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Published by former Mayor George Gardner July 25 2012
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
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Safety becomes focus | |
Flagler, 7-Eleven projects head to commission
Safety - traffic congestion at the site of a proposed 7-Eleven convenience store and gas pumps at San Marco and May Street and students crossing Cordova Street to and from a proposed 400-student classroom complex at Cuna and Cordova streets - are major arguments as a National Historic District neighborhood in North City and a Historic Preservation District neighborhood downtown wage battles against proposed projects in each area.
The Nelmar Terrace neighborhood anticipates filing an appeal to the City Commission of Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) approval on the 7-Eleven plan, while Flagler College President Bill Abare has requested a September 24 appearance before the commission on a contentious classroom plan which was approved by the city's Historic Architectural Review Board but denied by the planning board. |
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Biomimicry:
nature's lessons
Nature's been at it for 3.8 billion years. Evidence in our region is mangroves managing desalination, fewer trees toppled during storms than homes or buildings, and lessons from such as dolphins, philodendrons, and termites.
The St. Augustine Biomimicry Workshop Sept. 27-29 at The Coastal Policy Center across from Marineland will explore how Nature's lessons apply to our businesses and daily life.
Look for how to blend into the landscape, from geckos; rebounding from fire, from sabal palms; filtering water, from wetlands. Biometric researchers maintain there are valuable lessons in nature for such as marine manufacture, fishing, construction, even managing seasonal influx of snowbirds.
Biomimicry. Mimicking nature. Not a bad teacher. Visit www.ethicalmarkets.com/BYB |
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Neighborhoods force review of projects | |
7-Eleven
"There are lots of reasons to oppose this 7-Eleven," Nelmar Terrace Neighborhood Association's Skip Hutton says. "One is the public safety issue of a dangerously congested intersection becoming more congested and more dangerous, resulting in more accidents and more injuries.
"I wish our City was concerned about people's safety and I wish 7-Eleven was too."
With zoning already in place for the project, PZB was asked only to approve removal of protected trees. Opponents hope to use the tree appeal to argue greater concerns before the commission. The neighbors are consulting with attorneys; they have 30 days to appeal the July 3 decision. An opposition petition is also circulating.
Flagler College
Flagler's Abare, in a letter to Planning and Building Director Mark Knight, asked for "additional time to address some of the concerns expressed by members of the Planning and Zoning Board at its meeting on July 3."
PZB members John Valdes and Jerry Dixon led arguments for denial of the Flagler Planned Unit Development (PUD) in a 4-3 vote. Valdes, finding a reason to reverse an earlier approval vote, noted he hadn't considered the safety of students crossing Cordova Street to and from the proposed 400-student facility. But his real concern was "allowing PUDs to weaken one of the city's best ideas, Historic Preservation Districts."
Dixon argued, "PUDs are not intended for new construction," nor classrooms for historic preservation districts.
Flagler could gamble on the commission overriding its lower board, modify its plan to be more acceptable, or offer the alternative of building without the PUD, which would eliminate 1-story connections between three classroom buildings, two of them 2-story. |
Porch session for street project | |
Valencia Street residents will be gathering on the front porch of Dental Concepts tomorrow at 5:30 pm to discuss with public works officials plans to install new utilities under their street between Malaga to Riberia Street.
It's a continuation of work recently completed on the Riberia-Cordova section, but a bit trickier, lifting and replacing bricks on one of the city's best-preserved brick streets.
City Public Works Engineer Marcus Pinson estimates a 3-month project to install a new 6-inch PVC water main and new sanitary services, with rehabilitation of the roadway and sidewalks. Marcus is at 825-1040. |
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Commission: negotiate bayfront golf |
On the brink of approving a lease extension to Ripley's Entertainment for the bayfront miniature golf course, city commissioners decided Monday to use the University of Florida Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) process to reconsider use of the facility and to consider uncoupling Ripley's commercial tour stop/ticket booth from the recreational golf facility.
Mayor Joe Boles called for the reconsideration, quickly supported by Commissioner Errol Jones, while Commissioner Bill Leary wanted assurance "we're not overlaying onto a simple process a more complex procedure."
Both Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield and General Services Director Jim Piggott suggested the ITN process, used to select Pirate Museum's Pat Croce to redevelop the closed Colonial Spanish Quarter, is "not the correct process" for the bayfront site.
