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SRQ DAILY Apr 27, 2015

Monday Business Edition

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Monday Business Edition

"The community came together on families and children in a way I've never seen anywhere in America."

- Robert Marbut, homelessness consultant
 

[Real Estate]  Previews International Luxury Markets

The Coldwell Banker Previews International Program in a report released this month identified the top luxury markets in the country. Sarasota was among the top 20 markets for the number of listings at $1 million or higher. But it had fewer listings than other Florida markets including Miami, Miami Beach, Naples, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton. Those other markets all also made the top 20 for listings at $5 million or higher and for $10 million or higher. 

[Homelessness]  Marbut Sees Progress for Homeless Families
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

While the implementation of a plan to tackle homelessness in Sarasota County has proven difficult and controversial, the consultant who drafted the report sounds surprisingly pleased about progress. Dr. Robert Marbut, who will soon return to Sarasota County and produce an update report for county commissioners, said he has been impressed that facilities to help homeless families have come online in such a short period of time, even if plans for a come-as-you-are shelter have stalled. 

“My plan called for building three places, and two are fully built and operational,” he said. “If you wanted me to make a bet 18 months on what would be open by now, I was sure people really wanted to deal with the chronic homeless, but there was no collective interest in help for families that were homeless.” Marbut referred to portals for transient families that have opened in the last year in Sarasota and North Port. “The community came together on families and children in a way I've never seen anywhere in America.”

Of course, he said that doesn’t solve the original charge that brought him to town in the first place. Marbut is less impressed with progress in treating chronic homelessness, and said lack of progress on a come-as-you-are shelter prevents forward motion. Street teams and other policies employed by the City of Sarasota will not be successful without somewhere to place chronic homeless, many of whom cannot stay in private shelters such as The Salvation Army. He labeled such efforts “gimmicky,” and reminded that in a Florida locale like Sarasota, there is a certain influx of homeless individuals to counter any small gain in getting a few individuals each year off the streets. 

When asked about a “Housing First” focused plan recently endorsed by Sarasota City Commissioners, Marbut said Housing First can work but only with a major investment of resources. He figures an investment of $2.4 million in the first 24 months will be required to find or build permanent housing for homeless, and noted that many chronically homeless won’t stick in that housing and will remain a problem. “This is an expense that will exist for a long period of time,” he said. 

[Agenda]  North Port Considers Springs Annexation

North Port City Commission: The board today will vote on a voluntary annexation application for the Warm Mineral Springs Wellness Center. The meeting begins at 6pm at City Hall.

Venice City Council: The board on Tuesday will discuss a grant application to the Department of Environmental Proptection regarding Venice Beach renourishment, as well as a change order costing $23,080 for resurfacing of Venice Avenue. The meeting begins at 9am at City Hall. 

North Port City Commission

[Recognition]  Pine View Named Green Ribbon School

Pine View School has been named as a 2015 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School. Christy Goldfuss, managing director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to announce the winning schools Earth Day in Washington, D.C. Across the U.S., 58 schools and 14 districts were honored for efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and “green career” pathways. Only three schools in Florida were named Green Ribbon Schools. 

Pine View School

[Education]  Venice High Approved For IB Program

Venice High School has been approved by the International Baccalaureate organization to offer the IB Diploma Program, beginning in the 2015-16 school year. The school began offering a pre-IB program for freshmen and sophomores in August 2014.  

Venice High School

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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