Three things

All the properties in this month’s issue are made special by their unique locations. Yes, they have structures on them, but their real value is in what isn’t there — maybe it’s the view, maybe it’s the setting. Each has an interesting history,  and each tells a story of Sarasota. Now, with the town changing so much, each is poised to begin a new chapter and enter present day Sarasota, where things are bigger and more expensive, but hopefully still respectful of the past.

Green and Gorgeous

1710 Vamo Drive

Located at the end of picturesque Vamo Drive, this property was the home of Norma Martin, who died last year at 101. The first woman Realtor in Sarasota, Martin knew a special piece of land when she saw one. A generous 3.1 acres, it contains Martin’s 1920s Spanish bungalow, plus an old farmhouse-looking structure that dates back to 1900. The new owner can restore both homes and still have room to construct a new one, or turn the place into a spectacular estate, with green lawns running down a bank of mangroves, kept low so they don’t interfere with the peaceful view out to the Intracoastal.

Priced at $3.25 million. For more information call Tom Cinquegrano of Michael Saunders & Co. at 284-5049.

Artist’s Retreat

8535 Midnight Pass Road

This property facing Little Sarasota Bay can’t help but remind you of Siesta Key back in the old days. The landscaping was done by Mother Nature herself, with mature oaks, cedars and banyan trees, plus wild orchids and other tropical plants. There’s even a tiny private beach — 91 feet of the lot is on the water. The house itself is a throwback to the days when Siesta Key artists lived the simple life, and these days clearly a tear down. With its 0.36-acre size and close proximity to Turtle Beach, this is a real find for someone looking to build a new Old Florida home.

Priced at $950,000. For more information call Betsy de Manio of Coldwell Banker at 914-5540.

Work and/or Play

1220 16th St.

Just one lot off North Tamiami Trail in an area experiencing a renaissance of growth and opportunity, this cottage is suitable for a variety of uses. It would make a unique office for a stylish business. The rooms — all of them —are covered in wood: pecky cypress tongue-and-groove paneling on the walls and ceilings, and the original hardwood floors. The living room would make a spacious reception area and each of the three bedrooms is well suited to private offices. The property has a second lot, so there is plenty of room for client parking. Of course you can also buy the place and just live in it. Not many Sarasota cottages offer this much charm.

Priced at $495,000. For more information call Cheryl Loeffler of Premier Sotheby’s at 308-6554.