Published by former Mayor George Gardner April 21 2012
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
College consuming Cuna Street
Property purchases in addition to classrooms
A public hearing and final action on a Planned Unit Development for Flagler College to build a 20,000 square foot communications facility with five building units at Cordova and Cuna streets will draw some criticism at Monday's City Commission meeting.
Neighbors Robert Hall, a former Flagler Art Department head, and John Johnson of Carriage Way Bed and Breakfast, have filed letters of protest.
Johnson noted that, in addition to the proposed facility, "Flagler College has purchased and is restoring 66 Cuna Street and is purchasing 65 Cuna Street, which is directly east of the proposed property.
"With the completion of this project, Flagler's total working capital in (Historic Preservation) HP-2 and HP-3 will increase from 4,000 sq ft to 39,000 sq ft.
"Visitors treasure the historic and older buildings and the atmosphere they create. New, out-of-scale, more modern structures will deteriorate that atmosphere," Johnson wrote.
Hall wrote, "The ... project is going to be attractive but not historical as required for HP-3. ... The precedence of this commercial/institutional type of building in an HP area can be devastating. It will have no relationship beyond style. Visitors will understand this as only imitative attempts or at worst take them as the real thing." | |
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Kids TRI It!
Sunday morn
Using the rationale, "Since we rarely get storms in the morning, we're hopeful any bad weather will happen after 11am" Sunday, April 22, the Children's Museum team will field youngsters 5-13 in its fifth swim, bike, run triathlon at 8:30 am at Solomon Calhoun Center.
The event has grown from 75 entrants in 2008 to 240 last year, when more than $17,000 was raised to support the Children's Museum of St. Johns. This year's theme: Just Tri it!
Photo: A winner in 2011 event
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Mandatory hookup act
likely to be delayed
A public hearing and final action on a controversial mandatory hookup ordinance which would affect low income homeowners along a proposed sewer line installation in West Augustine is expected to be tabled by the City Commission Monday "as a result of recent meetings between the City and the County," Public Works Director Martha Graham says.
"It is being recommended that the proposed ordinance change wait until after the Facilities Plan for the West Augustine Sewer Expansion project has been completed," she will report to commissioners. The Facilities Plan is expected to be completed by November.
An amendment to the ordinance approved by commissioners on first reading last month called for hookup enforcement by the county. That was protested by County Commissioner Ken Bryan, who called it "a stalling tactic," while County Commission Chair Mark Miner said that whatever issues arise with the city, "Both boards are committed to this (project). This is just a detail we'll have to work through."
A joint meeting of the two boards is expected on the issue. | |
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Disabilities Act
may force decision
City commissioners recently pondered the idea of turning the miniature golf course on the bayfront into a vendor market.
They may have to make a decision at their regular meeting Monday as the property's current lessee, Ripley Entertainment, Inc., learned the course has to undergo a $50,000 redesign to comply with the American Disabilities Act, and it wants a five-year lease before making that investment.
Ripley's has said its major interest in the location is its Red Sightseeing Train stop. Its current lease ends September 30. | |
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Galimore chapter ends
New agreement formalizes management shift to city |
The end of county management of the Galimore Center and pool will be formalized Monday by St. Augustine's City Commission with approval of a new Interlocal agreement.
Tucked inside the Consent Agenda - a catchall of actions usually passed without discussion for more efficient meetings - the new agreement outlines responsibilities between city and county for recreation areas in the city.
Also on that consent agenda, easement requests for county installation of bus shelters at the water plant and fleet maintenance buildings on West King Street and on the west side of US 1 opposite the public library.
Under the original interlocal agreement, approved in 2002, the city maintained passive areas while the county maintained active parks and facilities in the city.
Major change in the new agreement is management shift to the city for the Galimore Center and swimming pool. The city's recreational areas include the Eddie Vickers complex (including Galimore Center), J. Edward "Red" Cox, Francis Field, and Joseph Pomar, Jr. facilities.
The agreement is for five years with 5-year renewal, and can be terminated by either party effective the last day of September on written notice by June of that year. This same language was used by the county to end Galimore management last September.
Image: Bus shelter design
Galimore options due June 11
Options for the future of the Galimore Center and pool operations go to the City Commission at its June 11 meeting.
