Sarasota was growing in the 1960s, despite resistance by some

Real History by Jeff LaHurd: Sarasota was growing in the 1960s, despite resistance by some

In 1960, Sarasota, which had remained basically intact since the ’20s era real estate boom, was changing – and dramatically. Noted for its virginal beauty, its mostly undeveloped and inspirational keys, for its bevy of internationally renowned artists and writers and for the famous blue blood snowbirds, the internationally renowned Circus City was betwixt and between.

The community of John and Charles Ringling, Owen Burns, Harry Higel and Bertha Palmer was morphing into a modern but still very desirable destination, ready to captivate another generation.

While on the one hand there remained plenty of the vestiges of yesteryear’s community that frenetically sprang forth during the freewheeling 1920s, it was becoming increasingly obvious that a new era was at hand.

Had you visited Sarasota in 1927, and returned thirty years later, you might have been surprised at how little the county had changed – that era real estate crash, followed by the Great Depression and World War II saw to that, putting growth and development on a hiatus.

In 1960, Sarasota, which had remained basically intact since the ’20s era real estate boom, was changing – and dramatically. Noted for its virginal beauty, its mostly undeveloped and inspirational keys, for its bevy of internationally renowned artists and writers and for the famous blue blood snowbirds, the internationally renowned Circus City was betwixt and between.

The community of John and Charles Ringling, Owen Burns, Harry Higel and Bertha Palmer was morphing into a modern but still very desirable destination, ready to captivate another generation.

Downtown Sarasota was in transition. It was still hanging on as the center of the community’s universe into the 1950s, but the spread was moving outward. Ringling Shopping Center opened in 1955, followed by the larger South Gate Shopping Center in 1957, with several strip centers built to service the rising housing developments – Paver Park, Kensington Park, Leisure Lakes, Sarasota Springs to name only a few of many.

Beach lodging was becoming increasingly popular, causing another drain from downtown where most snowbirds traditionally stayed. And U.S. 41, which had run along Main Street past the mom-and-pop stores, was altered to its present configuration through Luke Wood Park and along the bayfront, a move not universally lauded as it cut off Sarasota Bay from the downtown core.

In the 1960s county government operated from the Sarasota County Courthouse as it had been since 1927. Today’s County Administration building on Washington Boulevard was still welcoming guests as the Sarasota Terrace Hotel.

Until 1967, the city’s business continued to be conducted in the old Hover Arcade at the foot of lower Main Street, with its inviting archway onto the city pier as it had since 1917. The city manager, Ken Thompson, hired in 1950, was still at the helm guiding Sarasota through these transitional years. This was when city commissioners shared office space and served without pay, their reward being service to the community.

They relied heavily on Thompson, who served until 1988. It was he who channeled the city’s growth in a manner that rejuvenated downtown by beckoning the wealthy to upscale condominiums which began to dot the bayfront starting in 1964 with the 10-story Gulf Stream Towers, designed by Tim Seibert. “The apartments,” Seibert said, “are designed on the motif of the fashionable apartments that have made up the bayfront of Rio de Janeiro.”

Indeed, the entire bayfront was taking on an upscale appearance with the construction of Marina Mar, known today as Marina Jack, built to put “Sarasota on the yachtsman’s map,” and the addition of Island Park.

Until 1967, the city’s business continued to be conducted in the old Hover Arcade at the foot of lower Main Street, with its inviting archway onto the city pier as it had since 1917. The city manager, Ken Thompson, hired in 1950, was still at the helm guiding Sarasota through these transitional years. This was when city commissioners shared office space and served without pay, their reward being service to the community.

They relied heavily on Thompson, who served until 1988. It was he who channeled the city’s growth in a manner that rejuvenated downtown by beckoning the wealthy to upscale condominiums which began to dot the bayfront starting in 1964 with the 10-story Gulf Stream Towers, designed by Tim Seibert. “The apartments,” Seibert said, “are designed on the motif of the fashionable apartments that have made up the bayfront of Rio de Janeiro.”

Indeed, the entire bayfront was taking on an upscale appearance with the construction of Marina Mar, known today as Marina Jack, built to put “Sarasota on the yachtsman’s map,” and the addition of Island Park.

Concurrent with the rerouting of Highway 41, a new Ringling Bridge and Causeway was built, its starting point moved from near the west end of Golden Gate Point, stretching from the newly dredged highway just to the north. The intent of the road and bridge project was to show off Sarasota’s assets by allowing traffic to flow along the scenic bayfront and onto the beautiful keys.

The architectural “look” of Sarasota was changing dramatically as the ’60s wore on. The predominant Spanish Mission and Mediterranean Revival styles, symbols of a bygone age, fell out of favor.

Probably the seminal event of the era was the arrival of the Arvida Corporation. Having bought the remaining holdings of the Ringling interests in 1959 the company set about the task of developing Bird Key, Lido Key, and Longboat Key along the lines previously envisioned by John Ringling and Owen Burns a generation earlier.

Arvida’s general manager John Weir gave an overview of the company’s plans at the Municipal Auditorium where over 1,000 real estate brokers, salesmen and citizens turned out to listen to the pitch. In a salute to Sarasota advertisement, Arvida declared, “It’s a rare city here or abroad that has an iota of the charm of Sarasota.” They promised, “You’ll find us good neighbors.” By the end of the presentation, it was the consensus that Sarasota and Arvida would be good for each other.

At the time, Bird Key was a small island, which had been joined to the mainland by a spit with only Worcester Mansion, the residence of Ida Ringling. The ensuing dredge and fill operation were the largest since the 1920s and many locals were concerned about the negative effects to the bay bottom.

But the project proceeded and after a year’s work was completed on October 15, 1960 – 511 home sites ranging in price from $9,000 to $32,000 with underground utilities and a beautiful clubhouse. Property there sold quickly and Arvida then turned its attention to developing the other Ringling holdings.

Among the most important changes that occurred in Sarasota County in the 1960s, long overdue, was integration. And while there were hard feelings and animosity in some quarters, there was not the same degree of bitterness and rancor and violence that characterized many southern cities. 

For many longtime residents, the decade ended on a bitter note. Their beachfront fun spot, the Lido Casino, site of proms, political rallies, dining, dancing, and numerous other functions was demolished – something that rankles old timers to this day. With its razing, yesterday’s Sarasota seemed to have passed.

The opening of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center symbolized the new era.

Jeff LaHurd was raised in Sarasota and is an award-winning author/historian.

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