Historic Sarasota County Courthouse

  This building is located at 2000 Main Street Sarasota, Fl.

The property on which courthouse stands was donated Charles and Edith Ringling.  In 1925 the county Commission hired Dwight James Baum as the architect for the county courthouse.  Mr. Baum was a New Yorker who designed many projects in the Sarasota area.  Among these are El Verona Hotel, Owen Burns Realty Office, Broadway Apartments, the John and Mabel Mansion.

     The County Courthouse project was finished in 1927.  The builder was Stevenson and Cameron.  The building style was Mediterranean Revival. 

Old County Courthouse Sarasota County

     This H shaped building consisted of two 2 story rectangular structures connected to a central tower by an arcade. The two buildings had an exterior of hollow clay tile covered by stucco.  The roof was covered by barrel tiles from Spain.

     Samuel Yellin , a wrought iron artist, designed the decorative grills and railing. Polychromed  glazed terra cotta tile and cast stone adorned the entrances , windows and tower.

     The judicial portion on the east contained a court room, , jail, and accommodations for the jailer and sheriff. Separate jail cells,  rest rooms and witness rooms were labelled colored and white.

El Patio Apartments

     These apartments were built in 1926.  They were built for Ms. Lillian Piper, owner and designer of the building.  El Patio was one of many buildings constructed during the Sarasota Land Boom. Its style was Spanish Colonial Revival.

     It was reported in a local paper that in October, 1926,  El Patio was completed. Leasing began in 11 four and five room apartment units some furnished and some not.  It was considered a convenient location.
     Features included covered roof top gardens, ornamental woodwork and large patios.

     The building features a masonry curtain wall of rough cast stucco over wood frame  construction.  There is a flat primary roof capped with clay barrel tiles.

     Current rent is $1,800.00 for a one bedroom / one bath unit

     2 Bedrooms/ one bath is $2,200.

Entrance to Charles Ringling Estate

Entrance to Charles Ringling Estate

  The formal entrance is an Italian Renaissance Style arch.  The exterior is pink marble.

  This 3 story L shaped stucco and cast stone Mediterranean Revival Building was designed Dwight James Baum. It was named for the wife of Owen Burns, the developer..  It was built by Ricketts and Hasworth.  It was owned by Burns Realty Company.  By March,1926, the 55 room complex of 20 furnished apartments was ready for occupancy.  Total cost of the complex was $250,00

     The site of the apartment complex overlooking Sarasota Bay, marked the northern Gateway of the Broadway development that included El Verona Hotel (later known as John Ringling Towers) the Burns Realty Complex, and the new headquarters of the Sarasota Times.

     The Broadway development was spearheaded by Owen Burns.  He commissioned the architect Dwight James Baum to design the hotel, offices, and apartment for his development.  The area was well planned and unified by the selection of the Mediterranean Revival style for all new buildings.

Broadway Apartments aka Belle Haven zApartments Historic Photo

Broadway Apartments aka Belle Haven Apartments

Same as above

Bell Haven Apartments

Same as above

Belle Haven Apartments

El Verona Hotel

     The El Verona Hotel was located at 111 N. Tamiami Trail,  Sarasota, Florida. It was built by Owen Burns to honor his wife Verona Hill Freeman of New York..  The architect was Frank Baum.  The building was described as the most perfect example of Spanish Architecture.  The Hotel opened with a grand ball and New Years eve celebration on  12/31/1926.

     The hotel had 150 rooms.  The exterior was brownish gold facade.  Construction costs were $800,000.

Main Facade El Verona Hotel

     The ownership of the hotel  changed after the land crash of the Florida Boom. John Ringling took over the hotel and renamed it the John Ringling Hotel.  It featured circus acts in the main dining room.  John Ringling owned the hotel from 1930 to 1950.

     After 1950, the former  El Verona Hotel was converted to an apartment complex. It was renamed Ringling Towers in 1964.  By 1980, the building was vacant.  It was demolished in 1998 It was replaced by the Ritz Carleton.

Interior courtyard El Verona Hotel

Asolo Repertory Theater

     This building is also known as the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, Harold E. and Esther M. Mertz Theater.  It is located at 5555 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.  It was built in 1989.  It has a seating capacity of 500.

Asolo Repertory Theater

     Portions of the 18 th century Dunfermline Opera House (Scotland) were deconstructed and shipped to Sarasota .  They were installed into the interior of the Mertz Theater.

Sarasota Terrace Hotel

     The address of this building is 101 South Washington Boulevard Sarasota.  This building was constructed by Charles Ringling in 1925.  He was president of the Sarasota Terrace Hotel Company. The hotel was built on the site of the number one green of the Old Gillespie Golf Course.

     The building was 11 stories with 125 rooms. Construction costs were $750,000.   The hotel featured fire proof rooms, private baths for each room, views of Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Sarasota Terrace Hotel

    Over the next 30:years, the hote served the needs of downtown Sarasota. The name was changed to the New Terrace Hotel in the 1950 ‘s.

     In 1972, the hotel was purchased by Arthur C. Allyn,Jr owner of the Baseball Team, the Chicago White Sox.He initiated a $100,000 renovation of the building.  During the winter months the White Sox and the minor league team the Sarasota Sun Sox stayed at the hotel.

Sarasota Terrace Hotel

     Both in 1964 and in 1967 motel sections were   constructed to the back of the hotel.  In 1965, the name was changed to the Sarasota Motel. The hotel closed 1972.

     The hotel building was purchased by Sarasota County and was used its administration center.

Sarasota Terrace Hotel

     Benderson Development Company bought the Sarasota Terrace Building for 21 million dollars in 2021.  According to the sale agreement Sarasota County occupied the Sarasota Terrace until 2025.

     Benderson is proposing a remodeling of the existing structure.  It is proposing a mixed use building.  Ground floor retail and restaurant is suggested