Heritage Awards honor history preservation efforts in the community

When Denise Kowal purchased the Herald Square Building in 1986, Burns Court and Downtown Sarasota weren't the same as they are today, she said. 

"It didn't have one tree around it," she said of the structure. "There was no park in front of it. It was pretty different."

Her restoration work was among the efforts recognized by the 2025 Sarasota County Heritage Awards, hosted by the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation. 

The awards honored those who have made "outstanding contributions to the preservation and understanding of Sarasota County’s prehistorical and historical resources."

The other two projects honored were the rehabilitation of the Van Wezel Estate in Lido Key by Douglas and Susan Moore, and an adaptive re-use project by Susan and Jim Davis, which returned three structures in Burns Court from a restaurant, to their original use as bungalows.

The awards also highlighted the efforts of individuals in various domains, including Clifford Smith, who died in 2024 and was the senior planner and historic preservationist with the City of Sarasota.

Board member Ron Kashden told attendees, "The very buildings and spaces that give our city its character, its soul, are being erased at an alarming pace."

He also commended the work of the awardees.

"Their work inspires us, and their investments benefit us in the community," Kahsden said. "Let their dedication be our call to action, because Sarasota's history is not just worth remembering, it's worth fighting for."

Kowal said in renovating the Herald Square Building, a lot of work had to be done by her and her partner Bill Baranowski, in addition to the work of contractors. 

Courtesy image

"Not only is sourcing hard, it's hard to find the skilled laborers that know how to do it," she said.

Developer Owen Burns built the building, which includes a hotel owned by Kowal, along with other establishments, in the 1920s.

The couple learned how to re-glaze and repair the steel frame windows, which totaled 264.

Other renovations involved in the project included recreating a lime-painted exterior and sourcing and installing the hand-raked terracotta tile roof.

Kowal said as a mountain climber, it didn't scare her while spending a lot time on the roof, using proper harnessing equipment, to oversee the work. 

She ensured the result was an authentic look with the mortar oozing out from beneath the roof tiles. She said the lime paint, which changes over time and has to be replaced more often than regular paint, "breathes with the building."

She called the award an "incredible honor."

"I didn't expect to win, and it was incredibly thrilling," she said. "It's thrilling, and it's so nice to be recognized for preserving a property that's so visually important for Sarasota. It's literally a very important gateway from the south into Downtown Sarasota."