Published by former Mayor George Gardner April 25 2012
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
Historic assault
Roof tiles, streetscape commission focus Clay roof tiles in Lincolnville and new construction in the historic district dominated Monday's City Commission meeting, with one partial victory and one no-decision for the city's historic fabric.
 St. Paul AME Church Pastor Ron Rawls returned to his church to meet with his congregation and City Manager John Regan made note to look for common ground after more than an hour of heated debate on the sale of roof tiles from historic Echo House. At issue, sale of the tiles to developer George Arnold.
Later, commissioners in a 3-2 vote sent a plan for new Flagler College classrooms in Historic Preservation District 3 back to the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) for further review after another hour of hearing and debate.
At issue: lack of a streetscape rendering to put the project into perspective with existing properties.
The upshots:
Ø Disposing of the roof tiles removes one of four "historic character-defining features" of Echo House
Ø Sale of the tiles to developer George Arnold, who has battled the city for its denial of using substitute modern roof tiles on his property at 22 Avenida Menendez, sets up a negotiation which could lead to city concession on the replacement tiles
Ø Flagler College's classroom plan for Cuna and Cordova streets, which neighbors decry for its height, mass, and scale, will get further review from HARB, with possibility of smaller scaling. | |
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It began over lunch April 11, 1912, at a Kansas City hotel. The idea was for a Co-Operative Club.
It became SERTOMA (SERvice TO MAnkind), a service organization celebrating 100 years internationally and 40 in St. Augustine.
SERTOMA's anniversary will be celebrated Saturday, April 28th, at 6:30pm at the Bishop Baker Center with cocktails, food, silent auction, entertainment, and dancing.
The worthy cause, supported with $50 tickets, is the St. Johns County Education Foundation goal to raise funds for the school district's Arts Alive program.
visit www.sjcef.com. |
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'Two organizations - vastly
different understandings' | |
St. Paul AME Church Pastor Ron Rawls focused less on the sale of historic roof tiles from Echo House than charging the city "intentionally defamed the character of our church, and the pastor who has proven to be an asset to this community." 
At issue: the church's sale of clay roof tiles removed from Echo House, deeded to it with a city reverter clause to reclaim the property if it isn't used for nonprofit educational, philanthropic or charitable purposes. Rawls pointed out there's nothing in the deed about historic preservation of the property.
City Manager John Regan told commissioners, "We have two organizations with vastly different understandings of the property."
The church offered to take over the property from another nonprofit when it was cited as unsafe. Rawls envisioned its restoration for use as a School of Excellence" he is championing. Volunteers removed the tiles, a contractor stabilized, and Global Wrap donated a wrapping of the structure to satisfy city Code Enforcement requirements to secure the structure.
Rawls told commissioners $26,000 has been spent on those efforts. But he's also indicated interest in locating the school elsewhere. That and the tile removal, City Attorney Ron Brown wrote to Rawls, "lead the City to conclude that St. Paul's has abandoned the property."
The city letter, in which it "demands (the tiles') return," was hand-delivered to Rawls after Mayor Joe Boles and City Manager Regan met with him Thursday. A story on the issue in Sunday's St. Augustine Record angered the clergyman.
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Project assault on 'sacred ground' |
Historic Preservation Districts HP-2 and HP-3 "are sacred ground," neighbor John Johnson argued as he presented a 100-signature petition to commissioners Monday opposing Flagler College plans for five classroom buildings at Cordova and Cuna streets, including three two-story units.
The complex would replace the college's existing one-story communications building.
The Planned Unit Development (PUD) for the project had gone through preliminary approvals by the city Planning and Zoning and Historic Architectural Review (HARB) boards and needed City Commission approval before final action by HARB.
Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline, acknowledging neighborhood complaints on the height, mass, and scale of the buildings, noted an ordinance passed by the commission last year calling for streetscape renderings to be provided to the lower boards to better assess impact on a neighborhood. She moved that the matter be returned to HARB for review with a streetscape rendering.
Mayor Joe Boles argued the college had already gone through the process and should not have to face further review, and Commissioner Errol Jones joined him in opposition as the measure was passed in a 3-2 vote. |
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Commentary
Historic value meets modern politics | |
Both the value of the Echo House roof tiles and historic significance of the building should have been well known to Pastor Ron Rawls more than a year before the tiles' sale for $2,000.
Preservationist Theresa Segal contacted Sam Mattina of Ludowici Roof Tiles in January 2011 about Echo House as "a significant contributing structure to this historic district and its most prominent feature is the beautifully tiled roof."
She urged Mattina to visit the site and assess the tiles.
February 1, 2011, Mattina responded:
"I went by the St. Pauls church and met with the Rev. Rawls this past Saturday.
