The historic Colson Hotel, once slated for demolition, is now poised for a major renovation and community repurposing, thanks to the collaborative efforts of a group of local philanthropists, Dream Large Organization, the Alliance for Historic Preservation, the City of Sarasota, and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
The journey to save the Colson Hotel began in 2024 when developer Maximilian Vollmer of JD Max Develops, purchased the property with plans to raze the structure and build (27) three-story townhomes. However, the Sarasota City Commissioners denied the demolition permit, recognizing the historical significance of the building. Their decision was further validated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which selected the Colson Hotel as a key initiative for preservation. This recognition led to the hotel being listed on the National Register of Historic Places and its inclusion in the Alliance for Historic Preservation’s “Six to Save” list, underscoring its national importance.
The hotel was a vision of Edwin Oscar Burns, who built the 28-room hotel between 1925 and 1926 at a cost of $35,000, during the Jim Crow era for African American travelers and workers. Located at 1425 Eighth St. in the Rosemary District, the hotel was named in honor of Lewis (Louis) Colson, an early African American land surveyor renowned for purchasing land to build the first Baptist church in the city of Sarasota in 1897, Bethlehem Baptist Church…