Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some women, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give women a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men and women are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
HRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
As women age, their hormones begin to go through changes that affect their day-to-day lives. For women, hormone deficiency and imbalance usually occur during menopause and can cause chronic fatigue, hot flashes, and mood swings, among other issues. Hormone replacement therapy helps correct hormone imbalances in women, helping them feel more vibrant and virile as they age.
Often, HRT treatments give patients enhanced quality of life that they didn't think was possible - even in their 60's and beyond.
The benefits for women are numerous and are available today through Global Life Rejuvenation.
As women age, their bodies begin to go through significant changes that affect their quality of life. This change is called menopause and marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and reproduction ability. Though there is no specific age when this change occurs, the average age of menopause onset is 51 years old. However, according to doctors, menopause officially starts 12 months after a woman's final period. During the transition to menopause, women's estrogen and other hormones begin to deplete.
As that happens, many women experience severe symptoms. These symptoms include:
The symptoms of hormone deficiency can be concerning and scary for both women and their spouses. However, if you're getting older and notice some of these symptoms, there is reason to be hopeful. Hormone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine for women can correct imbalances that happen during menopause. These safe, effective treatments leave you feeling younger, healthier, and more vibrant.
The most common reason for menopause is the natural decline in a female's reproductive hormones. However, menopause can also result from the following situations:
Oophorectomy: This surgery, which removes a woman's ovaries, causes immediate menopause. Symptoms and signs of menopause in this situation can be severe, as the hormonal changes happen abruptly.
Chemotherapy: Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can induce menopause quickly, causing symptoms to appear shortly after or even during treatment.
Ovarian Insufficiency: Also called premature ovarian failure, this condition is essentially premature menopause. It happens when a woman's ovaries quit functioning before the age of 40 and can stem from genetic factors and disease. Only 1% of women suffer from premature menopause, but HRT can help protect the heart, brain, and bones.
For many women, menopause is a trying time that can be filled with many hormonal hurdles to jump through. A little knowledge can go a long way, whether you're going through menopause now or are approaching "that" age.
Here are some of the most common issues that women experience during menopause:
If you're a woman going through menopause and find that you have become increasingly depressed, you're not alone. It's estimated that 15% of women experience depression to some degree while going through menopause. What many women don't know is that depression can start during perimenopause, or the years leading up to menopause.
Depression can be hard to diagnose, especially during perimenopause and menopause. However, if you notice the following signs, it might be time to speak with a physician:
Remember, if you're experiencing depression, you're not weak or broken - you're going through a very regular emotional experience. The good news is that with proper treatment from your doctor, depression isn't a death sentence. And with HRT and anti-aging treatment for women, depression could be the catalyst you need to enjoy a new lease on life.
Hot flashes - they're one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes are intense, sudden feelings of heat across a woman's upper body. Some last second, while others last minutes, making them incredibly inconvenient and uncomfortable for most women.
Symptoms of hot flashes include:
Typically, hot flashes are caused by a lack of estrogen. Low estrogen levels negatively affect a woman's hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature and appetite. Low estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to incorrectly assume the body is too hot, dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow. Luckily, most women don't have to settle for the uncomfortable feelings that hot flashes cause. HRT treatments for women often stabilize hormones, lessening the effects of hot flashes and menopause in general.
Mood swings are common occurrences for most people - quick shifts from happy to angry and back again, triggered by a specific event. And while many people experience mood swings, they are particularly common for women going through menopause. That's because, during menopause, the female's hormones are often imbalanced. Hormone imbalances and mood swings go hand-in-hand, resulting in frequent mood changes and even symptoms like insomnia.
The rate of production of estrogen, a hormone that fluctuates during menopause, largely determines the rate of production the hormone serotonin, which regulates mood, causing mood swings.
Luckily, HRT and anti-aging treatments in South Gate Ridge, FL for women work wonders for mood swings by regulating hormone levels like estrogen. With normal hormone levels, women around the world are now learning that they don't have to settle for mood swings during menopause.
Staying fit and healthy is hard for anyone living in modern America. However, for women with hormone imbalances during perimenopause or menopause, weight gain is even more serious. Luckily, HRT treatments for women coupled with a physician-led diet can help keep weight in check. But which hormones need to be regulated?
