Blue Sky Communities breaks ground on affordable housing project in Sarasota
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jun 6, 2024

Blue Sky Communities has broken ground on a new affordable housing complex in Sarasota.

The project, called New Trail Plaza, is located at 4644 N Tamiami Trail. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. The $30 million project is funded by Sarasota County’s American Rescue Plan Act program, the city of Sarasota, Truist, First Housing and Florida Housing Finance Corp. New Trail Plaza will be managed by Carteret Management.

“This initiative is a testament to the power of public-private partnerships in addressing critical housing needs and improving the quality of life for our residents,” Mayor Liz Alpert said in a statement.

The community will consist of two buildings and will have 96 apartments. There will be 37 one-bedroom units, 51 two-bedroom units and eight three-bedroom units. The apartments will be reserved for those making 30%, 60% and 80% of the area median income. Rental preferences will be given to families.

Amenities include a clubhouse, business center, playground and activity room.

“The groundbreaking of New Trail Plaza is a significant milestone in our mission to provide quality, affordable housing in the urban core where it’s close to the place that working families need to be,” Shawn Wilson, president of Blue Sky Communities, said in a statement. “This community exemplifies the power of collaboration between public and private sectors and will serve as a cornerstone for future developments that address housing needs and foster community growth.”

The development is expected to be complete by late 2025.

Sarasota County originally made the land available via a request for proposals in 2020, seeking to bring affordable housing to its surplus land. After a few “false starts with other applicants,” Blue Sky and Community Assisted Supported Living were selected as the developers, according to a release.

“With over 16,000 households spending more than 50% of their income on rent, New Trail Plaza will provide much-needed relief and sustainable living options,” Scott Eller of CASL. “This initiative embodies our commitment to making the American dream attainable for the county’s hardworking residents.”