Towles Court Arts District is Laurel Park’s neighbor to the north. The districts are so similar you will have a hard time distinguishing one from the other by architecture or street design. Like Laurel Park, Towles Court is made up of several subdivisions platted almost 100 years ago. In more recent years the districts “re-invented” themselves choosing the new names, Laurel Park and Towles Court for definition.
The specific district designations and the allowed uses in each district are what make them unique. Towles Court was created to allow for a mix of residential, business and commercial uses for the benefit of artists and the arts. You caread more about the district’s history at – http://towlescourt.com/history.htm.
Towles Court is a vibrant, fun place to stroll through, to visit artist studios and galleries and to enjoy lunch or dinner. Indigenous , Lavanda, and Shoogie Boogies are special dining places in the district. Not to be missed is the third Friday Towles Court Art Walk held each month.
Laurel Park on the other hand, was first organized into a neighborhood through a desire to preserve the old building and residential fabric of downtown Sarasota. A new zone district was created just for Laurel Park and is called RSM-9. Years later a majority of the neighborhood was defined, nominated and awarded the prestigious designation as a National Register of Historic Places District. There are businesses and offices located within the district but the neighborhood’s district is primarily residential in nature.
photo credit: Towlescourt.com
