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County says Hermitage campus restoration will take time; design, permitting may push reopening into late 2026
Summary
Parks director Nicole Rizzler told commissioners the Hermitage campus on a barrier island sustained severe saltwater damage and will require full design, engineering and permitting before restoration; staff said full reopening is unlikely before late 2026 and reported repeated unauthorized work by the Hermitage.
Nicole Rizzler, director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, told the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday that damage from the 2024 hurricanes left multiple Hermitage buildings with about four feet of saltwater intrusion and that permanent repairs require extensive design, engineering and permitting because the campus lies seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Rizzler said the county received proposals from a design‑build contractor and is meeting with the firm and with grant and FEMA staff to develop contract amendments and a permitting timeline. She told the board that construction costs had not been included with the initial proposals because the county must complete design, engineering and permitting first; staff estimate it may be a year from contract amendment to construction start, and they do not expect full campus restoration for operation before late 2026.
Rizzler also said county staff have documented more than 10 prior instances since February 2021 in which the Hermitage or entities associated with the site performed work without required permits or approvals. During a site visit staff observed recent unauthorized uses, including temporary electrical wiring and solar panels affixed in ways that may be inconsistent with historic‑resource requirements, and post‑storm sand movement that was not surveyed or graded.
Why it matters: The Hermitage is a historically designated, beachfront cultural asset and its condition affects public access, county recovery funds and potential FEMA reimbursement. Rizzler said the county is prioritizing mitigation steps designed to preserve structures and to maintain eligibility for federal funding by reducing future repetitive losses.
What the county will do next: Staff plan to proceed with full campus restoration unless the board directs otherwise; they will complete design and permitting, continue meetings with the contractor and FEMA experts, order appraisals and a land‑use analysis, and bring a fuller presentation back to the board in October. Staff also said they will investigate newly observed unauthorized activity and pursue an acceptable resolution with the Hermitage representatives.
Quotes and context: Rizzler told commissioners, “Complete campus restoration time line is still unclear... we do not believe it's likely that the campus will be fully restored for operation until late 2026.” She said mandated design and engineering work are needed to address drainage, electrical conduit replacement and mitigation to reduce the risk of repetitive FEMA losses.
Limitation: Rizzler and staff said restoration timing depends on state and local permitting and historical approvals and that cost estimates will come after design and permitting work is completed.
