FLORIDA PLANNING A publication of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association
HISTORIC PRESERVATION - SPRING 2026
florida.planning.org
By: Kyle Dost, AICP; Dr. Cleary Larkin, AIA; Dr. Kathryn Frank; Dr. Nicholas Serrano Florida’s Gulf is dotted with historic waterfront towns saturated in smells of fresh-caught seafood, aging wood homes, and air thick with salt. The slower pace of life, traditional economies like oystering and fishing, and small-scale waterfront downtowns are what remain of an earlier Florida that modern development has largely passed over. These rural towns’ existence along the Gulf is precarious, but persistent. At risk of storms, ecological decline, and overdevelopment, these special places still lure in newcomers while simultaneously being “home” for generations of Floridians. This is “Old Florida:” a term that is recognized but has little formal definition. It is used in advocacy against development,
Understanding servation Planning and PreAction Research in
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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
7
Preserving Joynerville: Titusville's Effort to Honor a Historic Black Community's Legacy
10
From Utility to Community Asset: Adaptive Reuse in the Capital City
13
Saving the New Smyrna Beach Women's Club
15
Saving Our Story: Historic Preservation Takes Center Stage in Havana and Quincy
18
Community of Royal: Protecting a Rural Historic African American Cultural Landscape
21
Miami-Dade County Celebrates 45 Years of Historic Preservation
24
Bricks, Beams and Barbarians: Preserving the Robert E. Howard House and Museum
26
2026 Florida Planning Summit: A Week of Policy, People, and Purpose
OTHER FEATURES President’s Message - p. 3 2026 Conference Update - p. 28 Andre Anderson Scholarship - p. 31 FAICP Inductees - p. 32 Executive Director Message - p. 34 Planners on the Move - p. 36 Working for You - p. 37 Consultants Directory - p. 40 Events - back page
The Florida Chapter of APA provides statewide leadership in the development of sustainable communities by advocating excellence in planning, providing professional development for its members, and working to protect and enhance the natural and built environments.