Vélez Smith Collection
BLVD Sarasota
Condominium Building
BLVD Sarasota
An 18-story contemporary tower on Boulevard of the Arts, crowned by a rooftop zero-horizon pool.
BLVD Sarasota rises 18 stories at the corner of North Tamiami Trail and Boulevard of the Arts, where downtown Sarasota's cultural district meets the bayfront. Completed in 2020 by Core Development Inc., the tower holds just 49 residences and reserves its entire rooftop for residents — a heated zero-horizon pool, sundeck, and outdoor kitchen with views across Sarasota Bay.
- Completed
- 2020
- Residences
- 49
- Stories
- 18
- Developer
- Core Development Inc.
- Architect
- Stantec Architecture
- General Contractor
- BCBE Construction
Timeline
January 2017
Project plans submitted to the City of Sarasota
June 2018
Construction begins on the 18-story tower
August 2020
Temporary certificate of occupancy issued; first residents begin moving in
September 2020
Construction complete
Overview
BLVD Sarasota occupies a prominent block along the 500 stretch of North Tamiami Trail, with frontage on Boulevard of the Arts at the northern edge of downtown. Sarasota-based Core Development Inc., led by Kevin Daves and working with Michigan's Promanas Group, submitted plans to the city in January 2017 and broke ground in late June 2018. BCBE Construction served as general contractor, and the building received its temporary certificate of occupancy in August 2020, with construction wrapping that September. Stantec Architecture provided the design — architecture, interiors, landscape, and lighting under one roof — drawing on Sarasota's modern architectural heritage with clean lines and terraces oriented toward the city, the bay, and the Gulf beyond. The 400,000-square-foot tower keeps its residential count deliberately low at 49 homes across 18 stories, giving each floor generous breathing room. At street level, the project was planned with roughly 8,000 square feet of restaurant space and 8,300 square feet of retail and office space, knitting the building into the walkable arts district around it rather than walling it off.
Residences
The residences at BLVD Sarasota are large by downtown standards: standard homes run from roughly 3,550 to more than 3,900 square feet, while the two penthouses exceed 5,400 square feet. Floor plans center on expansive open living areas with gourmet kitchens and multiple private terraces wrapped in glass railings, so the bay and city views carry from inside to out. Access-controlled elevator entry leads toward individual residences, and each home comes with two assigned parking spaces. Common areas were designed by local designer J. Kurt Lucas, and the overall effect — inside and out — favors natural light, glass, and uncluttered contemporary detail over ornament.
Amenities
The signature amenity sits on the roof: a resort-style heated zero-horizon pool and spa with a sundeck, cabanas, and an outdoor kitchen, all positioned to take in Sarasota Bay. Lower amenity levels include a technology-equipped fitness center, an indoor golf simulator and driving range, climate-controlled private wine cellars, and a game room. Pet owners have a dedicated fifth-floor pet lawn and a grooming salon on site. The ground floor was designed for a restaurant and retail space, putting dining steps from the lobby.
Location
BLVD Sarasota sits where the Rosemary District meets the bayfront corridor, directly on the Tamiami Trail spine that links downtown to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and The Bay, Sarasota's 53-acre waterfront park taking shape just across the trail. The Quay Sarasota's restaurants and shops are a short walk south, and Five Points Park — the heart of downtown's Main Street dining and gallery scene — is about an eleven-minute walk. The location puts residents at the seam of two Sarasotas: the cultural bayfront of theaters and green space on one side, and the coffee shops, studios, and restaurants of the Rosemary District on the other.
Lifestyle
Daily life at BLVD Sarasota leans outdoors and upward. Mornings might start with laps in the rooftop pool as light comes up over the bay, or a walk along the bayfront path toward The Bay park. Evenings offer a performance at the Van Wezel, dinner at The Quay or along Main Street, then a nightcap on a terrace watching boat lights cross the water. In between, the building itself fills the gaps — a round on the golf simulator on a rainy afternoon, a bottle pulled from a private wine cellar before guests arrive, the dog exercised on the fifth-floor lawn without leaving the property. It is high-rise living scaled small: 49 homes, one rooftop, and the arts district at the door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is BLVD Sarasota located?
BLVD Sarasota is at 540 N Tamiami Trail in downtown Sarasota, at the corner of North Tamiami Trail and Boulevard of the Arts. The site sits at the edge of the Rosemary District, across the trail from the bayfront and a short walk from The Bay park and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
When was BLVD Sarasota built?
Plans were submitted to the City of Sarasota in January 2017, construction began in late June 2018, and the building received its temporary certificate of occupancy in August 2020, with construction wrapping in September 2020. Core Development Inc. was the developer and BCBE Construction the general contractor.
Does BLVD Sarasota have a rooftop pool?
Yes. The building's rooftop is a resident amenity deck with a heated zero-horizon pool and spa, sundeck, cabanas, and an outdoor kitchen, with views over Sarasota Bay and the downtown skyline.
How many residences are in BLVD Sarasota and how large are they?
There are 49 residences across 18 stories. Standard homes range from roughly 3,550 to over 3,900 square feet, and the two penthouses exceed 5,400 square feet. Each residence includes multiple private terraces and two assigned parking spaces.
Who designed BLVD Sarasota?
Stantec Architecture designed the tower, handling architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and lighting. The design draws on Sarasota's modern architectural tradition, with clean lines, abundant glass, and terraces oriented to the bay. Common-area interiors were led by local designer J. Kurt Lucas.
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