The Sarasota city planning commission has given unanimous approval for a 3.5 acre project to be constructed in a vacant lot located on the intersection of Fruitville Road and Tuttle Avenue called Arbor Village. The project, which will consist of two buildings with 13,500 square feet of office space and 80 one- and two-bedroom residential units, and will be developed by Blue Sky and Community and Supported Living (CASL), will serve primarily as housing for people with mental disorders, substance disorders, and the formerly homeless.

Sarasota mayor Shelli Freeland Eddie visited the site this week to speak with residents of the nearby neighborhoods regarding the project. Some residents expressed to her that they don’t mind the concept of the project, but have disputes with its execution. One resident claims that the city is lowering its expectations for the building’s intended inhabitants – the buildings will lack common amenities and have very limited parking. Some residents believe that the developers should trade some of the building’s density for greater amenities, so that the building is a more pleasant place for people to live in for those who do stay there.

Some residents raised concerns that traffic from Fruitville Road would be diverted through neighborhoods close to the building. Others are worried about the safety of living near the building, and its proximity to the Tuttle Elementary School.

Mayor Eddie will be attending a commission meeting on Monday in which the board will consider hearing an appeal of the Arbor Village project.

To learn more about the Arbor Village project, check out Nicole Rodriguez’s article on the Herald Tribune.