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Essex House is an established Downtown Sarasota condominium at 707 South Gulfstream Avenue, positioned between Sarasota Bay and the Palm Avenue side of downtown. Built in the 1970s, the building offers a different ownership experience from Sarasota's newer luxury towers, combining an established condominium setting with covered parking, a pool, fitness amenities and convenient access to Bayfront Park, Burns Court, Main Street and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Residences vary in size, orientation, renovations and views, so buyers should evaluate the individual condo as carefully as the building and location.

Quick Answers About Essex House Sarasota

Where is Essex House in Sarasota?

Essex House is located at 707 S Gulfstream Avenue in Downtown Sarasota. The building sits near the southern end of downtown's bayfront corridor, close to Palm Avenue, Burns Court, Sarasota Bay and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

Is Essex House directly on Palm Avenue?

No. Its official address is 707 S Gulfstream Avenue. However, Essex House sits immediately within the South Palm Avenue and Gulfstream Avenue residential area, making Palm Avenue restaurants, galleries and the downtown street grid part of its location advantage.

When was Essex House built?

Essex House dates to 1974. Buyers should therefore evaluate it as an established Florida condominium rather than compare it solely on finishes and amenities with newer Downtown Sarasota construction.

Does Essex House have Sarasota Bay views?

Some residences offer Sarasota Bay views, particularly depending on floor level and orientation. Views are residence-specific and should always be evaluated from the actual unit rather than assumed from the building's bayfront-area location.

What amenities does Essex House have?

Published property information identifies a heated pool, fitness facilities, sauna, club or gathering space, secured or covered garage parking, elevators and on-site management among the building's amenities. Buyers should verify the current condition, availability and association responsibility for each amenity.

Can you walk from Essex House to Downtown Sarasota?

Essex House is already within the Downtown Sarasota area. Its location puts Palm Avenue, Burns Court, the bayfront and the central downtown grid nearby. Actual walking convenience depends on the destination, route, weather and the buyer's personal mobility preferences.

Is Essex House a newer luxury condo?

No. Essex House is an established 1970s condominium. Buyers who prioritize a newer boutique building can compare it with Palm Avenue choices such as 624 Palm, Tessera and newer bayfront-area condominiums.

Where Exactly Is Essex House?

Essex House occupies a useful position at 707 South Gulfstream Avenue, Sarasota, Florida 34236. Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation records identify Essex House Condominium Association at this address.

The location is important because South Gulfstream Avenue follows Sarasota's downtown bayfront, while Palm Avenue runs through one of downtown's established residential, gallery and dining corridors. Essex House sits where buyers can have a connection to both environments without living directly in the busiest section of Main Street.

For buyers comparing the broader market, Hunt Brothers Realty's Downtown Sarasota condo comparison explains how Palm Avenue and the bayfront differ from Main Street, The Quay, Golden Gate Point and the Rosemary District.

What Are Essex House Condos Like?

Essex House primarily offers one-bedroom and two-bedroom condominium residences in an established mid-rise building. Published real estate information shows substantial variation in floor plans, with residences beginning around 990 square feet and larger units extending well beyond that size.

The most important distinction is that Essex House is not a building where every residence should be evaluated as essentially identical. Individual condos can differ in:

Floor plan and interior square footage
Floor level
Bay, city or other orientation
Balcony and outdoor space
Interior renovation history
Kitchen and bathroom updates
Flooring and finishes
Windows and doors
Parking and storage arrangements

In a building of this age, renovation history can materially change the experience of two otherwise similar residences. Buyers should compare both the interior condition and the condominium association's responsibilities rather than evaluating a unit from square footage alone.

How Many Condos Are in Essex House?

Public sources are not completely consistent on the residence count. Florida condominium registry-derived information identifies 75 units, while current real estate sources variously report approximately 74 to 76 residences.

Rather than manufacture precision where public records and secondary sources differ, buyers who need the legal unit count should confirm it through the recorded condominium documents and current association records.

