7-Eleven appeal goes to HARB Thursday
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Published by former Mayor George Gardner February 19 2014
The Report is an independent publication serving our community.
Contributions are greatly appreciated.
or mail to George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084
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'A' Day for 7-Eleven
Appeal of permit denial goes to HARB Thursday
Denial of a building permit for a proposed 7-Eleven store and 12 gas pumps at busy San Marco Avenue and May Street will be appealed tomorrow to the city's Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB).
Concerned neighborhood residents and commuters are expected to register their objections at the session which begins at 2 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
HARB members will have to decide between 1975 zoning which allows gas stations and 2003 entry corridor guidelines which dictate smaller scale commercial development.
Planning and Building Director Mark knight denied a permit based primarily on the project calling for a wide driveway along San Marco Avenue, while the entry corridor guidelines limit driveway widths to 24 feet.
Interestingly, HARB chairman is former Mayor Len Weeks, who called for entry corridor guidelines a decade ago to maintain the historic character of King Street, Anastasia Boulevard and San Marco Avenue and prevent the intrusion of "big box" national stores such as he'd seen in other historic cities. Former Mayor George Gardner pushed to have the guidelines enacted into city code amid fears of lawsuits over property rights.
After more than a decade and hundreds of permits issued, only six have been disputed and all were resolved without court action.
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Honoring
the fallen
The Rough Riders of Tampa will honor the soldiers of Dade's Command, the Second Seminole War and the Spanish-American War Saturday with a wreath laying ceremony beginning at 11:30 at the St. Augustine National Cemetery on Marine Street.
Speakers will include Jacksonville National Cemetery Director Cliff Shields, former Mayor George Gardner, Lt. Col. Bill Moline, USAF (Ret), and Brig. Gen. Charles Spicola of the Rough Riders.
The Rough Riders were here in June 2004 to dedicate a new headstone for Rough Rider Trooper O'Neil, a combat veteran of the 1898 Cuban Campaign reinterred here in 1909, and in October 2005 to escort President Teddy Roosevelt (aka James Foote) visiting St. Augustine on the 100th anniversary of his 1905 visit.
Photo: Rough Rider Color Guard in 2005 ceremonies here
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HARB decision makers
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The five-member Historic Architectural Review Board is charged with reviewing any disputes on entry corridor guidelines.
The task was originally assigned to a joint committee of HARB and Planning and Zoning Board (PZB), to cover both Zoning and architectural aspects in the anticipated flood of disputes over property rights.
But city commissioners decided last year there had been so few disputes the committee could be disbanded and its review work turned over to HARB.
The current board:
Len Weeks, chairman, is a former mayor, building contractor and historic district retail property owner.
Les J. Thomas, vice chairman, is an architect involved in many of the city's historic designs.
H. Randal Roark, a newcomer to St. Augustine, is a retired professor of urban design.
Antoinette Wallace, is an anthropologist/archaeologist and former president of the St. Augustine Archaeological Association.
Paul L. Weaver, III, is a preservation consultant with Historic Property Associates Inc. and former HARB chairman.
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OK for memorial move
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The city will ask HARB for approval to move the War Memorial from a corner into the Plaza de la Constitución. Planned is a site on the north side of the Public Market, opposite the St. Augustine Foot Soldiers Memorial on the south side.
The move was prompted by concerns that the memorial is currently hidden behind electric panels at Charlotte Street and Cathedral Place.
Donations of more than $10,000 have been pledged for the move, but General Services Director Jim Piggott said a contractor has volunteered to so the move without charge. The donations could go to a maintenance fund for the city's memorials and monuments.
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Lincolnville Farmers Market
plans reopening in March
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Vendors line walkway at Eddie Vickers Field in 2009
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The Lincolnville Farmers Market, on hiatus since last summer, will reopen Sunday, March 30, from noon to 4 pm, under the direction of Nico Recore, manager of the successful Wednesday market at the beach.
"With her proven track record, we trust that Nico will be able to build a bigger, better market for Lincolnville," says Sue Agresta of the sponsoring Lift Up Lincolnville Revitalization Corp. "We can't wait to spend Sundays with all our friends!"
The market will be located as in past years at Eddie Vickers Field on the south end of Riberia Street.
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WE HAVE MET GRIDLOCK, AND IT IS HERE - Traffic like last Saturday, backed up on San Marco Avenue beyond May Street and blocking through traffic to enter the Visitor Center parking facility, has prompted a fresh look at city traffic and parking. City Manager John Regan opened dialog last Friday with a community session, asking, "What do we do for our next step? What do you think? ... The status quo is unacceptable." Amid mostly acknowledgements of the problem the predominant suggestion was satellite parking with shuttles.
