A two-bedroom/two bath apartment on the 14th floor of The Plaza at Five
Points is on the market for $1,195,000
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The Plaza at Five Points (built in 2005) is a downtown Sarasota condominium/commercial-space building of 17 stories with views of the City of Sarasota and the bayfront. A two-bedroom/two bath apartment on the 14th floor is on the market for $1,195,000. |
Carol Stephens, an interior designer, furnished her
sky-box with urban polish and custom amenities, the way she would a
permanent full-time residence so that she and Don would have every
convenience and comfort if they were in town for two days days or two weeks.
The double door front entrance opens into a lavish foyer and has views
across the living room out to the terrace and beyond.
The large rooms express a relaxed elegance with special features such as
grasscloth walls in the kitchen, dark granite counters, double vanities in
the master and guest baths, artistic lighting, and custom built-ins. She
installed wide-plank hardwood floors in the living room, hall and master
bedroom. When the couple moved in, the apartment had two generous walk-in
closets, which was more storage than they needed. So, Carol converted one of
them into a home-office for Don.
The Plaza building itself, apart from its prime location, has been a source
of pride for the homeowners. “We love that The Plaza is pet friendly because
we have an eight-pound Yorkie whom we take to the park across the street
everyday,” said Don. “The Plaza has valet parking, guest parking, full-time
maintenance management and it is impeccably cared for. We could not ask for
more.”
These homeowners have also appreciated the 10th floor open-air residents
private oasis which includes a heated swimming pool and spa, summer kitchen,
outdoor shower, rooftop gazebo, and inside a fitness center and conference
room. There’s also a large community room with lounge and catering kitchen.
Carol and Don Stephens have loved everything about their downtown condo with
the urban vibe. But, recently the couple put their vacation getaway on the
market. It is listed at $1,195,000 through Thomas Netzel of Sotheby’s
International Realty and it is being sold turnkey.
“The reason we’re giving it up is that we just don’t use this wonderful
place like we used to” said Don. “Our children and grandchildren are in
Lakeland and we are involved in their lives and we want that to be the case.
Friday nights for us lately are spent at a high school watching the
grandkids in some sporting event.
“The last time Carol and I came to Sarasota for a weekend of city fun, we
realized we hand’t been there for six months. It was a reality check and we
both realized it’s time for somebody else to have The Plaza apartment
experience and enjoy the kind of urban getaway we enjoyed for the past seven
years.”
Five Points, the intersection of Main, Central and Pineapple streets in
downtown Sarasota, has been the center of commercial activities since
settlers began to arrive in 1885, the date the Scots first came. Where The
Plaza condominium is now, there was originally a wooden boarding house
constructed in 1886 to accommodate new arrivals and construction workers.
That building was demolished in 1924 to make room for First Bank and Trust
Building, the area’s first skyscraper. It had seven stories and an elevator,
which alarmed as many neighbors as it impressed.
Other banks have continued to occupy that corner right up to today. Retail,
restaurants and offices are on the lower floors of the Plaza at Five Points.
A large clock that faced two ways was a signature feature of the bank (s)
that have stood tall at Five Points. There’s still a clock today but it’s
across the street at the entrance to Selby Park at Five Points.
The area that is today a lighted round-about with flags has traditionally
been called the triangle at Five Points. In Sarasota’s earliest days there
was an artesian well, drinking fountain, hitching post and a trough for
cows, horses and other thirsty livestock that wandered by. In 1911 community
authorities outlawed meandering cows at Five Points. Later the triangle was
the site of a World War I memorial.
Five Points has always been considered the hub of the city of Sarasota and
today people who live at The Plaza at Five Points or work in one of the
offices in the building are keeping history alive as well as enjoying modern
urban amenities. Five Points was in the middle of the action when Sarasota
was a struggling community of settlers intent on prospering and it still is
today.