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Archives for Historic page: Jan 2010 January, 2010 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall ______________________________________________________________________________________ New Business Referral Group Downtown
Happy New Year one and all! I don’t know about you, but I am sick to death of the recession, so I say let’s do something about it! There is a Business referral group meeting at O’Kanes Tavern on January 19th at 11:30 AM for a light lunch and some networking with one another.
I have never been big on joining clubs and such, but this seems like a great idea for struggling businesses right now. While some of us might not have much new business these days, we might be able to help others that need some help. In return we will surely help ourselves.
For example, if you run a dry cleaner, you might just happen to know someone that needs a doctor. At the meeting, you can share that info with the doctor there, and she might have knowledge of someone that needs dry cleaning. Well, you get the idea. But the true power of a referral group is not getting a lead from the person you’ll meet at the regular meetings. It is the person they know, or perhaps someone that might know another person that knows reach quite far, especially in this small town. another, etc. The arms of influence
Plus the benefits go on from there. This group will be meeting not only at the Florida House Inn, but also at one another’s businesses. This gives everyone a chance to ‘show off’ their business, and let everyone in the group become acquainted with how well your business runs. This is a super aid for referrals.
The group’s philosophy is : 1. People will not refer you until they Trust you 2. They can’t Trust you until they know you 3. They can’t know you until they spend time with you 4. They can’t spend time with you until they meet you. 5. So, come to a meeting! Share your business with some new friends. There will be a fee of $2.00 to pay for your snack. The details of the rules for the group will be discussed at this meeting. It is an EXCLUSIVE group, so only one of any category is allowed to join. RSVP is required. Learn more at: http://www.meetup.com/Amelia-Island-Business-Group
Tax Incentives For Historic District Improvements
Gee, finally some good news for historic homeowners downtown. The City is considering allowing home (and business) owners the opportunity to enjoy a slight real estate tax relief on their property improvements. There is a State law that allows municipalities to forego the amount of property tax that would result from certain improvements to structures located in Historic Districts. John Duerden, the HDC, and others have been working on this small change for some time now. The City is planning to approach the County to ask them to consider being a partner to this law also. Obviously, it is optional for taxing authorities to elect to be involved.
I am excited about this opportunity, and I hope that we are able to soon enjoy this benefit. Don’t get me wrong; this is not a large tax break by any means. Just the portion of the improvement’s ‘new taxable value’ will be relieved for a specified time; not forever. So, with only a small amount being relieved, and the City only taxing a small millage anyway, it won’t be much, BUT it will a step in the ‘fairness’ direction.
Consider that Historic District structures have always been such a large draw for tourism dollars here. The owners of these structures are expected to keep them up to historical standards, which cost a bit more than the average home. Building codes here are more demanding, and of course, more expensive. It’s a good idea to reward those same people that pay for keeping up the area’s largest attraction, don’t you think? Even in this very small way, I think it sends a positive message to the community that the City recognizes how much the Historic District benefits the entire area.
Amelia Island Restaurant Week
Get your grub on! If you enjoy eating really a variety of great food, your week is here. There are 19 local restaurants that are participating this year in the event, and many are in the Historic District. They have a pre-set menu at fixed prices for this event, so you’ll know ahead of time what it’s going to cost. These are not just chain restaurants, either. These are restaurants owned and operated by local folk that get up close and personal with their clientele. So you know that you will be well treated.
Taking place January 24-31, 2010, Restaurant Week offers a great opportunity to try a selection of Amelia’s irresistible, award-winning dining options. Each restaurant will offer a prix-fixe menu, including three courses and a non-alcoholic beverage, for either $19 or $29.
If you’d like more info please visit: http://www.ameliaisland.com/app/webroot/yummy/index.html
Amelia Island Book Festival Are you a bookworm? If you even slightly enjoy reading, then this might be the right event for you. The event is a multi-location week-long event that is held at churches, schools, and other locations around the island. The Amelia Island Book Festival will take place February 11 - 13 at various Island locations. Included in the festival activities are: · Classic Author Celebration on February 11 · Writers' Workshop - February 12 · Readers' day, including a featured authors luncheon and a children's chapter. For more information and ticketing, please visit: www.ameliaislandbookfestival.com or call: 904-491-8176 My favorite book has yet to be written; “Chuck Wins The Lottery”. It would be a grand tale of rags to riches, banjo pickers and fast cars. Yeah! Guest Writers Sought If you’d like to be a guest writer here in the HD News, why not contact me and let’s discuss it? The topics must always be related in some way to the Historic District. You can write about old times remembered, current events, or perhaps your club or special interest’s news. You get a by-line, but no pay (wow that sounds just like the bigger newspapers, doesn’t it?)
Nov 09 Fernandina Historic District NewsNovember, 2009 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall Downtown Events Are Coming
Pajama Party! Friday morning, November 27th Hooray! Don those PJ’s and let’s go downtown for some weird fun! Every year the downtown merchants host a great morning of special sales and gifts for the visitors here. The catch is, you must wear your pajamas to cash in on these special buys. Some of the goods go for a flat half-off! I think that’s worth waiting a little while to change into your street clothes, eh? It’s wholesome fun, and we get visitors from all over (some by charter bus) to see the costumes along the streets and in the shops. The stores open early and the sales run until about 11:00 AM. There are prizes for the best-dressed pajamas, too. So, perhaps you’ll want to be a bit creative? I do have one request; please make sure that your ‘trap-door’ in the back is buttoned properly.
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Nov. 28 A full day of entertainment leads up to the official Downtown Fernandina Beach Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the foot of Centre Street. Starting at 12:00noon. Carolers, choirs, dancers and singers will entertain visitors throughout the afternoon with the sights and sounds of the Christmas holiday season. Do you like ‘smores’ ? There will be a place where the kids can cook up their own great smores….yummm! Of course it will be supervised.
Photos with pets will also be available. The City of Fernandina Beach, Historic Fernandina Business Association and Shiny Badges Ball, Inc will host entertainment and activities.
Parade of Paws, December 5th 10 AM to 1 PM This will be a hoot….the annual Parade of Paws is a ….wait for it….. a dog parade! As if we had thought of everything already. I will definitely go to watch this. I have never seen this before, and I wonder how long it takes these dogs to traverse Centre Street. Dogs will be costumed in their finest Holiday gear. Redbones Bakery for Dogs sponsors this event, you might call them to enter your own pooch in the parade! This will be fun, See you there.
Lighted Christmas Parade and Lighted Boat Parade, December 12th Be sure to come downtown for the festivities on Saturday, December 12th. There will be the Lighted Christmas Parade along Centre Street and then right afterward will be the Lighted Boat Parade along the riverfront. Now where else can one go to find so much fun for free in one place? The combined events lasts for hours and it all starts at 6 PM. Bring the family and enjoy some great fun.
Old Town and City Debate Recently there occurred some issues affecting our Historic Districts that I think merit some light. Seems that the City Planning Department is under the spotlight again in Old Town. Residents there are concerned about some building code variances for some smaller than usual lots and the plans to build on those lots. The area neighbors think that the City allowed the time period for the termination of the allowed variance to be continued too long. This allowed the lot owners to get their permitting in order for the lots. The City planners are claiming they did not violate the City codes concerning this matter. Interestingly, the house and the parking area for it won’t even be on the same lot….or lots adjacent to each other, for that matter. The building lot is a small triangle, of about 45 ft. on two sides; the parking area lot, about half that size. Another owner’s lot separates the two lots by a few feet.
