Waterfront condos welcome first residents

Since moving to the Sarasota area in 1999, Sue and Colin Shaw have moved every time they’ve gotten the “itch,” generally every five years or so.

But they say their latest home purchase is the last one they ever plan to make.

The couple is the first to move into Waterfront at Main Street, a new three-building, 76-unit condominium project along Lake Uihlein, behind Lakewood Ranch Cinemas. Homes by Towne is developing the project.

“We’re bonded with Lakewood Ranch,” Sue Shaw said from her new fifth-level condo. “We love walking

the lake here. All the amenities we would want are here.”

The couple knew they wanted a condominium lifestyle, with no maintenance requirements and close-by amenities.

They said at Main Street, there’s a movie theater, shops and restaurants within walking distance and the only thing missing from the condo itself is skylights, which Sue Shaw says aren’t needed because their unit has windows on three sides.

“With this condo, we think we have it all,” Sue Shaw said.

Homes by Towne on July 22 opened three models for Waterfront. Units now available range from 1,337 to 1,558 square feet and start at $392,000. Penthouse suites as large as 2,600 square feet are available, as well.

So far, Homes by Towne has opened sales in two of the three buildings and had 14 sales before the models opened, said Kitt Kearney, vice president of sales and marketing for Homes by Towne.

“They’ve all been sold without a model,” she said, adding Homes by Towne now expects sales to increase. “Now that people are seeing the models, they’re really excited. I think we’re going to start writing a lot of contracts now.”

Waterfront has amenities such as a resort-style pool and spa, a multipurpose gathering room, a fully equipped fitness center and an outdoor kitchen and a fire pit overlooking Lake Uihlein.

Kearney said she expects at least six other owners to be moving into their units by the end of August.