In a landmark effort to preserve Sarasota’s African-American heritage, DreamLarge has successfully acquired the historic Colson Hotel, finalizing a year-long negotiation and collaboration with the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, the City of Sarasota, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, and a newly established Community Development Corporation (CDC).
Black community members and natives, along with the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, lent critical support for the effort to the City of Sarasota for the acquisition.
The acquisition marks a major victory for preservationists who fought to save the iconic “pink box” hotel, a symbol of Sarasota’s Black history and a gathering place for the community during the segregation era. The purchase was finalized on Tuesday following months of debate over potential demolition and concerns about the future of the site which has faced significant redevelopment pressure this year.