House being built by public beach will be ‘incredible’
Have you wondered what it is that’s being built immediately adjacent to Siesta Beach’s north end?
It’s a private residence for an Ohio family that is at least a year from being completed, according to Dan Gerdes of Gerdes Construction. The work began more than two years ago.
Its design is inspired by Guy Peterson, who designed the famous “Aquadisia” house on Sanderling Road on the south end of the Key that broke the island’s record for largest sale at $14 million in December of 2021.
Like Aquadisia, the Beach Road house will feature lots of glass to provide for plenty of sunlight and great views.
“It’s going to be incredible,” Gerdes said.
The lot is 50 feet wide and 100 feet deep. The house, which will be 3,800 square feet in size, will have three stories above parking. It will feature a ground-level pool and a rooftop deck that will be home to a hot tub.
The interior will be crafted by the renowned designer Richard Geary.
The house replaces a unique timber structure built in the 1980s.
“I hated to tear it down, but it had met its time,” Gerdes said, noting it suffered from rot and structural issues.
The price of the project is not being disclosed as part of an agreement Gerdes made with the owners, he said.
Andrew Monroe event is Jan. 8 at Siesta Beach
In honor of the life of Andrew Monroe, the Annual Andrew Monroe Memorial Scholarship 5K Walk/Run was established for the benefit of senior soccer players at Riverview High School in Sarasota. Senior girls and boys, soccer players, track athletes and JROTC cadets have the opportunity to receive scholarships through an essay process.
The proceeds from the event also go toward the Andrew Monroe Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Sarasota Community Foundation. The scholarship is open for all county soccer players through an essay submission process. The event over the last nine years has generated roughly $115,000 in scholarships and has met the fund balance at the Sarasota Community Foundation.
The event will be Jan. 8 on Siesta Beach, with same-day registration from 6 to 8 a.m. A chip-timed 5K begins at 8:15 a.m.; the 1-mile fun walk at 8:20 a.m.
The race is sanctioned by the Manasota Track Club.
Register at andrewmonroe.com/registration.
Please bring a can or two of food for Mayors Feed the Hungry. Goodie bags go out to the first 400 entries.
Yoga returns to Turtle Beach
Julie Phillips-Turner will once again host yoga classes on Siesta Key’s Turtle Beach, starting Jan. 9.
Classes will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.
A minimum donation of $5 is requested.
Students are encouraged to bring their own mats or towels, along with bottled water.
For more information about location or registration, please e-mail Julie at: julie@chesapeakeyoga.com.
Local blood drive is Jan. 12
The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and Davidson’s Drugstore will host a mobile SunCoast Blood Centers blood drive at Siesta Village Plaza, 5114 Ocean Blvd.
The event is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 12.
Visit suncoastblood.org.
Red tide continues to plague Siesta Kay
With warning signs first being posted Oct. 19, Sarasota County beaches continue to be home to some of the region’s highest concentration of algae blooms creating red tide.
Other areas showing the high concentrations are southern Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
On Siesta Key, significant fish kills first became present late in November but subsided a week later.
For updates on local beach conditions, visit myfwc.com or visitbeaches.org.
Author: John Morton