Sarasota wins Local Action Award from Florida League of Cities

For its efforts in incentivizing the construction of affordable and attainable housing,  the city of Sarasota has received the Local Action Award by the Florida League of Cities.

As part of the organization’s 2024 Municipal Achievement Awards, the city is recognized for its attainable housing density bonus program, which was adopted in 2023 in the downtown zone districts and expanded to commercial centers and corridors earlier this year.

A city is honored with the Local Action Award to recognize a specific, citywide effort that successfully addresses a local need. Since the adoption of the ordinance, the program has resulted in approximately 90 attainable housing units in the pipeline for downtown. It is the first award the city has received from the FLC.

“Attainable housing is a significant quality of life issue in Sarasota and this statewide achievement award underscores we’re on the right track,” said Mayor Liz Alpert in a news release. “Last year, the City Commission directed staff to work on solutions to generate more attainable housing stock and our professional staff in the Planning Department responded with this carefully researched, well thought-out density bonus program. Already, it’s translating into additional attainable housing units in the pipeline, which our community desperately needs.”

The city officials will be presented with a trophy and will be featured in the FLC’s Quality Cities magazine. This is the first time the city has received an award from League of Cities.