Published by former Mayor George Gardner December 10 2011
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
Distillery approved for ice house
A distillery for whiskey, rum, and bourbon is planned for the former, long-vacant, ice house on Riberia Street, adjacent to the idle Sebastian Inland Harbor project.
"I wish I'd thought of this; this is cool," said Planning and Zoning Board Member John Valdes as the board this week approved a use by exception for the distillery and off-site parking provisions.
Valdes, a contractor specializing in historic properties, noted he'd brought clients through the 1920s property, but concluded it would probably one day be torn down.
Principals in the venture, to include a separate retail store, bar, and game room, are Phil McDaniel and Ryan Detra.
McDaniel has successfully advanced projects including Project Swing adjacent to Francis Field, and the Hamilton Upchurch exercise and skate park off Anastasia Boulevard. Detra is former marketing director for the Amphitheatre and operates Café Eleven at St. Augustine Beach.
"This is an emerging market nationwide," McDaniel said of the distillery. "In the 1970s it was wineries, in the 1980s micro-breweries. Our area is ready for craft distilled spirits."
The design, presented by Architect Les Thomas, includes a tour train loop and walking tour, tasting room, and museum in the southern building area which once produced ice, while the northern section will feature a second floor overlook of the distillery, a bar, and gameroom including billiard tables and a one-lane bowling alley. | |
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The St. Augustine Yacht Club presents the Holiday Regatta of Lights at 6 pm today along the bayfront.
Sailboats, trawlers, shrimp boats and many other vessels parade, decorated with the festive lights of the season in celebration of the holidays.
Check details on the yacht club website.
A good vantage point would be the Castillo gun decks as the Castillo opens it gates 6-9 pm for a free holiday open house. |
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450 meetings
may do a 180 | |
What began as 450th planning workshops before regular City Commission meetings, then changed to special meetings to avoid repetition in the later meeting, may now become part of the regular commission agenda.
City Manager John Regan will present to commissioners Monday the idea of inserting 450 items at the top of the regular meeting agenda, before appeals and public hearings.
The public comment section, once the first business item for public convenience, would continue to follow appeals and public hearings.
Commissioners Nancy Sikes-Kline and Bill Leary have been concerned that the 3:30 pm 450 meetings don't get the necessary public attention. Leary called for televising those meetings on the Comcast government channel 3, but conflicts with other governmental telecasts make that difficult.
Case in point: Monday's 3:30 meeting, cleared earlier for telecast, won't be telecast due to a conflict with a Ponte Vedra board meeting.
Monday's 450 meeting at 3:30 will precede the 5 p.m. commission meeting in the Alcazar Room at City Hall. |
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Add a St. Augustine Historic Inns website to the effort to tell the world about our nation's oldest city. The bed and breakfast group has launched a website for all things 450th, http://www.450years.com/
The website includes details on this weekend's 18th Annual Bed and Breakfast Holiday Tour. |
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Realtor may list former M&M Market |
Commissioners Monday will consider an exclusive listing agreement with Realtor Irene Arriola of Saltwater Property Group to sell the former M&M Market building at 102 Bridge Street.
The item is on the agenda for the commission's last meeting of 2011, beginning at 5 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
Arriola says Saltwater will waive its commission, while a 3.5 percent commission can be offered to a buyer's agent.
No asking price has been determined, but the city hopes to recover the $305,000 it paid for the property one year ago when it was closed and its former owners arrested on a variety of charges.
Proposals by a South Carolina architect, the non-profit Lift Up Lincolnville Revitalization Corp., and Fred Canevari were earlier rejected by the commission. |
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Hearings for mooring, panhandling ordinances |
Ordinances to amend a test pilot mooring ordinance, and to further regulate panhandling, go to public hearings and final action by the City Commission Monday.
The test mooring ordinance is part of a state pilot program to strengthen mooring regulations, and would expire in 2014 unless the state legislature approves adoption.
Thorniest point was a requirement that boaters moored outside authorized mooring fields for more than ten days must relocate to a mooring field. The amendment now changes the time to 30 days in a 45-day period.
The panhandling ordinances focus on panhandling in the West San Carlos Avenue area by the main library, and approaching vehicles in traffic anywhere in the city. One restricts sales and solicitations in traffic lanes; the other cites dangers in distracting drivers.
Riberia Street update and gas tax shares on agenda
Commissioners will also get an update on the Riberia Street project, and consider an interlocal agreement between the county and its municipalities to provide a portion of gas tax shared revenue for the Town of Hastings.
Hastings has been cut out of gas tax revenue sharing in a formula based on population, its total less than one percent in the county. A new formula will provide a fraction, .30 percent to the town, with 3.40 to St. Augustine Beach, 7.40 to St. Augustine, and 88.90 percent to the county. |
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lidays open in thundering style |
Thousands thrilled once again to the thunder of muskets Saturday as reenactors, lined along the east side of Government House, opened fire in a volley of joy, signaling the start of the holiday season.
The growing number of reenactors in the annual British Night Watch - Grande Illumination - a signature event in the southeast - prompted its committee to move the weekend encampment from the Colonial Spanish Quarter to Francis Field.
Here, sutlers (period vendors), cannon-firing, drilling and period entertainment drew crowds during the weekend.
Image: Jackie Hird Photography |
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History's highlight
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3 years, 8 months, 30 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Samuel Fleischman is at rest in the northeast corner of this simple, 191-year-old cemetery, the first recorded burial, October 18, 1821. He was 14 years old.
Florida became a U.S. territory July 10, 1821, after more than 250 almost uninterrupted years of Spanish rule. Within months, visitors and immigrants flocked to this unknown semitropical paradise, some to settle, others to visit for their health.
Within months, too, a deadly visitor arrived - yellow fever. City fathers knew they must prepare for burials. The only existing burial ground of the time was the Tolomato Catholic Cemetery. A sanctified grounds, Protestant burials would not be allowed.
In September, 1821, the city sought a "... Suitable Lot for a Publick burial place for all Protestant denominations of Christians."
The site was part of the original Spanish defense area. The U.S. territorial government decided it would no longer be needed, and approved its use as a cemetery. Its last grantee under Spanish rule sold it to Presbyterian Minister Thomas Alexander in 1827. Five years later the minister transferred title to the Presbyterian Church.
There are 120 known burials here, of all ages and from all areas. Many came for their health ... departed this life whilst on a visit to this city for the benefit of his health, ... left that city for the benefit of his health. ... died on a tour for his health at St. Augustine.
What sorrow can be felt in markers for the Josias Campbell family in 1830: son Josias, July 4, age 3; mother Elizabeth, July 5, age 39; father Josias, September 5, 52.
The Huguenot Cemetery existed through a significant era before both it and the Tolomato Cemetery were closed by ordinance requiring that cemeteries be established away from growing residential areas.
That era, 1821 to 1884, included the Seminole Indian War of 1835-1842 and the American Civil War, 1861-1865. In neither event was St. Augustine a battleground, its defense works too strong for serious attack.
But those events, along with the growing pains of a new territory, touched the lives, and are part of the record, of the souls at eternal rest in the Huguenot Cemetery.
Image: Marker describes Huguenot Cemetery adjacent to the Visitor Information Center.
Excerpt from St. Augustine Bedtime Stories. Click for further information on this fascinating historic series. |
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The St. Augustine Report is published weekly, with additional Reports previewing City Commission meetings as well as Special Reports. The Report is written and distributed by George Gardner, St. Augustine Mayor (2002-2006) and Commissioner (2006-2008) and a former newspaper reporter and editor. Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com |
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