Mixed-Use Comes to Downtown Sarasota

Whole Foods Market drives development of One Hundred Central

By Debra Wood

Whole Foods Market's entrance into Sarasota has spurred residential growth in the city's downtown district, particularly at One Hundred Central, a retail and upscale residential complex that houses the latest store of the Austin, Texas-based organic foods grocer. This development marks the grocer's seventh location in Florida.

"There is a real interest in living in downtown Sarasota," said Brett Hutchens, president of Casto Lifestyle Properties of Sarasota, the developer of the center. "There are about 1,000 units either under construction or permitted. Whole Foods spurred a lot of that growth. It was the catalyst in getting our project and several others going."

Casto formed a partnership with Zenith Insurance Co. of Woodland Hills, Calif., called Casto-Zenith Ventures LLC, to build the project. Casto owned two-thirds of the One Hundred Central site, and the city owned the other third, with plans for a parking garage.

Casto received the $1.7 million site from the city and $3.3 million from general funds for the 300 public spaces included in the project's 630-space parking structure. The Sarasota Community Redevelopment Agreement also provided relief on permitting, impact and other fees. It is estimated the development will generate about $5.5 million in taxes over the life of the CRA.

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Beame Architectural Partnership of Coral Gables designed the 171,000-sq.-ft., two-building, condominium and retail complex. It contains 95 condominiums and about 60,000 sq. ft. of retail.

"Our main focus was to create a city block, urban-infill project that reflected a home-like atmosphere," said Olga Garcia, senior vice president and partner at Beame Architectural. "We used different type of units placed in the building to give it an architectural expression that made it more like a village within a city."

Construction manager Kraft Construction Co. of Naples negotiated a $40 million construction contract. The project includes the parking garage on the lower four levels of the main 11-story, post-tensioned concrete building. The second building, a one-story, masonry structure, houses the 36,000-sq.-ft. Whole Foods Market.

The exterior sports a stucco and natural stone facade.

The grocer sought LEED green-building certification, so Kraft incorporated an enhanced insulation system and tinted windows to increase energy efficiency.

Kraft began construction in December 2003. It completed the grocery building at the end of last year, topped out the primary structure in January and expects to finish the project by Sept. 15.

"We needed to get three floors of parking [open by December 2004] in order to support the grand opening of the separate Whole Foods Market building," said Ed Sankey, vice president with Kraft.

City inspectors worked with the company to help ensure the market opened on time.

The residential structure sits atop 619 piles, driven between 40 ft. and 75 ft. The project takes up an entire city block. "It's been a challenge working from street to street," said Jack Owen, Kraft senior project manager for One Hundred Central. "With the help of the city it has been easier."

The city allowed closure of the street between One Hundred Central and another Kraft project: the Plaza at Five Points, which is being built for Ersa Grae Corp. of Houston. The Plaza, a 16-story office, retail and residential complex, began and will wrap up at about the same time as One Hundred Central. The street between the two projects will remain closed until construction is complete.

"We were sharing cranes and sometimes share labor," Owen said. "We coordinate deliveries. It has been a great effort between the two projects."

Kraft rented offsite laydown and parking areas for these and three other condominium projects it has under way in downtown Sarasota. It buses crews to the site and brings steel and masonry blocks as needed from the offsite location. All stocking is done from floor to floor.

Preconstruction prices for the 95 condominiums at One Hundred Central begin at $295,000 for the one- and two-bedroom units. Six penthouse units include three bedrooms and 3.5 baths.

Residential amenities include a garage-top pool, a fitness center and meeting rooms. The building is near the public library, City Hall and a public park.

Project Team:

Useful sources:

http://www.castosoutheast.com