Lowered sexual desire - three words most men and women hate to hear. Unfortunately, for many women in perimenopausal and menopausal states, it's just a reality of life. Thankfully, today, HRT and anti-aging treatments South Gate Ridge, FL can help women maintain a normal, healthy sex drive. But what causes low libido in women, especially as they get older?
The hormones responsible for low libido in women are progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone.
Progesterone production decreases during perimenopause, causing low sex drive in women. Lower progesterone production can also cause chronic fatigue, weight gain, and other symptoms. On the other hand, lower estrogen levels during menopause lead to vaginal dryness and even vaginal atrophy or loss of muscle tension.
Lastly, testosterone plays a role in lowered libido. And while testosterone is often grouped as a male hormone, it contributes to important health and regulatory functionality in women. A woman's testosterone serves to heighten sexual responses and enhances orgasms. When the ovaries are unable to produce sufficient levels of testosterone, it often results in a lowered sex drive.
Often uncomfortable and even painful, vaginal dryness is a serious problem for sexually active women. However, like hair loss in males, vaginal dryness is very common - almost 50% of women suffer from it during menopause.
Getting older is just a part of life, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for the side effects. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women correct vaginal dryness by re-balancing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. When supplemented with diet and healthy living, your vagina's secretions are normalized, causing discomfort to recede.
Uterine fibroids - they're perhaps the least-known symptom of menopause and hormone imbalances in women. That's because these growths on the uterus are often symptom-free. Unfortunately, these growths can be cancerous, presenting a danger for women as they age.
Many women will have fibroids at some point. Because they're symptomless, they're usually found during routine doctor exams. Some women only get one or two, while others may have large clusters of fibroids. Because fibroids are usually caused by hormone imbalances, hysterectomies have been used as a solution, forcing women into early menopause.
Advances in HRT and anti-aging medicine for women give females a safer, non-surgical option without having to experience menopause early. At Global Life Rejuvenation, our expert physicians will implement a customized HRT program to stabilize your hormones and reduce the risk of cancerous fibroid growth.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS, and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Xenoestrogen is a hormone that is very similar to estrogen. Too much xenoestrogen is thought to stimulate endometrial tissue growth. HRT for women helps balance these hormones and, when used with a custom nutrition program, can provide relief for women across the U.S.
Hormone stability is imperative for a healthy sex drive and for a normal, stress-free life during menopause. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women balance the hormones that your body has altered due to perimenopause or menopause.
HRT for women is a revolutionary step in helping women live their best lives, even as they grow older. However, at Global Life Rejuvenation, we know that no two patients are the same. That's why we specialize in holistic treatments that utilize HRT, combined with healthy nutrition, supplements, and fitness plans that maximize hormone replacement treatments.
If you've been suffering through menopause, is HRT the answer? That's hard to say without an examination by a trusted physician, but one thing's for sure. When a woman balances her hormone levels, she has a much better shot at living a regular life with limited depression, weight gain, mood swings, and hot flashes.
Here are just a few additional benefits of HRT and anti-aging treatments for females:
Hormone imbalance causes a litany of issues. But with anti-aging treatments for women, females can better process calcium, keep their cholesterol levels safe, and maintain a healthy vagina. By replenishing the body's estrogen supply, HRT can relieve symptoms from menopause and protect against osteoporosis. But that's just the start.
Global Life Rejuvenation's patients report many more benefits of HRT and anti-aging medicine for women:
If you're ready to feel better, look better, and recapture the vitality of your youth, it's time to contact Global Life Rejuvenation. It all starts with an in-depth consultation, where we will determine if HRT and anti-aging treatments for women are right for you. After all, every patient's body and hormone levels are different. Since all our treatment options are personalized, we do not have a single threshold for treatment. Instead, we look at our patient's hormone levels and analyze them on a case-by-case basis.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we help women rediscover their youth with HRT treatment for women. We like to think of ourselves as an anti-aging concierge service, guiding and connecting our patients to the most qualified HRT physicians available. With customized HRT treatment plan for women, our patients experience fewer menopausal symptoms, less perimenopause & menopause depression, and often enjoy a more youth-like appearance.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies. Ipamorelin can boost a patient's overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life.