What is clear is that Essex House is an established mid-size condominium building, substantially larger than boutique Palm Avenue properties such as 624 Palm, but smaller than some of Downtown Sarasota's larger residential towers.

What Amenities Does Essex House Offer?

Essex House has an established amenity package rather than the extensive resort-style programming found in some newer luxury towers. Published building information identifies amenities that include:

Heated swimming pool
Pool deck and outdoor gathering space
Fitness room
Sauna
Club or community room
Elevators
Controlled or secured building access
Covered or under-building garage parking
On-site property management

Amenities can be renovated, temporarily unavailable or governed by changing association policies. Buyers should confirm current amenities and operating conditions directly through the association and current condominium documents.

Does Essex House Have Covered Parking?

Published property information identifies under-building or covered garage parking at Essex House. That can be particularly useful in Downtown Sarasota, where parking arrangements vary significantly from one condominium to another.

Buyers should not assume that every unit has the same parking rights. Confirm the specific assigned or deeded space associated with the residence, guest-parking procedures, vehicle restrictions and whether any additional parking or storage rights transfer with the unit.

What Is Living Near Palm Avenue Like?

Palm Avenue and the southern downtown bayfront can appeal to buyers who want urban convenience without placing their front door directly in the center of Main Street activity. This part of Downtown Sarasota combines residential condominiums with galleries, restaurants, cultural destinations and proximity to Sarasota Bay.

Essex House is particularly well positioned for buyers who expect to divide their time among the bayfront, Burns Court, Palm Avenue and the central downtown grid. Main Street is still accessible, but the immediate setting is toward the southern side of the urban core.

Hunt Brothers Realty's Downtown Sarasota condo buyer guide recommends choosing the part of downtown that fits your normal routine before comparing individual buildings.

How Close Is Essex House to Sarasota Bay?

Sarasota Bay and the downtown bayfront are immediately relevant to the Essex House location. Gulfstream Avenue follows the waterfront corridor, placing residents near Bayfront Park, Marina Jack and the pedestrian areas along the bay.

Buyers should distinguish among being near the bay, having a bay view and owning direct waterfront property. Those characteristics are not interchangeable. At Essex House, the view from an individual residence depends on floor, orientation, surrounding development and other site-specific factors.

What is happening at Bayfront Park in 2026?

Buyers evaluating Essex House should know about a temporary change in the immediate bayfront environment. The City of Sarasota's hurricane recovery project update identifies ongoing repairs at Bayfront Park involving hurricane-related damage to areas including the seawall, sidewalks and shoreline infrastructure.

As of the city's current update, Bayfront Park construction is expected to resume in late 2026, with completion anticipated in early 2027. Construction schedules can change, so buyers should review the city's latest project information if the park and immediate bayfront environment are important to their purchase decision.

How Close Is Essex House to Selby Gardens?

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is one of the major destinations south of Essex House along the downtown bayfront area. Its Downtown Sarasota campus is located at 1534 Mound Street.

The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Downtown Sarasota campus includes its botanical collections, Museum of Botany & the Arts, dining and other visitor facilities. For buyers who regularly use downtown cultural and outdoor destinations, Selby's location is another advantage of the southern Palm Avenue and Gulfstream Avenue corridor.

How Does Essex House Compare With Newer Palm Avenue Condos?

The comparison is less about which building is universally better and more about what a buyer values. Essex House represents an established 1970s condominium, while buildings such as Tessera and 624 Palm represent later generations of Palm Avenue condominium development.

Priority	Essex House	Newer Palm Avenue Buildings
Construction Era	Established 1970s condominium	Later or contemporary construction
Residence Style	One and two-bedroom layouts plus larger configurations	Often larger contemporary luxury floor plans
Amenities	Pool, fitness, sauna, gathering space and garage parking	Can include newer luxury amenity packages
Location	South Gulfstream near Palm Avenue and bayfront	Various Palm Avenue and bayfront locations
Buyer Due Diligence	Building condition, reserves, inspections, insurance and unit renovations especially important	Association finances, warranties, insurance, reserves and unit-specific condition remain important

A newer building is not automatically the better purchase, and an established building should not be evaluated solely by its age. Buyers should compare the actual residence, association finances, building condition, ownership costs and location.

