Florida awards $2 million to help the historic restoration of Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Parramore Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan and the historic restoration of the Parramore neighborhood are getting a big boost after the state awarded $2 million in grants to three different projects.

The Florida African American Cultural and Historical Grants is a program designed to provide funding for construction projects at facilities in Florida that highlight the contributions, culture, or history of African Americans.

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The Florida Department of State opened the application process last year and the grant panel made its final decisions in February.

The Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture received a $500,000 grant to help in phase two of its revitalization.

Read: Black History Month: Wells’Built Museum provided refuge for African Americans during segregation

Phase two involves renovating Wells’ House, including a retail store on the first floor and office space on the second floor.

Other areas of the phase two restoration include the re-creation of the historic South Street Casino entertainment venue and the re-location of historic homes to Museum property and adjacent properties between Jackson and South Streets, with the idea of creating a core African-American cultural heritage village.

Read: “It’s unlimited what can happen:” Parramore area earns Orlando “Main Street” designation

Another grant recipient is the Maxey-Crooms House at 638 W. Anderson Street. The historic house was built in 1924 and received $1 million for restoration. The Maxey-Crooms House was declared an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1989.

The grant committee also awarded $500,000 for the restoration of the historic Black Bottom House of Prayer, which suffered a roof collapse in December 2019.

Read: Fate of collapsed 94-year-old church in Parramore still in question

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