Last night, on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, a meeting at Lemon Bay Park drew a crowd of concerned residents. The principal topic is The Gateway Court project, set to be built right next to Buchan Airfield.
The core issue is that developers want to put up a four-story, 96-unit apartment complex at the intersection of SR 776 and Old Englewood Road, right at the end of the airfield’s runway. You don’t need to be a pilot to see the problem: a tall building just beyond a runway introduces obvious safety and airspace risks. Planes need an unobstructed, safe approach. Adding a multi-story building so close to flight paths puts pilots, residents, and the local environment in danger.
Many residents feel frustrated because officials never gave them any official notice about this project or the meeting itself. People found out through word of mouth, not from any formal process. This kind of lack of transparency leaves folks feeling shut out of decisions that could permanently change their neighborhood.
The area isn’t just home to a small, historic airport; Buchan Airfield is a place for local events, and its surrounding wetlands host a variety of nesting wildlife. There are claims that the construction of The Gateway Court threatens to destroy much of this fragile habitat. The development doesn’t just endanger pilots; it puts local wildlife and Englewood’s charm at risk.
Many residents believe the airfield, the wildlife, and the very fabric of the neighborhood are at stake. At moments like this, many voices hold importance, particularly when the people most affected have not received a seat at the table.
The Gateway Court project isn’t just about new apartments. It’s about safety, transparency, local heritage, and protecting the airfield and wetlands that make this part of Englewood unique.
The Meeting
At the neighborhood workshop, residents and local pilots didn’t hold back; they opposed the Gateway Court project and hammered away at serious safety issues.
The idea of putting a four-story building right on the edge of the Buchan Airfield runway? Most people in the room thought that was reckless. Residents pointed to recent runway accidents across the country. “Why risk it here?” a few asked, clearly worried about airspace safety and the possibility of crashes.
Brian Lichterman, president of Vision Planning and Design, LLC, organized the workshop, but not as a formal step; he wanted feedback before moving ahead with any official paperwork at Sarasota County. The developer’s side tried to calm fears, saying, Buchan isn’t some giant commercial airport. It’s a small, local airstrip with its own set of county rules. But that explanation didn’t win over the crowd.
At one point, the property owner even asked whether people would rather see a commercial development instead of apartments. The answer was still no. People just didn’t want high-density buildings there at all. They argued that building here would threaten the airfield, cut into wildlife space, and put one of Englewood’s last historic spots at risk.
In the end, the meeting wasn’t the place for any final decisions or votes. It was just a first step, a way to hear what the neighborhood thought unofficially. And the message came through loud and clear: they want to protect what’s already there.
This is a developing story. We will update this page as more information becomes available.
