TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A new agreement with the City of Tampa is breathing life back into efforts to restore the historic Jackson House, one of the last surviving landmarks of Black history in downtown Tampa.

For years, the once-bustling boarding house has sat in disrepair, boarded up and crumbling.

It served as a safe haven for Black travelers during segregation, hosting legends like James Brown and Ray Charles.

However, despite millions raised and community support, progress on the restoration had stalled.

The problem? The Jackson House Foundation had the funds, but not the land.

“Over the last three years what we’ve been trying to do is to gain access for code enforcement so that we can extend the Jackson House,” said Dr. Carolyn Collins, a member of the Jackson House Foundation boar

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