General Services Director Jim Piggott says Architect Jerry Dixon is preparing an assessment of the facility. The pool, closed for two years but still filled with now brackish water, is being treated with chlorine to alleviate the condition, Piggott says. |
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Maritime Foundation open house | |
Dr. Sam Turner of the Lighthouse Archeological Maritime Program (LAMP) will make the case for a chalupa as the first shipbuilding effort by The St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation at a public open house Wednesday, April 25, at 5pm at the St. Augustine Yacht Club.
Building an authentic handcrafted replica of the 16th Century Spanish longboat on the grounds of the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park is the first phase of a program which will culminate in building a caravel tall ship.
The non-profit foundation program will include beverages and light dinner available for purchase, and foundation shirts and hats for purchase to support its efforts to publicize St. Augustine's historic port. Visit www.staugmaritimeheritage.org .
Producer determined for 450 films
New Albion Film Producer Tom Fortin has been quietly working for more than three years, along with the Galveztown Brig Project in Malaga, Spain and Rick Ambrose Productions and Flagler College's film production team here, to develop film projects for the 450th.
While he hasn't found interest from city or tourism officials here yet, he's persisted in shooting footage from various reenactments and recently, in cooperation with the Fountain of Youth Park and other venues, has assembled a film bank of local historical sites and living history.
Tom envisions films for the Ponce de Leon quincentenary next year and, through the 1812 Spanish Constitution monument in our plaza, to tell the story of Bernardo de Galvez, whose defeat of the British at Pensacola aided in the success of the Americans in the Revolutionary War.
A sample of his work, a trailer for the Ponce de Leon quincentenary next year, is at http://youtu.be/_o9rgpGVW-M.
Contact Tom with comments and support at newalbionpics@gmail.com. |
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History's Highlight |
450 years is regional story
3 years, 4 months, 19 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Four hundred fifty years of history is not just St. Augustine. The Florida Historic Marker Program lists 42 markers in St. Johns County, and 17 are outside the familiar landmarks of St. Augustine.
This two-part series lists those county markers. Find complete descriptions of all 42 markers at http://www.flheritage.com/preservation/markers/markers.cfm?ID=st. johns
Fort San Diego (Diego Plains), Palm Valley Road (C.R. 210), South of Ponte Vedra. A cattle ranch on Diego Plains in 1736, protected against Indians by a 15-foot high palisade. Later a Spanish post known as Fort San Diego.
Treaty Park, Wildwood Drive. In 1823, leaders of the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes met with government officials near this site to settle conflicting claims to Florida lands, resulting in the treaty of Moultrie Creek.
Capture of Osceola, 1/4 mile south of Moultrie Bridge, U.S. Hwy 1. About 400 yards west of this point in 1837, General Joseph Hernandez seized the famous Seminole leader while under a white flag.
Site of Fort Peyton, end of alleyway behind a housing area on Arrowhead Drive. Established by Major General Thomas S. Jesup in 1837, the fort was one of a chain of military outposts created during the Second Seminole Indian War to protect the St. Augustine area.
Massacre of the French-Matanzas Inlet, 200 ft. S. of Matanzas Inlet Bridge, W. side A1A. In 1565 some 300 French castaways under Jean Ribault were massacred here by Spaniards, crushing their attempt to occupy Florida.
Picolata "Pass of the Salamatoto River," S.R 13 & S.R.208 (Picolata Road). A natural St. Johns River crossing used by Indians and later Spaniards. From 1836 to 1870 a stage line, connecting with river steamers, ran from this point to St. Augustine.
Zora Neale Hurston, West King Street near Duval Street. Noted author Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) rented a room in this house in 1942. The owners frequently rented to female students at nearby Florida Normal and Industrial Institute (now Florida Memorial College in Miami).
Governor Grant's Plantations, South of Mickler Road, between SR A1A and Neck Road. In 1768, Governor James Grant of British East Florida established Grant's Villa Plantation, a 1,450-acre tract of land, to produce blue indigo dye.
Vilano Beach Casino, East end of Vilano Road, adjacent to the beach ramp pavilion. Site of the Vilano Beach Casino, constructed in 1926-27. This unique oceanfront casino had monumental architecture, a salt water swimming pool, and fine dining. A palm log bridge over the North River provided access to the island by car.
Image: State marker at Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park |
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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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