This parking arrangement is common in commercial applications, but rarely if ever seen in residential settings. It’s going to be interesting to see just what kind of house the Historic District Council will allow on such a tiny lot. Considering there will be setback requirements too, it’s going to be unusual.
Petanque Tournament a Big Hit! Recently, there was an international Petanque Tournament along the riverfront downtown in the southernmost City parking lot. About 180 players of a popular European lawn-bowling game named ‘petanque’ (pronounced pay-tonk) flew into Fernandina Beach from all over the world to be part of this annual event here The event is sponsored by Petanque-America, a company owned by Philipe Boets, a local resident. His company manufactures and distributes the game equipment for the sport around the US and Canada. He organized the event and invited players from all over. This will be an annual event here. The game is very popular overseas, and his hope is to educate the Americans about the sport. I think he is off to a good start, judging by the crowd at the tournament. Also, at the Palace Saloon every Tuesday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm you can learn to play and have fun with hands on lessons, learning how to play P'etanque yourself. It’s a century-old ball game; a cousin of both horseshoes and "bocce ball", (the Italian bowling game). Come down and join the fun.
July 09 July, 2009 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall My 100-Year-Old Home
There is a part in the great old movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, where the main character, George Bailey (played by James Stewart), runs up the stairs, and as he starts, he grabs hold of the finial on top of the stair rail post….and it comes right off into his hand. The viewer knows what George means when he actually kisses the finial before replacing it. The finial becomes, at that moment in the movie, a symbol of the love he has developed for the house and all it’s memories over the years that he has been there. Previously, the finial was just a nuisance to him.
I have a stairway in my home, too. It isn’t like George’s but is in good shape for a 100-year-old house. Built in 1908, it has a loose finial, too. Every time I grab the finial as I approach the stairway, I think about repairing it; after all, it needs repair, doesn’t it? And then I am reminded of the movie, and the symbolic finial. I probably won’t make the repair, ever. My finial is a symbol, too.
Anything can become a symbol of something else. I know that my house is a symbol to me of a family that really struggled through many, very hard times. I have several boxes of letters and documents that were saved from my grandparents, uncles, aunts, parents, and other relatives in my garage. Their precious documents were salvaged after the fire of 1999 at our house. They tell a story of our family’s difficulties in creating this family home, and the myriad of efforts to keep it in the family through 4 wars and a Great Depression.
Frankly, reading some of the letters is difficult for me, as I know how hard these people’s lives were, just trying to keep the house intact. At times, it may have been far easier for them to sell the house and just quit. But, thankfully, they did not know that kind of easy escape. Today, I am the very proud recipient of my elders’ hard work. I make every effort to do them proud, even though they have all gone on to their reward.
When I make repairs and improvements here, I think about all the sweat and tears my relatives gave in far less advantageous conditions. I read about how much money these folk earned, and it wasn’t very much by today’s standards, but they still kept up the family home. At times, when I have exposed the inside of a wall or roof, I have even run across some their names etched inside of the remodeling, with the dates included. It’s so heart touching to discover these things; I am overwhelmed with emotions.
I have read about the wars and how our family was dispersed around the globe, and how our house went vacant and even rented out. I read the stories about how there were repairs needed and expenses, and how each sibling was going to chip in to make these possible. Eventually, the family reunited after WW2, and moved back into the house. I have known these stories as well from my parents, as they told them to us when we were very young. It’s all such a great testimony to these good folk, and their will to hold on to family history.
So, yes, I fuss about the house and the yard, and the yard next door, and the house down the street, and the block down the road. I do it because I grew up with the many families and neighbors that made all this possible. I cherish their efforts and their stories. I think at times that as we individually save these memories, perhaps we are extending the legacy of those that worked so hard before us. Maybe I am wrong, I don’t know. All I know is that it make a lot of sense to me. This house was so comfortable to us all, that it earned the nickname, “Hall’s Haven”. It always represented where our family could come back to recharge. And indeed a haven it has been. I suppose your family home has similar stories; mine certainly can’t be the only one.
Of the Ten Commandments is this one: “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Old fashioned nonsense? You decide.
Oh, please remember that we have the Historic District Picnic each year at our home. This year will be special, as it is the 100th birthday for the house! You are invited to attend, but please RSVP. It’s set for Sunday afternoon, 4 PM, Sept. 13th this year. It’s really quite a good time; plus, you’ll learn a little history while you are here!
July 25th Movie in Central Park
What fun! This month’s movie is ‘Popeye’ Starring Robin Williams. It’s a great flick about a sailor with strange arms, who eats spinach a lot. I guess you know the story, and needless to say, he has a skinny girlfriend, Olive Oil and a nemesis, Brutus. This will be a fun family night out. I have always wondered where did Sweet Pea fit in? Who’s baby is that? "POPEYE" CENTRAL PARK STARTS AT 8:30PM July 25th
July 30th Using the Internet to Increase Profits
In the Historic District downtown, at the Hampton Inn and Suites, there will be a Seminar-Workshop for small business owners entitled: “Using the Internet to Increase Profits”. It will be held on July 30th at Noon-1 PM. The subject matter is teaching small business owners tactics to integrate on and off-line marketing to save money, drive traffic to the business, and increase profits. The workshop is one hour, packed with tips and valuable information. Snacks are served as well.
Normally this seminar is priced at $195.00 per person, but as a courtesy to the local businesses, WMNF is putting on this seminar for free, but to limited seating. Call early to get your tickets. There is only space for 20 people. Seriously.
Come on by and enjoy your lunch while learning something great for your business. Please RSVP 904-607-3121. This is being sponsored by Web Marketing of North Florida.
Do a Little Dance
This month’s ‘Sounds on Centre’ is again hosted by the Historic Fernandina Business Association.
SOUNDS ON CENTRE – STREET DANCE
DOWNTOWN FERNANDINA - CENTRE STREET Bring chairs and dancing shoes. Snacks and beverage are available there. There will be drawings for valuable prizes, too!
June 09 Fernandina Historic District NewsJune, 2009 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall Fourth of July Downtown
Wow….You simply must come to town this weekend! Celebrate Independence Day with your family and join your neighbors and friends at the Stars & Stripes Freedom Festival, to be held in Central Park in Fernandina Beach on Saturday, July 4, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed in the evening by a patriotic Parade on Centre Street at 7 pm, a Concert of Americana music at 8 pm in front of the Depot (near the river), and capped by Fireworks at the Fernandina Harbor Marina at approximately 9:30 p.m. That’s a pretty big day packed full of fun things to do. I think this should be enough to make even the most energetic child tired. Parents will appreciate this.
Say What? The Noise Ordinance?
