Sarasota's Historic Colson Hotel purchased after year-long demolition, preservation clash
In a landmark effort to preserve Sarasota’s African-American heritage, DreamLarge has successfully acquired the historic Colson Hotel, finalizing a year-long negotiation and collaboration with the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, the City of Sarasota, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, and a newly established Community Development Corporation (CDC).
Black community members and natives, along with the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, lent critical support for the effort to the City of Sarasota for the acquisition.
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The acquisition marks a major victory for preservationists who fought to save the iconic "pink box" hotel, a symbol of Sarasota’s Black history and a gathering place for the community during the segregation era. The purchase was finalized on Tuesday following months of debate over potential demolition and concerns about the future of the site which has faced significant redevelopment pressure this year.
More:Colson Hotel demolition talk spurs controversy among Sarasota historians, leaders
“This initiative exemplifies our collective commitment to preservation, equity, and community engagement,” said Anand Pallegar, founder of DreamLarge.
The aging, but historic, building at 1425 Eighth St. was the site of the first Black hotel in Sarasota.
The property was constructed by Edwin O. Burns and named for Rev. Lewis Colson, a formerly enslaved person who came to the area in 1885 to plat the city of Sarasota as an assistant surveyor for the Florida Mortgage and Investment Company. Colson and his wife Irene were vital in the establishment of Sarasota’s first Black neighborhood and community — Overtown.
Lewis was among the first African Americans in Sarasota and a pioneer of Overtown, now referred to as the Rosemary District. Colson died in 1923, and the hotel was named in his honor. The reverend and Irene Colson are the only Black couple buried in Rosemary Cemetery.
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A Unified Vision for Preservation
The path to preserving the Colson Hotel has been a collaborative journey. The Sarasota City Commission paused demolition plans in September following community outcry and a bold vision presented by DreamLarge. The plan aimed to restore the site as a tribute to its historical significance.
The process included negotiations with the property’s owner, JDMax, as well as partnerships with local preservation advocates and philanthropic leaders. The result is an agreement that safeguards the Colson Hotel and establishes Sarasota’s first Community Development Corporation to oversee its restoration.
The newly formed CDC comprises local leaders, including preservationists and community advocates. Together, they aim to ensure the restoration aligns with community goals and equity principles.
“We see this as a turning point for Sarasota’s historic preservation efforts,” said Barry Preston of the CDC. “Our partnership not only aims to arrange for the restoration of the Colson Hotel and bring it back into the life of the community but also to set a foundation for preserving more historic properties in an equitable and sustainable way.”
The Colson Hotel will undergo a community-centered restoration, with plans to transform it into a space that reflects Overtown’s historic roots while fostering education and opportunity. A project fund established through the Gulf Coast Community Foundation will support the initiative, which leaders say could become a model for similar efforts statewide.
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Phillip Lanham, president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation added that the local foundation backed the acquisition and supports the preservation of the property for multiple reasons.
"We are proud to support bold and proactive philanthropic initiatives that can be transformative across the community,” said Lanham. “Preserving the Colson Hotel is not only about protecting Sarasota’s rich cultural history but also about fostering community-driven solutions that ensure equity and opportunity for future generations.”
Call to Action for Colson
To ensure that the community is a part of the preservation, renewal and future use of the historic Coloson Hotel, DreamLarge and its local partners are inviting the Sarasota community to contribute to the restoration fund. Pallegar said that the community's input is valued and welcomes residents, in the historic Overtown community especially, to help shape the future of the Colson Hotel. Donations to the restoration fund can be made through the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s website at gulfcoastcf.org/savethecolson.
Pallegar added that community input sessions will be slated in 2025 for residents to voice their concerns, business plans or ideas about the future of the historic property.
“This is a turning point for Sarasota,” Pallegar said. “The Colson Hotel will stand as a testament to the community that built Sarasota and as a bridge to its future.”
