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🎭 Sarasota May Say Goodbye to Van Wezel

The Purple Ribbon Committee is close to finalizing its recommendation: do not renovate the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. This iconic purple landmark, a staple of Sarasota’s waterfront since 1970, may soon make way for something entirely new.

Why the Change?

  • The building sits just 15 feet from Sarasota Bay, making it vulnerable to flooding and storm surge.
  • Repair costs are estimated to exceed $17 million.
  • Many local arts groups are not eager to book events there.
  • There’s a groundswell of support for transforming the area into public waterfront parkland.

These factors have shifted public opinion and policymaker priorities toward creating a more accessible, community-focused waterfront experience.


This decision will shape the future of Sarasota’s cultural and urban development.

The Committee’s final recommendations are expected to go before the City Commission in the coming weeks. Whether the Van Wezel will be preserved, repurposed, or replaced could alter Sarasota's identity for decades.

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