Published by the Department of Public Affairs, City of St. Augustine. Florida October 26 2010
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Relaxed parking in Wendler response | |
City Commissioners Monday offered Scott and Donna Wendler relaxed parking regulations for the commercial properties they own along King Street, in response to their claim that denial of demolition permits to build a boutique hotel has caused them financial loss. The claim was filed under the Bert Harris Private Property Protection Act.
The action was part of an agenda that included approval of the transfer of the former Mary Peck property to the National Park Service for a Castillo Orientation Center, advancing to public hearing stiffer penalties in the city noise ordinance, and approval of funding for the Riberia Street improvement project. |
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Halloween
Much to do this Halloween - but when?
The day is Sunday, October 31, but a Jacksonville councilman is pushing for trick-or-treating Saturday. Best to be prepared for both nights . . .
In our haunted city, Halloween events are scattered.
To mention a few: a Ghostly Encounter historical ghost walk for epilepsy at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Spanish Military Hospital on Aviles Street; Dr. Jimmy Glenos' 26th Annual Halloween Bash from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Ketterlinus Gym; Night Owl Cinema at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Saturday with a Halloween double feature: "The Addams Family" and "Carrie" beginning at 7 p.m.; Anastasia Baptist Church trunk-or-treat at its SR 16 Campus, Sunday 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Brooks San Marco Terrace trick-or-treat for kids from 6 to 9 p.m.
Image:
www.daikoclam.wordpress.com/ |
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City Attorney Ron Brown said a lawsuit is likely to be filed by the Wendlers unless they are satisfied with the city's offer. That process will likely involve a mediation session with opportunities to negotiate further.
Commissioners noted the Wendlers had argued they needed residential properties on adjacent Oviedo Street to provide parking, and suggested allowing relaxed on-site as well as off-site parking should make the commercial properties viable.
Despite pleas from several supporters of the hotel plan, which included demolition of seven properties on King and Oviedo streets, commissioners did not mention demolitions - only that the King Street properties could be used for "any allowable comercial use."
"King Street was once one of the city's premier streets," Commissioner Don Crichlow said. "There were once beautiful homes, lost to buildings like the post office and convenience store."
"These (Wendler) properties have simply not been maintained," Commissioner Leanna Freeman added. |
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Commissioners Monday approved a deed transfer, non-binding memorandum of agreement, and a National Park Service offer for Castillo ticket sales at city-owned venues.
Referring to the agreement, City Manager John Regan said, "Their first question was 'why? Everything you want we're already doing.'
"I explained the document provides meat on the bone," , "as far as the interpretations of all parties involved," Regan said.
Those parties include the National Park Service, city, and University of Florida. While the original park service plan was for a $4 million Castillo Orientation Center, the city and university are hoping for a larger $10 million center to provide a holistic introduction to the city's history.
Regan said the park service is planning a preliminary design session November 9. Congressman John Mica wants a final plan by February to begin efforts to get funding into the 2012 budget before the start of that fiscal year in October, 2011. |
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Noise violations at $499 a shout? |
Commissioners Monday advanced to public hearing at a later meeting a noise ordinance revision providing fines of $499 for repeat offenses, "however many times it occurs, every half hour if necessary," City Planning and Building Director Mark Knight said. Current code limits fines to $250, and doesn't allow continued fines in short time periods.
The revision, prompted by complaints against Local Heroes on Spanish Street, sets the fine below the $500 allowed by state statute, letting the alleged violator choose whether to accept the fine or go through a more expensive court process.
Local Heroes goes before the city Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) next Tuesday to seek a use by exception to operate as a bar/tavern. This was prompted by charges it is operating as a bar - selling more alcohol than food - without a permit.
Back to noise meter demonstrations
Over recent years, city commissioners have discussed and had demonstrated the use of noise meters to determine violations. They'll go through it again after resident Bruce Maguire raised the question of why permissible decibel levels are set five points higher in commercial areas than in residential areas.
Maguire is married to Virginia Whetstone, whose family owns several downtown motels.
Commissioners will get a meter demonstration at a later meeting, despite Police Chief Loran Lueder's offering the use of his cell phone - which includes a decibel meter.
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The UF Strategic Plan
Property repair estimate $26,671,000 | |
One in a series of summaries from the University of Florida's St. Augustine Historic Area Strategic Plan for management of 34 state-owned properties here. The plan was developed in cooperation with federal, state, and local officials.
