A 35-foot Spanish watch tower, British Bull & Crown Publick House, and 16th century ship under construction are features in the proposed Colonial Quarter on the former Spanish Colonial Quarter grounds.

 The plans by Pirate and Treasure Museum's Pat Croce go before the city's Historic Architectural Review Board for approval next Thursday.

In the 17th Century Spanish Fortified Town (1600 to 1700), one of four interpretive periods in St. Augustine history to be represented, "A new 35-foot watchtower interprets the many wooden forts which once stood around St. Augustine," according to the project narrative. "The design of the watchtower is based on work by Albert Manucy, Carl Halbirt, Robert Hall, and Herschel Shepard."

In the 18th century Spanish Garrison Town (1700 to 1763), a small stage will be built for performances, and a tobacco barn and 1700s storehouse will be added to the familiar area from Spanish Colonial Quarter days.

The new 18th century British quadrant (1763-1784) will convert the Peso de Burgo south outbuilding into the Bull & Crown Publick House, and a Menorcan Garden will tell the story of the lasting impact of Menorcans on the city. 

The 16th Century Spanish Military Outpost (1565 to 1600) is on the site where the National Park Service hopes to build an orientation center, so movable or "skid" buildings will be sited, along with "a portion of a caravel or other similar Spanish ship ... on display as a ship 'under construction.' Craftsmen will demonstrate ship building and boat repair."

    Whetstone litigation, pedicabs, mini golf site

At a 4:30 "shade" or executive session before its regular meeting at 5, the commission will consider litigation costs, according to City Attorney Ron Brown.

 "The parties are completing the necessary pleadings and mutual discovery requests for documents and answers to interrogatories and requests for admissions," he said.

Brown counted at least seven tour companies using a variety of vehicles in the city. "We will ask the commission to consider whether to treat these vehicles as franchised vehicles-for-hire, such as tour trains and carriages, or as taxis.

"We would then need to consider some specifics of regulation, such as the establishment of loading and unloading zones."

City Manager John Regan will try "to develop a consensus with the Commission for the disposal or future use of the property," the bayfront mini golf facility.

An "Invitation to Negotiate" was sought by Mayor Joe Boles in July, after four months of debate dating back to April.

    Commissioners previously heard strong support to maintain the facility - currently leased to Ripley's Entertainment, agreed to a request for bids and to negotiation with winning bidder Ripley for a lease extension at $42,000 a year, nearly twice the current $22,500 annual lease. 

   "At sea in August 1564, a Spanish priest in Pedro Menendez' fleet wrote of a "miracle from heaven" - a comet as bright as the sun, streaking west toward Florida.

   "On land, the hungry, miserable French settlers at Fort Caroline were stunned by a "stroke of lightning" that, one wrote, instantly "consumed about 500 acres and burned with such a bright heat that the birds which lived in the meadows were consumed."

   Except for the date - it was 1565 as Menendez' fleet neared La Florida to establish a settlement and oust the French - a retired University of North Florida professor is reflecting on the Spanish comet and French lightning strike as the same thing - "an object from outer space that struck at the edge of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville."

   The story appears in the Florida Times-Union, and can be found here.