When there is an increased concentration of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, there are positive benefits to the body. Some benefits include:
Whether you are considering our HRT and anti-aging treatments for women in South Gate Ridge, FL, we are here to help. The first step to reclaiming your life begins by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation. Our friendly, knowledgeable HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
866-793-9933
In its heyday of the late 1980s and 1990s, Sarasota’s Southgate Mall property was a bustling center of commerce, having been fully enclosed in 1988.Known then as Southgate Plaza, it was a time when U.S. 41 was still the primary commercial corridor through the region and before most of its tenants, like many other retailers along Tamiami Trail, were drawn to Benderson Development’s University Town Center.Last week, Benderson took the first steps toward redevelopment of the largely vacant property, now known as Crossi...
In its heyday of the late 1980s and 1990s, Sarasota’s Southgate Mall property was a bustling center of commerce, having been fully enclosed in 1988.
Known then as Southgate Plaza, it was a time when U.S. 41 was still the primary commercial corridor through the region and before most of its tenants, like many other retailers along Tamiami Trail, were drawn to Benderson Development’s University Town Center.
Last week, Benderson took the first steps toward redevelopment of the largely vacant property, now known as Crossings at Siesta Key.
After taking seven years to assemble the nearly 35-acre mall property at U.S. 41 between Bee Ridge Road and Siesta Drive, Benderson is embarking on its first steps to breathe life back into the site, seeking a comprehensive plan amendment and subsequent zoning text amendments to change the zoning to the city’s new Urban Mixed-Use future land use classification.
The site is currently zoned Commercial Shopping Center with a future land use designation or Metropolitan/Regional #9.
Benderson and its development consultant, Kimley-Horn, held a community workshop at the mall’s Rise Above Performing Arts theater on July 25 to discuss its ideas for the site based on the new urbanism concept of mixing of residential and commercial uses to create a self-contained, walkable community.
Todd Mathes, director of development for Benderson, told the crowd the company has no development plans at this time, but should the city support the reclassification of the property, it could take two decades or more to complete the redevelopment. That would include a residential base density of 25 units per acre — 35 units should it include an affordable housing component.
Some attendees expressed skepticism about the absence of a plan, but Mathes explained several tenants have long-term leases with renewal options that could extend to 20 years. What it won’t be, he said, is a single use development.
“We do not, standing here today, have a plan for this property in part because we know that a lot of these existing tenants who are operating here are going to be here for quite awhile,” Mathes said. “It's going to be redeveloped in pieces, one little piece at a time, as we're able to work through it. What I can tell you is that we're committed to quality projects. We're committed to the community and we're very committed to the redevelopment and reenvisioning of the property.
“Everything about our experience with properties like this and everything that planners and architects tell us is that in the future, it's going to be a mix of uses.”
The property is currently zoned for 1.2 million square feet of commercial space. While largely vacant, Mathes cited some tenants — specifically naming Connors Steak & Seafood restaurant — as doing very well. The restaurant outparcels on the property stand alone and could be incorporated into the overall master plan.
Benderson completed its acquisition of the property last year, purchasing the 439,958-square-foot enclosed mall space for $25.1 million.
New Urbanism developments are typically higher density with residential surrounding a commercial component that serves the adjacent residents and surrounding community. They will often include a type of town square and green spaces, all intended to create a walkable, self-contained community with a goal of reducing vehicle trips for some basic needs.
Similar to the North Trail Overlay District, buildings are placed near the roadways with parking and utility functions contained internally.
The effectiveness of the design principle is subject to debate, largely because significant examples are few and far between. Historically, communities New Urbanism seeks to recreate occurred organically over decades and were not master planned.
Mathes admitted there are few developments in Florida designed around New Urbanism principles, citing Mercato in Naples and St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville as two that touch on, but don’t fully embrace, the concept. Both were also built absent significant mass transit serving the sites — a tenet of New Urbanism — Mercato along U.S. 41 and St. John's Town Center at the interchange of I-295 and Butler Boulevard, also an interstate-style highway.
Absent a catalyst, organic New Urbanism redevelopment is a more patient process, coming piece by piece, block by block, over time.
“The thought is that if, over time, we could revisit some of those original European principles as it relates to city building,” said Philip DiMaria, urban planner and project manager with Kimley-Horn & Associates. “We can create better places for people who live, work and play in an area. The idea is that a mix of building types, a mix of uses and diversity in general is healthy for human beings as it relates to their physical environment, and the city has adopted those principles. Those are key tenets within this comprehensive plan … and over time, we're starting to see a city that's transformed into a more new urbanist ideal.”
