Editing Bayshore Gardens, Florida (section)

==History==
In 1955, a New York syndicate led by developer Sydney R. Newman purchased the area now known as Bayshore Gardens on the west side of U.S. 41 along the eastern shore of [[Sarasota Bay]], just north of the Sarasota/Manatee county line, and platted an area between what was dubbed Bayshore Gardens Parkway running from [[U.S. Route 41|U.S. 41]] to 26th Street West and Sarasota Bay that would become Bayshore Gardens. The property was purchased for about 2 million dollars, making it the most expensive land purchase in the area since the 1920s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=5 Sep 1955, 153 - Tampa Bay Times at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/315656750/?terms=%22Sydney+Newman%22|website=Newspapers.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref> The {{convert|3200|acre|adj=on}} area, once fields for growing tomatoes, would include recreation areas and a marina, schools, churches, shopping centers and medical facilities as well as homes in the popular style of that time, now called [[mid-century modern]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Manatee History Matters: Bayshore Gardens, hidden jewel of Mid Century Modern architecture|url=https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article34787175.html|last=Slusser|first=Cathy}}</ref>

By its grand opening in 1956, four model homes were built and seven available designs had been created for future residents to pick from, including the Seagrape, the Gladiola, and the most popular, the Bird of Paradise. Prices ranged from $8,000 to $15,000 for a home with a lot, and lower rates for veterans were advertised. The first home in Bayshore Gardens was sold in July 1956 to Jennie and Samuel Gibson in the Hibiscus style.<ref name=":0" />

By April 1958, the neighborhood had 400 homes, all of which were designed by Bradenton architect Sidney Wilkinson and built by Richard Morton's Bayshore Gardens Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|title=13 Apr 1958, 37 - The Tampa Tribune at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/329251156/?terms=%22Bayshore+Gardens%22|website=Newspapers.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref> The neighborhood was opened up that year to other developers and home builders, including Richmond Homes and Arrow Home Builders. Designs added by Richmond Homes included the Cayman, Expo, Lenfield, Something Special, Tarlton, and Windward.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bayshore Banner, July 2014|url=https://www.bayshoregardens.org/files/cac633396/July+2014.pdf}}</ref> Arrow Home Builders were known for adding larger custom homes on the Bayshore Gardens waterfront

In November 1959, Bayshore Gardens Shopping Center held a grand opening with stores that included [[Publix]], a beauty shop, barbershop, hardware store, shoe repair, and clothing stores.<ref name=":0" /> The neighborhood grew rapidly, and by 1960 it was the largest voting precinct in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=14 Oct 1960, 11 - Tampa Bay Times at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/318109918/?terms=%22Bayshore+Gardens%22|website=Newspapers.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref> That year, the shopping center was expanded to add more stores and a movie theater.<ref name=":0" />