SARASOTA, Fla. — The future of the historic Mcalpin House in Sarasota still hangs in the balance. After a lengthy presentation and discussion at their April 1 meeting, the city commissioners have asked the developers, Orange Pineapple LLC, who appealed an earlier denial of a permit to demolish the building to return next month with more information.
The current owners want to demolish the house which was built in 1912 and is located on Cross St.
The building appears to be holding up elaborate plans to redevelop the 3.2-acre parcel into a mixed-use development in downtown Sarasota. If approved by the city commission could make way for even high-rise condos.
"Yes, it could be up to 10 stories, and there are very flexible zoning regulations for what can be built with minimal setbacks and increased density," Erin DiFazio, Program Director, Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, (SAHP).
That's not the only fear DiFazio and several stakeholders in the community have about the prospects facing the building.
The house was built by influential 1900s developer George McAlpin in an area known as the Burns Historic District of Downtown.
It's also a very early, and one of the last remaining examples of rusticated block which is a technique McAlpin developed and used throughout the city.
"It is possibly the oldest residence in the city that is remaining. It has been transitioned to commercial use," DiFazio said.
Developers wanted the city commission to overturn the July decision by the Historic Preservation Board to deny a demolition permit.
This week, City Commissioners urged the developer to consider the options of relocating it on-site, off-site or potentially incorporating it into their development.
However, according to documents and presentations at city hall, the developer's representative claimed they couldn't find a nearby location to relocate the building and declined to incorporate it into future plans because of concerns about aesthetics.
"We know that they are asking for the street and they're asking for our heritage and they want to destroy that, but we have no idea what they're offering the community or the city and return," DiFazio said.
"We want to have a win-win situation for the developer and a win-win for historic preservation," said Clifford Smith, Senior Planner, Historic Preservation, City of Sarasota.
City officials said they have engaged in extensive conversations with the developers including presenting incentives in hopes of finding a viable alternative other than demolition and would continue to do so.
"This is one of the due diligence questions can be Save can be moved and it could and we had a building movers and a structural engineer report, stating that it could be moved," Smith said.
The city commission will revisit the issue at their May 6 meeting and can decide whether to approve, approve with conditions or deny the developer's appeal.
"When they purchased it, they knew that there was a locally designated protected historic act on that lot. So there was no assumption that they would be able to just tear it down," DiFazio said.
"Even if we require them to keep this building they will still make money and they will find a way so it's up to the City Commission to demand that the developers get creative and think outside the box," DiFazio said.
The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation is trying to save six historic buildings in Sarasota from being demolished and overrun by development. The buildings on the 'Six-to-Save' list include the following.
- McAlpin Home, 1530 Cross Street, Sarasota
- Waldman Building, 533-539 S. Washington Boulevard, Sarasota
- 13 Main Street, 13 Main Street, Osprey
- Colson Hotel For Negroes, 1425 Eighth Street, Sarasota
- I.M. Pei dorms at New College of Florida
- Hotel Venice, 200 N. Nassau Street, Venice