Sarasota Gay Neighborhoods

Where are the gay neighborhoods in Sarasota?  Well,  we asked Sarasota's finest family real estate agent to tell us.  Below, Jason tells us all about neighborhoods known to be home to Sarasota's gay community.

When you are done looking, click here to get referred to a gay or gay-friendly Sarasota real estate agent.

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About Sarasota

Sarasota is consistently ranked by Money Magazine as one of the best places in the country to call home.  Sarasota is home to the Asolo Theter, the Van Weizel Performing Arts Hall, the Sarasota Opera House, The John & Mable Ringling Museum, and many other cultural arts related establishments.

Gay Neighborhoods in Sarasota

Burns Court – Burns Court is a one block area of homes located from 418 to 446 North Pineapple on Sarasota's south side.  One of the oldest areas in Sarasota, Burns Court remains one of the hot spots in our local market.  The homes in this area were built in the mid 1920’s by the prominent Chicago developer Owen Burns.

While the homes in this area are older and somewhat smaller than most built today, they continue to sell very quickly.  Burns Court has a large gay presence and is home to a handful of small, but excellent restaurants, as well as one of the few remaining independent movie theaters in southwest Florida.  Burns Court Cinemas (simply referred to as “Burns Court”) also hosts the annual Sarasota Gay Film Festival.

Downtown Area – The downtown area is the center of the arts in our area and is home to many local gays and lesbians.  

During the development of Sarasota, construction spread from the downtown area North, South, and eventually East to I-75, once viewed by many as Sarasota's eastern-most boundary.  In the late 1990’s, undeveloped land west of I-75 became scarce, so developers began pushing eastward and communities like Lakewood Ranch began.

At the same time, redevelopment of the downtown area began, including the addition of the Hollywood 20 Movie Complex, which filled the old abandoned Maas Brother’s store.  While most of the homes in the downtown area are older and smaller than their modern counterparts built today, people realize the value of the areas proximity to many local events and businesses.

Saint Armand’s Circle – First developed in the 1920’s as a planned community by the circus magnate John Ringling, St. Armand’s Circle is home today to many residents, as well as about 130 stores, including a handful of coffee and ice cream shops (Starbuck’s should be opening in late 2004).  

Many gays call St. Armand’s home.  So, it is not unusual to see local gay couples dining alongside tourists on the patios of local restaurants.

St. Armand’s Key is a short walk from Lido Beach, where you can catch the spectacular sunsets.  The homes here were mostly built in the 50’s.  Many have been extensively renovated over the last decade, as property values have doubled and then tripled.

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