Florida

Clean, sparkling and well-managed, Sarasota (population 55,000) is located along the southwest Florida coast and has long been known for its sugar white beaches, stunning cobalt waters, tropical affluence and traditional "beachy" Florida ambiance.  The Spanish first came to the area in the early 1500s, and white European settlers began arriving in significant numbers in the late 1840s.   The town gained fame as a resort destination during the first part of the 20th-century, attracting wealthy residents that included the entire Ringling family (of Ringling Brothers' Circus fame).   The 1920s brought the first real economic boom, attributed to post-WWI exuberance, but the party ended with the Great Depression.  The city boomed again in the 1950s, but this boom, too, soon faded.
	Then in the 1990s and early 2000s another boom, this one fueled by nearly unchecked housing speculation, took the city by storm.  The crash, as in the rest of the country, came in 2008, and today Sarasota is still dealing with the fallout.  In 2009, the city's foreclosure rate was 6%, and a year ago, it was 10%.    Of the current homes for sale today, 12% are in some stage of the foreclosure process, nearly four times the national average.  So the situation is not getting better. Thanks to this recent boom and bust, much of the charm that once characterized this seaside village has melted away.  Nearly every square inch of the city has been developed, and now strip malls, fast food chains and tract housing seem to be the norm.   A place that not long ago felt like a small town now feels like one large suburb, one in which many buildings, as nice as they are, stand empty.
Some classic old neighborhoods continue to thrive, of course, and the city still boasts some interesting architecture, including Mediterranean and Venetian style buildings.   Grand homes built by 1920s residents still stand, and many of these are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (John and Mabel Ringling's 56-room estate named Cą d' Zan, overlooking beautiful Sarasota Bay  is just one example).    However, many structures from the city's mid-20th century "Sarasota School of Architecture" period, when innovative architects came to town to design, have been lost to the wrecking ball. The foreclosure situation, of course, means that real estate deals are in abundance.  The median home price is $165,000, contributing to a cost of living that meets the national average, and very modest homes can be found in, yes, the $20,000s.  Yet bay front residences, canal front homes and dwellings on the keys (islands named Siesta Key, Bird Key, etc. between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf), which can include upscale condos and pricey gated developments, many with boat slips, still sell in the millions of dollars. Sarasota continues to be a retirement town, with 57% of residents age 45 or better (and they are evenly split between Democrats and Republicans).  It is definitely a pretty city, with palm trees swaying and white building glistening, but it does not have a reputation as a particularly friendly place, and despite its current economic woes, still strikes many as a bit snobby.   Snowbirds (and tourists) descend in droves during the winter months (October through April), and the beaches, particularly Siesta Beach, which is perhaps the most stunning beach in Florida if not the country, fill up fast.  Streets clog with traffic, and parking is impossible to find.  Thirty golf courses, sport fishing and Baltimore Orioles spring training practice also bring vacationers to town.    The keys are especially popular (and Siesta Key in particular still has that easygoing Old Florida feeling).
While cultural amenities and events have improved over the years, many only occur during the winter months.  Still, residents enjoy the Sarasota Ballet, the Sarasota Orchestra, several theater groups, the Sarasota Opera, the Sarasota Film Festival, the Ringling International Arts Festival, the Sarasota Blues Fest, the Sarasota Music Festival and the Sarasota Highland Games and Festival (celebrating the local Scottish heritage, thanks to the city being promoted in Scotland in the 1880s).   A botanic garden, a marine rescue facility, wine tastings, several colleges and numerous museums, including the Ringling Museum of Art (home to Old Masters, particularly Ruben) and the renown Ringling College of Art and Design, add to the cultural scene.   Sarasota is also known as the "Circus Capital of the World," with many circuses based here.  The public library, the Fruitville Library, has 15 public access computers (one for people with low vision), Internet access and an interlibrary loan program.
Downtown is one of the best parts of the city, artsy and trendy with boutiques, galleries, studios, live music venues and restaurants.  The Towles Court Art District, which is packed with brightly painted wooden homes, is also filled with eateries and shops.   And Myakka River State Park has hundreds of miles of hiking trails, campgrounds and airboat tours.  It is 35 minutes east of town and is a place where otters, foxes and alligators often come out to say hello. The award-winning Senior Friendship Centers is a non-profit network that operates a popular senior center (age 50+).  Services include health programs, congregate meals, telephone reassurance, volunteer programs and much more. Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) provides public transportation (24 routes) in and around town and to neighboring communities (seniors ride for 35 cents).  It also offers a dial-a-ride para-transit service.   There is no Amtrak service, but the Sarasota - Bradenton International Airport is close and has domestic and international flights.  Doctors Hospital of Sarasota (168 beds) is the primary care facility and is award-winning for clinical excellence and patient safety.  It is accredited by the Joint Commission and certified as a Primary Stroke Center.  It accepts Medicare but not Medicaid patients. Sarasota experiences a humid subtropical climate.  There are two seasons, rainy (June through September) and dry (October through May).  Summers are especially muggy, but it is humid even during the dry season.  Winter temperatures are in the 50s, 60s and low 70s, and summer temperatures are in the 80s and 90s.   The sun shines 250 days of the year.  Bugs are a reality year round (but that is why they invented screened-in porches).  It's Florida.    The air and water quality rankings are below the national average. Aside from the high foreclosure rate, overdevelopment and tourist mobs, Sarasota has a crime rate that is nearly double the national average (something the tourist brochures forget to mention), and crime is not restricted to just certain parts of town.  Reasons for the high rate vary but a drug culture, low wages, tons of tourists, a transient population, little sense of community, not much happening for the under-30 crowd and a poverty rate that is above the national average all seem to be contributing factors.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Probably not... Have a town in mind for retirement?  Write to us and we will review it in a weekly issue!

At first glance, gorgeous beaches, lots of golf, a very good medical facility, solid senior programs, good public transportation, a good mix of amenities and a physically beautiful cityscape and setting make Sarasota seem a great retirement spot (and it has a lot of retirees).  But the recent over-building, high (and climbing) foreclosure rate, very high crime rate, above average poverty level and huge tourist crowds mean retirement here should be carefully considered before making the move.

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