$31M affordable housing complex opens in north Sarasota

A new affordable housing apartment complex has opened in north Sarasota, between downtown and the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. New Trail Plaza hosted an official ribbon-cutting event on Wednesday at 4644 N. Tamiami Trail, where officials say the property is already more than 50% occupied.

Two mid-rise buildings make up New Trail Plaza, which contains 96 apartments. Units are reserved for tenants with 30%, 60% and 80% of the area median income.

Tampa-based affordable housing developer Blue Sky Communities created the community in partnership with nonprofit Community Assisted & Supported Living, headquartered in Sarasota. The community broke ground in June 2024.

“The completion of New Trail Plaza is a testament to what happens when the public and private sectors share a vision,” Blue Sky Communities President Shawn Wilson says in the statement. “By placing quality, affordable housing in the urban core, we are ensuring that Sarasota’s hardworking families can live close to where they work and learn.”

Funding for the $31 million project came through Sarasota County’s American Rescue Plan Act program, the city of Sarasota, Truist, First Housing and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

“Providing attainable housing is one of the Sarasota City Commission’s highest priorities,” Sarasota Mayor Debbie Trice says in the statement. "This development proves that, through creative public-private partnerships, we can bridge the gap for families at various income levels.”

In addition to apartments, New Trail Plaza offers tenants amenities including a playground, clubhouse, business center and activity room. There is also a CASL office on-site and an area designated as the Family Center.

"The Family Center space is available for children and family-serving agencies to help provide education and support for families,” CASL COO Phillip “P.J.” Brooks says in the statement. The center will provide a place to support efforts around parenting, financial literacy, parent-child bonding, tutoring and more, according to Brooks.

St. Pete-based Carteret Management Inc., an affiliate of Blue Sky Communities, is overseeing management of New Trail Plaza.

Blue Sky Communities has housed more than 3,000 families across its 30 communities. Many of its complexes are in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Closer to Sarasota, its developments include Arbor Village on Fruitville Road, Sandpiper Place on 46th Ave. Drive W. in Bradenton and Jacaranda Plaza on Loveland Boulevard in Port Charlotte. The company has closed more than $800 million in public and private financing.