You just gotta love this town. We have all lived and thrived here for well over a century, and yet now we are faced with another weird situation downtown, smack in the middle of our beloved Historic District. It seems I always have lots to talk about when the newsletter deadline comes around! This month’s issue-dajur is the Noise Ordinance. Now let me say right off, that I am a resident and a small business owner downtown. Not only do I work here, but I live here too, and so I think I know what it’s like here day and night. I live across the street from an elementary school playground, one block away from the Port of Fernandina, ¼ mile from the Smurfit Stone mill, and one block from a tavern with outdoor seating. As you can see, I am surrounded by noise, 24-7. So this begs the question, what do I, (and other residents here) think about all this noise? Frankly, the only time we are seriously bothered by the noise is when it is just rude and unnecessary. We are NOT offended by occasional noises caused by industry or business. We DO have an issue with rude behavior. Contrary to popular rumor, we don’t want to stop the squeals of children at play, the lively chatter of outdoor cafés, or the occasional motorcycle roaring by. Some would try to complicate this issue, and cloud the argument with silly notions such as these. Additionally, we don’t think that normal, sober conversations are problematic at all We are very well aware that this is ‘downtown’. It’s where noise comes from, due to the very activities that you find here. That is to be expected. When the delivery trucks come around, it’s normal. When the shoppers are talking along the streets, that’s just another day. The shrimp boats firing up their engines to go out, the mills are releasing steam; it’s ‘downtown’. This kind of activity has been here for many years; it’s sort of ‘background’ to us now. What has happened? Why the big fuss all of a sudden? There are several taverns downtown that have kept residents and visitors awake at night. Not just a few times, but very often. When challenged, these taverns decided to continue the disturbances, rather than quiet down, for reasons they feel are legitimate. So, here we are, after a very long time of police intervention, court cases, lawsuits, and lots of ill will between neighbors, at the brink of what might be a ‘prosecutable’ ordinance. Our current ordinance has to be rewritten, as the State’s Attorney will not prosecute offenders with the current ordinance on the books. There have been meetings, consultations, and even workshops to get something that will work, but not hurt businesses. Let me say that no one has wanted to hurt the offenders, or their right to conduct business in a normal considerate fashion. Most of the residents downtown are sincerely hopeful that the businesses are allowed to thrive. We also want to see our historic downtown maintain it’s unique character. Fair enough. Alas, here is the worst problem: not everyone is going to be happy! The current proposal limits noise from the taverns to 11 PM on weekends and certain holidays. Of course, some of these taverns want to be allowed to share the outdoor music until 2 AM. They won’t be happy. The residents, especially me, would like to see the outdoor noise stop at 8 PM. We won’t be happy, either. Thankfully, we all understand compromise. Ahhhh the magic word that is the only thing that will settle this debate is compromise. We simply must learn to live together, and I know we will. We are a tough little bunch of islanders with a rich heritage of making things work. This town has faced some huge disasters and many economic slumps, but we always revive and thrive. Some of us will have to wear earplugs to sleep, and others will have to bring the noise inside a bit earlier, but that’s what good neighbors do. We compromise, even though it hurts. I am proud to be here because we are the kind of people that can and will make this work. That’s what we do best.
Sounds On Centre Concerts Well, the weather may have held off the Sounds on Centre concert for June, but please come on downtown for our next concert and street dance on July 3rd. The free concert starts at 6 PM sharp, and runs for 2 solid hours. Pirates, popcorn, cold drinks, prize drawings, dancing, and just good family fun. Bring your folding chair. This is the Friday before the July 4th festivities; so it will be a fun weekend. See you here?
Sid Sax Memorial As many of you know, Sid Sax, longtime downtown merchant died suddenly last week. His widow Susi held a ‘Memorial Party’ at his art store on North 3rd Street on Sunday the 14th for his friends and neighbors to pay their last respects. I was privileged to attend, and Sid’s ashes were there to keep us all company. This really was more a party for Sid’s life than a wake for his death. There were stories told by many people about their experiences with Sid, and what a character he was. There was food and merriment, and it was a great tribute to our old colleague. The outpouring of well-wishes for Susi was quite touching. I am certain that we will all miss Sid, and do our best to support Susi in this time of adjustment.
April 09 Fernandina Historic District NewsOur Man; Felix So much has been said and written about Felix lately, and the events surrounding how all this controversy came to be, that I had second thoughts about writing this article at all. However, I simply must tell you about the City Commission meeting on April 7th. In a word, it was ‘wonderful’. As you probably know, the story goes that a man from the northern climes, traveled to our fair city with the vision of opening a sidewalk hot dog stand. Good idea, but there is an ordinance preventing this. Well, rather than work within the system to gain his hot-doggity dream, he threatened the City with a lawsuit, and named Felix as the example of currently operating businesses. So, the City was obliged to respond to this situation. They had to determine if he was in violation of the ordinances. Just then, the local newspaper caught wind of this, and all heck broke loose! TV stations came to town to film the meeting, and coverage of this story has gone national, too. All about a peanut vendor that plays a wild harmonica. What a great town, huh? Gotta love it. I arrived at the meeting one hour early to get a good seat, and chatted with Felix’ mom for a while. What a happy, spiritual woman she is. She even baked cookies for everyone in the room (delicious, by the way). The meeting began with the volunteer attorneys representing Felix speaking to the City Commission. They reviewed Felix’ medical history and his service to the community; how he has spent the past 20 years selling peanuts and goodies downtown without incident or citation. His mom also spoke on his behalf, as did his sister. His annual donations to charity were highlighted, too. Now, keep in mind that everyone in the capacity-packed room was there to support Felix….you could actually feel the excitement in the air. It was electric. Outside, there were about 200 supporters with signs, pressing against the plate-glass windows to watch the event. There was so much applauding and cheering that some people were becoming hoarse by this time. After the testimonials and speeches, the Mayor asked Felix if he had anything to say before the Commission discussed his case. The room fell deftly silent as Felix limped his way toward the podium to speak. When he arrived at the podium, without a word, he brought out his harmonica, and soulfully played “My Country, ‘Tis Of Thee”. When he finished, the house came down. The roar of joy inside and outside the chambers was deafening; beyond what I have ever seen there in my life. There was not a dry eye in the place. After the crowd settled down, the City Attorney stated that she had looked into the case that week, and determined that Felix was not in violation of the ordinance, and that he could just “carry on”. More cheering, crying…..it was a great moment to be in Fernandina; a great moment. I will not soon forget that meeting. And what was all this fuss about, really? Felix? No, it was about you and me, and how we can relate to a nice guy with cerebral palsy, that is just trying to do well and get along in this world. It was about our desire to support the underdog, the weak, and the timid among us. We all had come to recognize a bit of Felix in each us, and that is why we were there to support our friend; our man, Felix.
Shrimp Festival 2009 Schedule OK folks, keep this issue of the News to determine where and when you will be heading downtown for the festivities. It’s all right here, and quite portable. I’ll be looking for you. I'll be the guy at the antiques section, eating a funnel cake.
