Sarasota Design District

Design and home furnishings industry professionals headquartered on Central Avenue and adjacent streets in Sarasota have formed an association to brand and promote the area as the Sarasota Design District.  Situated within the boundaries of the city’s historic Rosemary District, association members include architects, interior designers, home builders, cabinet makers and showrooms devoted to flooring, home entertainment, furniture and decorative accessories.

Michael Bush, president of the Rosemary District and owner of Home Resource, is spearheading the program as head of the new Sarasota Design District Association.  “We feel that the branding of this area as a design district will highlight its professionals, the high standards they set and maintain, and the results of their creative efforts.  The community will benefit from the close association of these professionals and their drive to push the Sarasota Design District to the level of prominence of other design districts in the world,” Bush said.

The association launched a website and blog as the first step in promoting the Sarasota Design District as a neighborhood dedicated to innovative design, architecture and home design professionals. Citing plans already in the works for new residential buildings and a possible theater as well as popular existing Rosemary District restaurants such as Lolita Tartine, Bush says the area continues to build on its roots  “A formalized plan will strengthen our mission to make the Design District a destination for sophisticated local and regional consumers seeking top quality design, architecture talents and products for the home,” Bush explained.

Ian Black of Ian Black Real Estate says apartments currently under construction for the Rosemary District will be a game changer.  It will bring 24-7 residents and represent a significant boost for new retail and restaurants on Central Avenue. In fact, a study by Gibbs Planning Group commissioned by the city found that the "Rosemary District can presently support 49,500 square feet of retail and restaurant development,” Black said, who recently concluded two leases in the Sarasota Design District, one to Yoder Homes and the other to a high end flooring store. “We see the emergence of like kinds of design businesses gravitating to Central Avenue. The new design district association will ensure that the trend gains momentum,” Black said.

Sarasota Design District Members:

ARCHITECTS – Halflants + Pichette, Hall Architects, Seibert Architects, Howard – Jolly, Jonathan Parks Architect

CUSTOM CABINETS – Cabinet Scapes

FURNITURE – Home Resource, Sarasota Collection

HOME CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING – Ampersand Construction, Ball Construction, Yoder Homes & Remodeling

HOME ELECTRONICS – SmartHouse Integration

INTERIOR DESIGNERS – Pam Holladay, ASID; Cheryl Elsbree, ASID; Lancaster Interior Design

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT – New Orchard Group

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS – Hees & Associates, Inc.

SURFACES/FLOORING/COUNTERS/WALLS – Jake Brady Concrete by Design, Oracle Design Concepts for Living Surfaces, Sarasota Superfloors, T. H. Winston

For more information visit http://www.sarasotadesigndistrict.com