The buzz is on

North Port, a city on the southern edge of Sarasota County, is a good example of boom-and-bust, Florida-style. It grew into the largest city in the county in the mid-2000s by population. Then development collapsed during the recession.

Looks like the city's comeback is on. That's the word from some commercial real estate experts who recently gathered for the North Port Real Estate Summit.

During a panel discussion at the summit about commercial trends in North Port, Dan O'Berski, managing broker of Estero-based Trinity Commercial Group, says the area's primary growth has been in restaurant and hotels. He says gathering spaces are important. “We expect food growth to be significant,” he adds.

The panel also discussed the medical industry as another key growth segment in the area. “Medical is only going to grow,” O'Berski says. “Our expectation is it will substantially increase.”

Sports also plays into the revival. A big win comes from the Atlanta Braves, which are building a new spring training home in North Port. Officials expect the new Braves' complex to be built and ready for the first pitch of 2019 spring training.

A final sign of North Port's rebound: Howard Corr, commercial sales manager of Coldwell Banker Sunstar Realty, says he's working with six or seven national companies that have an interest in coming to North Port. When Corr recently attended the International Council of Shopping Centers' convention in Las Vegas, he says there was buzz about North Port.

“It's amazing the number of retailers who have heard about North Port,” he says. “The news is out.”