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The City
of Sarasota has adopted a Comprehensive
Redevelopment Plan for the Newtown Community. The Newtown Community, business
leaders and government have joined efforts to revitalize a
historic African American commercial district which is ideally
located adjacent to the Downtown center. The Greater Newtown
Community has partnered with business, education, the faith
community, the private sector, the arts community, and health
care providers to extend the resources of all agencies that
are dedicated to serving the needs of the Newtown neighborhood.
The success
of the Redevelopment Plan will not be the result of a single
strategy, but of numerous efforts that build upon each other.
Current incentives and programs are the Hub Zone and Enterprise
Zone designations, and the Front Porch Florida.
The Newtown
Redevelopment Plan focus on two major initiatives:
1. Creating
commercial/office business activities that attract a new and
broader demographic consumer base to the Dr. MLK Jr. Way corridor.
2. Increasing
the quality of life and wealth of the average Newtown resident.
The Newtown
Community has three major assets. (1) The Ringling School
of Art and Design (RSAD), which has a national reputation
for education in the graphic and related arts. The school
brings in students and faculty from all over the world. (2)
The strong cultural heritage of the Newtown Community. (3)
The regional market opportunity for neighborhood commercial
on the corner of Dr. MLK Jr. Way and U.S. 301.
We encourage
key players in the development spectrum, such as Investors,
developers, architects and building designers to explore the
opportunities this neighborhood offers.
History
of Newtown
Near the turn of the century, only about ten families lived
in the vicinity. The Black population swelled as laborers
and skilled workmen were hired by special agents who combed
rural areas of Georgia and the Carolinas recruiting workers
to fill the demand in Florida's boom cities. Men and women
came to be dockworkers, fishermen, chauffeurs, maids, laundresses,
and cooks. They came to work the rails, the circus farms,
and the circus. As families followed the work to Sarasota,
the City became home for generations of Blacks. In addition
to skilled labor jobs, Newtown residents came to be landowners,
preachers, real estate developers, and teachers. Out of necessity,
due to the fact that Blacks could not get their hair cut,
eat dinner, or buy clothing in White establishments, many
small businesses flourished.
As time
past, Newtown like many cities throughout the U.S. was faced
with overwhelming urban decline-loss of local neighborhood
businesses through leakage of local dollars outside of the
community, and ultimately loss of jobs.
For
information about the Newtown Redevelopment Plan, call City
of Sarasota Planning & Development Department at 941.954.4195.
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