Shelter compromise draws mixed reactions

City and county commissioners failed to reach an agreement Tuesday on where to build a downtown Sarasota homeless shelter, casting doubt on whether the project will be built in the near future — if at all.

The two commissions did, however, compromise on adding the property at 1502 and 1562 North Lime Ave., as a third option to the other two sites at 1330 North Osprey Ave. and 1800 East Avenue, which city staff are currently evaluating.

“The city is simply doing due diligence on these sites,” City Commissioner Suzanne Atwell said. “I believe the county commission and staff are full partners …we need to stop pitting those who want the same outcome against each other.”

Some county commissioners, however, expressed concern that the new site would simply invite the same criticisms as the original two sites, further delaying the selection process in the end.

“There is no site that we can pick that will not impact residential areas,” County Commissioner Carolyn Mason said.

“There is no site that we can pick that will not impact residential areas,” County Commissioner Carolyn Mason said.

The city and county commissions will reconvene April 22 for another joint meeting to review preliminary assessments of the Lime Avenue location.

To read more, pick up a copy of this week's Sarasota Observer and Pelican Press — on newsstands April 3.

Contact Nolan Peterson at [email protected]