ENGLEWOOD — Attorney R. Earl Warren remembers when the Olde Englewood Village Association grew out of the Downtown Merchants Association on Dearborn Street in March 1994.

Warren, an OEVA founding member and president for five years, said the goal of the OEVA was to promote and improve Dearborn Street and the surrounding neighborhoods. In fact, he said the OEVA fundraised with the idea to hire a planner and approach Sarasota County with its plan. The OEVA began fundraising, but that proved unnecessary.