Christmas Lights of University Park,
Sarasota, FL - An indicator of economic and area growth?
During the holiday season the
Sarasota Suncoast Team
captured pictures and video of some of the light displays in and around
University Park and University Town Center in Sarasota, FL. Not only for the beauty of the
Christmas lights, but for posterity of how things were before the economic boom
to come. You see, these light displays
are blossoming and growing larger each year as the local economy sees
improvement. You could call them a sparkling economic indicator of where the
area is headed.
The Holiday Christmas lights of University Park and University
Town Center seemed brighter and more spectacular this year and it’s a sign that
the area’s economy is growing. By the time Christmas 2014 rolls around the
Christmas lights around
Sarasota,
University
Park, Mote Ranch and
Lakewood
Ranch should make for a Christmas shopper’s paradise. That’s because in
less than two years Sarasota will have a brand new shopping mall, “The Mall at
University Town Center in Sarasota”.
The Mall at University Town Center in
Sarasota
According to Taubman and Benderson,”
The Mall at University Town
Center in Sarasota will be western Florida’s newest retail development.
Groundbreaking for this center is planned for fall 2012 with an anticipated
opening of fall 2014. Taubman, in conjunction with Benderson Development is
developing the 880,000 square foot, two-level enclosed regional shopping
centers. Anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and Dillard’s, the center is
located at the S.W. quadrant of I-75 and University Parkway, the most heavily
traveled interchange in the trade area.”
Economic benefits for home buyers,
home sellers, local businesses and 1,000’s of laborers
Since the 2012 ground breaking and mall construction, the
economic impact is already being felt, as homebuyer’s are clamoring to purchase
new and existing single family homes, condos and townhomes in the area.
Sales are brisk, inventory of homes is low and prices are
rising in the areas surrounding University Town Center.
Realtors are
reporting increased activity that they have not seen in years in the areas
of University Park, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and Mote Ranch. It’s been a
no-brainer for buyers that can see this beacon of economic development; they
know it’s time to stake their claim. Sellers also know that after years of
waiting for the market to turn, it’s time to cash out.
Taubmann provided a
fact
sheet on The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota website, and it
states that there will be 1,000 jobs created just by mall construction, plus 2,000
permanent shopping center jobs. It’s estimated by some that the surrounding
community could see hundreds or thousands of additional service, construction
and small business jobs created as a result of the mall.
Bright lights ahead
Yes, hopefully the Christmas shopping lights at University
Park in Sarasota, FL will be shining a great deal brighter in 2014. Not just
for shoppers, but for anyone looking for relief from the economic downturn of
the past several years. That’s the type of Christmas bounty that would be a
welcome, bright light for Sarasota.
Thinking it might be
time for you to make your next move?
