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28 | FLORIDA HOMES MAGAZINE money, why not? I decided to put my money where I live, make my town beer and make money at the same time. I'm not bashful about that. Some people have criticized me for wanting to make money. Well, that 's what people do, we make money. You create jobs and make money. ere are ways to do that, that are evil and ways that are not evil. If you make a good service or product and people are paying you for it, then it is ok by me. In recent years, Biter has shied his focus to local politics with his crusade to increase the density zoning laws in the downtown corridor, where he owns many properties. His current project is a 10-stor y apart- ment/commercial building expected to begin construction in 2014. A lthough this site is grandfathered in with a 200 unit per acre density, Biter has led the bale with city hall and residents to change the density laws. Enabling devel- opers like himself to build new buildings with more units per square acre, thereby creating more affordable housing to compete with the multi-million dollar options available now. Most properties in the downtown corridor are zoned for only 50 units per acre with a 10-stor y height restriction, thereby making the cost per unit much higher when the properties are taken to market. Units must be larger and more expensive , explaining why we have a shortfall in mid-range residential units downtown. Biter is keenly aware of the need for middle market housing within the central downtown corridor. He and many others see this needed change as paramount to building a more vibrant year-around downtown community and business sector in general. I know you are involded in the discussion for higher residential density zoning. Can you explain your position? Biter: To me, we should be able to solve the density issue. I am fine with 50 units an acre as a city, but as a project you should be able to move the density of places that are not residential units. Places like parks, govern- ment buildings and office buildings should be transferrable to other residential projects, so that we can split the cost of a project by 200 people rather than 50. e other thing about density that doesn' t make sense to me is that anybody can come downtown, buy a plot of land, build a ten-story commercial office building , put in a thousand or two thousand- however many units they can jam in there for offices and there is no limit. All that does is increase traf- fic. For whatever reason, there is tight control on residential, but no control on commercial development. While I enjoyed geing to know Biter in his business seing , for the purpose of this article, I wanted to photograph him at home with his family. Considering the unconventional office environment Biter had created, I was interested to see what ty pe of home he would choose to live in. As one might expect, he had chosen one of the best locations in the entire city to call home. He and his lovely wife, Katie, a Sarasota native, live with his two daughters, Abby and Hailey, in an expansive penthouse that spans half the build- ing and two floors, with spectacular views of Sarasota Bay and downtown. e interior design leans towards the masculine side, yet purposely comfort- able and elegantly casual. e top level is obviously fun central, complete with a pool table, bar, card tables, a huge deck, outdoor lounge and even a grass area for their golden retriever, Savannah. Biter's home is truly a reflection of the man himself, impressive but in a casu- ally confident way as apposed to a lavish, gold-gilt imitation of power and wealth, sometimes seen in homes created with newly acquired money. He is obviously a man with vision and talent but most impressively, he is a man who puts his money where his mouth is. Jesse Biter is undeniably a fascinating Floridian. ABOVE: Biter in the kitchen of his home, showing us the nearby site of his new apar tment high-rise project. LEFT: Jesse and Katie with their dog, Savannah on their rooftop lawn. BOTTOM: The Biter's living room overlooking Sarasota Bay and marina. FloridaHomesMag.com | 29

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