THURSDAY, April 30, 2009 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Spaghetti Dinner Eat in or Take out at MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 6:00 pm SHRIMP FESTIVAL PIRATE PARADE (I’ll be in the Parade, see if you can spot me!) Theme: “Home Grown Shrimp, the Pick of the Litter” Centre Street FRIDAY, May 1, 2009 10:00am - 5:00 pm DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS SIDEWALK SALE 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm RIVERFRONT STAGE OPENING CEREMONY AND ENTERTAINMENT RIVERFRONT FOOD COURT OPEN Foot of Centre Street - South Parking Lot and 2nd and Centre Streets LIVE MARINE SEA CIRCUS & SHRIMP AQUARIUM DISPLAY Foot of Centre Street at the Amelia River (I wonder if they will have those cool Sea Monkeys?) SOUTHWEST AIRLINES KIDS KORNER AND FOOD BOOTH OPEN Library Parking Lot between N. 3rd and N. 4th Street 9:30 pm INVASION OF THE PIRATES Foot of Centre Street at the Amelia River 9:45 pm FIREWORKS DISPLAY Foot of Centre Street at the Amelia River SATURDAY, MAY 2, 20097:00 am - 10:30 am Breakfast Buffet Eat in or Take out at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 801 Atlantic Avenue 8:00 am 15th Annual Shrimp Festival 5K Run/Walk and 10th Annual Katie Caples Memorial 1-Mile Youth Run. MAIN BEACH at Atlantic Ave. at North Fletcher Ave. 9:00 am - 8:00 pm SHRIMP! FOOD! MORE FOOD! 25 FOOD BOOTHS OFFER A VARIETY OF SEAFOOD AND OTHER DELICACIES THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL AREA. Riverfront Food Court, Every Intersection along Centre Street and Southwest Airlines Kids Korner 9:00 am - 6:00 pm FINE ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW FEATURING TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE JURIED ARTISTS AND CRAFTSMEN Centre Street, North and South 2nd, North and South 3rd, North 4th Streets ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES SHOW South 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th StreetsSOUTHWEST AIRLINES KIDS KORNER FEATURING GAMES, FACE PAINTING, SAND ART, ROCK-CLIMBING WALL, FOOD COURT BUNGEE FUN, PONY RIDES, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT & LOTS MORE FAMILY FUN Library Parking Lot between North 3rd Street and North 4th StreetNASSAU COUNTY PUBLIC & PRIVATE SCHOOLS ART DISPLAY Tent Sponsored by VyStar Credit Union North 4th Street in front of Library Building RIVERFRONT STAGE ENTERTAINMENT AND SPONSOR ACTIVITIES Foot of Centre Street - South Parking Lot and 2nd and Centre Streets LIVE MARINE SEA CIRCUS & SHRIMP AQUARIUM DISPLAY Foot of Centre Street at the Amelia River SUNDAY, May 3, 200910:00 am - 5:00 pm SHRIMP! FOOD! MORE FOOD! 10:00 am - 5:00 pm FINE ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW SOUTHWEST AIRLINES KIDS KORNERNASSAU COUNTY PUBLIC & PRIVATE SCHOOLS ART DISPLAY RIVERFRONT STAGE ENTERTAINMENT AND SPONSOR ACTIVITIES Foot of Centre Street - South Parking Lot and 2nd and Centre Streets LIVE MARINE SEA CIRCUS & SHRIMP AQUARIUM DISPLAY Sponsored by The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service Foot of Centre Street at the Amelia River 1:00 pm BLESSING OF THE FLEET , BEST DECORATED SHRIMP BOATS, AND OTHER WATERCRAFT PARADE AND CONTEST Riverfront Stage and Foot of Centre Street at the Amelia River
March, 2009 Fernandina Historic District NewsSounds on Centre is BACK!!!! What a terrific time everyone had at this year’s first ‘Sounds On Centre’ street concert. You’ll remember from last year; the Historic Fernandina Business Association (HFBA) hosted the downtown concert series each first-Friday evening. This year, the tradition continues, with some new bands and lots of fun. The Friday March 6th, season opener was a big success. An estimated crowd of over 1100 (predominantly local residents) jammed Centre Street to capacity. It was a wonderful display of community spirit. Many visitors think this event is the work of the local government, but in fact, HFBA spends thousands of dollars to bring this event downtown. The concerts are scheduled for each first Friday of the month (except May) from March through October this year. Local businesses help sponsor the concerts, too. It’s a real family event, so bring grandpa and the kids. You’ll find refreshments available there, but remember to bring your chairs and dancing shoes! This year, they have added the raffle for gift certificates donated by local businesses. The next SOC is scheduled for April 3rd, 6 –8 PM. If you are interested in more information or wish to donate a gift, you can contact Loren Lum at 904-321-1605
Have you noticed the strange noise that the mill has been emitting lately? It sounds like a high-pitched whine, or a siren. It is fairly loud and quite irritating. The sound occurs day and night at any time and goes on for several minutes. It carries all the way past Centre St. and has been present for about 5 months? Surprisingly, the operators there say that they cannot hear the noise, and are not aware when it starts. This means they cannot locate the source of the noise. So, our good friends at Smurfit-Stone want your help. When YOU hear this noise, please call them at 261-8695 and report that you hear it. They will know what you are calling about. They need your calls to inform them when it is occurring. Environmental Hot Line for Smurfit Stone, 261-8695, anytime you hear the noise Historic District Demolition
Thankfully, the Historic District Council, the Codes Enforcement Board and the City’s Community Development Department met recently to talk about the houses in the Historic District that have been torn down in the past few years. More importantly, they discussed how to prevent this kind of bizarre mistake from happening again. I suppose when there are so many departments and boards that are not speaking to each other, mistakes will happen? Yes, but doesn’t it seem weird that such a huge mistake can happen so quickly? In the case of the 6th Street and Dade Street houses that were torn down, demolition happened fast. So fast, that by the time local residents had a chance to react to what they saw, the buildings were gone. If there is blame to be placed, it should be squarely on the City officials for allowing this to happen. All instances took place under the eye of the City officials. I am very hopeful that this recent meeting, and the ideas that came forth from it, (such as the fund for restoring historic homes) will forever stop the deterioration and demolition of these vanishing houses. Education of homeowners and City employees alike is crucial, too. Sadly, the Someruelus Street house in Old Town will be meeting it’s end soon, as the ritualistic dismantling one of this county’s oldest houses is in process now. This house was a prime example of what happens when a historic house is allowed to sit without maintenance. I hope we can get the solution right, and soon. We simply cannot afford to lose more houses due to ignorance and neglect.
Noise Ordinance? The City held a meeting at the City Hall chambers on Thursday, March 11, 2009, to discuss the perils of the current noise ordinance. Yours truly decided to attend this meeting, as I live downtown, and sometimes the noise can be a handful! Why am I interested in the noise ordinance? ….I live near a church fellowship hall, a late-night bar, the Fernandina Port, the railroad tracks, and not far from the Smurfit-Stone mill. Ahhhh….. noise is a constant fellow around here. Don’t get me wrong; I understand the necessity of some noise where business is concerned. However, I can’t say that I LIKE it. I don’t think that anyone does, really. This is a sticky problem, in that we all love to live downtown, but then again, that’s where the noise is! As a resident around here, I must say that I’d like to see noise levels decrease at 6 PM, and then go quiet at 10 PM altogether. As far as the live music is concerned (which started all this ordinance examination), perhaps the ordinance may include only acoustic music being allowed outdoors at night, and all amplified music being restricted to indoors? There is even talk about the City requiring a special permit for outdoor amplified music downtown.
_________**__________ 22 Feb 09 Fernandina Historic District NewsFebruary, 2009 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall Spring is the Thing! OK, I can’t help but say it; I can’t wait until spring gets here. I have been stuck in this drafty house for 2 months, and I’m getting a bit stir crazy. Sure, it’s nothing compared to Yankee-Land, but for a thin-blooded native like me, this has been a cold few weeks. Having said all that, let me point out a few events that will be gracing our historic downtown area in the coming weeks that you’ll want to attend.