History - both distant and recent - hasn't been kind to St. Augustine's architecture.
The University of Florida has taken on a major rehabilitation project in managing 34 state-owned historic properties here, in its assessment, $26,671,000 in needed repairs. That assessment "revealed varying degrees of restoration and rehabilitation need. These properties have deteriorated over the years and must be preserved and rehabilitated as a national treasure."
 The most repair cost-intensive structure is the 26,000 square foot Government House, primarily due to its age and size. The estimate: $14 million. "The original exterior construction is of coquina block . . . that has, over time, allowed salt-laden moisture to penetrate into the reinforcing steel in the structural beams. Some areas show major spalling of concrete . . . that will require complete demolition and reconstruction.
"Building conservation will require complete scaffolding of the building in phases as well as acquisition of new coquina blocks that are only manufactured in two quarries in the United States. To be ADA-compliant, an original elevator must be modified to allow access to the upper floors.
"The Government House is partially sprinkled . . . Fire Codes require adding automatic fire sprinklers to the remainder of the building (in a design) that will remain mostly hidden to not spoil the original appearance of the structure.
"Other buildings, although varying in condition and estimated repair costs, suffer from a variety of corrective needs. All need minor ADA upgrades to become accessible. Many of the buildings that house extensive inventory need automatic fire sprinklers. Many buildings are termite-infested and need structural replacement of wood columns, beams and siding.
"These components are almost entirely hand-hewn cypress planks, hand-split red-cedar shakes, and hand-shaped beams and columns, all requiring a significant amount of work to accomplish accurate construction techniques. Additionally, all metal connectors should be hand-cast in the local blacksmith shop, also requiring extensive work to remain historically correct.
"Buildings requiring concrete repair must utilize a period technique of casting in place, called tabby-concrete, requiring a rare craftsmanship virtually unavailable in today's market.
The university anticipates continued state funding of $650,000 for Plant Operations and Maintenance, but it's limited to eligibility based on educational use. Additional funding will include rents from non-educational buildings and aggressive fundraising efforts.
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History's Highlight
Forgotten history - Spengler Island
One in a series of historic features for our 450th, researched by George Gardner
4 years, 10 months, 14 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
The following account is drawn from an article in the St. Augustine Archaeological Association newsletter, written by Courtney Boren of the St. Johns County Historic Resources Division
Lesser known among wealthy northerners who chose St. Augustine as a winter home and economic opportunity in the late 1800s is John Francis Whitney, grandson of cotton gin inventor Eli Whitney and founder of the Boston Herald.
His 1902 obituary in the NY Times notes among his endeavors success in getting personal friend Mary Todd Lincoln's pension doubled, and "the first man to take ice to the West Indies. He built an icehouse In Porto Rico and shipped a cargo to fill it in hogsheads from Boston. It was unloaded under the fierce tropical sun, and melted to the last drop in the three days that it took the customs officials to decide that it was a form of water and not dutiable."
His venture in St. Augustine is shrouded in the wooded marshy area known today by a later owner's name, Spengler Island, in the San Sebastian River opposite the main library. It was here the entrepreneurial Whitney envisioned a luxurious subdivision where wealthy Northerners would build winter homes. He called it "Ravenswood." For further enticement, Whitney opened the first Fountain of Youth and an Alligator Farm in Ravenswood.
Ever the newspaperman, Whitney established newspapers here including the St. Augustine Press and the Florida Weekly Press. His son Theodore, at the age of eleven, also owned, published, and edited The Star. The newspapers were opportunities to promote their commercial ventures.
Among Whitney's notable guests was family friend Mary Todd Lincoln, widow of President Abraham Lincoln, in the winter of 1874. Archaeological evidence reflects Whitney's status in artifacts of porcelain and fancy glassware.
Hard times apparently hit the Whitneys at the turn of the century. Records show a Dennis Sweeney purchased the island from the First National Bank in 1899. It then went through a series of transfers to State Quartermaster Jacob H. Spengler, whose name survived.
The last known photograph of the Whitney House was taken in 1922. Melted glass and burned brick, ceramics, and ash suggest that the house was burned.
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The St. Augustine Report is published by the Department of Public Affairs of the City of St. Augustine each Tuesday and on Fridays previewing City Commission meetings. The Report is written and distributed by George Gardner, former St. Augustine Mayor (2002-2006) and Commissioner (2006-2008) and a longtime newspaper reporter and editor. Contact The Report at gardner@aug.com |
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