ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Jordan Park Historic Village is more than just a vacant affordable housing complex sitting behind a fence to Rev. Dr. Basha Jordan. It’s his grandfather’s legacy.
- Jordan Park named for Elder Jordan Sr.
- Rev. Dr. Basha Jordan supported demolishing Jordan Park last year
- Jordan now hopes to maintain historic value of property
“Having come from a slavery background,” said Jordan, “ [Elder Jordan] became the richest African-American in St. Petersburg in the 20's and 30's, and to have enough land to be able to give 26 acres to St. Petersburg for the express purpose of establishing affordable, decent housing for African-Americans is a poignant fact.”
Basha Jordan now sits on the board of commissioners for the St. Petersburg Housing Authority Board. Although last year he supported and approved of the plan to move its residents out, fence up the property and prepare to demolish the old units in place of a new three story housing complex, he is rethinking that decision now.
“After viewing Jordan Park and after going to the Palm Apartments and talking with clients of the Housing Authority and seeing where they're living now, I realized that we as the housing authority need to make some changes," Jordan explained. "We need to do a better job of maintaining our properties.”
He and some former Jordan Park residents plan to make their opposition heard at Thursday’s housing authority board meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Thursday at its offices at 2001 Gandy Blvd.
There, they hope to find common ground with the housing authority that will lead to creating improved housing for residents while still maintaining the historic value of Jordan Park and its namesake’s legacy.
“I think that [my grandfather] would say the same thing that I'm going say, that I want the best for my people.”