Historic Oviedo Colored Schools Museum clears key vote

The Historic Oviedo Colored Schools Museum has gotten the go ahead from a key committee, clearing the way for Seminole County to approve the museum in April. 

The Seminole County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval at the March 5 meeting. The building is located at 2170 James Drive just south of Oviedo city limits.

As the project was moving through the approval process, the  museum was recently vandalized with racist graffiti. That led to investigations for what the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office called felony criminal mischief. But the project has continued onward.

Historic Oviedo Colored Schools Museum Board of Directors President Judith Dolores Smith gave a presentation to the board. The former Gabriella Colored School was an elementary school that closed in 1951.

“This one is an anomaly in that they did the same building for the church and the school,” Smith said. 

One neighbor did voice concerns about the project. Pooran Itwaru is a neighbor who shares a driveway with the church. 

“My concern is the driveway coming into my property, it will impact me,” Itwaru said. “If there’s heavy traffic coming in, then I won’t know who’s coming in, are they strangers?” 

The school will have a unique – but limited – parking stipulation in its agreement, though. 

The school has a parking agreement with St. Luke’s Lutheran Church to allow dedicated parking for visitors with six spots. St. Luke’s is about 1.3 miles from the museum. There would be one parking spot on site to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

The school will only be allowed to operate Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment only. 

“And can they do anything different than what we’re seeing there?” Planning and Zoning Board Member Tim Smith asked staff.

“There’s really no ability to change the access,” said Joy Giles, principal planner with Seminole County. “We can’t access from (State Road) 426.” 

Ultimately, the board voted unanimously that the Seminole County Commission approve the project, which is expected to vote on the museum at the April 8 meeting. 

”Historical preservation is important from my point of view, given all the other developments,” board member Smith said before voting to approve the project.

From a timeline perspective, Judith Dolores Smith said they have the grant money approved and are ready to start the project as soon as the Seminole County Commission votes.  

“We are ready to start immediately,” Smith said. “I conceivably think that by the end of the year they could have it remodeled.” 

But, she added, they are fundraising for additional money “as a cushion” because construction costs have increased since getting the initial grant.