Most of the concerns expressed were about traffic, pointing out that their neighborhood streets are already used as cut-throughs. DiMaria said no redevelopment can occur absent traffic studies, which determine whether the existing roadways are sufficient or improvements need to be made. He added that a regional mall of 1.2 million square feet, as currently zoned, typically generates more vehicle trips than does a mixed-use development.
“At some point it was deemed to be sufficient for that amount of retail,” DiMaria said of the road network surrounding the mall. “Now as time goes on and as the city reviews each development application, they're required to study and analyze traffic. As part of any mixed-use development, there's an assumption of a certain percentage of residential units and a certain percentage of retail or office. There's an assumed amount (of traffic) that is captured within the site. Maybe there's a grocery store on-site right there to walk to instead of getting in the car and going to Publix.”
Addressing long-term ownership of the development, Mathes said both he and DiMaria live in the neighborhood and that Benderson’s business model is to develop and hold rather than sell. He hinted at including affordable housing, which by ordinance carries a 30-year requirement of rent caps.
“We are long-term committed to owning this property. We don't tend to create and sell product,” Mathes said. “There's probably lots of money to be made in selling high-end condos. That's not us. We're long-term holders, and hopefully that will create a nice, vibrant place and reduce some barriers to ownership, which could help the community. We very much intend to own everything here for a very long time.”
Although there is no time frame for development, there is a sense of urgency to go before the city for the comprehensive plan amendment application. The initial submittal to the city to begin the that process, Mathes said, could come as early as August. That process will include meetings with the Development Review Committee followed by public hearings before the Planning Board and eventually the City Commission for approval.
CORAL SPRINGS, FL – If you’re tired of the construction on Coral Ridge Drive in Coral Springs, you’ll have to live with it for another year or so.The 4.8-mile road improvement project on Coral Ridge Drive from Southgate Boulevard to Wyndham Circle is scheduled to be completed in late 2022, said Guillermo Canedo, communications manager for Florida Department of Transportation (District 4), which is overseeing the project.The good news: the work to widen the roadway for 6-foot bicycle lanes, construct sidewalks ...
CORAL SPRINGS, FL – If you’re tired of the construction on Coral Ridge Drive in Coral Springs, you’ll have to live with it for another year or so.
The 4.8-mile road improvement project on Coral Ridge Drive from Southgate Boulevard to Wyndham Circle is scheduled to be completed in late 2022, said Guillermo Canedo, communications manager for Florida Department of Transportation (District 4), which is overseeing the project.
The good news: the work to widen the roadway for 6-foot bicycle lanes, construct sidewalks at existing gaps, and reconstruct sidewalk ramps is ahead of schedule – it was supposed to be done in early 2023, he said.
Sign Up for FREE Coral Springs Newsletter
Get local news you can trust in your inbox.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
According to the transportation department, one lane in each direction will be closed, intermittently, along the stretch for the duration of the project between 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, for “concrete demolition, signalization, and curb and gutter operations, and roadway widening operations.”
So far, Canedo said, “excavation, material placement and compaction for the roadway widening has been completed.”
He added: “Structural asphalt for roadway widening is currently being placed. Signalization work is ongoing. The placement of the final asphalt layer as well as roadway striping, sign installation, swale grading, and sod restoration is still pending.”
The $7.6 million project, which started in mid-March, has had no setbacks related to the global-supply problem, he said.
Find out about other road construction projects in Coral Springs here.
MORE CORAL SPRINGS NEWS:
SPORTS: New Basketball Courts Under Construction Across From Cypress Park In Coral Springs
ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS: Looking For Holiday-Decorated Homes To See In Coral Springs? These 26 Homes Should Be On Your List.
GOVERNMENT: Coral Springs Looks For Developers Willing To Build Tower Overlooking Everglades And Walkway Over Wetlands
What is the housing market like in Sarasota today?In September 2023, Sarasota home prices were down 6.5% compared to last year, selling for a median price of $493K. On average, homes in Sarasota sell after 42 days on the market compared to 24 days last year. There were 157 homes sold in September this year, up from 130 last year....
What is the housing market like in Sarasota today?
