| Sarasota newspaper news events:
Sarasota County’s commitment to historic preservation was recognized with 2026 Heritage Awards for two of its projects. The Phillippi Estate (Edson Keith) Farmhouse and the Sarasota County Terrace Building were honored by the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation for excellence in preserving the county’s historic places. Established in 2017, the Heritage Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in historic preservation. |
The Phillippi Estate (Edson Keith) Farmhouse received a 2026 Heritage Award in the category of Historic Structure Adaptive Reuse and Organizational Achievement. This award highlighted the public-private partnership between Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, the Friends of Sarasota County Parks and Fred and Grace Whitehouse. The restored historic farmhouse preserves an important part of Sarasota County’s early history. The project’s completion was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in April 2025. The award panel praised the project as a model collaboration between county staff, preservation professionals and community partners. To learn more about the project, visit the project website. |
The Sarasota County Terrace Building also received a 2026 Heritage Award in the category of Skilled Trades and Craftsmen. The award recognized the repair and restoration work of the historic elements on the exterior of the building. County preservation staff partnered with Hall Darling Design Studio to restore the building’s exterior. The award panel highlighted the exceptional quality of traditional craftsmanship demonstrated in the exterior restoration. “These awards highlight Sarasota County’s long-standing commitment to preserving places that tell our community’s story,” said Jonathan Lewis, County Administrator. “Through strong partnerships, these historic buildings will remain part of our community for years to come.” |
