Newtown Redevelopment

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.