This was the Venice Housing Authority’s first public housing complex.  It was built in the late 1960’s on North Grove Street. It served as a key affordable housing hub for families in Venice’s historically Black neighborhood.  The 50 unit complex was demolished in 2009. It was replaced by the modern Venitian Walk subsidized housing community.

Origins

     Location :  Grove Terrace was built on a nearly 6 acre site near the Intracoastal Waterway.

    Historical Context: The site was located in what was formerly known as the  “Negro or Blackburn Quarters “, one of the earliest historically  Black neighborhoods in the city of Venice

     Development: The complex was officially opened in 1970 and was designed by Jack West. It was established as the Venice Housing Authority’s major public housing project.to provide n low-income housing

Redevelopment in the 2000’s

     By the mid 2000’s, Grove Terrace had aged significantly . In 2006,the Venice Housing Authority secured the necessary funding and tax credits to redevelop the site

     All 50 units of the Old Grove Terrace were torn down in 2009.

     Phase 1 Venetian Walk Senior (2014)

     A 61 unit , three story apartment complex reserved for low income seniors aged 62 and older was built just south of the old footprint at 201 Grove Street N.

     Phase II Venetia n Walk II (2020)

       Built directly on the original footprint of the old Grove Terrace Complex, this $12.2 million dollar project opened as an all ages ,mixed finance family community.  It features 2 and 3 story garden style buildings offering 52 modern units

    The property at 106 Pocono Trail East Nokomis is a multiple unit complex containing three restored historic buildings dating from 1923–1926.  This complex was built and developed by Doctor Fred Albee. .   These buildings are home to Rum Runner Antiques an antique mall with over 15 dealer;RUM Runner Auctions: Nokomis Art Market a  seasonal market held from  November to April;:The Cottage Art Gallery is an art gallery and teaching studio.

     The first owner of.the current Rum Runner Building was Doctor.Fred Albee.

     The Cottage Art Gallery  is an eclectic, artist run cooperative tucked away at 106 Pocono Trail East in Nokomis.  It features affordable original paintings, jewelry, pottery,and metal crafts.

Key Highlights

     Local Talent The space is run by a collective of regional artists, the inventory is always rotating and features uniquely bespoke items. 

    The cooperative is currently managed by local artists Brandy Boyd, Judith Light, and Nancy Taylor.

      Teaching Studio Beyond shopping the venue operates as an instructional space where you can sign up for specialized classes like watercolor and alcohol ink.

     Visiting  The gallery is open during classes and by appointment.

     It was a  1920’s boom era residence transforming into a modern, local historic landmark.

     Dr. Fred Albee constructed the building as a private home and rental investment within his newly planted Albert Nash subdivision.  The style of the building was Mediterranean Revival.

     Olga Grosjean was a long time owner of the building.  Under her ownership the home was designated as a part of the local historic architectural push

     The Pocono Trail Preserve is a 9.2 acre preserve located at 189 Pocono Trail East Nokomis, Florida.  The preserve is managed by Sarasota County.  It was originally established as a 8.2 acre park in 2002.  The county completed a $1.475 million expansion to acquire an additional acre of land.

     The preserve offers a quiet, brief retreat into old Florida landscape.

    There are short shaded networks of both paved and unpaved walking paths. There is a wheel accessible wooded path and parking lot. There is an observation and fishing dock overlooking Shakers Creek and Dona Bay

     In 1915, Chicago socialite Mabel Linn sold 60 acres of undeveloped acres to Edson Keith, Jr. for  $7000. This land was located along the south bank of Phillipi Creek just south of downtown Sarasota.  This land was to become  the Edson Keith estate.  In 1916 he built a clap board farmhouse to live in while his main home was being built.

     His residence was completed in December, 1916.  The architects Otis and Clark were from.Chicago. It was an L shaped 2 story Italian.Renaissance style. The builder was Edson Keith

Exterior Architecture

     Structure built with hollow clay tile and brick. It features white washed exterior walls    

Roofing 

     The home is topped with a low pitched hip roof covered in red ceramic terracotta tiles

Outdoor Living

     Large expansive veranda and Northern corner porches designed to capture coastal breezes, acting as a form of natural air conditioning

Terrace

     A large rear terrace overlooks a lush lawn that sweeps down toward shores of Philippines Creek

Interior Features

     Grand entry the mansion opens into a stately foyer characterized by exquisite craftsmanship

   Living spaces

        The main floor includes an expansive living room and twin sun rooms featuring elegant Palladian window    Historical Finishes

       interior details include hand painted ceilings, intricate woodwork and a wood paneled library

         

Modern for its time

     Featured indoor plumbing,.closets,and electric lighting

Upper level

     Second floor contains 4 main.bedrooms and suites
 

Ownership Timeline

     Edson Keith,Jr.  (1916–1939)  Edson was a wealthy Chicago       businessman who built the mansion as a year -round                 residence.  He lived there until his death in 1939.

