Next Steps for the Colson Hotel

The Colson Listening Project

The Colson Hotel for Negroes, 1425 8th Street, Sarasota, FL 34236

Read more about the fight to save the Colson Hotel in this article.

Now that the Colson Hotel is no longer threatened with demolition, SAHP and Dreamlarge, in collaboration with the broader community, are working to secure and stabilize the building. In preparation for the next phase of planning, which will involve several community workshops, we are gathering memories, stories, and photos, to assemble a shared history that can live on with the building. Future generations will then have the opportunity to experience the building, and the shared understanding of what it has meant to Sarasota over the last 100 years.  

Do you have a small piece of the puzzle? Click on the button below to find out how to share your important stories, photos, and memories of the Colson Hotel.

Colson Listening Form

Do you remember some of the other important places in Overtown? Print out a blank copy of the map (pulled from the national register listing) and draw in the buildings and places that have been lost. This way we can hold on to an understanding of the context of the Colson Hotel as it evolved over time. Completed maps can be emailed to preservesrq@gmail.com or just give us a call and we can arrange to pick them up. 

Click on the map to open a larger downloadable copy.