Burns Square Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Burns Square Historic District
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 Location in Florida
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| Location | Sarasota, Florida |
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| Area | 20 acres (0.081 km2) |
| MPS | Sarasota MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003830 |
| Added to NRHP | 22 March 1984 |
Burns Square Historic District is a special area in Sarasota, Florida, United States. It's known for its unique buildings and interesting past. This district stretches from Ringling Boulevard to Mound Avenue. It runs along South Pineapple and South Orange Avenues. Burns Square is surrounded by other cool places. These include the Laurel Park Historic District and Hudson Bayou.
Contents
History of Burns Square
How It All Began
In 1925, a man named Owen Burns started building a new neighborhood. He called it the Burns Court subdivision. An architect named Thomas Reed Martin helped design the buildings. The Burns Court Historic District became officially recognized in 1984. This was done by the National Park Service. The charming small homes, called cottages, were a key part of this area.
A Changing Landscape
Between 1925 and 1929, this area changed a lot. At first, there were not many buildings. But soon, the neighborhood grew quickly. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune newspaper built its new home here. It opened on October 4, 1925. The newspaper building had offices, a pressroom, and rooms for making the paper.
This area became known as Herald Square because of the newspaper building. Other important buildings also appeared. These included the El Vernona Hotel and The Broadway Apartments.
The Pineapple Apartments
Owen Burns also built the Pineapple Apartments. The design for this building was created in New York. An architect named Dwight James Baum designed it. He wanted to bring European and Mediterranean styles to Sarasota. The building had seven apartments on its second floor. The first floor had stores. These included Tee Gee, a five-and-dime shop, and Freeman's Drugs.
Modern Changes
In 1950, a famous architect named Paul Rudolph added to the building. He was part of the Sarasota School of Architecture. He designed a modern addition with 18 new apartments. More shops were also added on the ground floor. By 1960, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune newspaper had moved to a new location.
Saving History
In 1986, a woman named Denise Kowal bought the main building. She saved it from being torn down. She made many improvements inside and out. She added new features like balconies and awnings. In 1996, she made three small apartments into one big one for her family. Her home was even featured in a historic homes tour in 1997.
A New Name for a Historic Place
In 1999, the area got a new name. It was changed from Herald Square to Burns Square Historic District. This was done to honor Owen Burns. It also celebrated the rich history of this unique, triangle-shaped area.
