Resilient Roots: Empowered Preservation of the Newtown Historic District

With the help of a $20,000 grant awarded by the Newtown CRA, SAHP was able to launch a subsidized initiative for the Historic Loan Program, devoted to the property owners of contributing buildings in the Newtown National Register Historic District.

HLP initially targeted two City of Sarasota National Register historic districts, Central Cocoanut and Newtown, with its launch in the fall of 2022. With hundreds of contributing resources of varying architectural styles, these districts are also home to the most diverse populations in the City, and where large-scale gentrification presents the greatest threat of displacement. In practice, over the last few years, we determined through inquiries and outreach within the Newtown community, that the monthly payment on a loan sufficient to accomplish the necessary projects, was presenting a barrier to being able to utilize the program. In other words, it was just too expensive to be helpful. Yet the need for repairs and restoration of the homes in this large National Register Historic District continues to grow. 

Mydahlia Glover welcomes guests to the Leonard Reid House for the Resilient Roots workshop.

Erin DiFazio shows the concentration of demolitions in Newtown and how it overlaps with the historic district.

The Resilient Roots initiative aims to make these repairs more accessible to the residents of Newtown by pairing our loan capital with grant funding to reduce the principal. The grant funds will be utilized to forgive interest and closing costs, with a loan term extended from 8 years to 12 years, creating manageably sized principal only payments for qualified borrowers. By supporting continued ownership of this affordable housing, these residents will build equity, contribute

to the strengthening of their community, and ensure that their legacy remains a contributing piece of the district.

SAHP is incredibly grateful for the Newtown CRA's support and is excited to get started repairing and restoring the important physical reminders of Newtown's legacy.

A workshop was held on October 2nd at the Leonard Reid House with the support of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition. Staff will be promoting the program with a booth at the Taste of Newtown event on November 8th, and holding a second community workshop at the R.L. Taylor Community Center on November 19th from 5:30-7:00.

Register for the Resilient Roots Workshop

Because these loans revolve, payments go back out into the community in the form of another loan. Your contribution to the loan fund will continue to positively impact the future again and again providing critical resources to owners of Sarasota’s affordable, historic properties. SAHP believes deeply in the power of historic preservation to help solve our current struggles and ensure that the full story of Sarasota stands to teach residents and visitors of the future about who we are, the struggles we overcame, and what we worked to protect. 

Contribute to the loan fund