On the morning of Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Sarasota marked a long-awaited milestone with an official groundbreaking ceremony at Mira Mar Residences on South Palm Avenue. The event signals the start of construction on one of downtown Sarasota’s most anticipated developments, and the beginning of a new era for one of the city’s most historically significant sites.
Developed by Seaward Development, the project will bring 70 ultra-luxury condominiums to the site of what was once Sarasota’s very first hotel and first luxury residences. Rising in two elegant 18-story towers behind a meticulously restored historic facade, Mira Mar Residences promises to become a significant residential address in the city’s history.
A Century in the Making
The story of this site stretches back more than a century. The original Mira Mar Hotel opened in 1922. Built in just six months on a foundation of beach sand, it quickly became the crown jewel of a young and ambitious Sarasota. For decades it anchored the city’s cultural and social life before the years eventually took their toll. What remains will now be restored as the architectural centerpiece of an entirely new vision for Palm Avenue.
The preserved structure will house retail and restaurant space along its 400-foot frontage on South Palm Avenue, reconnecting the landmark with the pedestrian life of downtown. After years of vigorous civic debate over demolition, preservation,and height, the community and developer arrived at a solution that does justice to both heritage and progress.
“This is an incredibly important milestone that has been years in the making. It officially kicks off the rehabilitation portion of the project, and to be stewards of the history and legacy at this site is an incredibly humbling position that we take very seriously.” — Patrick DiPinto, Owner, Seaward Development
The Architecture of Two Eras
The design team assembled for this project is nothing short of extraordinary. Nichols Architects serves as the project architect, bringing timeless design sensibility to the two soaring residential towers. Guiding the historic rehabilitation work is Rick Gonzalez, president of REG Architects and recently appointed to the National Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, whose firm has a distinguished reputation for saving America’s most significant structures.
Initial construction is focused entirely on the rehabilitation of the historic building. All former tenants have vacated the more than 100-year-old structure, and work will begin immediately with structural stabilization which will reinforce the foundation that has stood since the 1920s. Work on the residential towers will follow, before crews return to complete the interior restoration of the historic portions.
“Everything being done in the beginning will be to stabilize the current structure and to not jeopardize the strength of the building,” said Gonzalez. “This is an exciting process that has to be done right.”
Overseeing construction is Suffolk Construction, a nationally recognized general contractor whose recent completed works include the billion-dollar restoration of the iconic Waldorf Astoria New York City — a credential that speaks volumes about the caliber of craftsmanship coming to downtown Sarasota.
Reservations Now Open
With the construction permit now issued by the City of Sarasota and groundbreaking ceremonies complete, Mira Mar Residences has officially entered its sales phase. Residences are priced from the high $3 millions, and the development team has released interior renderings and floor plans for prospective buyers to explore. Seaward Development is also in active conversations with first-to-market dining concepts and boutique retailers to bring the Palm Avenue commercial frontage to life.
The Laughlin Tanner Group is available to assist qualified buyers in exploring available residences, navigating reservations, and understanding the full scope of this landmark development. Contact our team for a private consultation.