In September 2023, Sarasota home prices were down 6.5% compared to last year, selling for a median price of $493K. On average, homes in Sarasota sell after 42 days on the market compared to 24 days last year. There were 157 homes sold in September this year, up from 130 last year.
Location
Sarasota, FL
$493,000
To compare other locations to the Sarasota and U.S. housing market, enter a city, neighborhood, state, or zip code into the search bar. Sarasota's median sale price is 17% higher than the national average. Overall cost of living in Sarasota is 5% higher than the national average. Learn which home features in Sarasota add value to a home.
Lakewood Ranch-based Benderson Development, the developer behind The Mall at University Town Center, has bought Crossings at Siesta Key for $25.1 million.The mall, previously known as Westfield Siesta Key and Southgate Mall, is 439,958 square feet and sits on 26.97 acres. Its current list of tenant includes anchors Macy’s and CMX CinéBistro as well as Connors Steak & Seafood, Talbots, LensCrafters, Loft and Chico’s.It is at 3501 S. Tamiami Trail at the intersection with Bee Ridge Road. Shaun Benderson, th...
Lakewood Ranch-based Benderson Development, the developer behind The Mall at University Town Center, has bought Crossings at Siesta Key for $25.1 million.
The mall, previously known as Westfield Siesta Key and Southgate Mall, is 439,958 square feet and sits on 26.97 acres. Its current list of tenant includes anchors Macy’s and CMX CinéBistro as well as Connors Steak & Seafood, Talbots, LensCrafters, Loft and Chico’s.
It is at 3501 S. Tamiami Trail at the intersection with Bee Ridge Road. Shaun Benderson, the company’s vice president, says in a statement that “the mall complements our local holdings.”
The purchase is the latest twist for a mall that’s seen its fair share of twists and name changes.
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield announced in December 2020 that O’Connor Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, had taken over the Westfield Siesta Key mall.
URW, which at one point also owned Sarasota Square — which is about 7 miles south of the Crossings — and other malls along the Gulf Coast and across the country, began ridding itself of properties in the U.S. last year in part due to the hit it took during the pandemic, when its rental income dropped 29%.
The French company referred to the Crossings at Siesta Key as a “non-core” asset in its year-end 2020 financial statements.
That wasn't the case nearly 20 years earlier. Back then, in 2003, Westfield bought the Crossings at Siesta Key, for $62 million. A decade later, it failed to take decisive action to retain anchor Saks Fifth Avenue from leaving and numerous inline tenants — from Pottery Barn to Williams-Sonoma — exercised kick-out clauses in their leases and left, as well.
Many of the mall’s tenants relocated to Benderson’s then-new The Mall at University Town Center, which was developed by a joint venture with Taubman Centers. The $315 million mall opened in 2014.
Westfield then spent $8 million to renovate the Crossings at Siesta Key property, bringing CineBistro to Saks’ former space in 2016. A year later, Westfield announced plans to convert the mall into a “lifestyle center” with the introduction of a Lucky’s Market and four restaurants.
All but one of the restaurants has since closed, however, and Lucky’s left the center in early 2020 when it liquidated all its Florida stores. Discount grocer Aldi opened in Lucky’s former space last year, which has been owned since 2014 by Benderson following a $10 million transaction.
For its part, O’Connor had entered into ventures with Westfield and Washington Prime Group on 22 malls — including Westfield Siesta Key, Sarasota Square, Citrus Park, Countryside and Brandon — beginning in 2013, according to its website.
It acquired the Siesta Key center by buying a 51% equity stake from Westfield for an undisclosed amount.
Benderson officials did not announce its plans for the mall but say in the statement the company is known for turning underperforming properties “into thriving destinations that serve the needs and wants of the community.”
The purchase is the latest for University Park-based Benderson, which has been rapidly adding properties the past few years, including buying the Sarasota County administration building, which it paid $25 million for last year.
It also bought the 4.5 million-square-foot portfolio of 28 Fred Meyer grocery stores in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, Thrivent Financial’s headquarters in Minneapolis, and an interest in Duke Energy’s Metro Tower in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Association members are invited to attend an information session on June 22.Tucked away from the traffic spin of the South Tuttle Avenue roundabout, just north of Bee Ridge Road, sits the South Gate Community House. Even if you’re not familiar with its famous designer, Victor Lundy of the ...
