The Parramore area lies to the south of Lake Dot and just west of Orlando’s downtown. Rich with Orlando’s history, Parramore was named after Capt. James B. Parramore of the Confederate Army. Once home to a thriving African-American community, with many churches and activity centers, Parramore fell on hard times in recent years. A priority of Mayor Buddy Dyer, Parramore has benefited from funding from the city for streetscapes and most recently a State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), contributed to Orlando’s ambitious community revitalization effort in the Parramore neighborhood. Mayor Dyer said, “One of the primary elements of restoring Parramore to its great status…is housing.” Parramore has one of only eight houses in the country awarded the top-level platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its energy efficiency and affordability. Habitat for Humanity has also built numerous homes in Parramore to bring residents back to the area. Most recently Parramore was awarded one of three Orlando Main Street grants. The main street program was developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and designed to protect and revitalize neighborhood commercial districts.