Affordable housing, green spaces top needs list at EWG community meeting

In 2017, an urban planning team from Dover, Kohl & Partners came to Winter Garden to meet with residents, business owners, pastors, city officials, and other stakeholders of the city's historic Black community, East Winter Garden. The idea was to hear what those who lived and worked in the community wanted for their community. An overarching community-directed, city-funded plan was developed. Then came Covid and much was delayed.

But Dover, Kohl & Partners came back in early June. And in the past three days, Jason King, Pam Stacy King and their team again met with community stakeholders — more than 40 percent of whom had been involved in the initial meetings — to get feedback on "fine-tuning" the plan for today. A full 75 percent of the Community Redevelopment Area's funds — $22 million — over the next 10 years are earmarked for revitalizing East Winter Garden in order to create a single, seamless community,  ONE WINTER GARDEN. In a series of videos, VoxPopuli takes you inside the meetings. Follow us for coverage.