Association members are invited to attend an information session on June 22.
Tucked away from the traffic spin of the South Tuttle Avenue roundabout, just north of Bee Ridge Road, sits the South Gate Community House. Even if you’re not familiar with its famous designer, Victor Lundy of the Sarasota School of Architecture, it’s easy to appreciate its unique lines and history.
It’s also easy to note it may have seen better days. After 65 years, and roughly $4,200 a month just to keep it open, the volunteer-powered South Gate Community Association struggles to maintain it, much less return it to its previous midcentury modern glory.
“We were in dire straits at the end of last year and we needed to get a loan from a member to keep us going to pay our bills. With the pandemic, we’ve been on life support,” says Dave Swenson, president of the South Gate Community Association. “There was $25 in the account in December.”
Built in 1956, the Sarasota County Commission officially designated the structure to be placed on the Sarasota County Register of Historic Places in 2007.
The center, located at 3145 Southgate Circle, has a fenced-in outdoor swimming pool, changing rooms, shuffleboard courts (with weeds poking through the concrete seams) and parking. A little less than four-and-a-half acres, the site has open green space with mature oaks, cedars and cabbage palms and a mangrove shoreline along Phillippi Creek. It houses the office of the South Gate Community Association where meetings are held, and is rented out for weddings, funerals and religious services that have been on hold during the pandemic, stemming the income it relied upon.
But even before the pandemic, talk of how to continue to fund the center had been brewing. In 2015, community members created the nonprofit The Foundation for the Preservation of Victor Lundy’s South Gate Community House in hopes of raising the monies to restore it, but the foundation was dissolved in 2019.
With the looming costs and pending need for essentials like a new roof and air conditioning system, each quoted for roughly $15,000, says Swenson, association members have been weighing a few options. Those included creating a special tax district within the South Gate community, selling it privately, or selling it to Sarasota County.
“We looked at grants and loans and one idea that came up was possibly selling to the county. The board of county commissioners set that process in motion to see if it qualified. And it did,” Swenson says.
If the county acquires it, preservation and maintenance of the existing historic building would be sought, with support from Sarasota County Historical Resources and local architectural nonprofits, according to the work plan. It would become a public park and “maybe have a playground, too. It’s not a large site, but may have a fishing pier, enhanced picnic areas and use of the water access as a public launch site,” says Nicole Rissler, Sarasota County Government’s director of Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources.
The biggest bone of contention for those who oppose the sale, however, is the fate of the outdoor pool, known as the oldest public pool in Sarasota County.
It would have to be demolished because “any publicly operated pool would have to have lifeguards on duty, and as a public entity, it just wouldn’t be cost-effective to run it,” Rissler says.
Pool access costs association members $150 a year per household. “Historically, we have about 80 members who use the pool, so it’s not a very large base, but they do love it,” says Seth Johnson, vice-president of the South Gate Community Association.
He added that at the time it was built, offering a community pool made sense and added value to area real estate, but today that allure has faded. Johnson says he is one of the few residents in the neighborhood who doesn’t have a backyard pool. For those without one, Rissler pointed out that the Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex is a nearby option.
Another argument against selling may stem from what some feel to be an unfairly low price tag—$170,000.
“It doesn’t seem like a good offer, but when you account for the building’s needs, it’s not bad,” says Johnson.
That’s because what’s needed to restore the building would cost much more.
“About a half a million dollars is our rough estimate for repairs of the building and demo of the pool, but that would not include the ongoing expenses to run it,” says Rissler.
And if the county buys it, the association would still be able to have its meetings there, free of cost.
At the scheduled June 22 meeting, active South Gate Community Association members, roughly 200, will have the opportunity to learn about the pros and cons of selling the property to the county. A quarter of them must vote to validate the outcome, whether in person or by proxy.
“Everyone will have to make a decision, but my opinion is that selling will help the association and the community. We’ll get to have a park. We can still have our meetings there without the burden of the monthly costs. But plenty of people would rather we maintain it ourselves. It’ll be up to the members to vote on how that goes,” Johnson says.
The discussion is scheduled for Tuesday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the center. A South Gate Community Association member vote will be held on Tuesday, June 29, also at 6:30 p.m. Current association members unable to attend can vote here.
