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Published by former Mayor George Gardner                     August 26 2015
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VA clinic
Dow PUD approved
   
The gavel fell at 1 am Tuesday, eight hours after the City Commission opening, seven hours after public hearing and discussion on a controversial ordinance to establish planned unit development (PUD) zoning to convert the Dow Museum of Houses into a 30-unit Cordova Inn.
   Mayor Nancy Shaver was the lone dissenter at the end as the commission adopted the ordinance 4-1, Shaver saying, "What we have in front of us does not meet the bar that we are asked to meet with a PUD."
   The attendance filled the commission room and spilled out into the loggia, where a telecast audio failure left that area speechless through Developer David Corneal's team's presentation. It was restored as the lengthy public comment period began.
   Adjustments were made throughout the discussion, one limiting a proposed tavern maximum occupancy to 90 and seating to 20, another to incorporate Corneal's former M&M Market property at Bridge and ML King for parking spaces, as well as valet parking at the Masonic Hall lot across from the post office.
   Corneal's team pointed to the restoration work under way on the eight historic houses on the property, as well as plans to recognize the property's significance in the reading of the emancipation proclamation in 1863, remnants of the Rosario Defense Line, and footings of the King's Road Bridge across Maria Sanchez Creek.
Bull
Lotta bulls
   The flavor of Spain and 450 years of history will be celebrated September 4 weekend along Avilés Street, from 450 minutes of First Friday Art Walk 1:30-9 pm Friday and running of the bulls at 3 pm and naming of a bull calf 10:30 am-3:30 pm Saturday, to Sangria Sunday.
   Look for Flamenco dancing, live music, vendors and reenactors along historic Aviles Street throughout the weekend.
   There are cash prizes for those brave souls who challenge the running bulls and that creative soul who names that Andalusian-bred baby grazing in the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum courtyard.
Valdes Dow property
Tour St Aug
Trolley adv
adv EMMA
Corneal in IRS
1031 exchange?
   There's an unconfirmed possibility that developer David Corneal's purchase of the Dow property was part of an IRS 1031 tax exchange, which can provide capital gains tax deferral in the sale of one property and purchase of another within a 180 day window.
   Monroe County property records show a sale of Corneal's Island City House Hotel in Key West October 29, 2014, for $8,840,000.
   St. Johns County property records show a purchase of the Dow property by Old Island Hotels Inc. October 31, 2014, for $1,700,000.        
  IRS also provides for a Qualified Exchange Accommodation Agreement under which improvements can be made to an exchanged property within 180 days and the costs applied to the 1031 exchange.
Corneal conferring
Who is David Corneal?
   "Not a corporate developer," friend Shep Harmon told city commissioners during Monday's presentation of David Corneal's bid for planned unit development zoning. "All of his entrepreneurial activities are long term family projects."
   Harmon said Corneal is a retired Penn State professor and businessman, who recently "moved his entire family to St Augustine. He has a philanthropic nature and has proven to be a good neighbor."
Patio at Island City House Hotel    Harmon noted the name of Corneal's business, Old Island Hotels, refers to the Island City House Hotel in Key West "his family has run for more than 25 years."
   Harmon also cited the McCann School of Art outside of State College, Pennsylvania, "named after his grandfather, C. Barton McCann, who was a high school art teacher in Philadelphia. David set aside 250 acres for the school. It has galleries and studios, "it's Art for Children, and in fact one of its mandates is that no child will ever be turned away for lack of funds.
   "All the revenues generated from the facility rentals help pay for scholarships, supplies, equipment and operating expenses for the school," said Harmon.
   Corneal first appeared with an offer to buy the former M&M Market in February 2014, then purchased the Dow Museum of Houses in October. 
   He's been tenacious in pursuing permits and shouldering resident and city board concerns, moving and totally restoring the former market and an adjacent boarding house for a restaurant and apartments, and now proceeding with his vision of a historic setting as an inn to finance the property's maintenance.
Celebrate 450! coming up short
Some traditional print advertising and "a lot of online advertising" is going out from the Visitors and Convention Bureau (VCB) to try to boost lagging room reservations in the closing days before city hall's Celebrate 450! weekend of country and rock music and fireworks over Labor Day weekend.
VCB Director Richard Goldman told the Tourist Development Council Monday the lack of bookings could range from high rates to lack of interest in a street festival.
The city plans to close a major portion of the historic district Friday and Saturday nights, 5 pm to midnight with stages scattered through the area, the main stage on the bayfront at the foot of the Bridge of Lions.
Featured will be Country and rock stars Aaron Neville, Mavis Staples, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, JJ Grey and Mofro, with more than 80 local and regional acts.
Details on Celebrate 450! here.
This weekend
 Galleries, guard, farm and tour
Trolley    Saturday activities range from Uptown Saturday Night along San Marco Avenue to a Changing of the Guard along St. George Street to a night on the farm at the Florida Agricultural Museum.
A night on the farm - You'll need to reserve ahead here and bring a tent for that night at the Ag Museum. Set up at 4 pm, enjoy dinner, then step into the 1890's homestead with wagon rides, bonfire with s'mores and stargazing. Sunday morning breakfast with the farm animals wraps it up by 10 a.m. $40/person.
Uptown Saturday Night - No special gear required for Uptown Saturday Night, 5-9 pm, just a will to enjoy live music, refreshments, new exhibits, book signings at galleries, antique stores and unique shops along San Marco Avenue.
Changing of the Guard - Only the reenactors dress out for the living history recreation of a nightly ritual in colonial times as the Spanish Garrison dispatches an armed unit along St. George Street to Government House to relieve the watch, 6:16 to 7:15 pm Saturday.
Free walking tour - A free St. Augustine Historic Walking Tour ties all the history together Sunday at 10 am as Tour St. Augustine, Inc. guides a one-hour walking tour through the various cultural influences that have left their marks here. Reservations required at 4 Granada Street,904-825-0087 www.staugustinetours.com
Spanish dance ensemble
Ensemble Espanol is a 'Miracle'
   Spanish dance ensemble highlights EMMA's Fiesta 450!