      Mae Hansen Produce  (1939–1986) After Keith’s death,              his  widow, Nettie, sold the property to Mae Hansen              

      Prodie, a Chicago -based designer of doll clothing (famous        for creating wardrobes for Barbie dolls)

       During this era , Mae’s husband, Charles Prodie                             operated the mansion as a luxury inn and restaurant                   known as Philippi Plantation.Inn in the 1950’s.

Sarasota County (1986 to present)

Following Mae Prodies death, Sarasota County purchased the 60 acre estate for 5.2 million dollars through a public referendum. It was transformed into Philippines Estate Park, A public space managed by Sarasota County Parks Department

     This home is an architecturally significant house built in 1924. The architect was Thomas Reed Martin. Builder was Doctor Fred Albee. It was built for William Parson. It is located in the East Nokomis Historic District across from the Pocono Trail Preserve.

     Style is classical Mediterranean Revival architecture with original plaster walls. Interior details: original heart of pine flooring, Saltilla terra cotta tiles, vaulted ceilings and a masonry fireplace.

    Compound layout: includes a main residence and a detached guest house totaling 2033 square feer under roof.

     The exterior structure of the house is a single story wood frame construction finished with traditional stucco exterior.

     Walls: textured stucco over wood framing characteristic of the 1920’s Florida Boom Style.

    Foundation: built on a crawlspace foundation

    Roofing: A multi material configuration utilization of a combination of metal, shingle, and tile elements.

     Porch:includes a prominent front porch and patio space configured for hour t door coastal living
    

     In 1912, The newly organized Sarasota Yacht and Automobile Club purchased a 100 foot lot with a 2 story boat house on Cedar Point (today is next to where the Watergate Condominium grounds front the southeast corner of Gulf Stream Avenue near US 41.   )

     At that time, Gulf Stream Avenue did not extend that far west and the low area was used by fishermen and boat builders. By the middle of the following year, a seawall had been built far enough into Sarasota Bay to create–once fill was found for attractive land landscaping and a driveway.

     Soon after the land purchase, the club announced in the Sarasota Times, that members of the Yacht and Auto Club had approved a plan for a new club house.

     The plans were developed by architect Alex Browning.  The new building was to be two stories with a garage underneath. Porches were to be on both levels.   The building was elevated.10 feet off the ground on concrete posts to create a protected basement or ground level area  for automobile storage,a gymnasium, a kitchen, and a bathroom with shower.  A dumb waiter connected the kitchen to the upper dining areas.

     The first floor had a 400 seat auditorium and stage. It had a main room with fireplaces at both ends, a card room and billiard tables.

     The second floor housed banquet and private dining rooms,a library, a lounging room, and a specific ladies lounging area and five bedrooms for rent.

     There was a 20 foot cupola on the roof.  This featured hammocks and chairs with a 360 degree view view of the bay and city.. Tje building was constructed in early 1913.  The builder was H.B. Westbrook.  Construction costs were $4,000.

     
Architectural Characteristics

     Elevated vernacular.  2 story structure built 10 feet off the ground

    Prominent Nautical Details

     The exterior was painted white with green trim.  Building was topped by a 20 foot square cupola

    Porch centric design

Extensive porches wrapped around both the front and sides  of each story

     Interior Finishing 

The interior was more refined featuring plaster walls and dark green.stained

     The 1912 building was used by the Sarasota Yacht and Automobile Club for 4 years.approximately 

     Time line of building use.

1913- 1916

The building served as  vibrant social center for boating and automobile enthusiasts

1916-1917

After the club experienced financial difficulties and failed to make mortgage interesr payments, the  Naval Militia Armory almost immediately used the vacated club. It was transformed  into an armory used to store guns, tents, uniforms and equipment before the militia left for Charleston Naval Yards during World War  I

Sunset Apartments (early 1920’s — 1964)

John Ringling purchased the building in 1917. In the early 1920’s, the former clubhouse was renovated and converted into a residential building known as the Sunset Apartments. There were nine units with bay view.  It continued as apartments until 1964.

