A proposed public waterfront park near Siesta Key is no longer moving forward after Sarasota County commissioners voted 3–2 on November 4 to terminate an $18.1 million property purchase.
The county had planned to transform Boatyard Village at 1500 Stickney Point Road, near the south bridge to Siesta Key, into a public waterfront destination.
The 2.04-acre property features approximately 700 feet of frontage along Little Sarasota Bay. Preliminary plans included fishing access, kayak and canoe launches, picnic areas, shaded seating, public restrooms, and potentially 30–40 boat slips. The property’s recognizable yellow lighthouse could also have been preserved.
The purchase had been controversial from the beginning. The property owner reportedly purchased the site for $8.9 million approximately two years earlier, raising questions about the county’s $18.1 million price tag.
Several businesses also relocated in anticipation of the sale, leaving the once-busy waterfront shopping area largely vacant.
So why did the deal fall apart?
County officials discovered unresolved property-title issues, including a federal easement involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Resolving the easement could have taken up to five years, with no guaranteed approval or final cost.
The seller proposed setting aside $700,000 to help resolve the issues, but commissioners remained concerned about the county potentially assuming additional expenses and legal uncertainty.
Ultimately, three commissioners voted to cancel the agreement, while two supported continuing efforts to secure the waterfront property.
County officials say they will continue exploring opportunities to expand public waterfront access.
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