Greystar Opens 336-Unit Melina Sarasota Rental Community in Manatee County

• Greystar has opened the clubhouse and completed amenities at Melina Sarasota, a 336-unit apartment community at 2252 Kendrick Circle.
• The 17-acre property includes six four-story residential buildings, a resort-style pool, coworking spaces, fitness facilities and a dog park.
• Greystar acquired the development site for $12.9 million in March 2025. The community is now open for tours and move-ins.

What Greystar Delivered at Melina Sarasota

Greystar has completed the amenity spaces at Melina Sarasota, bringing its new garden-style rental community near Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport into its leasing phase. The project occupies approximately 17 acres near University Parkway and U.S. 301 in Manatee County.

The property was previously announced under the names Marlowe Sarasota and Birchway Sarasota before opening as Melina Sarasota. The community is now welcoming prospective residents, with access to Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and University Town Center.

 

 

What the 336 Apartments Offer Renters

The development includes 168 one-bedroom, 144 two-bedroom and 24 three-bedroom apartments, with floor plans ranging from 721 to 1,286 square feet.

Community amenities include a resort-style swimming pool with cabanas, a 24-hour fitness studio, coworking spaces with private micro-offices, a hospitality kitchen, a media lounge, a hammock garden, outdoor gathering areas, electric vehicle charging stations and a fenced dog park.

Apartments feature kitchen islands, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, in-unit laundry and screened lanais or terraces. These features position the property to compete for renters seeking newer housing with work-from-home and lifestyle amenities.

 

 

What the $12.9M Land Purchase Signals

Greystar acquired the development site for $12.9 million in March 2025. The completed community adds 336 rental units to a growing Sarasota-Manatee apartment market, where new properties are competing on location, finishes and amenity packages.

In September 2026, 10.07% of Manatee County apartments tracked by Apartment List were vacant, while 68.89% of tracked properties advertised rental concessions worth at least one month’s rent. Those figures suggest operators may need to compete aggressively to fill new inventory.

For landlords and investors, the takeaway is that a strong amenity package can help differentiate a new property, but lease-up performance and effective rents remain critical measures of success.

 

 

What Greystar’s Conservation Partnership Adds

Alongside the 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.

Greystar team members also visited the ranch in October to participate in educational activities and assist with elephant care. The initiative adds a community engagement component to the property's launch.

Melina Sarasota is now open for tours and move-ins, adding 336 apartments to a market where renter demand remains active but competition and concessions warrant close attention.