07-02-2025
Vision for revamped Main Street has Sarasota merchants talking about parking impacts
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — Main Street is one of the most popular corridors in the City of Sarasota for both visitors and locals. Over the last several years, the area has grown with new development coming in.
Now, as part of its Transportation Master Plan, the city is working on what Main Street will look like in the years to come.
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The Main Street Complete Street Project aims to make the area more walkable and welcoming to the public. The draft concept unveiled so far shows widened sidewalks, more landscaping, and flush curbs.
As a part of those plans, some existing diagonal parking spaces would be eliminated or transformed into parallel parking spots. In all, the early project plans would reduce downtown parking by about 105 spaces.
That's something that isn't sitting well with local merchants who rely on foot traffic for their everyday business.
'There is already not enough parking in town. That is really the problem,' said Katherine Hermes, the owner of SRQ Med Spa. 'There is not enough foot traffic as it is. We are competing against the University Town Center Mall. We don't have a lot of really good reasons to shop downtown, so to get rid of the parking is basically a finger to the shop owners because the shop owners cannot make it without parking.'
Ron Soto, the owner of Soto Opticians, is celebrating his 50th anniversary on Main Street this week. He's seen the area transform over the years and said he's worried about what the loss of parking will mean for numerous small businesses downtown.
'When we lose those spots, where are the people going to park? Retail is already tough enough as it is downtown. They're going to make it even tougher,' Soto said.
The city conducted a survey that had about 1,500 respondents. People who were asked what their top priorities were for the future of Main Street said outdoor dining and shopping, attractive landscaping, public space, lighting and shade. Parking was seventh on the list.
The plans have not yet been finalized, and city staff wants the community to know they hope to find a balance between the needs and desires of the public.
The city sent the following statement.
'The City is grateful to have received extensive input from the community regarding their priorities for the future of Main Street. Parking is one of many topics being addressed and the City's hope is to strike a balance between the needs and desires of the public. It is important to note that the current draft concepts for this project are not final and will change as the process continues and more public input is received. Further revisions to Main Street's design will continue to reflect the public's wants and needs as the City continues working towards that balance.'
The plans will likely go before commissioners this spring followed by an open house this summer.
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