St. John Community Development Corporation, Inc. (SJCDC) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit community based organization founded in 1985 by Rev. Henry Nevin and a group of concerned and dedicated members from St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church in Overtown. It was established to respond to the physical deterioration and social distress of Overtown, Miami-Dade County’s poorest community and to take a lead role in its revitalization.

The mission of SJCDC is to energize the vitality and positive image of Overtown through partnerships that build and rehabilitate housing, strengthen the economic base, and enhance the quality of life in Overtown.

In order to accomplish this mission, SJCDC endeavors to:

• Function to increase advocacy for consensus building within the Overtown community
• Provide decent, safe and affordable housing for Overtown residents
• Attract new residents and businesses to the community
• Increase business and homeownership
• Create and expand employment and training opportunities
• Facilitate better access to and delivery of health and human services for low-income residents.

Overtown is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Miami, dating back to 1890 when it was designated as a segregated living area within the Miami city limits for blacks working on Henry Flagler’s railroad. Blacks were not allowed to live within the white community; therefore the land west of the railroad tracks, within the city limits of Miami, was designated as “Colored Town.” Overtown residents had a significant role in the development of Miami. Forty percent of the incorporators for the city were from Overtown.

The area grew and developed into a vibrant community, and Blacks eventually became owners of businesses and thereby helped establish a viable economic community. Schools, homes, churches and commercial uses were developed. Blacks developed large economic ventures such as hotels, apartments, theaters, nightclubs and small neighborhood markets. This created a very strong and pulsating community.

Tourists and residents from all over came to Overtown to stay in the hotels, enjoy the entertainment and frequent the restaurants. National celebrities such as Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Josephine Baker, Billie Holliday, Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and many others performed in Overtown hotels and nightclubs.

Over the years, Overtown lost its magic. Most of the middle class residents moved as a result of desegregation, construction of highways that cut through the community, radical culture/social change and inappropriate housing and economic redevelopment remedies.

Overtown and SJCDC’s target area are located in the central section of the City of Miami, just northwest of the Downtown area. Its boundaries are:

• The FEC/Metrorail line right of way on the East
• NW 7th Avenue on the West
• NW 5th Street on the South
• NW 21st Street on the North.

This area contains 45% of all of the dilapidated housing stock in the City of Miami and can only boast of 3% homeownership. Most of the housing stock in this area is rental stock that consists mostly of one-bedroom apartments that are occupied by persons with very low to moderate income. Practically none of these units are owner occupied.

This community faces severe economic problems primarily because the income levels of most of the area residents are below the median income level of the City of Miami. Overtown has the highest percent of households receiving government subsidies, the highest proportion of female heads of households, and the highest percent of families below the poverty level in the City of Miami.

Approximately 40% of the property in Overtown is under government ownership (DCHUD) and off the property tax roll.

Overtown is also experiencing an economic meltdown. Businesses are not properly functioning in that most have a very dilapidated appearance, which would discourage outsiders from investing in the area.

SJCDC is committed to restoring Overtown to a vibrant, prosperous community. The support of corporations, foundations, governmental agencies and others will help make this dream become a reality. We solicit your help. Together we can make a difference.