TAMPA, Fla. — Emergency funding could be needed to stabilize the historical Jackson Rooming House this year.

The Jackson House was built in 1901 near downtown Tampa as a place for African American travelers to stay during segregation. Stars such as Ray Charles, James Brown and Ella Fitzgerald stayed there.

Tampa city council members are scheduled to hear an update Thursday on the latest plans to renovate the historic boarding house.

For nearly a decade, the structure has been falling apart. Nearly $5 million has been raised through state, local and private funding to rebuild the structure.

“I truly feel that we’re going to survive this one on the edge,” said chairwoman of the Jackson House Foundation Carolyn Collins. “And there may be some request on some stabilization money. Not a detailed stabilization that costs millions but an emergency stabilization because, having gone through what we’ve gone through the last few years, the house is in very bad shape.

Emergency stabilization for the Jackson House could run about $60,000, according to Collins.

So far, crews have not started working to rebuild the structure.

In order to satisfy city and state requirements, the Jackson House needs more space on three sides of the property. Currently, Collins said she’s working on a deal with Jason Accardi, whose family owns the surrounding 717 parking lot.

“We are hoping we’ll be able to finalize this last document with the Accardis. They sign off, the Jackson House signs off and all of that is done,” Collins said.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said the Jackson House should have been saved long ago.

“That’s a lesson you know that we have to preserve our history and we need to ensure that we don’t just go looking into preservation once a structure is collapsing,” Castor said. “We have to remember that history and preserve that for generations to come.”

Collins is hopeful there will be a deal and work can begin to save the structure sometime this year.