Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation Celebrates Achievements in Preservation

March 27, 2024 – Sarasota

The 2024 Heritage Awards, hosted by the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (SAHP) and the History & Preservation Coalition of Sarasota County (HPCOSC), at the Sarasota Art Museum on March 21, brought together over 125 attendees. They convened to honor outstanding individuals and organizations whose contributions span, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, archaeological conservancy, historical research and notable achievements, both organizational and individual. The event was hosted by Dave Baber, SAHP’s new board president. The awards presentation was hosted by Andrea Knies and Mimi Cirbusova, co-owners and co-founders of Compass Rose History. Event sponsors included Architecture Sarasota, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, New College Foundation, Hall Darling Design Studios, Ringling College of Art and Design, and Archaeological Consulting, Inc. among others.

Tom McArdle, a member of SAHP’s board of directors, says that The Heritage Awards, together with the SAHP’s Six-To-Save program, “have been instrumental in

raising the community’s awareness of the herculean efforts needed to preserve the loss of our cultural and physical history.”

McArdle adds that SAHP’s current priorities “include preservation of Warm Mineral Springs Resort, the city of Northport’s only historic site; the preservation of the Venice Beach Pavilion; preventing demolition of the Colson Hotel in Sarasota, one of the last remaining structures in Overtown, the city’s first African American community; and the impending loss of the McAlpin house to new development.”

The 2024 Heritage Award Recipients:

Gregory A. and Eleana Najmy Hall Adaptive Use and Historic Preservation: These two awards are named in honor of the legacy of architect Gregory A. Hall and his wife Eleana Najmy Hall. They recognize and celebrate the best historic preservation projects in Sarasota County. Nominations are judged for their success in the rehabilitation, restoration, or adaptive use of a historic building in Sarasota County as well as the impact of the project on the community.

· Vickie Oldham and Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC) Preservation of the Leonard Reid House: In recognition of their extraordinary efforts, together with the City of Sarasota, to preserve the home of one of Sarasota’s early leaders of the city’s African American community, and repurpose the family’s home as an arts, culture and history center in Newtown that celebrates Black life and history.

· Florida Studio Theater Preservation and Adaptive Reuse of the Sarasota’s Woman’s Club and Gompertz Theater: Richard and Rebecca Hopkins. In recognition of FST’s extraordinary efforts to incorporate these historic structures into its campus, and repurpose them with sensitive alterations, as it has grown over the past 50 years into one the community’s most important arts and cultural institutions.

The Lillian Burns Individual Achievement: This year, the award was conferred upon two individuals who have made profound contributions to the history and preservation movement in Sarasota County.

· Frank Cassell, PhD: In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the history and preservation movement in Sarasota County, in the areas of scholarly research and publications, and for his tireless devotion to community service with your leadership of the Sarasota County Centennial Committee, the History and Preservation Coalition of Sarasota County and the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center, among many others.

· Dorothy Korwek: In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the history and preservation movement in Sarasota County, including her efforts to preserve and maintain the Triangle Inn building and the Lord-Higel House; obtain historic a historic designation for the Triangle Inn; her compilation and publication of numerous books and pamphlets documenting the history and culture of Venice; and her tireless community service.

Archaeological Conservancy: This award recognizes outstanding efforts to preserve and document prehistoric sites and/or effective advocacy of archaeological conservation.

· Marion Almy: In recognition of her outstanding efforts to preserve and document prehistoric sites in Sarasota County and the Tampa Bay region; her decades of effective advocacy for archeological conservation and historic preservation in Florida; and her effectiveness in advancing archeological preservation with national, local and state government agencies, including the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Division of Historical Resources.

Historical Research: Awarded for outstanding contributions through research and publication to increase knowledge of Sarasota County’s past.

· Deborah Walk: In recognition of her outstanding contributions to historic research and archival preservation of our cultural past, including her research

into the history of the Crocker Church for the Historical Society of Sarasota County; research for the Church of the Redeemer, and the Founders Garden Club; and for her work as an archivist, researcher, and author.

Organizational Achievement: Presented to a Sarasota County historical or preservation organization for outstanding success in historical preservation, historical education, and/or support of historical research.

· Venice Heritage, Inc. In recognition of its efforts to advance historic preservation, education, research, and community engagement in Venice through its publications of Dorothy Korwek’s historical narrative, “Remembering People, Places and Events – Venice Area Old Timers Stories.”

The Heritage Awards committee is comprised of professionals in the fields of architecture, historic preservation, real estate development, archaeology, history and collections management who deliberated over the awards submissions before making their final selections.

For more information, visit www.PreserveSRQ.org.

Photo captions:

· Mimi Cirbusova and Andrea Knies, co-owners and co-founders of Compass Rose History, presented the awards at the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation’s 2024 Heritage Awards. Photo by Dave Taylor.

· Dave Baber, board president of the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, with Vickie Oldham, president and CEO of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition Preservation, who accepted the Gregory A. and Eleana Najmy Hall Adaptive Use and Historic Preservation award at the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation’s 2024 Heritage Awards. Awards. Photo by Dave Taylor.

· Dave Baber, board president of the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, with Rebecca and Richard Hopkins of Florida Studio Theater, who accepted the Gregory A. and Eleana Najmy Hall Adaptive Use and Historic Preservation award

at the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation’s 2024 Heritage Awards. Photo by Dave Taylor.

· Virginia Shearer, executive director of Sarasota Art Museum, speaks at the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation’s 2024 Heritage Awards. Photo by Dave Taylor.

· Dave Baber, board president of the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, with Deborah Walk, archivist, researcher, and author, who accepted the

· Organizational Achievement award at the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation’s 2024 Heritage Awards. Photo by Dave Taylor.

· Dave Baber, board president of the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, with Frank Cassell, who accepted the Lillian Burns Individual Achievement award at the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation’s 2024 Heritage Awards. Photo by Dave Taylor.

· Erin DiFazio, program director of the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, speaks at the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation’s 2024 Heritage Awards. Photo by Dave Taylor.

About Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation

The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “Preserve and Enhance our Historic Places.” SAHP was incorporated in 1985 in an attempt to save architect Dwight Baum’s El Vernona Hotel in downtown Sarasota. The Alliance, a membership-driven organization, is comprised of residents, business owners, visitors, artists, architects, engineers, historians, builders, archaeologists, Realtors, planners, designers, and writers working together to preserve and encourage others to preserve – not only the remaining significant landmarks – but also the contributing structures that define Sarasota County. For more information, visit www.PreserveSRQ.org.