Gulf Gate: Then and Now

Gulf Gate in the News

About five years ago, I wrote a series of blogs, which piggy-back off a 2012 Sarasota Magazine article written by Bob Plunket called The Next Hot Sarasota Neighborhooods. In his article, Plunket taps Gulf Gate as one of the five up-and-coming neighborhoods. More than a decade later, Gulf Gate is the sought-after Sarasota neighborhood Plunket predicted.

The content of my 2018 blog series reflects Plunket's view of how Gulf Gate achieves what he calls "street cred." According to Plunket, Gulf Gate owes its rise in stature to the "unlikely success of Gulf Gate Village." After all, before the success of its restaurants and bars, Gulf Gate was all pot holes and homes in disrepair - the remnants of a quintessential 1970s retirement community.

Gulf Gate Village

Gulf Gate Village is a quaint commercial district with an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, and bars. It is a vibrant district, offering everything from gourmet dining to unique boutique shopping, making it a favorite among locals and travelers alike. It rivals downtown Sarasota's nightlife.

Gulf Gate Estates and Siesta Key Beach

Gulf Gate Drive and its side streets offer wide sidewalks and bike lanes. The generously sized lots are host to remodeled mid-century ranch-style jewelry boxes lined neatly in rows with manicured lawns and gardens. Also lending value to Gulf Gate is its proximity to another of Sarasota's finest assets —Siesta Key Beach.

With its sand composed of 99% quartz from the distant Appalachian Mountains, Siesta Key Beach is cool to the touch even on the hottest of sunny Sarasota, Florida days. The beach's allure is so strong that it consistently ranks as one of the top beaches in the United States, drawing visitors from all corners of the globe.

Gulf Gate Community Association

Although there is an active community association, it is less than $100 annually and optional. Despite its loose membership rules, Gulf Gate residents are required to follow the deed restrictions. That is whether they pay dues to the association or not. I took a look at the meeting minutes on the association’s website, www.ggca.us to find out what has been happening.

In 2012, Plunket writes: “an average home in Gulf Gate proper, updated, will be around $150,000.”

Golf Course Updates

Much of the GGCA's recent work has been keeping builders from adding more homes to the 49-acre former Gulf Gate Golf Course. At one point, Lennar Homes planned to develop 106 single family homes on the parcel. Since then, there has been a push for the county to purchase the land.

According to an August 2023 golf course update on GGCA’s website, “Commissioner Joe Neunder is on board with the effort to obtain funding which would allow the County to negotiate with the current [parcel] owner.”

As of September 2023, update reads: "Sarasota County has been in negotiations with Gulf Gate holdings LLC to purchase the former course. The county commissioners voted 5-0 to support requesting staff to present the property's feasibility at an upcoming meeting."

In November 2023, the update reads: "The county commission adopted a 'wait and see' stance regarding the potential purchase." This could be because the seller is asking for multiples of the $3.8 million appraised value.

Today, Gulf Gate residents are being encouraged by the association to send emails to county commissioners to support the purchase of the former golf course for stormwater management, water quality, and flood prevention.

If you would like to buy or sell a home in Gulf Gate, call Forest at (941) 549-4010.

Forest Balderson is a REALTOR® for Coldwell Banker Downtown Sarasota and Vice Chair of the RASM REALTORS® Charitable Foundation Fundraising Committee. He has a BA in Creative Writing and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management. He was first licensed in Florida Real Estate in 1999. Click here for testimonials. For your home's value, click here.