     The apartments closed and the building was demolished in 1964.  A new  modern development on Golden Gate Point was constructed.

 .

     This is an unincorporated community  5 miles north of Englewood in Sarasota County Florida. 

  In  1915, Southern Investment Company acquired thousands of acres of land in the area from Bertha Palmer and  Joseph Lord to turn into a resort community in Mamasota.  Sensing that a greater profit could be made with a different sale, they  sold it to the Manasota Land Timber Company in 1917. The sale involved over 80,000  acres of timber land long the Gulf Coast Railroad. In  May, 1918 the company transferred 250  acres to the Manasota  Lumber Company. The company built a massive four story sawmill and company town on the site.  Construction started in 1918 under the supervision of Herman Kluge. The mill was a coal fired facility capable of producing over 42,000 feet of milled lumber daily. The surrounding  town served  1500 workers

The heart of the operation was the massive industrial complex.

     Sawmill

There was a four story structure roughly the size of a full city block.

     Drying sheds

Three large sheds used for seasoning lumber

     Machine shop

A large facility for maintaining mill equipment and locomotives

     Railroad Yard

Featured a network of narrow gauge rail lines and two locomotives for moving logs and finished lumber

     Mule Corral 

Housing for the animals used  in early logging and hauling

Housing for Manasota Lumber Company  was located in the company town of Woodmere. It consisted of a segregated  multi-tiered  system.

Supevisory/White Employees

     Lived in substantial, individual family homes.

General/Black Laborers 

     Housed in large, plain dormitories or bikini used for single men, often segregated from white neighborhoods

General Features

     The camp included a large dining hall (serving up to 1500).  This also served a recreation center, motion picture theater, a church and a school.  There  was a commissary for supplies, post office, a machine shop and a railroad yard.  There was  some family housing for workers. The town was surrounded by a tall fence with a gate house.

    The Manasota Lumber Company operated its sawmill town between 1918 and roughly 1923.It went in receivership in 1922 and transitioned into the Woodmere Lumber Company.  The sawmill activity ceased in 1923.  The Mill was destroyed by a fire in 1930.
     Founding/Groundbreaking: October 19,1918

     Peak operation 1918 to 1923

     Transition/end : renamed Woodmere Lumber Company in 1922.  Production shut down around in 1923.

     Very little remains of the Manasota Lumber Company, as the town of Woodmere was largely destroyed by fire and the surrounding forests were depleted. However, physical traces still in.the local area.

     Venice Jetties: Foundation stones from the original sawmill were salvaged and incorporated into the construction of the Venice Jetties in 1937

     Relocated Homes:  Some of the better constructed houses were moved before or after the town’s abandonment to Siesta Key, Englewood, and Venice

     Historical marker: A marker stands at the former site of the towm, located at 5115 Englewood, Venice.

     

     It is situated at 1600 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago.  It is located at the bustlimg six corners intersection of North,Milwaukee and Damen Avenues. It is a 12 story  203 feet tall Art Deco Building. It is clad in limestone light colored brick, and concrete.It was built in 1928- 1929.  It was renovated 2015–2017. The building was designed by Perkins, Chatted and Hammond.  The building was commissioned by a building corporation formed by businessman Joseph Noel. He had previously used the site for his bank Northwest Savings Bank

    The building was originally marketed to high level doctors, dentists and attorneys.  In the period from the 1930’s to the 2000’s the building served as private office space.  By the 1980’s it became known as the Coyote  building and it housed the Tower Coyote Gallery.  This was the most prominent tenant of the Northwest Tower during  its era as an arts colony in the 1980’s.  It was founded  by Jim Happy Delpeche  an art dealer who is widely credited with establishing the building as a central hub for Wicker Park arts. 

2008

     The Chicago zoning board approved plan to convert the Northwest Tower building into a hotel.  Unfortunately progress on this project was halted due to financial issues.

Renovation period 2015 to 2017.

     The renovation project restarted with a design by Gruopo Habita with input from Artunovich and Nicolas Schuybrock  Architects

     Opening in 2017

     The building opened as the Robey Hotel (previous name of Damen Avenue.  There were 69 rooms.  Cafe Robeyw was a hotel restaurant serving French American food.