Ripley's lease expires in September, but it asked for a five-year extension in May to commit $50,000 for handicapped redesign required by federal law. Commissioners called for bids and Ripley's and Historic Tours both responded. At its last meeting, the commission authorized negotiation with Ripley, selected by a city staff panel. |
Kinsey: 'You've got the goods' |
The owner of an extensive collection of African-American culture told city commissioners Monday, "You've got the goods. I don't care what Jamestown or Plymouth say.
"The question is, are you going to tell anybody?"
Bernard Kinsey who, with his wife, Shirley, plans to exhibit a portion of their collection here during the 50th anniversary of the city's civil rights movement in 2014, reflected on documents he saw for the first time earlier in the day in the St. Augustine Diocese archives, including a marriage registration dated 1594 and an African-American baptism record from 1606.
The exhibit at the Visitor Center, planned from Martin Luther King Day in January through July 2, the anniversary of the signing of the Civil Right Act of 1964, will cost "$150,000 for six months of rental and related systems," 450 Development Director Dana Ste. Claire says. |
Taking ship-shape - El Espiritu |
The El Espiritu slowly takes form on the former shrimp boat Apple Jack hull in the St. Augustine Marine Center Boatyard at the south end of Riberia Street, the stern castle and 20-foot bowsprit defining what will become a replica caravel.
The idea to use the same basic hull structure to create a caravel float, hatched by Aviles Street businessman Dan Holiday, has drawn some 50 members, with 8-14 working on Sundays and smaller numbers during the week.
It's a preview of the more ambitious plan of the nonprofit St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation to build the 16th century tall ship from scratch, using the tools and methods of five centuries ago in a public education process as well as a signature 450 project.
Completed at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is a thatch-covered post and beam boat shed and within, the keel of a 16th century chalupa, similar to today's whaleboat.
The foundation is hosting a fundraiser at Ann O'Malley's on Orange Street Sunday from noon to 5 pm. Visit http://staugmaritimeheritage.org/
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History's Highlight |
Why the Caravel for the 450th?
3 years, 1 month, 15 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Two community volunteer organizations are focused on caravel ships for St. Augustine's 450th commemoration - the El Espiritu being retrofitted from a shrimp boat and the nonprofit St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation planning to build from scratch. Following are excerpts from George R. Schwarz's thorough research of the caravel, at http://nautarch.tamu.edu/shiplab/01George/
The Iberian workhorse known as the caravel was one of the most important ships not only in Iberian history, but in the history of the world. The caravel was a vessel of paramount importance in the 15th and 16th centuries, when it was used to traverse the immense barrier to the New World.
A shallow draft and ability to sail windward helped the caravel achieve fame as it was propelled across the Atlantic and southward along the rocky western coast of Africa.
 This is the vessel that was used for the majority of transatlantic explorations as well as other famous expeditions, such as the numerous journeys made to circumnavigate South Africa in attempts to reach India during the Age of Discovery.
Columbus's ships Niņa and Pinta were supposedly caravels, and Columbus repeatedly praised his favorite ship, Niņa, for her great speed, maneuverability, and safety.
At the time of Columbus in Spain, the caravel had largely transformed from lateen (angled triangular) to square sails. This new sail arrangement provided the necessary adjustments to make the caravel the best sailing vessel of its time.
Its development over the centuries made it a viable option for exploration, trading, warfare, and piracy.
Before the reign of the Christian kings, there was little mention of shipbuilding in Castilian documents. By the time Phillip II became king, the Spanish bureaucracy reached maturity. During his reign (1556-1598), he regulated navigation in convoy, set a standard for mercantile shipbuilding, and introduced technical specifications that led to improvements in safety. It is during his reign that the production of documents recording shipbuilding techniques grew the most.
From http://www.thenina.com/building_thereplica.htm
Life on board the Niņa in 1492 was not for the light hearted. When the Niņa left on her voyages to the New World, her cargo hold was full of provisions. There were live animals ranging from horses, cows, and pigs to chickens. The four-legged animals were suspended in slings as the rolling motion of the vessel would have broken their legs.
There was little room below decks for the 27 or so crew to sleep or cook. Cooking was done in a fire box located on decks in the bow of the ship. Sleeping was on the deck and was always uncomfortable as the ship was so loaded with cargo, her decks were always awash.
Life on board improved dramatically when the Niņa reached the New World. New fruits and vegetables were discovered which helped to eliminate scurvy and most importantly, the Spanish adopted the Indian custom of sleeping in hammocks. |
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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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