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Commissioners back compromise on Paine Park Auditorium: lease protections now, exterior designation deferred until after Players’ season

City of Sarasota Commission · February 2, 2026
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Summary

After hearings from preservationists and Players Inc., the commission directed staff to capture eight historic elements in an amended lease, allow tenant improvements to proceed with city manager consent, and to defer exterior historic designation until after the Players complete their first season.

The City Commission on Feb. 2 adopted a compromise to preserve key historic elements of the Paine Park Auditorium while allowing a long‑term tenant to begin rehabilitation work.

The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation recommended a local historic designation that would protect both interior and exterior features. Players Inc., which holds a 30‑year lease to operate the auditorium, opposed a formal exterior designation during their early tenancy, saying the additional certificate‑of‑appropriateness requirements could slow repairs and create future constraints.

Staff,…

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