Published by former Mayor George Gardner May 12 2012
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
The count is 9-6 in favor of keeping the miniature golf course on the bayfront adjacent to the Municipal Marina rather than clearing the site for potential events or other uses.
That's the tally in emails received at city hall since current lessee Ripley's Entertainment asked for a 5-year extension to invest $50,000 in required handicapped accessibility.
City commissioners will discuss options for the property Monday at its regular meeting, beginning at 5pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
"I think it is important to retain it as an inexpensive family activity available in the downtown area," Preservation Consultant Marsha Chance wrote. "PUTT PUTT is historical too!!"
"Please take this unique opportunity to open the area," Helene and Dan Sullivan wrote. "If the city is ever to consider water taxi service to alleviate downtown traffic congestion, particularly in conjunction with the 450th Commemoration, this would be a wonderful location to advertise the service and sell tickets to the taxi and/or other events."
Ripley's Red Sightseeing Trains competitor Old Town Trolley Tours offered no alternate plan, but General Manager Dave Chatterton wrote he'd "be delighted to participate in the development of an alternate use for the property, whether as a multi-function green space with small welcome center, or for any other purpose the City may choose to develop." | |
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The banner was unfurled this week announcing Romanza Week May 14-20, with 40 community arts organizations presenting more than 50 productions and exhibitions in venues throughout St. Augustine.
"This week is not for Romanza," President Albert Syeles reminded organization representatives at a gathering this week. "It's by and for each of you."
The joining of the com-munity's diversified arts forces is patterned after Charleston's popular Spoleto Festival, this year May 25-June 10.
Look for something for every taste in music, dance, visual arts, theater, living history, and cuisine in a full calendar. Visit http://romanzastaugustine.org/ |
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Long-awaited SR 312 bypass still in plans |
More than $17 million is currently budgeted for right of way acquisition for the first leg of the long-awaited bypass from SR 312 to US 1 north.
The funding is included in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), outlining highway project plans over the next five years.
The City Commission will be briefed Monday on this and other area projects by Wanda Forrest, Transportation Planning Manager for the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization.
The first leg of the bypass project, designated SR 313, will extend SR 312 to SR 16. Additional acquisitions on this leg are scheduled through 2017 for a total of $31.5 million. |
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Grant considered for preservation workshop |
City commissioners Monday will consider applying for a $16,500 state grant for a regional historic preservation workshop, which could be conducted here next May during the annual conference of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.
The city qualified in 1986 as a Certified Local Government for the Division of Historic Resources Historic Preservation Grants in Aid program, having "made historic preservation a public policy through the passage of a historic preservation ordinance." St. Johns County is currently working on its certification.
The historic preservation training workshops train government staff, board members, elected officials, and the public. Regions for the program include North, Central, Southeast, and Southwest Florida.
Gathering options on Galimore
Consultant Jerry Dixon will brief commissioners Monday on his study of the Galimore Center and get their input on options for its future use.
His report is due at the commission's June 11 meeting.
The city has been operating the center since the county discontinued management, funding it with monies from $400,000 the county paid the city in lieu of repairing the pool. |
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$4 million for state properties here | |
The University of Florida is armed with $4 million to continue its stewardship of 34 state-owned historic properties here - the legacy of St. Augustine's 400th anniversary.
The UF Historic St. Augustine Inc. direct support organization held its semiannual session here this week to approve the budget, which includes an annual $864,297 legislative appropriation and a $2.5 million Department of State grant.
Management of the properties was transferred two years ago after the city in ten years' management was unable to get state funding support. The transfer carried with it an estimated $27 million in repair needs.
The university is able to get some state funding through Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) funds for educational use properties. Another $600,000 in the current budget includes income from events, fundraising, and property leases. The Government House Sala de Montiano (lower floor) and gardens are available at $3,400 an evening and $5,700 all day.
The $2.5 million Department of State grant for Government House will be split, $1 million for renovations and $1.5 to create a traveling exhibit called "First Colony: Our Spanish Origins." |
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City OK not needed on Spanish Quarter future |
The city's role in selection of a private operator for the Colonial Spanish Quarter was clarified at this week's meeting of the University of Florida's Historic St. Augustine Inc. by Ed Poppell, UF's vice president for business affairs:
 "This board will have to approve that contract. The city is a party to the contract. (But) the state's lease of those lands goes to this board and the UF, not the city. They do not have to approve it."
The city had continued to operate the state-owned Spanish Quarter under agreement with the university until deciding to close it last October.
Poppell said Historic Tours of America and the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum will be negotiating May 22 to lease the property.
City Heritage Director Dana Ste. Claire told a meeting of the St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation this week that "a fishing village" has been proposed by one of the two applicants. That could be a fit with the adjacent pirate museum.
The Colonial Spanish Quarter was originally created to complement the Castillo de San Marcos military program by interpreting civilian life in 1740s St. Augustine.
