Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-88-1090I CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM To Cesar Odio DATE. November 10, 1988 F1LE- City Manager SUBJEcTDicussion -Pocket Item November 17, 1988 Commission Agend FROM Rosario Kennedy REFERENCES. Dorsey House VIce-Mayor t / n �,�/1//� ENCLOSURES Please be advised that- i intend to bring up the above referenced item at our November 17, 1988 meeting. This item was not included in the regular City Commission agenda, and concerns the request froln the Heritage Conservation Board that the City of Miami provide matching funds with the County in the amount of $66,000 to acquire the property and rehabilitate the old Dorsey House. Thank you. CC: Mayor & Commissioners Arelio Perez-Lugones 77 j 4g- 1090 0 m v, 8� �z> OTHER Non-PrOW Hiriorkal and 3. m preservation Organb atiorss in Dade Cw", Fiorida s a wC2 a>1 = cT =x p0v i = s n � N Dade Heritage Trust � 190 S.E. 12th Terrace x Miami, Florida 33131 Historical Association of So. Fla. 3260 South Miami Avenue Miami. Florida 33129 storic Preservation 90 S-W 8th Street Suite 309 Miami, Florida 33130 Miami Design Preservation League 1630 Euclid Avenue Miami Beach, Florida 33139 The Villagers P.O. BOX 1964 Coral Gables, Florida 33134 The Vacayarts 3251 South Miami Avenue Mian, Florida 33129 U s The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inca 0 t O x 7: HOW DOES THE ARCHIVES EXIST? O WHAT IS THE ARCHIVES? THE PROGRAM SOURCE Af -American -ne Black Archives, History and Research Foundation Sponsored Events: -American Heritage Observance F datlon seeks records from `7 s a non-profit, tax exempt organization, ncorporated in 1977 for the benefit of the ;ommunity-at-large t sponsors multi-etrinic projects, serves as a _ieanngnouse for minority cultural activities, and annually spearheads Afro-American (Black) History 'dlontn observances throughout the Dade County during the montn of Feoruary. WHY HAVE THE ARCHIVES? "he Archives Foundation operates a history and esearch center. This center nouses primary source Taterials such as letters, photographs, non -current ,ecords, clippings, manuscripts and oral history tape -ecordincls These materials document the activities of the black communities in Dade County from 1845, when Florin became a state, until the present They are available for individuals, special groups, organizations and schools to use within the Archives complex. f ro (Black History Month) Annual History Fair Ethnic Heritage Symposium Cultural Gala Operation Bilingual Research Nominations: National Register of Historic Places Dorsey House — Chapman House Historic Overtown Project Archives: Student Publications Mon-Ami-Mi Amigo — Translations of Black History X-Ray Clinic Project The Black Archives Center Offers: Classes and work study programs for students Historic Preservation Historical Exhibits — relative to issues, events, people and sites Research Materials Special Tours The Discovery Room — Artifacts THE BLACK ARCHIVES HISTORY a RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA. Inc. Funded in part by Black Historical Records Program for the Culirier-overtown Area. City of Miami -CD The Archives oun individuals, families, churches, government agencies, civic and social organizations, sororities and fraternities: 1. Photographs — deeds, maps, wills, plats, cemetery records, buildings, individuals and i groups. 2. Vital Records — immigration, birth, school attendance, church registration, certification, death and burial records. 3. Professional Records — letters. diaries, journals, petitions, professional papers, articles. 4. Other — programs, souvenir books, brochures, address books, poems, short stories, biographies and autobiographies. 5. For Exhibits — scrapbooks, clippings, galley proofs, special photographs, yearbooks. 6. Private Industry, Business or Corporate Records — administrative titles, account book, minutes, correspondences, documentaries. Persons who possess materials suitable for addition to the Black Archives should address inquiries to the Foundation, Caleb Center, 5400 N.W. 22nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33142. Telephone (305) 638-6064. - - SOURCE II 1. Membership Dues/Donors 2. Grants — local, state, national 3. Fund-raising Events SOURCE II In Kind Services Chairman. Hoard of Trustees Barbara J. Mason OFFICERS First tice Cho(rman M. Athalte Range Second Vlce Chairman Garth C. Reeves. Sr. Secrets m THE B..ACK ARCHIVES, HISTORY & RESEAJICI•I FOUNDATION of SOUTH FLORIDA, INC. Joseph Caleb Community Center 5400 Northwest 22nd Avenue. Suite 702 Miami. Florida 33142 Telephone: (305) 638-6064. 5729 November 15, 1988 Report to the City of Miami Commission The Historic Dorsey House, 250 Northwest 9th Street O V E R T O W N Judv Solomon - - — - Treasurer Carmetta C. Russell A. Update Member -At -Large The Historic Dorsey House is on the City of Miami's List of Albert Weintraub. Esq. Historic Places. The house has been donated to the Black Member•At-Large Marian H. Shannon Archives FoLmdation of South Florida. o; Founder Dorothy J. Fields Plans are being made to complete the following steps within the next 18 monrhs:(1) acquire the lot on Aiich the house is located; (2) 'stabalize the structure and bring it up to code; (3) rehabilitate/restore the structure for reuse as a Welcome Center on the first floor and rental office space on the second floor; (4) funds generated through the Welcome Center ' and office space rental will be reinvested to maintain and operate the structure; (5) jobs and training in construction and related areas will be generated in conjunction with the r rehabilitation/restoration process. B. BLDGEr MU= City of Line items Metro -Dade Miami TWAL I. Acquire lot A. Appraised vaule $48,000 $26,000 $22,000 $48,000 B. Leyui Eees 500 500 C. Abstract 500 500 D. Title insurance 350 350 II. Recertify structure 2,650 2,650 sub totals ...... $26,000 $26►000 $52,000 III. Rehabilitate/Restore $30,000 A. Windows, replace B. Porches, front (first and second floors and balustrades, replace C. Electrical sys�em, redesign & replace D. Floor, replace $30,000 $60,000 sub totals .....