Planned Street Infrastructure Construction at the GGP Entry

FDOT Road Work About to Start at the GGP Entry

What we know as Gulfstream Avenue continuing on over the bridge to become John Ringling Boulevard is also State Route 789. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will launch a roadway renovation project beginning with the Golden Gate / Sunset intersection in early January of 2026. Key improvements will involve raising the road level at our intersection by 1 to 2 feet to allow for better drainage on the Sunset side, installing a sidewalk-level bicycle lane, and shortening the pedestrian crossing distance. Work to improve drainage between our intersection and Harts Landing will also be part of the project, and a major area of focus will be repairing the Ringling Bridge from Bird Key to St. Armands. In coordination with the state, Sarasota’s Department of Parks & Recreation will relocate some of the plantings along Gulfstream to the St. Armands Circle area. The project is expected to take approximately one year to complete. During construction there will be lane closures in various places, mostly between 9PM and 7AM, although there will always be at least one lane open in both directions. For questions or more information, contact Alice Ramos, Sarasota County Community Outreach Manager, 863-797-7202, alice.ramos@dot.state.fl.us

Our Neighbor Hart’s Landing to Return Better Than Ever

Rising from the Debris: Hart’s Landing to Return Better Than Ever

Founded in 1934 by local fisherman Deamus Hart, Hart’s Landing began as a humble waterfront bait stand at the foot of the original Ringling Causeway. In 1964, it moved to its current location at the base of the causeway, where it has become Sarasota’s oldest bait shop and a beloved community landmark—known for its bait and tackle shop, fishing pier, live music, children’s playground, and scenic park setting.

The hurricanes that struck Sarasota in 2024 caused severe damage to the structure and surrounding area, forcing a temporary closure. Recently, you may have noticed activity at the site: the bait shop and dock have been removed, and debris is finally being cleared. The Florida Department of Transportation has issued a contract to repair the damaged roads, sidewalks, and seawall, with work expected to begin in early 2026.

After more than 80 years under the Hart family’s care, Hart’s Landing was acquired in 2017 by Sherman Baldwin and his daughter, Sarah. Together, they have ambitious plans to restore and enhance the historic bait shop, ensuring Hart’s Landing continues to serve as an iconic piece of Sarasota’s waterfront heritage for generations to come.

GGPA New Resident Orientation Packet

New Resident Orientation Packet

GGPA volunteers have prepared a Welcome Packet (appropriately “golden”) of written material to help newcomers to GGP learn about the Association, the history of Golden Gate Point, how they can become involved in their new neighborhood, and in their new city if that’s the case for them. There’s also a simple form to fill out and mail or take to GGPA’s “official” address – which happens at present to be 464 Golden Gate Point, LaBellasara. Just leave it with the concierge.

We think seeing things in print is helpful for lots of folks, but if you’re even more comfortable with digital – Click here to download the Welcome Packet (PDF)

What you can do about OCCASIONAL flooding on GGP

GGP had experienced some flooding after heavy rains. As a result, the GGPA Board investigated what could be done to alleviate street flooding.

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In 2018, then Board Member Cindy Taliaferro contacted Harold Roebuck, County Stormwater Operations Manager II, who met Cindy and GGPA Treasurer Denise Watermeier on GGPA.   Mr. Roebuck inspected the storm drains and discussed the issues relating to flooding.  

Map of GGP showing Storm Drain Outflows

One88 (188) and Toscano (205) GGP are at the low point of GGP.  Storm sewers are at water level, and the increase in impervious area due to new construction on the west side of GGP has increased the outflow requirement.  High tides negatively affect the ability to move water into the bay.  The City enforces the Codes and is responsible for installation of storm sewers and the county maintains the existing lines.

The County scheduled a cleaning of the three GGP storm sewers with a truck and vacuum line to suck the entire length of the two affected storm sewers, the closest to One 88 and Alta Mer (306) GGP.  There was silt accumulation in the 306 GGP outflow at that time.

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The outflows also had substantial barnacle growth which limit the amount of outflow at times of high rain.   The County removed the barnacles on the outflows during the cleaning in 2018.

