Published by former Mayor George Gardner January 31 2012
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
Anti-bill campaign mounts
Bus to Tallahassee to face committee
Residents will board at least one van at 4:30 am Wednesday to travel to Tallahassee for an 8 am House committee meeting on legislation to give the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind power of eminent domain and reduce its responsibility to work with the city to resolve differences.
Gina Burrell GinaBurrell1@Comcast.net 825-6746 and Skip Hutton skiphutton@bellsouth.net are making arrangements for the trip and calling on residents to sign up. More vans can be provided as needed.
City Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline, tracking progress on what's called "last hurrah" legislation by outgoing Rep. Bill Proctor, noted the House bill was "added to Economic Affairs Committee at 4:25 pm (Monday), just five minutes before the agenda and meeting notice deadline of 4:30 pm. ... their meeting was originally scheduled for Thursday -- it was moved up to this Wednesday at 8 am."
Citizens for the Preservation of St. Augustine (CPSA) http://www.cpsa-staug.org/ has joined north city neighborhoods in the David and Goliath battle to get the city's opposition heard over Proctor's political maneuvering in Tallahassee.
Decrying the eminent domain provision, CPSA added, "Even more disturbing are provisions in the bill that would make all campus properties "vested", thus removing the school's accountability and making city codes unenforceable." | |
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Calling hands for
16th century ships
The time is now - for 16th century ships, and the non-profit Saint Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation is hosting a public reception Wednesday, 4-7 pm, at the St. Augustine Yacht Club for seaworthy hands (experience not necessary).
Work has begun on a boathouse at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, where plans are to build a smaller chalupa and a larger tall ship caravel, the workhorse of early Spanish fleets, including that of St. Augustine founder Pedro Menendez.
The reception is an opportunity to learn more about the signature project for the 450th commemoration and sign on to be part of replicating history. Find details at staugmaritimeheritage.org to join, donate, and volunteer.
Photo: Posts are winched into place for 16th century boathouse at Fountain of Youth Park |
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Powersports eyes large tract on US 1 | |
First Coast Powersports Group will ask the city Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) for a use by exception to expand its recreational vehicle location along US 1 from San Carlos to Matanzas Avenue.
The plan would take over the 40-year-old Burton Electronics building opposite the main library and extend south across the former Bozard Ford lots including the Historic Tours of America welcome center at Matanzas Avenue, according to papers filed with the city Planning and Building Department.
The Bozard property is currently owned by hotelier Kanti Patel's Vista Hotel IV, Inc. No word on whether the properties would be sold or leased.
Also on the PZB monthly meeting agenda at 2 pm February 7 in the Alcazar Room at City Hall: Bayfront Inn's request to build a dock just south of the Santa Maria Restaurant, and The Gifted Cork on Hypolita Street with a request to allow a wine bar as a use by exception. |
Name calling in St. Augustine | |
"There was a lot of name calling going on in Saint Augustine during 2011. Nights of Lights, throughout the downtown Historic District, was named one of National Geographic's "Top 10 Places to See Holiday Lights," American Bus Association's "2011 Top 100 Events in North America," Flagler Hospital named among "America's 50 Best Hospitals" by HealthGrades in 2011, and The Tasting Room contemporary Spanish Restaurant named in the "Top 50 Notable Wine Lists" by OpenTable Diners' Choice.
"These titles not only endorse what we already know, they bring national recognition to our Ancient City. They strengthen our pride as a community and inspire us to raise-the-bar for our businesses, the services we provide, our own personal goals and abilities. With all the City's 450th Anniversary Commemoration activities getting under way, consider adding your own preparation to your list of New Year's resolutions. ... "The 450th will be here before we know it. Let's give visitors here even more to talk about!"
(Publisher's note by Yvette Monell Richardson in Old City Life Magazine) |
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Lightner building on refill |
Hopes that the Florida National Guard would take the last remaining rental space in the Lightner/City Hall building were dashed when the Guard was unable to fund the lease, but coaches, a senator, the city's 450 program and restructured Department of Revenue are helping fill one of St. Augustine's most successful adaptive reuse programs.
The Guard was to take the third floor east side in the four story building. General Services Director Jim Piggott says other third floor space was vacated in a restructure of the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR).
But now a consolidation of DOR area offices will move back in, along with State Senator Audrey Gibson, elected to replace Tony Hill who's joined Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown's administration.
And Flagler College coaches will move into space vacated by URS Corporation after completion of the Bridge of Lions.
The late Otto Lightner left the building - originally the Alcazar Hotel - to the city, with provision his collections would be maintained in the building. Today the Lightner Museum, occupying the rear, "casino," section, retains original elements of the hotel, while the front, former guestroom section, has been adaptively reused to retain the original architectural style while providing city government offices on the fourth floor and a mix of city and rental spaces on the other three. |
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History's Highlight | |
Ponce's landing north of St. Augustine
Dan Holiday is sick of popular claims of Ponce de Leon's landing along A1A in Melbourne or the Fountain of Youth here (City 450 Development Director Dana Ste. Claire says there are many claims to Ponce's landing, "but we have the Fountain of Youth Park - that's our story and we're sticking to it.")
Holiday's angst is based on Antonio de Herrera's Historia General, written in 1601. Herrera is presumed to have had access to the log of Ponce de Leon.
He records that the discoverer landed somewhere north of latitude 30 degrees 8 minutes, which would be approximately eighteen miles north of St. Augustine Inlet.
The passage in the Herrera 1601 edition starts the expedition from San German, Porto Rico, March 3rd, 1513, arriving March 14 at Guanahani, the island which was the first land discovered by Columbus, and which he renamed San Salvador. The text reads:
"They set out from here [San Salvador], running northwest, and on Sunday the 27th, which was the day of the Festival of the Resurrection, which commonly they call 'of Flowers,' they saw an island and did not examine it, and Monday the 28th they ran fifteen leagues in the same direction, and Wednesday they proceeded in the same way, and afterward with bad weather until the 2nd of April, running to west-northwest, the water lessening to nine fathoms, at one league from land, which was in thirty degrees and eight minutes, they ran along the length of coast, seeking harbor, and at night they anchored near the land, in eight fathoms of water.
"And thinking that this land was an island, they named it La Florida, because it had a beautiful view of many and cool woodlands, and it was level and uniform. And because moreover they discovered it in the time of the Flowery Festival [Pascua Florida] Juan Ponce wished to conform in the name with these two reasons. He went on land to get information and take possession.
"On Friday, the 8th, they made sail; they ran in the same direction, and Saturday they sailed to the south a quarter by southeast; and sailing by the same rhumb up to the 20th of April they discovered some huts of Indians, where they anchored."
Image: history.howstuffworks.com |
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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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