VENICE – Venice was named the area in Florida that best balances a big city and suburban environment and No. 5 in the country in a survey conducted by STORAGECafe, an online nationwide search company for self-storage units. Only one other Florida city, Boca Raton, ranked 12ththmade the national top 20.
The city often produces lists compiled by the self-storage company.
For example, in October 2021, Venice was named the top snowbird destination and in January 2021 it was the 11th best suburb in the country and tops in Florida for city feel.
“I think it’s a gem that’s been discovered and they’re starting to find it,” said Venice Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kathy Lehner. “This little gem we have hidden here – along with millions of shark teeth is being dug up – no pun intended.
In a previous list:The storage company ranked Venice the 11th best suburb in the country and tops Florida’s list
“I moved here 37 years ago so this little gem I chose over a bigger city that I’m used to, whether it’s Tampa or Fort Myers,” he added. “It’s a nice, small town and you know what, even though we’re growing and we’re growing, I’d say it’s quieter than some of the ones around us, like Sarasota, Fort Myers, St. Pete – they are really booming and as long as we are we still have that small hometown feel.
Venice Mayor Nick Pachota called the increased exposure bittersweet.
“It’s great from the point of view that we’re doing something right and bringing people to us, but at the same time, as someone who grew up here, there’s a lot of progress now and it’s moving very quickly,” Pachota said. , adding that it’s a daunting task to keep up with that growth and make sure it stays in tune with the infrastructure.
Like Lehner, he also pointed to Venice’s small-town feel as an appeal, then added, “One of the advantages of moving back here with my family is all the water activities we have. There are just so many it’s a fun thing to do here.”
Here’s more about how STORAGECafe came up with its survey and what other cities ranked in the top 10.
From 2019:Venice ranks No. 2 of the most livable cities in Florida
Jump from above:What happened? Sarasota has dropped on the Top 10 list of the best places to retire in the US
Venice ranks highly for accommodation options and amenities
STORAGECafe uses the city of Venice in developing its rankings, a spokeswoman for the website said via email but it also uses aspects of communities near unincorporated Sarasota County and even the city of North Port in the formula. this.
Venice gets credit for its lively streets, diverse residential population, and entertainment opportunities. The site points to the fact that in addition to its traditional snowbird appeal, it’s also a destination for “zoombirds,” who may telecommute to work.
The outdoor areas come into play as the site notes a 15% increase in the local population over the past five years, as well as a nod to Stillwell at Wellen Park – located in the city of North Port – as one of the major developments in the area.
Relevant for subscribers:Build-to-rent single-family community targeted for Wellen Park in south Sarasota County
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Stillwell, developed by Coastal Ridge Real Estate as a build-to-rent community of 274 single-family homes, will see its first residents as soon as June 5, according to that company’s website.
How the rankings are compiled
To compile the list of the best suburbs with urban flair, StorageCAFE surveyed 912 cities with populations between 10,000 and 100,000 people in the largest metropolitan areas.
Factors considered include housing affordability and diversity, demographics, business environment, shopping and dining, health, education, safety, transportation, and self-storage prices and availability.
Venice hospital upgrades:Ceremony marks topping out of new wing at Sarasota Memorial Hospital Venice campus
And the best place is…
The small city that best combines urban feel and suburban convenience is Edina, Minnesota, with nearly 53,500 residents according to the 2020 US Census.
It gets points for a strong business sector – with nearly 58 businesses per 1,000 residents, and 125 square feet of office space per capita – amenities and transportation.
No. 2 is Falls Church, Virginia, followed by Palo Alto, California, Franklin, Tennessee, and then Venice. To see all rankings, visit https://bit.ly/43TvM6X.