Concourse de’Elegance Downtown Show Friday, March 13th, there will be a collection of vintage automobiles downtown along Centre street, as many of the participants in the Concourse de’Elegance show off their cars to the general public downtown. Some local restaurants have planned a luncheon for owners only during the show, and the rest of us are invited to view the cars while they are downtown for the event. As you know, the full car show is held annually at the Ritz Carlton that weekend. I went last year, and it was great fun. I think I saw more vintage cars there in one day than I had ever seen in my entire life previously. And, these are really special cars; collectables from all over the country, and cars dating back to the earliest days of automobile design. About 40 cars are expected to be downtown for this show, between 11:15 AM and 2 PM I wanted to enter my Nissan Pickup in the contest. It’s pretty old, too. I can’t understand why they did not accept it. Huh……
Voting Charter Amendment
I normally like to stay out of politics, as it gives me a queasy feeling in my gut. However, I must chime in on this resolution to pass an amendment to our charter here concerning the voting dates for Fernandina Beach. The resolution states that in April, you will get a chance to vote on changing the dates of our election from April to November. On the surface, this sounds OK. Add to that, the savings to our City of about $25,000 per election; sounds even better, right? I am not convinced that this is a good idea at all. Please allow me to explain. In the county, all elections are held in November, along with the national elections. Due to the media coverage, these elections have always brought out the very conservative votes across the county. Last election, our county voted 73% conservative. Frankly, I like that….. I’m a conservative. However, putting my preference aside for the moment, let’s look at Fernandina, it’s history, and political future. In April, since only the City has an election, only those persons that are concerned for our town come out to vote. The voting is only about our town, and we do not see the partisan voting down the right or left side of a ballot, that you’d see in a national election. I think this has shaped the county’s politics, and I do not want to see this style of voting change our town. If the proposal was for any schedule except voting during a national election, I might approve it. However, I do not want our town starting to look like our county (politically speaking). If this was about money, I can (and so can you) point to a dozen ways to save that much money for the City. It’s a precious small amount to save our unique political environment here. I’m going to vote no to this change. Waterfront Meeting; Amelia Island Association I was recently invited to speak at a meeting of the Amelia Island association. This group was formed to bring light to issues that concern us around these parts, and they have monthly meetings with topics that range from traffic and transportation, to politics and parks This recent meeting was about the Amelia River waterfront development plans. I spoke about the resident and business owners perspectives concerning the planned park. Also speaking was Lou Goldman from the Florida Waterfronts Partnership, Ron Sapp from the City Commission, and the team of planners from the City; Adrienne Dessy and Kelly Gibson. The planners presented a slide show with the current plan for the waterfront park on the City property from Centre St., southbound. Mr. Sapp spoke of the history of the project (over 20 years!), and Mr. Goldman described the Partnership’s role in creating the plans. It was a very informative meeting, but what struck me most was that due to money and permitting restrictions, this park will probably take 15 years to build out! Friends, that is a very long time. And, to add more angst to the mix, we still run the danger of subsequent City Commissions changing the plan in the years to come.
Dec 08 Fernandina Historic District NewsDecember, 2008 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall Buy A Brick Downtown
Well, if you have ever wanted to see your name immortalized in stone, you might just get your chance soon. The City is talking about creating a ‘buy-a-brick, and ‘buy-a-bench’ program for the downtown waterfront park project. The idea is to engrave a brick with your name (for a fee), and install it into a sidewalk. I must say that I like the idea, and I have seen it used elsewhere many times with great success. People just naturally enjoy seeing their names printed; it gives them a sense of belonging and contribution. Our old bricks from the downtown excavation of Centre Street have been waiting for a chance to be used for something instead of sitting in the City maintenance lot. These bricks will finally get a chance to be appreciated again with this ambitious brick-sale program. As you might know, these old brick pavers of ours have had a hard life since their dislocation from the streets downtown back in the 1970’s. Some of these bricks have been buried underground at the City lot, while some others are in piles above ground. They have been moved, buried, and even made available for sale! Sadly, it seems that our heritage bricks are not even worthy of being used as the engraved bricks. Our old brick-pavers are glazed on the surface; once that surface is broken (with an engraving) the brick will deteriorate quickly (at least that’s what I am told). So, it appears that our old bricks will serve a supporting role, as edging and other sideline jobs, but the real stars of the brick program will be the brand-new bricks. Alas, the life of a brick is not always as glorious as one might think. Regardless, I am excited to see the bricks coming back to life in some small way. You’ll get your chance to buy your very own engraved brick, or even a bench soon. Cheryl Nichols at City Hall 277-7305 will be taking your applications in the springtime. I’ll let you know right here the exact dates. This will be in conjunction with the waterfront park development (and you know how that has gone so far). Note that the current plans call for these bricks NOT being used in the new ‘pocket parks’ downtown, only in the waterfront park.
My Fernandina Christmas Story When I was a little kid, very long ago, the world was a different place than it is today. At least it was from the perspective of an 8 year-old kid like me. Everything I learned was new and exciting. I wasn’t concerned about the social stature of a person, as much as his ability to be kind to me and have neat stuff to share. My dad introduced me to one such gentleman; his name was Joe Zimmerman. He was an unemployed jack-of-all-trades. He drove an old rusty pickup truck and lived in the woods where the Plantation is today. My dad would take me to his ‘house’ in the woods for visits, and I must say that I learned so much from this kind man’s life-style. His ‘house’ was just a tiny one-room shack, just barely big enough for a single bed, a tiny wood stove, and a make-shift closet. Really. That was it. No electricity. No plumbing. No screens. His water supply was in a rain barrel outside his door and a spring down in the back-woods about ½ mile away. Joe had a poorly constructed barn for his livestock; a goat, a cow, and some chickens. If Joe never worked another day in his life, he said that he could always feed himself with this set-up of his. Yep, he was a real character. Dogs? Joe had dogs, and loved them a lot. Whenever he came to our house to help my dad, he would bring a dog or two for us kids to play with. We had a dog too, named Puppy, but his health wasn’t so good. He was dying, and back then there were no veterinarians in Fernandina, besides, who had that kind of money for a dog anyway? One summer day, Puppy had made a turn for the worse. My dad didn’t know what to do. Mr. Zimmerman, who was very good with animals, asked if he could take the dog for a while to see if he could help. Dad accepted his invitation, and away went my best friend. It was a terribly low day for a little kid. That dog was my best friend, and I knew that I would never see him again. I knew that he was going away to die. I also knew that dad had done this to spare my feelings of watching the slow gruesome death of my friend. All the intentions were good, and as a little kid, I had to rise to the newfound knowledge that even some hurtful decisions might be for your best outcome. Well, the days drifted into weeks, and into months. I had almost given up hope of ever seeing my dog again. My dad came to me just before Christmas Day, and said, “Come on boy, let’s go for a ride”. My sister and I hopped into our 1946 Plymouth 4 door sedan, and went along. I don’t think we knew where we were going. Dad didn’t say where he was taking us; “It’s a surprise” was all he would say. As we drove down to the south end of the island, we both realized that dad was taking us to Mr. Zimmerman’s again. We were quite familiar with the canopy oaks just south of the airport. That was one of the only reasons we would go that way; was to see Mr. Zimmerman. So, we became a bit excited. Excited, yes, but warily cautious, as we knew that we could also be going to discover that Puppy had died, and we were going to visit his grave. So, we held our breath. I don’t think that my sister or I said a word after we realized where we might be going. We pulled up to the gate there, and dad got out to open the gate, it was just an old log set between two posts, and one could just slide it out of the way. We drove through, closed the gate again, and as we approached the shack, many dogs came running alongside our car. There in the pack, we could clearly see Puppy! He was healthy, happy, and running with the other dogs. As soon as we opened the doors to the car, Puppy ran up to us, and such a joyful reunion it was! I thought that dog would lick my face right off! I was so happy, so relieved to be reunited with my best friend. Truly, it was the best Christmas gift a kid ever got. There are too many morals in this story to point them all out. I’m just glad to have known Joe Zimmerman. I’m a richer person today because I knew him. Here’s my Christmas wish for you…….. “May YOUR Christmas be as happy as that one was for me.”
Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com
Nov, 08 Fernandina Historic District NewsNovember, 2008 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall HDC Fees: Our Readers Respond! Wow! In October’s issue, I spoke about the fees of the Historic District Council being set too high by the City. Well, I have never received so much email concerning one item! Citizens from around the Historic District told me of their stories having to deal with city staff, and the maze of rules, regulations, and bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo that they had to go through. It wasn’t just one or two; I received many such stories. I hate to say it, but our system is broken here. We have piled up so much fear and confusion into the system, that staff is reluctant to grant permits for homeowners to do simple tasks, and refer too many cases to an HDC hearing. Homeowners are afraid to ask for permission, as they know they are getting into a real difficult situation. I will post these responses on my web site at www.FHDnews.com. You can see them there anytime. I have removed the writers’ names to protect their identity. I am also informing the City Commissioners. I hope that our City officials consider the precarious position that the homeowners of the Historic District have been placed in. While we love the historic significance of our homes, we find it increasingly difficult to wade through the clutter and expense of the City’s systems. This simply means that fewer residents will ask for permission, and break the law. Fewer repairs will be made in a timely manner, and the whole district will begin to appear worn and less inviting. This is not meant as a slight against the HDC. They’re just following protocol. The result will be a Historic District that draws fewer tourists. The merchants will suffer due to that. Then, the City and County will show reduced revenue from taxes. It won’t happen overnight, but it is sure to happen. Let’s contact the Commissioners and ask them to reduce these burdens on the properties that ARE the Historic District.
Best Decorated House Contest Is On! This year, the Historic Fernandina Business Association is sponsoring the Best Decorated Home Contest for the Historic District! While many of us go through a lot to display our holiday cheer, this year there will be a prize! The association has secured a wonderful trophy that will be the annual prize for the winner. This trophy will be handed from one winner to the next each year. I’ve seen the trophy, and it is gorgeous! It’s tall and gold; something you’d be proud to display in your home all year. Please contact me if you are interested in registering for the contest. You don’t have to do anything; I’ll do it all. We will have a blue-ribbon panel of judges to make the award at an Awards Ceremony in December. This is going to be a great event. You can reach me by phone at 261-6846, or by email at netthall@hotmail.com. There is a deadline for signing up of Dec. 15th.
Museums Historic Homes Tour (and more) The Amelia Island Museum of History (busy people!) presents Christmas on Centre, the 2nd Annual Christmas Festival and Historic Home Tour.Dec. 5th and 6th, from 10:00am to 5:00pm you can go to St. Peter's Church at Centre and 8th Streets, to see fun displays of model trains, ‘designer’ Christmas trees, and there will be activities for children including photos with Santa! As if all that wasn’t enough, there is a terrific tour of 7 Historic Homes downtown! I’ve been on these tours in previous years, and it really is a great night out for the family. Learn more at http://www.ameliamuseum.org
Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Boat Parade The annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is Saturday, Nov. 29 at 6:00 p.m, at the west end of Centre St. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at 3 p.m. to meet and be available to take pictures with the kids. Live music by local choirs and bands will also occur downtown 3 to 6 PM The 1st Annual Fernandina Harbor Holiday Lighted Boat Parade will be held on Saturday evening, Dec. 13, 2008 at the City Marina at the foot of Centre at 8:00 p.m., following the Lighted Land Parade. Bring your chairs and view the lighted parade from along the boardwalk. All boats will be decorated with lights in a Christmas/Holiday theme. The Boat Parade is hosted by the Historic Fernandina Business Association. You can join the parade with your boat, too! 904-206-0756
A Place of Peace Event “Let there be Peace On Earth, and let it begin with me” Starting on Dec. 1st and running each evening through Dec. 5th, the “A Place of Peace” festival will host different gatherings and celebrations of Amelia Island as a special place of peace. The events start off on Dec. 1st, with a candlelight and singing walk from St. Michaels Church on N. 4th St. to St. Peter’s church downtown on 8th St at Centre St. You can read more about this at www.placeofpeacefestival.org/
Visit www.portoffernandinaproblems.com to see Historic District traffic condition
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October, 2008 Fernandina Historic District NewsFor and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall HDC Fees Hurt Us Last month, I went to the City Hall to get permission to remove a rotting non-historical 1974 set of outdoor steps. Our goal is to restore the 1909 home to it’s historically-correct appearance. I was told by staff, that I must speak to the Historic District Council before they could issue a demolition permit. I wasn’t happy, but I said OK. Then I learned that the fee to speak to the HDC, was a whopping $200.00 !!! Not only that, but I was scheduled for the November meeting….2 months away! I wish the City fathers would think through this whole process of government restrictions. It seems that if the City wants us to keep our homes historically accurate, they should reward us rather than punish us. I think this fee is far too high, and actually creates an environment of distrust. We all know of residents in the HD that will not ask City Hall for permission to do anything because of the hassle and expense. Many homeowners just refuse to do the needed work, and the HD suffers overall. When the HD suffers, so does tourism, and thus goes the local business climate. I recommend that the City create a way to encourage us to keep our homes in good condition. Let’s create an environment that encourages renovation in the HD. Let’s reward our homeowners when they improve our best local economic engine. Let’s get this process right. Stop punishing the keepers of the HD here. These are just people trying to do the right thing for our community Best Decorated House Contest Well, the HFBA (downtown merchants association) is at it again, with a big Christmas-time slate of events coming to town! As you know, each year, there is a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony downtown. But THIS year, there will be so much more! Santa will visit downtown each Saturday during December; there will be contests, and parties throughout the holiday season. Today, however, I want to give all the homeowners downtown a heads-up about the ‘Best Decorated Historic District House’ contest. There will be a huge trophy awarded, along with bragging rights. The winner is picked a blue-ribbon panel of judges. Businesses won’t be left out, as there is another contest for the ‘Best Decorated Store Window’, too. Winners will be picked by popular vote from shoppers for this contest. Add these events to the Lighted Boat Parade and other new events, I think that there will be more than enough to keep your interest downtown this season. ‘Pocket Parks’ are Dedicated If you have been downtown lately, you’ve likely noticed the new ‘Pocket Parks’ as they are called around here. These are small grassy parks with walks and benches, located between the existing buildings next to Last Flight Out and Sea Breeze, on Centre Street. These parks were created by a lease hammered out between the land owners and the City, by the Mayor. They are a face-lift for the vacant lots that have existed in those locations for many years. It’s a very nice addition to the leisurely pace of the downtown shopping area. The Ribbon-Cutting Event for these parks was held Oct. 3rd at 5 PM, just before the start of the last Sounds on Centre street concert for 2008. The dedication also offered hamburgers and hot dogs to the attendees. Yes, yes, of course I had a hamburger!!!!!! Yuuummm….
