After renting a house for a year and hating the yard work and suburban ambience, bachelor triathlete and tech-savvy entrepreneur Connor Van Elswyk started a concentrated search for a downtown condominium to buy.
He wanted convenience to his office on Palm Avenue and downtown amenities, such as restaurants, the farmers’ market, movies and theater. He wanted a fitness center on the premises, pool and sauna, and he wanted a bit of outdoor space but definitely no yard.
The building had to be pet-friendly. Additionally, he avoided older buildings as he researched condos in the $180,000 to $370,000 range.
Connor says he found it all at Broadway Promenade, a 186-unit high-rise on North Tamiami Trail across from Sarasota Bay. What he compromised on (and he insists it’s no real sacrifice), is a skybox view of the water. His condo is on the ground level and the view from his bedroom terrace is to an expansive and well-landscaped interior courtyard with a fountain that is shared by the neighbors.
“I initially thought that waking up in the morning and going out onto my terrace overlooking the bay or Gulf and having my coffee would be a real luxury and maybe I should pay the difference to get it,” said Connor, “but then I realized, that I usually get up early and go for a 30-mile bike ride or I run the Ringling Bridge before going to work. At night, I’m out with friends, having a dinner party here or playing pool or poker. I realized I’d seldom take advantage of an expensive view. Why pay for it? Once I made that tradeoff in my mind, I got a great 1,100-square foot, two bedroom, two bath downtown home with virtually no maintenance and all the amenities and conveniences on my list. I can walk to the heart of downtown Sarasota in 11 minutes and that’s just what I do every day or evening. I take my dog to play at Pioneer Park and then we walk along the bay.”
Connor bought at Broadway Promenade for $200,000 just over a year ago. His condo fees are $508 per month. Connor’s unit includes a one-car garage and all the fitness and health club amenities he wanted, including a sauna. His unit is now on the market for $270,000 because a career opportunity in the Miami-Lauderdale area beckons.
With so little time wasted on commuting to his office, Connor’s business in designing and building Web applications grew and expanded to the point where he recently sold it. Now, he’s going to start another company on the east coast of Florida and real estate broker Gabriele Charity is selling his condo, while Connor stays with his brother in Gainesville. “I decided not to live in the condo while it’s for sale, since it shows nicely and I don’t want to mess it up,” he reasons.
Built seven years ago, there are currently nine condominiums on the market at Broadway Premenade ranging in size from one bedroom units to three bedroom units and listing for $180,000 to $339,000. Of the units that sold most recently the top price was $365,000 for a two bedroom with a great bay view. Broadway Promenade offers concierge service, has its own Publix Market and is situated across US 41 from a waterfront park with a boat ramp.
A student of architecture and design, the young businessman furnished his place through Online sources and sought out modern architecturally significant pieces in black or red with chrome or stainless steel trim. His free-form red coffee table is a Frank Gehry design from the architect’s Hive collection. Connor has two wide-screen televisions, one mounted on the wall in the living room and the other in the spacious master bedroom. The sleek contemporary furniture in Connor’s condo is for sale under a separate contract. Connor reveals that Fab.com was one of his best sources for furniture and accessories and his advice to Online furniture buyers is to measure your space accurately before you place the order. And take into consideration ceiling height. The condo’s ceilings are 10-feet throughout.
The master bedroom features a private gated covered patio that leads to the central courtyard. “Frankly, I never use my front door which is down the hall and around the corner from the main lobby,” he says, “I just slide my bike out the patio door and go. And most of my friends use that entrance too. The outside patio is really a nice feature and I use it all the time.”
Connor Van Elswyk in the living room of his ground-level condominium that is for sale at Broadway Promenade for $270,000. When he purchased the place a year ago, he installed bamboo flooring in an espresso color, painted the walls white and furnished his two-bedroom/two-bath unit with modern furniture and custom lighting. The young entrepreneur is moving to the east coast of Florida for a career opportunity. (Staff photo by Dan Wagner)
When he moved in, Connor had the carpeting removed and throughout most of the condo he installed a bamboo wood floor in a deep espresso color. The two large bathrooms are tiled. The walls throughout are white. Connor also furnished the guest bedroom as a dining room since he entertains often. In the hallway behind bi-fold doors are a side-by-side washer and dryer with storage for laundry supplies. The kitchen has a breakfast bar, granite counters, solid wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances.
Real estate broker Gabriele Charity thinks someone just like Connor will want this condominium. “It’s ideal for a single young professional or a married couple who work downtown,” she said, “although there’s a nice age spread at Broadway Promenade with plenty of retired couples or older singles. For the many conveniences this community offers and because of the level of maintenance, it’s definitely one of the better priced places in Sarasota.”
If it were not for a great career opportunity, Connor says there’s no way he’d be leaving his Sarasota home. “This place has delivered every single thing I was looking for in a modern, convenient and attractive place to live at a reasonable price. And the homeowners association is proactive, constantly making improvements instead of just maintaining. I’ll be lucky to find something as nice with so many amenities on the east coast and I doubt I will be able to duplicate the price I’m asking for this one.”
