Southgate
Southgate has a community amenity that's a little different from what you find in newer developments.
Southgate has a community amenity that's a little different from what you find in newer developments.
Southgate is an established central Sarasota neighborhood that still feels like Florida. Developed largely in the 1950s and ’60s on former orange-grove land, it’s mostly residential, with single-family homes along with some villa communities scattered throughout the area.
Southgate is comfortable and unpretentious. Mature trees, older Florida homes and established streets give it character, but the location puts you surprisingly close to downtown Sarasota, Siesta Key, shopping, restaurants and everyday necessities.
This is also a neighborhood with room for different budgets. You don't have to buy a completely renovated house to get into Southgate, and you don't have to spend $1 million to live close to downtown Sarasota.
The classic Southgate home is a single-story 1950s or ’60s ranch, and many still have the things that made Florida houses from that era work so well—simple floor plans, terrazzo floors, wide overhangs, large sliders and screened Florida rooms.
But Southgate isn't frozen in the 1950s. Some homes have been beautifully updated, others are ready for someone to come in and make changes over time, and you'll also see original homes replaced by much larger new construction.
Homes can start in the mid-$300s and go up from there. Most of Southgate remains more moderately priced for Sarasota, although a handful of larger new homes have sold above $1 million.
Southgate has a community amenity that's a little different from what you find in newer developments. The historic South Gate Community Center sits along Phillippi Creek and was designed by architect Victor Lundy in the 1950s. The community also has Sarasota's oldest continuously operated swimming pool.
There is no mandatory HOA. The South Gate Community Association is voluntary, and residents can currently join for $200 per year, which includes pool access and community events.
What I like about Southgate is that it gives buyers options.
If you want to be close to downtown but still want a larger home in an established residential neighborhood, you may find exactly what you're looking for here. On the flip side, if you're looking for a more affordable Sarasota home where you can move in and tackle updates as you go, welcome to Southgate.
For the most part, it still has the character of older Florida—and I think that's a big part of its appeal.
I focus on Bradenton real estate, helping buyers and sellers navigate the local market with confidence. I also work with clients in nearby areas like Palmetto, Parrish, and Sarasota -when that’s where the right fit is.