UF board meeting photos courtesy of Historic City News |
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Fort Mose events recognized |
Three events commemorating Fort Mose have been accepted into the National Park Service's National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
Flight to Freedom, a February reenactment, the Battle of Bloody Mose Anniversary Commemoration in June, and the park's monthly Last Saturday Living History program were hailed by Fort Mose Historic State Park's manager Paul Crawford, noting, "Florida is rich in American history and it is essential that the story of Fort Mose be told to the nation."
The National Park Service's National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program tells the story of resistance against the institution of slavery in the United States through escape and flight.
The Battle of Bloody Mose Anniversary Commemoration will take place June 23, during the 6th annual National Underground Railroad Conference to be held here June 20-24.
Established in 1738 by the Spanish Governor Manuel Montiano, Fort Mose was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. |
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Commentary |
Time for a community 450th
Dr. Michael Gannon made the point in opening last weekend's "Culturally La Florida" program here.
For the city's 400th commemoration, St. Augustine residents "ended up raising about $6.258 million dollars. And that was without a professional fundraiser."
In fact that commemoration was managed by the community, Dr. Gannon said. Seven committees including the St. Augustine 400th Anniversary Coordinating Committee promoted cooperation and creation of activities.
Neither that fundraising nor community involvement have been part of 450th planning since Mayor Joe Boles' edict four years ago that city government manage the commemoration and it be organized from the top down.
Now that city hall's professional fundraiser has admitted "we have no money" and changed his title to "450 marketing specialist," it's time to adopt the recommendation of an exploratory panel in 2007:
"The program should be developed and managed by an independent non-profit corporation, recognized by joint resolution of county government and all three municipalities in the county, which will serve as the program's official sanctioning body."
In addition to support from corporations - who don't contribute to governments - a community-based non-profit can bring our residents back into the fold.
Commissioner Bill Leary, as a resident in April, 2010, told a 450 workshop, "Government is good at some things, but not things like the 450thcommemoration. It can't be nimble, like a private (organization)." |
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Erring on the side of saints |
Referring to a recent History's Highlight on names in St. Augustine, Alice Sutherland of St. Augustine City Walks emails, "You are correct that St. George Street was named during our British Occupation period (1763-1784), but not for the King; it was for the patron saint of England, Saint George.
"I've been trying to correct this misinformation for about a decade, to many of the City's tour guides," she wrote.
Britain occupied Florida during the reign of King George III.
Saint George Killing the Dragon, 1434/35, by Martorell
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History's Highlight |
City's other Gilded Age developer
3 years, 3 months, 28 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
From an account by Elizabeth Kimball Oliver, 2000
Franklin W. Smith (1826-1911) made his fortune as a Boston hardware merchant. He made his mark on St. Augustine as builder of the Villa Zorayda and Casa Monica Hotel.
In his European travels he noted the Roman construction method of layering the walls of their buildings. And he was fascinated with the design of the Moorish style he saw. The two concepts came together in 1883 in his winter home, Villa Zorayda, incorporating layered poured coquina concrete with Moorish Revival architecture.
Both construction method and style would inspire Henry Flagler on his first visit in 1885.
After the Villa Zorayda, Smith became obsessed with the idea of building a luxury hotel. The result was the spectacular Casa Monica Hotel.
The Moorish design complemented the buildings Henry M. Flagler had built. Smith had persuaded Flagler to use the same poured coquina concrete construction.
The Casa Monica Hotel was a U-shaped building with five towers, some battlemented, some with hip roofs. The large corner tower boasts an exterior spiral column. Small shops were established at street level on King Street.
Tiles, imported from Valencia, Spain, were set in panels in some of the exterior walls.
The Casa Monica provided 200 rooms, with closets, gas lighting, steam heat and electric bells to call for service. There was one bath on each floor. Fire escapes consisted of metal rings attached to the walls under the windows to which were tied a rope long enough to reach the ground.
The Casa Monica opened on January 17, 1888. But Smith, no businessman, failed financially, and at the end of the winter season he sold his dream hotel to Flagler for $325,000. Flagler renamed it the Cordova.
The hotel thrived for several years, and then began a decline. In 1900 it was converted into an apartment house, and by the 1920s a low-budget hotel was created. The final blow came in 1932 when the depression forced its closing, and except for the small shops, the hotel remained idle for almost 30 years.
In 1962 it became the St. Johns County Courthouse, used until the county built a new one, and the old Casa Monica was once more on the market.
In 1997, it was sold to Richard C. Kessler, President and CEO of The Kessler Enterprise, Inc. Grand Theme Hotels. The restoration was soon under way with careful attention to the details of the original Casa Monica. The result, opened two years later, is as Kessler said, a restoration "to the charm, feeling and elegance of the original hotel and the period." |
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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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