In 1968, the opening of Sarasota’s Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall helped the city realize its ambitious vision of becoming Florida’s premier destination for the arts and culture. Now nearly 50 years later, a group of engaged local citizens and organizations—calling itself Bayfront 20:20—has begun a series of public conversations to articulate a long-term master plan for re-investing in Sarasota’s Bayfront that will help keep that same vision alive for generations to come. Keeping the Vision Alive Bayfront 20:20’s self-imposed mandate is to make the absolute best use of the Bayfront with an eye toward establishing a cultural and economic legacy for the region while continuing to ensure open and public access to the waterfront. Such ease of access to our Bayfront, cultural institutions and open spaces is a significant point of differentiation that distinguishes Sarasota from other Florida communities. The group’s overarching goal is to engage the community in a critical conversation that focuses on the best use of some 42 acres, in the vicinity of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, that are currently owned or controlled by the City of Sarasota. Intent on doing this correctly, Bayfront 20:20 has retained the New York-based firm of HR&A Consulting, an industry-leading real estate, economic development and community-oriented consulting firm that has provided strategic advisory services for some of the most complex mixed-use, neighborhood, downtown, campus, and regional development projects in North America and abroad for over thirty years. 
A Community Endeavor Bayfront 20:20 has also been joined in the endeavor by such local cultural, business and civic entities as Visit Sarasota, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Van Wezel Foundation, Ringling College of Art & Design, The Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations, Sarasota Orchestra, The Players Theatre, North Trail Redevelopment Partnership and the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. The community conversation that began with two sessions in late October will resume this Thursday, November 13th in the Van Wezel’s Grand Lobby from 5:30 to 7 p.m. There, a synopsis of the ideas that emerged from the earlier meetings will be reviewed to make sure it accurately depicts the points-of-view expressed thus far. With members of the public once again encouraged to participate, the focus of the discussion will then shift to how such an ambitious redevelopment plan could potentially unfold. This is an extremely serendipitous moment in the life of our community. After decades of discussion and debate, now is the most opportune time to finally get it right. Culture and creativity are the currency of Sarasota. That is why we believe that nothing could make a more important statement about life in our region than a permanent expression of its cultural prowess inhabiting one of the city’s most beautiful and accessible waterfront settings. Add Your Voice But you may have an even better idea. Please add your voice to the Bayfront redevelopment conversation by attending the November 13th follow-up session. How a unified vision for the downtown Bayfront is reached—while remaining sensitive to the views and needs of all local constituencies—is up to you. Learn more about Bayfront 20:20 by visiting: Sarasota Bayfront 20:20
