The black neighborhood razed during urban renewal is now home to the Tampa Housing Authority’s ENCORE!® development
St. James Episcopal Church once was a hub for the African-American community known as the Scrub.
Then, the Scrub was razed, the congregation moved, and the original brick St. James building fell into disrepair.
The Tampa Housing Authority began restoring the century-old St. James structure three years ago and the work is nearly complete.
The old church will reopen in mid-2020 as a community center for ENCORE! residents. In the next two to three years, it will take on another role — as home to a local African-American history museum.
Read full article »Source: Tampa Bay Times »