Bayfront group selects professional planner

The group leading the redevelopment of 42-acres of city-owned bayfront land has picked a professional firm to develop a master plan for the property.

The Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization announced today it selected Sasaki, a Watertown, Mass.-based planning firm, as its partner in the redevelopment effort. Sasaki was one of four finalists the planning organization named in September.

Sasaki’s previous work includes Wilmington Waterfront Park in Los Angeles and the redesigned Ithaca Commons in Ithaca, N.Y. In a release, the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization said Sasaki was the top-ranking firm it interviewed, praising the group’s experience with similar endeavors.

“Sasaki has successfully designed, planned and executed waterfront and civic public space developments around the world,” SBPO chairman A.G. Lafley said in the release. “They have worked closely, cooperatively and successfully with arts and cultural institutions going through similar transformations of the same scale.”

Landscape architect Gina Ford, Sasaki principal and team leader, expressed excitement about transforming the community input gathered via Sarasota Bayfront 20:20 into a master plan.

“In talking with the community through this process, we heard many times that the bayfront is a great source of pride — a place that truly makes Sarasota unique and special,” Ford said in the release. “Planning for its future will ensure long-term economic and environmental sustainability while enlivening the site and improving public access and interest for all neighborhoods and citizens.”

The bayfront planning organization will now work on finalizing a contract with Sasaki. The group hopes to have a master plan complete by the third quarter of 2018.