Ground finally broken for Bath & Racquet redevelopment

Shovels scooped ceremonial dirt and demolition began, with Mayor Kyle Battie at the controls of a trackhoe, at the Bath & Racquet Club redevelopment dubbed “An Icon is Reborn.”

Such is the marketing slogan for the reimagining of the venerable tennis club that was a staple in southern Sarasota for five decades. Developer Sarasota Springs LLC marked the groundbreaking of the redevelopment Friday morning. When complete in some three years, a rebuilt racquet club will be surrounded by a mixed-use development of luxury condominiums and 65,000 square feet of commercial and office space.

The developer acquired the property in January 2022 for $15.35 million.

The start of construction is actually the beginning of the second phase of development, in the first a reported 80% of the initial condos offered are under contract. The start of construction marks the end of several years of ownership changes, master plan alterations and court challenges brought by surrounding residents.

Photo by Andrew Warfield

The club, located on a 13.43-acre site at 2170 Robinhood St. off South Tamiami Trail behind Trader Joe’s, has been closed since 2020 and has fallen into decay.

“This morning feels good to be here after probably 80 months and it just represents for us a small step, but a very, very important one,” said Sarasota Springs LLC principal Fabio Di Prima. “Bath & Racquet has been here for 50 years and we feel very grateful to finally do something.”

That “something” includes 256 one-, two- and three-bedroom condominiums over multiple buildings with private residents’ pool and amenities plus the commercial space, all designed around a rejuvenated private club that will include 13 outdoor tennis courts, 12 indoor and four outdoor pickleball courts, a members’ pool and members’ fitness center.

The project architect is Sarasota-based Halflants & Pichette. There will be 223 market-rate condos priced from $600,000 to $1.5 million. In addition, 33 one-bedroom condos will be attainably priced for those at 120% or less of the area median income. The developer will retain ownership of those units and make them available for rent.

Amy DiSalvo and Tanya Keith of real estate firm Keller Williams on the Water are the sales agents for the residences. The development’s website is at bathracquet.com.

Bath & Racquet was approved by the Sarasota Planning Board in November 2022, the decision was appealed to the City Commission, which upheld it in January.