Rigby’s La Plaza is part of Sarasota’s historic subdivisions that have been carefully preserved to highlight the impact of the real estate industry in Southwest Florida and the Old Florida high quality of life that remains to this very day. Rigby’s is located very close to downtown Sarasota, just south of the Hudson Bayou. This is one of the West of the Tamiami Trail neighborhoods that came to define Sarasota during the 1920s.

Rigby’s was the first Sarasota neighborhood selected for historic preservation in 1992. Once the neighborhood was given a rightful spot in the National Register of Historic Places, careful preservation began. The original residential architecture consisted of Mediterranean revival design with touches of the Spanish style that was so popular in Saint Augustine at the time. There are nine attractive buildings and a few carriage homes at Rigby’s. The floor plans reflect the Old Florida residential aesthetics, complete with arched doorways, wood floors and plantation shutters.

Home shoppers lucky enough to find a listing at Rigby’s will find that owning a piece of Florida’s rich history can be accomplished at a reasonable price. The original homes have been renovated according to the strict hurricane standards of the Sunshine State without sacrificing any of the special touches that make the homes of Rigby’s so stately, like courtyards with elegant driveways and fountains. A home built on 2,144 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms with features such as a fireplace, Mexican tile, stucco exterior, a carport for two vehicles and modern appliances starts at $355,000.

Living at Rigby’s means being surrounded by the trendy dining and cultural scene of downtown Sarasota. Like with other West of the Trail historic neighborhood, Rigby’s is within walking distance of many shopping and business venues. Schools serving the neighborhood include Southside Elementary, Brookside Middle and Sarasota High.