Pine Run, a delightful condo community in Osprey, was developed in 1973 under the rubric of “People in harmony with nature.”
The 27 acres off Blackburn Point Road, on the way to Casey Key, are covered with tall palm trees, cedars, oaks and a variety of stately pines. Dense saw palmetto jungle surrounds 20 attractive two- and three-story buildings.
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Shady walking trails, covered with shell, connect the three sections of the neighborhood to the clubhouse, where an elevated swimming pool overlooks a gorgeous lagoon. Small wooden bridges span swales designed to accommodate the overflow during summer rains. Globed lights at knee height line the paths and create a magical atmosphere at night.
“It reminds me of certain parts of Sanibel and Captiva,” says Carolyn Kenney, a Realtor with Michael Saunders & Co., who has lived in Pine Run for the past 17 years. “It feels like living in a nature park.”
Penny and Dennis Sweeterman, snowbirds from Ohio, recently purchased a two-bedroom unit. “We wanted to find something unusual we can enjoy, and like the location, close to the water,” says Dennis. “This is a fantastic place.”
“We like being away from the madding crowd, Penny chimes in. “It’s very quiet and peaceful.”
Dennis likes to take their energetic black lab puppy for walks. “I was amazed at all of the different places you can go on this property,” he says. “I’ve walked him 15 to 20 times already, and there is always something new.”
Like Kenney, the Sweetermans were drawn to the modern architecture.
The original Section 1 was designed by Frank Folsom Smith, among the youngest of the modernist architects who were known as the “Sarasota School.” He created a series of unique, interlocking condo clusters, with some postmodern architectural influences, that maximize privacy for the occupants. The 66 first- and second-floor units don’t share common walls with any living and bedrooms, and there are self-contained atria both upstairs and downstairs.
Porches, balconies and exterior stairs complete the inside-outside approach. Louvered windows provide both light and protection, and soaring slanted ceilings on the second floor units create a sense of spaciousness. There are both two- and three-bedroom units, ranging in size from around 600 to almost 2,000 square feet.
When one of the units burned down in 1978, it was replaced with a prototype for the buildings in the other two sections. Architect Edward L. Friedman of Sarasota was joined by a New York in designing those two sections. They used Smith’s concept, ground plans and cedar exteriors in their design, giving the community a coherent look. The main difference from the earlier buildings is that all 81 of the newer units have covered carports.
Residents are a mix of retirees, snowbirds, working professionals and renters in condos whose owners purchased them as investments. Recently, a family with two children arrived to take advantage of Pine Run’s proximity to Pine View School on Blackburn Point Road across the Tamiami Trail.
The neighborhood has also attracted a number of creative people.
“We have writers, artists and musicians living here, including residents of Casey Key who bought units to use as studios,” said Kenny.
They all love the amenities, which include four tennis courts, a pickleball court and a free community kayak rack. The two-story clubhouse has an upstairs meeting room, full kitchen, fitness center and saunas in both men’s and women’s dressing rooms. There is also a second swimming pool in Section 2, recently renovated, which is used mostly as a social gathering spot.
“When I was on the board, we considered getting rid of it, and you should have heard the hullabaloo,” Kenny recalls with a laugh.
Pine Run is an active community. Residents enjoy Thursday night movies, a book club, monthly potluck suppers, trivia nights and water aerobics. A biking group make use of the nearby Legacy Trail, and there are avid tennis players and golfers.
The Casey Key Fish House and Bimini Bar and Grill are within walking distance. Oscar Scherer State Park, Nokomis Beach and the shopping opportunities along the Tamiami Trail are a short drive away. “Everyone is very excited about Blackburn Point Park being developed down the street,” says Kenny.
She is pleased that Pine Run is in excellent financial shape, deriving income from a rental apartment in the clubhouse (the original sales office) and sharing its facilities with Blackburn Point Woods, the neighborhood next door. Monthly association dues range from $350 to close to $500, depending on the square footage of the condo.
At the same time, properties are reasonably priced, so much so that the majority of buyers pay cash. In the past 12 months, 16 condos sold, ranging from $94,000 to $185,000. Currently, seven listings are priced from $109,000 to $199,000.