"The tile they have is our Spanish style Seville. This is an interlocking "S' tile and is one of the best we've made. What they had salvaged, other than a little dirt and mold, was in excellent condition. What I found interesting were the custom pieces that were manufactured especially for that building.
"The tile is in such great shape that it can be reused. But my understanding was that would depend on raising the funds to do so. If they can't raise the funds that tile would have value on the salvage market."
Six months later, efforts began to sell the tiles, according to Pastor Rawls, who told commissioners Monday the effort was ongoing for eight months.
The pastor also argued that "if the tiles are so important, why were we ordered to demolish the building?" He was referring to Code Enforcement proceedings two years ago, in which standard options for any deteriorating property are offered - abate safety concerns or demolish the property.
Echo House's demolition would have had to be approved by the Historic Architectural Review Board, not likely because of the property's historic significance.
The reverter clause in the property's deed is immaterial, and was when the commission approved the deed transfer two years ago. The focus then, as now, was on preserving the property, not immediately producing nonprofit educational, philanthropic or charitable activities.
But no shouts of indignation Monday night from city officials. Just "vastly different understandings" of a self-evident historic property and a community's stewardship responsibilities. |
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Public input sought on mini golf site |
Is there greater value in the miniature golf course adjacent to the Municipal Marina on the bayfront or making the area part of an open green space which could be rented for income-producing events?
The City Commission decided Monday to ask for public input when confronted with deciding whether to renew a five-year lease to Ripley's Entertainment. Ripley's has to invest $50,000 to make the course compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but wants a continuing lease for return on that investment.
Police schedule Drug Take Back
The St. Augustine Police Department hosts a Drug Take Back Saturday, April 28, from 10am-2pm at the police department, an opportunity to voluntarily surrender expired, unwanted or unused medications for destruction.
"Medications languishing in the home are susceptible to misuse or abuse," police warn, "and flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash can pose both safety and environmental hazards." Information at 904.209.3456.
Daughters to honor 'Don Juan'
John "Don Juan" McQueen, trusted Revolutionary War courier and peace-maker along the Georgia-Florida border, will be recognized by the Maria Jefferson Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Saturday, April 28, with dedication of a commemorative marker at 4pm at Tolomato Cemetery, where he was buried in 1807. |
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History's Highlight |
History marked beyond St. Augustine
3 years, 4 months, 15 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Four hundred fifty years of history is not just St. Augustine. This is the second in a two-part series listing state markers on historic sites outside St. Augustine.
Find complete descriptions of all 42 state historic markers in St. johns County at http://www.flheritage.com/preservation/markers/markers.cfm?ID=st. johns
Palm Valley, 309 Canal Road, Ponte Vedra (Palm Valley). This rich hammock land was originally known as the Plains of Diego. Around 1900, the community of Diego was renamed Palm Valley after the Sabal Palm, Florida's state tree.
Beluthahatchee, E side of SR 13 N, ¼ mile south of Roberts Road. "Beluthahatchee" as defined by noted author Zora Neale Hurston is a mythical "Florida Shangri-la, where all unpleasantness is forgiven and forgotten." When Florida author/activist Stetson Kennedy (1916-2011) moved here, the site was named and set aside as a wildlife sanctuary.
St. Ambrose Parish, 6072 Church Road, just south of St. Ambrose Church Road. The intact buildings and grounds of St. Ambrose Parish reflect Roman Catholic Church efforts to reach small rural communities in Florida. Catholic Mass was first celebrated with settlers in a barn here in the early 1800s. In 1875, St. Ambrose Parish was established.
William Bartram's Plantation, Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve Entrance Road east of the Guana Lake dam. In 1766, William Bartram attempted to farm a 500-acre land grant. His father, John Bartram, was Royal Botanist for America under King George III. Bartram was known in England for illustrating his father's botanical specimens.
Surfside Dance Hall and Bath House, A1A and Surfside Avenue. Surfside Casino in the early 1900s was part of the Capo family resort destination of 165 acres. The casino offered an upstairs dance hall, downstairs bathhouse, and a venue for horse races, organized sports, and picnic events.
King's Road, On Palencia Club Drive just east of Highway US1. The British laid the original route for King's Road between 1772 and 1775 to encourage settlement. When the American Colonies declared independence from England in 1776, nearly 7,000 Loyalists used this route to seek asylum in Florida, which remained loyal to the British Crown.
Sanksville Cemetery, East side of Joe Ashton Road, 200 yards north of CR 208. This cemetery, most likely established after the Civil War, was used by both black and white members of the community, with black families buried in the eastern half of the property. The cemetery's present name reflects the legacy of the Sanks family of African-American heritage. Evergreen Cemetery, Cemetery entrance, North Rodriquez Street (western portion is in the county). Established in 1886, Evergreen was the region's largest Protestant cemetery of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The design was influenced by America's Rural Cemetery Movement stressing a tranquil, natural landscape. |
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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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