Waterfront Park Construction Still Drags On OK. I might be as thickheaded as my wife says I am, so am I missing something here? I attended the Waterfronts Meeting with the City Commission recently, and I could swear that it seemed like nothing was done. There was some talk about the format of the meetings and what the next step should be, and who was in charge of what. But I don’t think that they really did anything substantive that night. Our Riverfront Park downtown seems to be dragging in the water right now. Most folk I know want to see the bulldozers out there moving dirt yesterday. Seems that we have been working on this project for several years. Shouldn’t the format, and the responsibilities have been determined already? Don’t you usually do this in the beginning? Oh well, I’ve heard that it's probably not best to watch sausage or legislation being made.
Fernandina Historic District News Historic Street Pavers Almost Sold When I was a kid, the streets of Fernandina’s downtown were artfully paved with red bricks (pavers). They were likely laid down in the 1800’s to replace the sand and shell streets here. This continued right up until the redesign of Centre Street in the mid 1970’s. Recently, I received an email from an HD News reader that told me the City was auctioning off our antique street pavers on Ebay!I was very concerned, as these bricks are a part of our heritage, and besides that, the price was only 1 penny each (I was afraid that they would be sold quickly)! I have always hoped that these bricks could be used in a project downtown; perhaps the new Pocket Parks? Anyhoo, a few emails later, and the City Commissioners agreed to instruct the City Manager to halt the auction, and save our historic bricks. It is my hope that we treat our historic artifacts not as so much a commodity, but rather as an honored heritage. Additionally, I am so proud of our readers; to get involved, and help preserve our heritage. Waterfront Project On Hold As many developers do, Lane uses ‘equity partners’ to share the weight of such a large project, but the lenders today are not forthcoming with funds. So, sadly, we will wait even longer to see this project develop. What’s even more distressing, is that Lane has decided not to purchase the Florida Petroleum sites, or some other vacant lots along the waterfront. I had high hopes that we would see a great deal of activity there, but not for now. There are currently no plans for a start date Historic District Picnic Wow! Another fantastic Picnic was held on Sept. 7th downtown (in my backyard!). We were so blessed by the generous outpouring of gifts and services from so many merchants around the county! The door prizes were quite numerous; seems like everybody left with a gift!I counted about 150 attendees over the 4 hour event. Many local musicians provided live music. All the visitors brought side-dishes to share and relaxed under the Live Oak tree. Citizens Bank even donated the children’s bounce-land!! Boy, were the little ones tired after all that! Food? It was so varied and delicious. Annette’s Special BBQ was a big hit. The weather was perfect, too. All in all, another big day in the Historic District!
Fall Arts Show Sept 27-28 The Historic Fernandina Business Association is presenting the annual Fall Arts Show this month! This year’s event promises to be full of unique paintings, sculptures, and multi-media designs. As you know, this event is designed to be a fine arts show, rather than a catch-all market. In addition to the art, there will be food booths and a multi-location Wine-Tasting event. Live music will be performed both days, and even the Pirates will be there with their ship! Arrrr!!!!We expect over 100 artists to display, plus the additional attractions. This will definitely be an event to attend! Location will be from Front Street along Centre St. to 3rd St., and along 2nd St. Hours are 9 Am to 5 PM Saturday and Sunday. Sept 27-28
Fiesta de Santa Maria, Sept 20 Hosted by the Historic Fernandina Business Association, the 5th Annual Fiesta de Santa Maria takes place Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the culturally-rich South 3rd Street – the site of the Florida House Inn, the state’s oldest surviving tourist hotel.While staying at this Victorian-style bed and breakfast, Jose Marti plotted the Cuban War for Independence from Spain in 1895-1898. The fiesta is named in honor of "Isle de Santa Maria", which was the name of Amelia Island during the first Spanish reign from 1565 to 1763. Artisans, crafters and local businesses will transform South 3rd Street into a marketplace from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Younger visitors can participate in piñata breaking at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Historical displays and dance exhibitions are also planned. Latin-themed dishes from area restaurants will tickle visitors’ taste buds with flavors of the days when Amelia Island was ruled under the flags of Spain and Mexico. A street dance will be held from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. Amelia Island Film Festival Hey, I am so excited about the Film Festival ! This is the inaugural season, and there are over 40 films to see! The films will be shown at various locations around the island. So, if you are a film buff like me, you’ll really enjoy this local version of Cannes and Sundance.The festival runs Sept 25th through the 29th. Contact them at www.AmeliaIslandFilmFestival.com or call 904-335-1110
Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.comThis is a privately funded newsletter, not related to any government body or association. The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the publisher, unless otherwise noted
Boots, Beer, and BBQ Downtown The Sierra Club is having a fun-fundraiser on Sept. 21st starting at 5:30. It will be themed as a Texas BBQ !!!! And you know how much I love BBQ !!!! There will be dancing lessons (two-step of course), a country-western band, and lots of BBQ !!!! Come on by for a great time. For more info, call Julie at 583-4388. Tickets are $30. Proceeds are to provide legal defense of the Crane Island issue. It all happens at Kafe Karibo, see ya there....