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Saturday in St. Augustine
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RSVP Chocolate and Beyond
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of St. Johns County (RSVP) offers up chocolate delicacies from many of the area's finest restaurants and specialty shops at its 21st annual event Saturday, 2 - 4 pm, at First Coast Technical College. Tickets $10 including 8 tasting tickets.
Uptown Saturday Night
From 5 - 9 pm enjoy live music, refreshments, new exhibits, book signings and more at the galleries, antique stores and unique shops along St. Augustine's San Marco Avenue.
Noche de Gala
Saturday's annual Noche de Gala, celebrating the birthday of St. Augustine Founder Pedro Menendez, now hosted by Casa Monica Hotel, features a cocktail reception, dinner and dancing to a contemporary band. Tickets $195 for the 6:30 - 11 pm event at Lightner Museum, benefitting Lightner restoration. Attire 16th century or modern formal. Contact Joni Dooley Barkley, 904-819-6004 joni.barkley@KesslerCollection.com.
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Flagler students 'making history'
Diverse life in St. Augustine online
Flagler College Public History students are developing an online exhibit detailing diverse life experiences in St. Augustine and they're asking the community to help build it.
The students and Assistant Professor of History Dr. Kelly Enright, who also serves as the Director of Public History, will be holding an open collecting day Saturday at the Crisp-Ellert Art Museum on Sevilla Street for photos, memorabilia or tales about "Growing Up in St. Augustine."
Collection is noon to 4 pm. All items will be documented and returned at the event. Contact Dr. Enright at 904-826-8580 or KEnright@flagler.edu.
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Governor's House in 1764, from Elsbeth Gordon Florida's Colonial Architectural Heritage, University of Florida Press, 2002.
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Military Walking Tour
From the Castillo to St. Francis Barracks to Tolomato Cemetery, from St. Augustine's founding to modern times, Flagler's history students are developing a Military Walking Tour for the 450th Military Commemoration Committee.
Developed so far, twelve stops - only the Fountain of Youth is out of walking range but integral to the history as the original settlement site.
History Professor Enright describes the study as offering, "text of the appropriate length for a printed brochure (with) longer text appropriate for a longer booklet, website, or audio tour."
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History's highlight
Before Eddie Vickers Park
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1 year, 6 months, 21 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Bicycles, golf, polo, trap shooting, baseball, horse racing, cows, geese, pigeons and ostriches.
The many lives of the south end of Riberia Street before becoming Eddie Vickers Field are recounted by Historian Tom Graham with an extensive search of historic records to compile a timeline.
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St. Augustine Country Club flies US and British flags during 1900 international golf tournament. Bicycle velodrome track is in the front of the clubhouse/ grandstand.
Photo: Collection of the St. Augustine Historical Society Research Library
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Read the excerpts from reports of the day here. The recorded beginning was February 20, 1897, when "James Ingraham, a Flagler vice-president, is building a bicycle track in Dupont Park," according to "Gossip" in The Tatler.
"As part of the Washington's Birthday celebration, bicyclists will gather at the Casino tennis courts and ride to Dupont Park for the opening of the bicycle track. Track will be used for bicycle and horse races."
A year later, "Twenty men are now clearing the land for the golf course. Present course on fort grounds is considered too small."
In 1899, "Trap shooting of clay pigeons has been added. The cycle track is only in fair condition and may not be used much this year."
The year 1900 saw two top finishers in the US Open and US and British Open champions competing on the course.
In 1904 horses races took over, and at season's end, "Ira C. Rinehart announced plans to fence 30 acres and create a chicken, dairy, pigeon farm. The grandstand will become a pigeon house. 500 homing pigeons are already on site. He has turkeys and ducks now and plans on adding ostriches."
In 1906, "Albert Lewis purchased Rinehart's farm and lease on the property. Valuable chickens on the place. Ostrich farm also on part of the property. Twelve cows."
After a resurgence of golf in 1909, World War One and "In 1916 the Army created an air field by leveling the golf course."
In 1917 "New golf links opened north of city. A Flagler system project," the Ponce de Leon Course.
In 1946, "The City Commission voted to turn over the links to the Community Recreational Association. Will be done by July 1. Called 'Twin River Country Club' or 'Little Links.' The land will be used for baseball and softball fields. Some part could be used for 'colored' youngsters. The city bought the property from the Catholic Church in 1925."
And the rest is history.
Dramatic accounts of famous people and events in St. Augustine Bedtime Stories -Details here.
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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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