Greystar Delivers 336-Unit Melina Sarasota 18 Months After $12.9M Land Buy

• Greystar has opened the clubhouse and completed amenities at Melina Sarasota, a 336-unit apartment community at 2252 Kendrick Circle in Manatee County, Florida.
• The four-story, garden-style development occupies approximately 17 acres near University Parkway, U.S. 301 and Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
• The community includes 168 one-bedroom, 144 two-bedroom and 24 three-bedroom apartments across six residential buildings.
• Greystar acquired the development site for $12.9 million in March 2025, and the property is now accepting tours and move-ins.

What Greystar Completed at Melina Sarasota

Greystar has officially opened the clubhouse and completed the amenity package at Melina Sarasota, bringing its 336-unit rental development into operation. Located at 2252 Kendrick Circle, the property sits in southern Manatee County near the Sarasota-Bradenton border. The approximately 17-acre development was initially announced as Marlowe Sarasota before appearing as Birchway Sarasota in county filings. It ultimately opened under the Melina Sarasota name, adding another institutional rental community to the region's growing multifamily inventory.

Greystar Managing Director David King said, “We’ve created a community that brings that coastal lifestyle home, with a resort-style pool for unwinding and inviting outdoor spaces for connecting with neighbors.”

What the 336 Apartments Offer Renters

The community consists of six four-story residential buildings with 168 one-bedroom, 144 two-bedroom and 24 three-bedroom apartments. Floor plans range from 721 to 1,286 square feet, offering options for individuals, couples and families. Apartment interiors feature kitchens with islands, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, plank-style flooring, screened lanais or terraces, and in-unit washers and dryers. The completed amenity package includes a resort-style swimming pool with cabanas, a 24-hour fitness studio, coworking spaces with private micro-offices, a hospitality kitchen and media lounge. Residents also have access to a hammock garden, outdoor gathering areas, electric vehicle charging stations and a fenced dog park.

What Greystar's $12.9M Land Purchase Says About the Project

Greystar acquired the 17-acre site for $12.9 million in March 2025, according to Business Observer reporting. At the time, the company planned a 336-unit garden-style apartment development called Marlowe Sarasota, with construction expected to begin shortly after the acquisition. The completed property adds rental housing near University Parkway and U.S. 301, with access to University Town Center, Lakewood Ranch, downtown Sarasota, Bradenton and Gulf Coast beaches. Its location near Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport also connects the community to the region's employment and transportation corridors. For multifamily investors, Melina illustrates Greystar's continued investment in suburban rental housing across the Sarasota-Bradenton market. The garden-style format, broad unit mix and extensive amenity package target renters seeking larger residential layouts and lifestyle features outside the downtown core.

What the Myakka Elephant Ranch Partnership Adds

Alongside the clubhouse opening, Greystar announced a partnership with Myakka Elephant Ranch, a nonprofit conservation and education organization based in Myakka City. Greystar and contributing clients raised more than $30,000 for the organization, and Greystar team members also participated in educational activities and elephant care at the ranch.

Myakka Elephant Ranch CEO Lou Barreda said, “Every connection we help create between people and elephants supports habitat preservation, wildlife protection, and outreach that reaches communities around the world.”

The partnership adds a community engagement component to the property's opening, while the completed clubhouse and amenities position Melina Sarasota to compete for renters across the broader Sarasota-Bradenton market.