First Baptist Church plans major expansion on Main Street

One of downtown Sarasota’s original establishments has big plans to expand. 

First Baptist Church at 1661 Main St., which was organized in March 1902, made its first appearance before the city’s Development Review Committee on May 21 with a proposal to expand along Main Street into the adjacent block between the sanctuary and Goodrich Avenue. 

The subject property covers six parcels totaling approximately 4.36 acres. Zoned as Downtown Core, there are existing church facilities and a commercial strip center on the property.

The expansion of the church campus will include:

• Demolition of a three-story vacant structure attached to the north side of the original sanctuary building and construction of a new chapel lobby and three-story addition connecting the chapel to the sanctuary building.
• Interior renovation of the sanctuary building.
• Construction of a new three-story welcome center and five-story addition for church accessory uses. The new structure will be located east of the sanctuary and connect the sanctuary to the current Family Life Center.
• Demolition of the one-story strip retail building facing Main Street between Kings Court and Goodrich Avenue, which will be replaced with a new outdoor park.

First Baptist Church has maintained a dominant presence on Main Street since its founding, enduring the changes and redevelopment surrounding it. The dedication of the first sanctuary, which now serves as the chapel, was Dec. 14, 1924. In 1951, the church purchased the property immediately east of the original Main Street building, and on May 29, 1962, they laid the cornerstone for the current sanctuary. 

Photo by Andrew Warfield

Construction of the Family Life Center and Education building, which is adjacent to the northeast corner of the sanctuary, was complete in the mid-1980s. In 2006, additional purchased property along Main Street presently consists of a multi-tenant retail strip building.

According to documents filed with the city, the proposed campus plan “will fulfill the vision of downtown Sarasota by embracing the concept of new urbanism, which emphasizes streets that are safe, comfortable and interesting place to live, walk and meet. The further development of the campus plan will provide an important place for the community to meet and gather. First Sarasota is a crucial part of the history of Sarasota and its continued presence on Main Street will benefit the city.”

A second appearance before the entire DRC will be required before the project can move on for approval.