CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Clearwater community struggling with rundown buildings, crime and disinvestment will now get a boost from the city. 

The city council approved a community redevelopment area plan that would revitalize the North Greenwood neighborhood.

It took three years to get to this point. 

The Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition (CULC) is the grassroots organization behind bringing the historic community back to life. It was founded in 2019 to promote economic growth and preserve history.

“The Blue Chip, I remember when it came down,” said Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition Executive Director Gloria Campbell.

Campbell, Marilyn Turman and Muhammad Abdur-Rahim, who are all members of the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition, recall all of the establishments that helped the North Greenwood community thrive in the 1960s. They want to prevent the community from being erased.

“This was the late 1950s Garden Avenue, which served as a hub,” added Campbell.

“I grew up in North Carolina, but I came here when I was 9 years old,” said Abdur-Rahim. “I had the privilege of going to Williams Elementary, which was an all-Black school. Now, all of that is gone.” 

Gone, but not forgotten.

The CULC encouraged the city of Clearwater to use federal funding it received from the American Rescue Plan Act to build back North Greenwood. 

“We got $5.2 million to jumpstart our CRA,” said Campbell.

Campbell says the trust fund will support affordable housing, businesses, public safety and beautification projects.  

“Those things that we know keep people in poverty which we’ve known for generations — if you don’t address them, you will continue to get the same results,” said Campbell. “You’ll see a lot of empty lots here,” she noted while driving around the neighborhood. Campbell says she’s always felt a sense of belonging there. 

“It reminds me of a community I grew up in,” said Campbell. “A thriving community when we had no choices with segregation, but to be independent and then to see that lost and we see the results of that. We see that our children are not going to college at the same rate that they were. They are not graduating from high school. We are not building economic wealth. All of those things are a direct result of what has happened to our communities.” 

Using her experience in the corporate world, Campbell is determined to bring development to challenge neighborhoods. 

“Just imagine in the 1950 and 60s — this was the hub of the African-American community,” said Abdur-Rahim.

Back then, Abdur-Rahim says businesses existed along a 7 -block radius. 

One of them was the Elks Lodge, which hosted artists from all over the country.

“You talking about James Brown, Chubby Checker,” said Abdur-Rahim.

The original building is scheduled for demolition. It’s one of the first projects leaders plan to build back better and stronger.

Their efforts took three years, but Turman says it’s worth it. 

“Nothing good happens overnight. Change is not an event — it’s a process, and we have been committed to this process,” she said.

The work of a few will have a collective impact on the neighborhood for generations to come. 

The Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition expects to receive funds for its revitalization projects by June.