The Sarasota Downtown Improvement District (DID), a dependent special district, was established in November 2008 through City Ordinance 08-4832, in alignment with Section 189.4041 of the Florida Statutes. This initiative was voluntary driven by an ad-hoc-committee composed of downtown commercial property owners as a means of increasing public services within the District.
The DID is designed with various goals and powers aimed at enhancing the downtown core of Sarasota. The governance of the District is managed by a Board of Directors comprised of five (5) members, and each must be a commercial property owner, corporate representative, or beneficial owner who is subject to the ad valorem tax assessment. These members are appointed by the City Commission and serve a three-year term.The District plays a pivotal role in the local economy and is home to seven of the ten properties with the highest assessed values in Sarasota County.
The District comprises 222 individual parcels owned by 158 ownership groups, with an estimated assessed value of approximately $440 million in 2024. Within the District, there are around 300 businesses representing a diverse array of industries. Collectively, these businesses contribute significantly to the taxable revenue of the local economy.
Subsequent amendments to the Ordinance include:
Ordinance 12-5005 – Expanding the geographic boundary limitations of the District;
Ordinance 15-5123 – Affirm and to clarify the authority of the DID to award grants; and
Ordinance 23-5463 – Clarifying eligibility requirements for membership on the DID Board of Directors.
The DID is generally bounded on the north by Second Street, on the east by Goodrich Avenue and Pine Place, on the south by Ringling Boulevard, on the southwest by Palm Avenue or the properties on the southwest side of Palm Avenue, and on the west by Cocoanut Avenue. In addition, two parcels on the west side of Cocoanut Avenue at Second Street are included within the boundaries of the DID. AND THE MAP ON PAGE 3 OF THE PLAN
