Community Foundation and Newtown CRA Grant Fully Funds Historic Preservation Initiative in Newtown

A partnership between the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Newtown CRA brings $30,000 in resources to help residents preserve historic homes.

The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (SAHP) announced that its Resilient Roots initiative is now fully funded and actively helping Newtown homeowners preserve their historic properties. The project is supported through a collaborative investment from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

Restoration work underway on a historic cottage in the Bayou Oaks neighborhood. Local contractors are carefully repairing and preserving original features as part of the Historic Loan Program.

The Community Foundation’s $10,000 grant, combined with $20,000 from the Newtown CRA, provides the full $30,000 needed to launch this innovative approach to historic preservation in one of Sarasota's most culturally significant neighborhoods.

"This partnership demonstrates what's possible when local institutions come together with a shared commitment to community," said Erin DiFazio, managing director of SAHP. "We're not just preserving buildings – we're helping families stay in their homes, protecting generational wealth, and ensuring that Newtown's irreplaceable story remains visible for future generations."

Resilient Roots adapts SAHP's successful Historic Loan Program specifically for the Newtown National Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in April 2024. The initiative makes critical home repairs accessible to residents through subsidized financing that dramatically reduces monthly payment barriers that previously prevented many homeowners from making necessary repairs.

The program provides interest-free loans with 12-year terms, covers closing costs, and includes hands-on technical assistance to guide homeowners and contractors through repairs that honor the historic integrity of these homes while addressing structural needs. Each loan also protects properties with covenants that discourage demolition and parcel assemblage, helping to stabilize the neighborhood long-term.

The fully restored Bayou Oaks cottage nears completion, reflecting the craftsmanship and care invested through the Historic Loan Program.

Now Serving Homeowners

With funding secured, SAHP is actively working with Newtown homeowners to complete projects. The initiative will help three to five families in its first year, with the revolving loan structure ensuring that funds return to serve additional homeowners in years to come.

"The 34234 zip code has a poverty rate of 21.1% – nearly double Florida's average," DiFazio explained. "Meanwhile, rapidly rising property values and predatory acquisition practices have threatened longtime residents with displacement. This program changes the equation. We're making it possible for residents to maintain homes their families have owned for generations, rather than being forced to sell."

As the second-oldest African American community in Sarasota, Newtown represents an essential chapter in the city's history. The district includes 691 contributing historic buildings that tell the story of African American settlement, perseverance through segregation, and enduring community strength.

The initiative prioritizes using local contractors and tradespeople, ensuring each project sustains the local economy while preserving the architectural character that makes Newtown irreplaceable.

"These homes represent naturally occurring affordable housing and the physical artifacts of Newtown's story," DiFazio added. "By keeping families in their homes, we're fighting displacement, honoring history, and strengthening community – and we couldn't do it without the vision and support of our funding partners."

For more information about the Historic Loan Program or to apply, visit PreserveSRQ.org or contact Erin DiFazio at 941-529-1833 or preservesrq@gmail.com.

About Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation

Founded in 1985, the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation works to preserve and enhance historic spaces through advocacy, education, financial and technical support, and celebration. Through initiatives like the Historic Loan Program, SAHP addresses the intersections of historic preservation, affordable housing, environmental sustainability, and community stability.