A long-shuttered golf course in south Sarasota County could either become a major stormwater project or give way to a new residential development as county officials consider whether to pursue a purchase of the property.

The former Gulf Gate Golf Course, a roughly 49-acre property that closed in 2016, winds through the established Gulf Gate Estates neighborhood south of Clark Road and east of Tamiami Trail. The property has become the center of competing visions for its future. Business Observer

One option would allow private redevelopment of the property with more than 100 new homes. The alternative being explored by Sarasota County would preserve the land as green space while converting portions of it into a large-scale stormwater retention system intended to reduce flooding in the surrounding community. Business Observer

Millions Separate County and Owner on Property Value

Cost could ultimately determine whether the county can move forward.

Gulf Gate Holdings LLC, which owns the property, obtained an appraisal valuing the land at approximately $14.6 million. The company purchased the former golf course for $3 million in 2022.

Three county appraisals completed in 2025 came in at approximately $5.3 million, $6.5 million and $9.5 million, creating a substantial gap between the two sides. The owner has since requested updated county appraisals, and commissioners approved that process.

Acquiring the property would only represent part of the potential cost.

County Planning Director Matt Osterhoudt estimated environmental remediation at approximately $5 million to $7 million, with another roughly $800,000 needed for monitoring. Construction of the stormwater improvements could require an additional $7 million to $10 million.

A federal brownfield designation is also being pursued and, if ultimately approved, could potentially provide access to grants and tax incentives that reduce some project costs.

Former Golf Course Could Become Major Stormwater Project

The Gulf Gate neighborhood was largely developed before today’s stormwater-management requirements.

Unlike newer master-planned communities built around retention ponds, swales and modern drainage infrastructure, much of Gulf Gate dates to the 1960s and 1970s. County officials are examining whether the former golf course could provide the land necessary for a regional stormwater system while maintaining a large open-space corridor through the neighborhood.

The proposal could also help address stormwater runoff and nutrient discharges into Sarasota Bay, according to county officials quoted by the Business Observer.

However, decades of chemical use associated with the former golf course have left soil and groundwater contamination that would have to be addressed as part of a public project. Business Observer

Residents Could Help Pay for Acquisition

One financing option being considered is a special assessment district involving properties that would benefit from the project.

Preliminary estimates indicate affected homeowners could face assessments of approximately $300 to $500 annually for 20 years. The Gulf Gate Association has objected to placing the financial responsibility primarily on neighborhood residents, arguing that stormwater and water-quality issues extend beyond the immediate community.

Sarasota County is preparing to survey roughly 2,000 property owners in and around Gulf Gate Estates to determine their willingness to support an assessment. Business Observer

Development Deadline Adds Pressure

There is also a significant deadline hanging over the property.

Existing construction authorization for the former golf course is scheduled to expire on April 16, 2027, unless extended through applicable procedures. Aside from demolition of some existing structures, construction has not started.

That creates an important window for negotiations between Sarasota County and the property owner.

The situation also demonstrates the competing pressures facing increasingly scarce infill land throughout Sarasota County. A 49-acre tract surrounded by established neighborhoods carries significant residential development potential, while the same property could provide valuable public infrastructure and open space in an area facing drainage challenges.

For now, Sarasota County is continuing negotiations, obtaining updated valuations and waiting to see how Gulf Gate residents respond to the potential financial commitment.