The Rosemary District

Sarasota is divided into districts, which differ in zoning regarding residential vs. commercial usage. Mentone Court is on the border of the Rosemary and Gillespie Park districts. The Rosemary District Association website offers some history. It evolved from Overtown, the first African-American neighborhood in the city.

The Rosemary District is residential mixed with dining, offices and small businesses. Sarasota Magazine calls it “…the ‘anti-gated community’ with lots of cultures, all clashing yet somehow managing to coexist.” Read Lauren Jackson’s A Day in Sarasota’s Burgeoning Rosemary District for a taste of activities.

Mentone Court is adjacent to Gillespie Park District – a heavily residential area with craftsman bungalows mixed with ultra-modern new construction. The Park, itself, is ten acres and worth a visit. BTW, here’s the extensive Sarasota Downtown Improvement District website.

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The green “Bay” area, above, is called the Cultural District because of planned future development, while the area just below the Blvd of the Arts is the Waterfront District. The area below Fruitville Road is referred to as Downtown Proper. The 14-acre Waterfront District is slated for a major $1 billion re-development which is in process. To read the details, download the City of Sarasota Downtown Master Plan.

Below is what the 53-acre Waterfront District will look like after its $1 billion remake, creating the “Cultural Coast” as designed by the Sasaki group. You can see the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in its iconic purple. Check out the Sasaki website for conceptual pictures of the future.
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