The Saunders Blog

The Neighborhood Report – Museum Area

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The beautiful grounds of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of art.

As you drive along the tree canopied bay front neighborhood in the northern section of Sarasota, you will experience a virtual step back in time. The historic community of the Museum Area boasts single-family homes nestled among Sarasota’s greatest artistic and educational institutions. This residential community is just a five-minute drive to vibrant downtown Sarasota and a quick trip over the Ringling Bridge to the Gulf of Mexico. The location and ambience mark this area as a golden thread in the Sarasota tapestry.

The Museum Area is the home of the Ringling Museum and the mansion that John and Mable Ringling built, the Ca d’Zan. Historic 1920s Mediterranean-style estates line the bay, cottage bungalows, Florida ranches, and a number of Sarasota School of Architecture homes reflect the eclectic mix of designs and personalities that reside here.

Market Activity – Museum Area

There are 47 homes on the market in the Museum Area at this time, with prices ranging from a $75,000 cottage to a $10,500,000 bayfront, 2.5-acre estate. Current pending sales range from $119,000 to $1,750,000, and there have been seven closed transactions in the past 30 days from $60,000 to $199,900.

Susan Mitchell of the Main Street office just closed on her listing at 4907 Eastchester, a 1956 Ocala block-built home with elements of The Sarasota School of Architecture. Jane Kelly just listed two vintage 1920s homes that have been in the same family since 1935.

Bottom Line – Museum Area

For those that desire a quiet neighborhood community within a sophisticated urban environment, the Museum Area may be the ticket. The Asolo Performing Arts Theater, Sarasota Ballet, New College, University of South Florida and Ringling College of Art and Design surround this neighborhood and the patrons populate these diverse homes.

Jungle Gardens, one of the oldest tourist attractions in the state of Florida, is a 10-acre feature in the heart of the museum area. This lush tropical setting is the area’s only zoological garden, home to exotic birds and animals. The free roaming peacocks can be found exploring the local neighborhood.