The Sarasota suburb of South Gate numbers about 6000 residents in about 2100 homes. A well-kept living area, its residents are particularly proud of a building which represents the best of the 1950s and 1960s work of the Sarasota School of Architects. Their hero is Victor Lundy, who designed homes and public buildings throughout Florida and the United States. Their own Lundy-designed building, ded
icated in 1956, has been home to the South Gate Community Association since its construction. In its nearly 60 years, this building has been designated by Sarasota County as a "historical place" and has been the centerpiece of Association meetings and activities, weddings, baby showers, birthday festivities, graduation parties, funerals, symposiums, and religious services. With that use it has come to need some serious maintenance and eventually restoring to its previous glory. In December of 2014, a group of Lundy loyalists decided to pursue serious fund raising for its restoration and created the Foundation for the Preservation of Victor Lundy’s South Gate Community House, Inc. Current officers of that group come from many backgrounds, and all admire impressive architecture. They include Dan Beswick, Chris Jenkins, Maarten Meckman, Virginia Miller, Ron Quick, Catherine Snowman, Mike Stephens, and Jon Stone. Foundation President Dan Beswick said that their mission is to increase public awareness of and interest in the building, to encourage the involvement of business trade professionals, and to recruit members and donors for the Foundation's goals of restoration, preservation, and maintenance of this "Jewel on the Banks of Philippi Creek." The building has always been and will always be the property of the South Gate Community Association, so the new Foundation will work closely with its officers to determine needs and set priorities. To inquire about membership in the Foundation, call (941) 955-4597 or email to [email protected]. Donations may be sent to SG Victor Lundy Foundation, c/o South Gate Community House, 3145 South Gate Circle, Sarasota, FL 34239-5515. Donations and membership fees are 100% tax deductible under the provisions of IRC 501(c)(3).
