SIESTA KEY
Observer Formerly the Pelican Press
Mattamy Homes lands abandoned golf course.
PAGE 9A
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 46, NO. 34
FREE
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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016
City rolls out St. Armands paid parking, garage plans For decades, St. Armands Circle leaders have called for the construction of a parking garage. A new proposal, heavily reliant on paid parking, could make the project a reality. PAGE 3A
YOUR TOWN
KISS ME, I’M IRISH
File photo
Harvey Vengroff Courtesy photos
Vengroff questions officials’ interest in housing project
Leprechaun brings luck to Habitat He can’t lift a hammer, but volunteers still think he’s a lucky charm when it comes to building homes. Meet Habitat McLucky, who has been spotted at building sites for Habitat for Humanity. Find out where he’ll be next by following Habitat for Humanity Sarasota on Instagram at @habitatsrq.
The city has stressed the need for cheaper housing, but Harvey Vengroff says his apartment plans have been largely ignored.
Epic arrangements Members of the Sarasota Ikebanta Sogetsu Study Group prepared 12 Taisaku-style floral arrangements for the gallery entrances in the new Asian Wing at the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Taisaku is Japanese for “epic.” The style requires larger-than-life designs used in large spaces for special occasions or staged demonstrations.
A+E An artist’s quest for depth leads her to sculpture. INSIDE
DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR
Amanda Morales
Barbara and John Auld celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Saturday, March 12, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church’s seventh annual Irish Celebration. SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 4B
Coming off a unanimous show of support from the city’s Planning Board, Harvey Vengroff still doubts city officials will let him build a proposed 393-unit affordable apartment complex. SEE PAGE 10A
State of the Artspace Advocates for an affordable artist live/work housing complex are renewing their focus on bringing a project to Sarasota. PAGE 5A
David Conway
Jane Nutter Johnson, Jim Shirley, Veronica Morgan, Bharat Patel, Cindy Eley and Chris Fitzgibbons are members of the Arts and Cultural Alliance’s Artspace committee.