Overtown, a historic Black neighborhood once known as the “Harlem of the South” for its thriving arts and business community, is on the verge of a major transformation. A more than $39 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), awarded through the Choice Neighborhoods program, is helping to redevelop key public housing sites and improve infrastructure.
But while the move signals progress for some, long-time residents worry that the revitalization could erase the neighborhood’s cultural heritage.
James D. McQueen, executive director of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPW CRA), who is a long-time resident, believes in preserving the cultural heritage of Overtown while also revitalizing the area.
“Our vision is to make Overtown a thriving arts and entertainment hub again, bringing back the sense of community and pride lost when I-95 fragmented this neighborhood,” he said.
McQueen and the SEOPW CRA are working on several initiatives to enhance the visual appeal of Overtown, including a Facade Beautification and Workforce Training Program. The program, in collaboration with Florida International University, provides residents with job skills in carpentry and painting, offering hands-on experience in rehabilitating buildings in the community. Members just finished the Culmer Village Townhouses.
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