously voted this week to move ahead with the agreement with Rosemary Square.

The city-owned property was sold for $1.05 million, but Rosemary Square also went ahead and purchased property across the street. While initially there was talk of putting a movie theater or other theater on the land bought from the city, developers now are looking to put the theater on the adjacent property and have a courtyard on the first piece of land to encourage pedestrian activity between the projects.

The theater once was envisioned as a private movie theater, and Kauffman said the Sarasota Film Festival has expressed some interest in a venue there, but most likely the venue will be a theater for cultural organizations working with the Arts Alliance of Sarasota County, which is working with some 15 entities interested in the spot. To move forward with that will likely require a capital campaign beyond initial seed funding from the groups.

Architect Jonathan Parks, part of the Rosemary Square team, said the project has already generated tremendous interest from businesses looking at the Rosemary District as a whole. "Getting others involved has been easier than I thought," he said. Indeed, another client of Jonathan Parks Architect, Parks' firm, has moved ahead with development of another piece of land in anticipate of the redevelopment happening at Rosemary Square. 

[Good Bite]  Take Tastebuds on a Staycation
Elise Lipoff Ramer

Hotel Indigo’s H20 Bistro can be easily overlooked and forgotten about as a dining destination, but it shouldn’t be. With Culinary Institute of America-trained Chef Solomon “Sol” Shenker  at the helm, this bistro can no longer be ignored. He brings serious skill, creativity and a big personality to this bistro’s menu. The buzz around Chef Sol has been building since the Savor Sarasota launch party, where his 18 Mushroom Bisque and Cheesecake were favorably reviewed and consumed in mass quantity.The recipe for this creamy, smoky and earthy blend of mushrooms has been expertly honed. The bisque is served with crunchy, cheesy crostini and finished with a drizzle of crème fraiche. Next, the chef brought out Seafood Bruschetta, another daily special. Fresh crabmeat and Gulf shrimp are mixed with diced grape tomatoes, hearts of palm, the Chef’s own pesto blend, placed atop a crostini and lovingly drizzled in a balsamic reduction and olive oil.

The main entree was a colorful and aromatic Cioppino. A top seller this summer, the Chef went into detail on the well-roundedness of his extremely flavorful fish stock. This simple yet unforgettable dish is served with fresh shrimp, mussels, clams and sea bass for $28.99. You can also order it with lobster. The stock and seafood are accompanied by fresh tomato, garlic, fresh basil and the always necessary crusty bread for sopping. The Chef also served his phenomenal Chicken Milanese, an excellent alternative for the non-seafood enthusiast.Guests of the hotel special order Chef Sol's cheesecakes, and he will ship them anywhere upon request. The New York Cheesecake is by far the best around and tastes as close to the real deal as you can get, as the Chef has been crafting the recipe since his days in Queens. The Bread Pudding is lethal (in the best possible way), served warm with fresh whipped cream and berries. 

While their dinner menu is loaded with delicious standard fare, let the Chef be your guide for the evening. Missing out on his daily creations would be an injustice to your palate. Dining at the H20 Bistro is very much like staying at this local boutique hotel.  It’s charming, relaxing and promotes the best Sarasota can provide. 

[Exec Moves]  Goodwill Taps Bannister for Veterans Initiative

Goodwill Manasota has hired C.J. Bannister as its new director of the American Veterans and Their Families Initiative. She will lead Goodwill’s efforts to provide services to returning veterans, who face heightened risks of unemployment, personal problems and homelessness. The program helps eliminate barriers to employment and provides opportunities for higher-paying positions for veterans and their families. 

Goodwill Manasota

[Recognition]  Kerkering Barberio Ranked Nationally

Kerkering, Barberio and Company announced that for the second year in a row, the firm has been ranked one of the Top 200 Accounting Firms in the nation by INSIDE Public Accounting. More than 540 firms participated in the 2014 Annual Survey and Analysis of Firms, representing an aggregate of more than $60 billion in net fees/revenues, more than 21,000 partners and 250,000 staff. IPA 200 firms are ranked by U.S. revenues, with $14.2 million being the minimum to make the list this year. The ranking, and accompanying analysis, is one of the most comprehensive, accurate and largest of its kind and reflects the "state of the union" of the profession. 

Kerkering, Barberio and Co.

[Exec Moves]  Nesser Named Braden River Athletic Director

Following a search that was open to candidates nationwide, Braden River High School didn’t have to go far to select its new athletic director: current Braden River High guidance counselor and varsity boys basketball coach Matt Nesser. Nesser replaces Bob Bowling who retired at the end of August. Nesser has been at Braden River High since its inception and, prior to joining the staff at Braden River, served an internship as a Guidance Counselor at Lakewood Ranch High from 2003-2005. 

Braden River High School

[Merger]  Realtors Approve Association Combination

The members of the Sarasota Association of Realtors and Manatee Association of Realtors voted Tuesday to merge the two organizations. The new group will be called the Suncoast Realtor Association, pending the approval of the National Association of Realtors. The merger, which will take effect January 1, will combine the membership of both associations, which currently stands at around 5,250 Realtors and 489 business partners. The boards of directors of both associations will continue to serve out their terms through December 31. 

Sarasota Association of Realtors

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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