About

In the mid-1950s, Sarasota developers Rolland King and Frank Smith purchased 1,240 acres of citrus groves that had originally been planted by Bertha Honore Potter, the Chicago socialite who purchased 80,000 acres of land in Sarasota County beginning with her arrival in 1910. When King and Smith began developing South Gate, the groves were being worked by Minute Maid. Some of the original citrus trees are still growing in the back yards of some South Gate homes.

King and Smith’s original purchase was bounded approximately by Bee Ridge Road, Tamiami Trail, Beneva Road and Hyde Park Street. Besides South Gate, some of the land became Forest Lakes Country Club Estates and some became Village Green. South Gate Manor was a separate subdivision that is now considered part of South Gate.

Groundbreaking occurred in 1955 for the first South Gate homes near Siesta Drive and School Avenue. The first three model homes opened in March 1955. The first home sold was at 2207 Siesta Drive. The South Gate Post Office opened March 30, 1957. The South Gate Shopping Center, now Westfield SouthGate, opened that year, as did some of the shops in the South Gate Village along Siesta Drive east of the Post Office.

The developers called a meeting to establish a community association on Jan. 1, 1956. On Feb. 13, 1956, 140 homeowners adopted the charter and bylaws of the South Gate Community Association. Soon thereafter, the developers began construction of the association hall and swimming pool on a five-acre site on Phillippi Creek at South Gate Circle.
The South Gate Community Center was dedicated on Sept. 2, 1956, and the Association assumed management of the hall and pool, which continues to this day. The hall was designed by Sarasota school architect Victor Lundy. The building and pool have been designated as historic by Sarasota County.

The General Services Administration created a film on his life and works entitled "Victor Lundy: Sculptor of Space"

Why join?

South Gate is a community of 2000+ homes with borders of Beneva Road and Tamaimi Trail (East and West), and Hyde Park and Bee Ridge (North and South).

The South Gate Community Association (SGCA) was founded and incorporated as a not-for-profit voluntary association in 1956. Community assets include a beautiful property on the circle at Tuttle Avenue and Siesta Drive. The five acre property is on the shore of Phillippi Creek and includes a historic Victor Lundy Community Center and swimming pool. The Community Center uses include: South Gate Community Sponsored Events and a public rental venue for: Weddings and Receptions, Anniversary Parties, Celebrations, Meetings and Worship Services. The pool is open during Spring through Fall and available to South Gate Community Association members at a nominal seasonal fee.

All monies raised by the South Gate Community Association go back into the community "to beautify said South Gate, and for the purpose of promoting social and recreational gatherings for its members, their families and friends, and toward the end of cementing a good fellowship and a social cooperative spirit in this community."

The above quote from our 1956 community charter drives our mission at the South Gate Community Association and the allocation of funds raised. The funds raised through the voluntary memberships, pool memberships and event rentals go to maintain the assets (building, property and pool) maintaining community value (deed restriction enforcement and community beautification) and social activities.