Since the outflows have been cleaned, there has been less water during heavy rains.    The GGPA will continue to keep an eye on street drainage to consider what steps can need to be taken to reduce the likelihood of the storm drains becoming clogged in the future. 

Mr. Roebuck has advised that floating debris will need to be removed in areas near storm sewers.   This includes mulch and other materials, such as papers and recycling materials, that will float.

As a result, areas of mulch have been replaced with rocks to avoid mulch clogging up storm drains during heavy rains.

WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT OCCASIONAL FLOODING ON GGP

V curbs or V drains are the concrete alleys between the sidewalk and road surface.

These alleys are intended to control and direct the flow of water during rains.  When trash and recycle receptacles are placed on top of the V drains, water is diverted into the roadway and it swells and pools creating a pond effect.  Water needs velocity and pressure of the continuous force of the flow to push the rainwater into the bay.  Obstructing this flow causes the water to collect and swell into the vegetation, causing floating debris, which then plugs the drains as the water slowly recedes. 

This means they need to be on the driveway or in the street, off of the drains.  If they are smaller bins, they need to be covered.

This is a V-drain - keep trash bins off of it

Water needs to run down this concrete channel- don't block the V-drain!

Make sure that your trash and recycling receptacles do not block the water. Put them on your driveway or outside of the channel so that the water's velocity can push eh water into the drains and bay.

Here the receptacles are outside the V-drain.

Remove as much floating debris from your landscaping

Don't add mulch near the street or where it could float away in high winds or a heavy rain-- use rocks, grass, or ground cover instead where possible.

Bridge Lighting Changes

The Ringling Bridge lighting features prominently in the homes of many of those on the west side of GGP. Those lights were originally designed to be a bright white highlighting the architecture of the bridge. When the original lights rusted, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) installed LED spotlights with a stock program of rotating colors. We learned that those LED spots can't produce a bright white lighting design.

During the pandemic, the bridge lights were changed to patriotic colors. When the Tampa Skyway bridge was ordered to end the patriotic color display, the Ringling Bridge was ready for a change. The colors are now turquoise and deep blue, although the timing needs tweaking. Here's the background about how that lighting design was selected and put in place.

In the fall of 2019 the GGPA polled its members and the vast majority did not like rotating colors and wanted fixed colors without reds, oranges, and kelly greens. Almost 40% of those responding wanted white, and most of the others wanted sea or sky colors. We engaged the services of a lighting designer for a local theater arts company. This idea to consider a local designer from our arts community came from Bob Sohol (The Phoenix, 136 GGP) and Tom Dowdy (Visa Bay Point, 128 GGP).

The lighting designer obtained information about the equipment on the bridge from FDOT and then created a palette with stable, very pale turquoise and deep blue. We submitted a proposal to the City, and were told that the pale turquoise was not as vibrant as they had hoped to see. We then submitted a second proposal with a deeper, more vibrant turquoise. The City administration found this acceptable.

The design calls for the lights to go on 30 minutes after sunset, at which time the lights fade for 15 seconds to “Sea Turquoise”. At midnight, there is a 60 second crossfade to “Steel Blue”. Ninety minutes before sunrise there is a 15 second crossfade to “Sea Turquoise” again. Thirty minutes before sunrise there is a 15 second fade out and the lights are off for the day.

What you may not notice is that the design calls for the lighting to be more intense toward the middle of the bridge, and less intense on the piles closer to the shore. This is to give an even appearance. There are lights on both sides of each of the piles, and the lighting proposal for each set of lights has a different intensity so that it looks evenly lighted regardless of what side you’re looking from.

There are presently 4 patriotic days scheduled to return to the red, white and blue design. The great majority of GGP residents liked the patriotic display a lot, in part because it was comforting and meaningful during the pandemic and also because it ended the color rotation that people disliked.

It is no easy matter to change the Ringling bridge lighting. The Skyway Bridge lighting is controlled from an FDOT office far away from the bridge. The Ringling Bridge lighting requires a computer specialist to go into the bridge itself (under the roadway) and to change the program from within the bridge. The State does not want to have to make many changes to this program because it's so labor intensive.

The City administration, including the City Manager’s and City Engineer’s office, as well as the FDOT representative, helped to make this change. It’s a compromise that appeals to many people and arises out a community consensus.