Sarasota homeowners are opening up about what it really means to restore a historic house. On Saturday, February 21, the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (SAHP) brings together four homeowners for a roundtable at the Crocker Church, where they’ll share the real difficulties of bringing old homes back to life.
This isn’t some glossy magazine fantasy. These homeowners have wrestled with crumbling walls, tricky building codes, and the constant tug-of-war between modern living and historic character. But ask them, and they’ll tell you; there’s a deep satisfaction in seeing a piece of Sarasota’s past survive.
Public historian Harry Klinkhamer will moderate the panel, digging into both the practical headaches and the unexpected joys that come with historic preservation.
Here’s who’s on the panel:
• Susan and Jim Davis took on two 1926 Owen Burns-designed bungalows in Burns Court, which had spent years as the Amore restaurant. They’ve restored the homes’ original charm, erasing decades of alterations.
• Michelle and Paul van Deventer recently finished restoring two Laurel Park bungalows, including the 1939 Fredrickson House. They modernized the inside while keeping the historic exterior. Their other project next door is a 1930s bungalow, now fully brought back to life.
• Christopher Wilson and Selma Goker own a Lustron Home on Rose Street in South Poinsettia Park, one of the last in Sarasota County. Built in 1948 in Ohio and shipped down to address the postwar housing crunch, this metal-clad house is anything but ordinary.
• Michael and Alice Jeromin, veterans of restoration in Ohio, are now tackling one of Venice’s architectural gems.
“This is the first time we’ve hosted an event like this,” says Erin DiFazio, SAHP’s managing director. “We want people to hear the real stories—what’s rewarding, what’s tough. Maybe it’ll inspire more folks to save these homes instead of letting them get torn down.”
The event isn’t just a lecture. There’s plenty of time for questions and conversation, so if you’re thinking about restoring a historic property, or you just love old houses, this is your chance to learn from people who’ve actually done it.
The conversation runs from 10 a.m. to noon. SAHP members get in for $15, non-members for $20. You can grab tickets online at PreserveSRQ.org or at the door. The Crocker Church sits right in Pioneer Park, downtown Sarasota, at 1260 12th Street.
For more about SAHP, check out PreserveSRQ.org.
