Sarasota's Rosemary District is adding a Michelin-recommended restaurant, a $24 million townhome project and a 5-acre campus sale to a neighborhood already filling with new businesses.

Chef Anthony Petralia plans to open a second Tralia location at 1420 Boulevard of the Arts in December, Sarasota Magazine reported on Aug. 17. The Michelin Guide recognized Petralia's Gulf Gate pizzeria in May. His Rosemary District restaurant will seat about 150 and employ 20 to 30 people, with a more upscale Italian menu featuring handmade pastas, a full bar and pizzas starting around $16.

"I like being in the arts district … I like being close to downtown," Petralia told Sarasota Magazine on Aug. 17. "That's always an area I wanted to be in."

He said the neighborhood's new condos and hotels called for a higher-end concept.

The district already landed a major restaurant opening this year. Hanami Sushi Cocktails & Grill opened April 10 at 1525 Fourth St. in a nearly 7,500-square-foot space inside a 1925 building originally known as The Citrus Exchange, the Your Observer reported. A yearlong renovation stripped drywall to expose historic brick and moved the front entrance. The building had cycled through seven tenants in 15 years before Hanami.

Samuel Ray, the 34-year-old managing member who led the renovation alongside partners Jeffrey Karasawa and Jason Klamson, died shortly after the restaurant opened, the Herald-Tribune reported in May.

Real estate investment is keeping pace with the restaurant growth. Tampa-based Plutus Capital Partners put $5.5 million into Rosemary Residences, a $24 million project by Vollmer Real Estate Investments at 1442 Ninth St., the Business Observer reported in February. The 12 luxury townhomes are priced from $1.85 million to $2.25 million, with construction expected to be completed within 18 to 24 months of the February announcement.

The neighborhood's biggest parcel could reshape the district further. The Sarasota Military Academy listed its nearly 5-acre campus at 801 N. Orange Ave. for sale Aug. 4. Patch reported the sale on Aug. 21. The Sarasota County Property Appraiser assessed the property at nearly $17.1 million, while its market value exceeded $31 million.

Conceptual plans envision apartments, condos, retail and restaurants on the site. The school plans to consolidate operations at its Bethel Lane campus east of Interstate 75. No buyer has been announced.

Beyond restaurants and real estate, the district supports a small-business mix. Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center at 525 Kumquat Court hosts live music, film screenings and art exhibitions through WSLR 96.5 Community Radio. Katy's Cat Café at 1490 Boulevard of the Arts, owned by Marian Morcos, places foster cats in homes through a local rescue partner.

Tralia's Rosemary District location is expected to open in December.