What Should Buyers Review Before Purchasing at Essex House?

Association due diligence is especially important when purchasing in an established Florida condominium. A buyer should look beyond the individual unit's kitchen, flooring and view and understand the financial and physical condition of the condominium property.

Depending on what applies to Essex House and the transaction, useful items to review can include:

Current condominium declaration, bylaws and rules
Current association budget
Reserve funding information
Existing and proposed special assessments
Applicable structural inspection documentation
Applicable structural integrity reserve study documentation
Recent association meeting minutes
Master insurance information
Unit-owner insurance requirements
Pet rules
Rental and leasing restrictions
Parking and storage rights
Planned capital projects
Maintenance responsibilities between the unit owner and association

For a broader explanation of condominium ownership costs, see Hunt Brothers Realty's guide to Florida condo fees.

Are Pets and Rentals Allowed at Essex House?

Current real estate sources indicate that pets are permitted subject to association restrictions and that leasing is restricted. Multiple current sources report a 12-month minimum lease, but condominium rules can be amended and should not be treated as permanent based on a listing or third-party website.

Before purchasing, obtain the current Essex House declaration, rules and amendments and confirm pet limits, leasing duration, frequency restrictions, approval procedures and any other requirements directly through the association or appropriate closing and legal professionals.

Who Is Essex House Best Suited For?

Essex House can be worth comparing when a buyer prioritizes:

An established Downtown Sarasota condominium
Proximity to Sarasota Bay
Access to Palm Avenue and Burns Court
Covered or garage parking
A community pool and fitness facilities
Potential bay or city views from selected residences
Convenient access to Main Street without living directly in its busiest blocks
A resale condominium where renovated and original-condition units may create different purchase opportunities

Buyers seeking new construction, extensive resort amenities, very large contemporary floor plans or private elevator entry may prefer to compare newer Downtown Sarasota buildings instead.

How Does Essex House Fit Into the Downtown Sarasota Condo Market?

Downtown Sarasota contains condominium choices from several development eras. Essex House belongs to an established group of bayfront-area buildings that predate the newer luxury construction reshaping parts of Palm Avenue, The Quay and Golden Gate Point.

That creates a useful comparison for buyers. Instead of asking whether an older or newer condo is automatically better, consider what you receive for the total ownership cost. Location, floor plan, view, renovation level, parking, association condition and monthly expenses can matter more than construction year alone.

Hunt Brothers Realty's guide to Downtown Sarasota condo living covers the broader tradeoffs buyers should consider before choosing a building.

Is Essex House Worth Considering?

Essex House is worth considering for buyers who value its South Gulfstream Avenue location more than having the newest building in Downtown Sarasota. Its appeal comes from the combination of Sarasota Bay proximity, access to Palm Avenue and Burns Court, covered parking, established amenities and a location within the downtown environment.

The key is to evaluate Essex House as both a residence and a condominium association. A beautifully renovated unit with a desirable view is only one part of the purchase. Association finances, reserves, insurance, inspections, assessments, building projects and ownership rules can materially affect the long-term ownership experience.

Explore Downtown Sarasota Condos With Hunt Brothers Realty

Hunt Brothers Realty helps buyers compare Downtown Sarasota condominiums based on location, building characteristics, residence condition, views, parking, association considerations and total ownership priorities.

Continue your research with Hunt Brothers Realty's Best Downtown Sarasota Condos buyer guide, Downtown Sarasota condo location comparison, 624 Palm and Tessera.

Informational notice: This article provides general real estate and educational information and is not individualized legal, financial, tax, insurance, lending, inspection, engineering, construction, association or other professional advice. Condominium fees, reserves, assessments, insurance, inspection requirements, pet and leasing policies, parking rights and building projects can change. Buyers should obtain and review current association documents and property-specific information, and have legal, insurance, inspection, engineering, financial or other specialized questions evaluated by the appropriate qualified professionals before making a purchasing decision.