$J0,000 $30,000 $60,000 IV. Adminisi:ration .....$10,000 $10,000 $Z01000 GRAND TO'I'UZ ...$66,000 $66,000 51;2,OOU HISTORIC OVERTOWN FOLKLIFE VILLAGL The I lister Ik Ovcncwon RAlife Mllagc will be a regional tourist attraction showcasing the legacy' of Miami:s Ovenown, the I larlem Renaissance, as well as the Black cultural heritage of South Florida, the Bahamas and Caribb,can Ovcrtuwn was selected for the Rolklifc Village hecause of its rich history' and established tradition. In 1983 the ON, of Miami Commission endorsed the I lad, Ardlives, History and Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc., a private nun -profit group, to co-spon- sor an I listo,ric IY,Ikhfe\illagc as pan of the Southeast 0Vcnown/f1Jrk1A-st Rt:dcvclopmcnt Plan. Oven non Ls one of [he oldest neighborhoo(s in Mianhi In 189h the City of Miami was incorporated when Remy Hagler. who w;ts building the railroad, needed a place for wui kcrs to Irvc Because blacks were not allowed nr live wi;hen the white community, the land west of the railmad tracis, within the City of Mianhi limits, was designated as "Colored Town," and was the beginning of a unique black community that today is called Ovenown. The area grew and developed into a vibrant community Sdhuklls, cburdles and husinesses flourished. In 1904, the official City of Miami directory, listed numer- ous businesses that included hotels, rooming houses, grocery stores, harper shops, furniture stores, fish mar- kets, theaters and nightclubs Manufacturing was limited to the production, bottling and distribution of "soda water" at the Cola Nip Bottling Company, located at 227 N.WNinth St., owned and operated by two black men, Osbonu Jenkins and William Sampson Tourists, black and white, as well as residents frequented the ai ea to enjoy the entertainment, partake of the exotic foods and to listen to popular melodies as well as gospel music Ovenuwn's Sir John Hotel, formerly at Sixth Street and Third Avenue, the Mary Elizabedh Hotel, and other nightclubs were where national celebrities such as Count Basic, Ella I-rtzgerald, Cab Calloway; Josephine Maker, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin and many, others performed year round. Internadonallyknown author and journalist, WE 13 DuBois; folklorist/writer, Zora Neale Hursion; world famous hoxer, Joe LkW is; and baseball greats, Jackie Robinson and lirly Campanella, are a few prominent blacks who vacationed in Overtown. Over the years, Ovenown lost its magic. Many of its core residents moved out of the area with the introduc- tion of desegregation, and the construction of an express- way system which cut right through the heart of the area. Ovenuwn vv;ts turn by civil disturbances in the early, eighties and ncuhy of the buildings In [Ile area were abandoned and fell into disrepair, the community leaders worked to make Ovcnown conic alive .again. They dreamed and planned for a "new town" whidh would bring a sense of cunlrnunity back to downtown and would revitalize the center city area. From this came the SoutheastOvertuwiVNarkUitstRedtw'elopment. Four developers will soon begin Phase I construction of the "in-w v'n" residcntial community with affordable housing, close to downtown husinesses, shopping and recreation. The development will also include a 16,5W scat sports arena, directly across from the Ovenown Metrorall station. The Historic Folkhfe'�illage will be Iklcatedon two blocks Ixtween NNX' Second & Third Avenues and N.W' Ninth and lenth Streets. W bile black history will be the main focus from 1835 to the present, the entire comrnunit). will be highlighted 71heVillage will recreate various tinge periods and will house commercial enter- prises In adklition, there will he a "Ja7zvc'alk of fame," a sculpture garden, and rehearsal and studio spaces for literary; folk, visual and perforriiing arts. llhe village will be andhuwd by the Ninth Street Mall An important clement of the I listoric Folklife Village will be the "walking tours" of refurhished historic sites and structures such as the Cola Nip Building; the LyricThcater, one of the major entertainment centers for the black community offering legitimate theater, movies and meeting space; and the Chapman House/Ethnic Heritage Childrens Museurn (narned after Dr William Chapman, Sr, one of the areas first black physician). Soon the 13-room mansion, built in 1923, will be filled with tapes and artifacts on local pioneer history, for children as well as adults. The Historic Overtown Folklife Village will rival such notable historical areas as " 1'Ihe Sweet Auburn Avenue," Ailanta, Georgia; Savannah Historic District, Savannah, Georgia and Black I fistoricliail, Boston, Massachusetts. Fur more information, contact The Black Archives, History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc. at (305) 638-6064 or the City of Miami Department of Development at (305) 579.3366. _ 771r U.A I)oru-Y hou.sr kxatrd at 250 N1V 9th Sirt-ri `(hrrrnnn" huilr in 1913, uas designed and built hi, (h,rccr himself 7hc original pore'hes and fine det:uls hair Ixrn re7r1ac'ed by a .singlle nnc stun• porch. Plans are presently undcrnsip for die resroration,,rclrabilltatiun u! Dias hi.510t c' Site a 7 *- DANA A. DORSEY HOUSE The Historic Dorsey House, 250 Northwest 9t.h Street, Overtown Family home of Dana Albert (D.A.) Dorsey, a black pioneer businessman. Dorsey came to Miami in 189G with the railroad. He opened a dry goods store on Ave. G. Ha used his influence as businessman and property owner to make significant contributions to the community. D. A. Dorsey provided land for a park, a school, and a library - all of which bear his name. Built in L913, the Dorsey house is on the City of Miam.i's List of Historic Places.