  "This world class company and its roster of guest artists never ceases to bedazzle its audiences with the variety, precision, beauty and heat of its performances." Chicago Sun Times.
 
Dame Libby
   Dame Libby Komaiko is the first American in history to be decorated with Spain's highest honor bestowed on foreign nationals. 
   King Juan Carlos I awarded her the "Lazo de Dama de la Orden de Isabel La Catolica" (Ribbon of the Dame), in recognition of her promotion of the artistic, cultural and educational values of the Spanish traditions of music and dance throughout the U.S.  
   Dame Libby brings her "Sensual.  Magnetic. Powerful.  Hypnotic.  Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater" to St. Augustine Sunday, August 6, as the highlight of EMMA Concert Association's six-hour all Spanish-themed Fiesta 450!
   Find a video sampling here.
   The ticketed performance at 7 pm wraps up a day of celebration of Spanish heritage at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre beginning at 3 pm with a free concert, Viva Espana, directed by Gary Cadwallader, including First Coast Opera, the Limelight Theater, St. Augustine Orchestra, St. Augustine Community Chorus and Youth Chorus, followed by hands-on family activities and demonstrations from 5:30 to 7 pm.
   Find details and ticket information here.

History's highlight

'With many banners spread'

14 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary

      Continuing a series of highlights before St. Augustine's 450th anniversary September 8.

   From the memoir of Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, principal priest with Pedro Menendez de Avilés 

     His troops were well received in the Indian village of Seloy, the chief offering his timber and thatch house to them. Around this immense house, capable of holding 300 persons, the troops built an entrenchment with a slope of earth and facines (timbers).
    On Saturday, the 8th, the general landed with many banners spread, to the sound of trumpets and salutes of artillery. As I had gone ashore the evening before, I took a cross and went to meet him, singing the hymn Te Deum laudamus.
    The general marched up to the cross, followed by all who accompanied him, and there they kneeled and embraced the cross. A large number of Indians watched these proceedings and imitated all they saw done.   
    The same day the general took formal possession of the country in the name of his Majesty, and all the captains took the oath of allegiance to him, as their general and governor of the country.
   When this ceremony was ended, he offered to do everything in his power for them, especially for Captain Patino who . . . I think, will be rewarded for his assiduity and talents in constructing a fort in which to defend ourselves until the arrival of help from St. Domingo and Havana.
   University of Florida Distinguished History Professor Emeritus Michael Gannon established through research that, following the landing and a Mass of Thanksgiving, a feast was ordered by Menendez, at which Seloy's tribe took part - the first Thanksgiving in these lands.
   Excerpts from The Voyage in St. Augustine Bedtime Stories. Click for further information on this fascinating historic series. 
   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 a former newspaper reporter and editor.  Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com or gardnerstaug@yahoo.com