“Rebuilding our own ‘Black Wall Street’ in St. Petersburg.” That was the vision cast for the Sankofa project by Albert Lee, CEO of the Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation (also known as the BBIC), at last week’s Design Team Kick-Off for the Sankofa Project on the Deuces.
The BBIC is one of five non-profit organizations that comprise the Sankofa Vision Group, a co-development partner to the City of St. Petersburg in building the Sankofa project, which will bring new housing and about 30,000 square feet of commercial space to 2.8 acres front-facing the Deuces.
Lee was also one of 27 local leaders who traveled to Durham, N.C., in 2018 to tour its famous Black Wall Street and other equity initiatives, including the American Underground start-up incubator and co-working space. That was the facility that inspired the commercial part of the Sankofa project in St. Petersburg.
“That vision is well underway,” said Veatrice Farrell, executive director for The Deuces Live, who attended the kick-off session. “We have so many Deuces neighbors welcoming and supporting this alongside their own projects,” said Farrell. “The Woodson museum is a prime example, and is our hope that the design vision will be symbiotic with other projects nearby.”
The May 6 meeting was convened by the City of St. Petersburg’s project management team, led by Rob Gerdes, the Neighborhood Affairs director, and James Jackson, the city’s project manager for the Sankofa project.
