My first education was in architecture, so I'm always curious about old houses' history and design elements. Living in the historic Laurel Park district, I’m inspired to highlight our unique, charming neighborhood where each house and garden tells a story, creating an open-air museum of Sarasota's heritage.
There are few original buildings left in downtown Sarasota. Today, I wanted to discuss our neighborhood's history and drop a few pictures here.
Laurel Park was founded in the 1920s, and the neighborhood saw most of its growth from 1920 to 1927. Two hundred seventy of its buildings contribute to its status as a historic district, with 20 of those buildings designated as historic sites by the City of Sarasota. Narrow sidewalks and classic, cozy architecture make the neighborhood feel welcoming and friendly, with a small-town, suburban feel.
Although the majority of the buildings in the historic district can be classified as Frame and Masonry Vernacular, the community also has distinctive examples of the Mission Revival, Mediterranean Revival, Colonial Revival, and Bungalow-style residences.
Also, a few houses were described as Craftsman Bungalow style and were associated with construction during the Florida Land Boom of the 1920s. One of them is located on Oak Street. It was constructed more than a hundred years ago by Amish craftsmen at their community in Sarasota and then assembled at the plot where it's now located.
This same style of charming house can be found at John and Mary Erbs Home, built in 1925, on Ohio Place, a street within Laurel Park.
I love to walk in our district, explore my neighborhood, and discover new architectural details. Observing the old trees and plants that add character to the area is fascinating. I feel compelled to document these original structures and aged trees before they are overshadowed by new construction.
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