AMELIA ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL PASSES---NOW AVAILABLE !!Over 20 Screenings at 4 Venues AIFF F0UNDING MEMBER $ 75., STUDENT $ 45., SINGLE PASS $ 100., PER COUPLE $150 Pass Holders will be admitted first to all Screenings before General Public Send check or money order to: AIFF, PO Box 504, Fernandina Beach, FL 32035-0504 Call: 904. 335. 1110 for more information. Website: www.AmeliaIslandFilmFestival.org Inaugural Season SEPTEMBER 25-28, 2008
Visit: www.PortOfFernandinaProblems.comto see the impact to the Historic District neighborhoods
Fernandina Historic District
News July, 2008 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall
July 4th Bash…WOW! Wow….what a 4th of July evening we saw this year! Downtown was just bustling with thousands that came to see the Sounds on Centre concert, The First Friday Art Walk, and of course, the fireworks!You could not have asked for better weather; the sky was clear, there was a gentle west-bound breeze, and it was not too muggy (just right for a fireworks display). The schedule for the evening was perfect. First, art enthusiests gather downtown to visit the art shops and catch special offers and showings there; it’s a nice stroll. Then, hundreds gathered to enjoy the rock concert with ‘Face For Radio’ playing hits from today and yesterday. They are a big favorite with the Sounds on Centre crowd; very danceable music. Of course, the Pirates were present to muse and confuse; what a great bunch. The kids just love them! Then as the concert ended, our bluegrass band,"Brothers", started playing on the outdoor patio at Canopy Moon Café. It’s pretty cozy in there, and everyone had a great time singing along to the old banjo tunes. And, right on time, at 9:45, the fireworks show started! It was so close to the café, that we just stopped playing and watched the show with everyone else, mesmerized. I thought this years fireworks display was excellent. Anyway, if you didn’t get downtown for the 4th. That’s what you missed! It was one of the nicest I’ve seen in years! July’s "Country Nights" Show at Palace From 7-10 pm on Wednesday, the 30th of July, the Palace Saloon hosts "Country Nights" featuring ‘Sherri and Terry’, line dancing, and lots of fun. Special guest this month is the duo "Whitby Quinn" (Robert Sanders and Michael Howerton). They will perform at 8:30 PMThis should prove to be an excellent night’s entertainment! Upcoming Historic District Picnic For those of you who wish to visit with your neighbors in the Historic District, be sure to mark this date on your calendars! This year, the 4th annual Historic District Picnic is being held on Sunday, Sept 7th. We will have a BBQ, a bluegrass band, carriage rides, and more. As before, this year’s Picnic will be held in my back yard.This is always a great time, and a good way to connect with friends and neighbors that you haven’t seen in years! We ask that you bring a covered dish to share, and lawn chairs enough for your group. If anyone has free access to a childrens-bounce-land, please let me know. There were lots of children last year, and it would be nice to give them something fun to do while the parents visit. Last year, so many neighbors came by, and everyone had lots of fun. I’m looking forward to some small changes this year, and I’ve been working on the lawn, too. The event starts at 4 PM. Please contact me if you have any questions. RSVP would be nice, too. I need to know how many to plan for. Street Musician Ordinance Closer The City Attorney is now drafting an ordinance which will require a permit for a musician to play in the Historic District. When we first started this program, our goal was to provide free entertainment downtown, and to assure that it would be a quality program. With the help of the Commission, we are moving toward that goal, and soon we expect this ordinance will solve some potential problems before they get started. Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.comThis is a privately funded newsletter, not related to any government body or association. The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the publisher, unless otherwise noted
Fernandina Historic District News June, 2008 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall City Commission Meets Downtown Association The Commissioners met with the HFBA on Tuesday June 10th, to discuss how the two could work together more closely to create a long-term vision for the downtown, and for the Historic District overall. The meeting covered a variety of topics such as waterfront redevelopment, maintenance of the downtown area, events for downtown, and the most important item: participation in the Florida Main Street Program!The Main Street Program could provide a vast amount of expertise and resources to our downtown, and has been used very successfully in other towns around the State. I’m really hopeful that the City and the HFBA can work together to bring this program here. Only a few towns are accepted annually to the program, we were unsuccessful a few years ago in our effort to become part of the program. However, thanks in part to our new CRA, we are better poised to be picked as a candidate for this program. There has been a lot of work toward this goal by many members of the downtown merchants over the years. Perhaps someday soon, all that work will pay off. You can find out more by browsing to: http://www.flheritage.com/preservation/architecture/mainstreet/ City To Allow Musicians Downtown!?! As you may know, the HFBA has been working with the City to place acoustic musicians and performers along Centre Street for entertainment. Our pilot program was a big hit, but we had to work with the City to create a better ordinance to secure our right to play downtown, and to protect the rights of other performers and citizens, too. So, come on downtown every Friday and Saturday evening from 2PM until 8 PM to enjoy some acoustic music from our Street Musicians. Oh, and if you are a musician interested in joining us, just call me! "My Charleston Trip" One item was the tree ordinance. They have fantastic old Live Oaks there, much like ours here, and they are really serious about keeping them alive While locally, our penalty is a serious inch-per-inch diameter replacement cost ($5,000 for a grand old oak), Charleston has a penalty of $100,000.00 per tree cut down without permission! The second thing that I thought was interesting was their determination to keep their old buildings, even when they seemed less-than-perfect. Example: there was a huge earthquake there many years ago, and scores of homes were damaged to the point of being far from straight and level. When you look at the house from the street, it leans so far over as to appear to be falling! (yes, really) The City will NOT allow them to tear down these structures, and people still reside in them today. While efforts have been made to secure and make the structures safe, the buildings are really strange looking. "Never-you-mind", says the city, it’s all part of the historic record for Charleston. We could learn a thing or two from other cities that have taken very serious steps to historic preservation. Millions of dollars in quality revenue are attracted by historic preservation. Again, the long-term view proves to be the most beneficial. Album Debut at Florida House Local singer - songwriters, Robert Sanders and Michael Howerton of the band "Whitby Quinn" invite all to the CD release of their debut album entitled "She's Gone". The Release Party is set for Thursday, June 26, 2008 at the Florida House Inn in the Frisky Mermaid. 7-10PM.Robert brought a copy of the CD to me for a quick listen: I developed an ‘ear worm’ after listening to the first track, "Where She Goes"….it’s really catchy….I kept singing it all day! They will be signing copies at the party. Listen for yourself at the website www.whitbyquinn.com. There are these cool links that will play the songs without a download! Neat…
Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News
Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News January, 2008 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall
Amelia Island Film Festival Event Hey, let’s go to the movies! The Amelia Island Film Festival is having a showing of La Vie en Rose from Powerhouse Entertainment staring Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf, (nominated for the Golden Globe Award) on January 23rd and 24th at the Palace Saloon Banquet Room. Each evening, two short films will be shown also, one about the Fernandina Beach Shrimping Industry in the 1950s, and the other about the 1960s Shrimp Festival Boat Races. This could be interesting….I bet you will recognize some folk from the old days!!! I hear that one is even filmed in black and white….the kids might get a kick out of that! Actually, these films are ‘home videos’ created back in the day by locals. The first evening showing is Wednesday, January 23 at 7 p.m. There will be a rose given to the first 50 ladies that enter, from Dottie B's Florist. The second showing will be Thursday, January 24 at 7 p.m. That night, there is a drawing for a 50-dollar Gift Certificate (donated from Jos. A. Banks). Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission Adults: $ 10. AIFF Founding Members are admitted free of charge. You can buy your tickets at: Last Flight Out, Susi’s Emporium and The Chamber of Commerce Depot Building, all on Centre Street, in the Historic District. Also, you can get tickets at Alexander's at Palmetto Walk, the UPS Store on Sadler Road & The Chamber of Commerce location at Gateway Center. Need to know more? Just call Tony McAdoo at 904-335-1110 I’m looking forward to it….. The French film sounds great, but those films of the ‘old shrimpin’ days’ have got be to a hoot! R.A.I.N. Greets the Public Frankly, this is a story that I hoped I would not have to write. As a citizen, I have been anxious to see the City begin construction on the new plans that the Waterfront Partnership has drafted. You already know about the plans, and how there were countless meetings, charrettes and promises about this topic. Well, again, it seems this project is being delayed. Now while I do not profess to be an architect or engineer, I do know that the citizens have been waiting a long time to see something happen along the riverfront. The Waterfront group has a very nice plan, but it seems that the City Commission is divided on the details, and that is where everything has stopped. I had hoped that I would be writing news about the start of the construction, but alas, I am afraid that it’s going to be delayed until our Commissioners can agree on how to proceed. I know the decision is a big one, and that not everyone agrees on what, if anything, should be built along our public riverfront. I am just hopeful that an agreement can be reached soon. In fact, for a Welcome Center, there is even a $212,000 construction grant at stake here. If construction doesn’t begin soon, we may be at risk of losing that grant money. So, again, we are down to the wire, and the stakes are high. It appears that time is not on our side. Got News??? Hey you guys, I could use a good story about the neighborhood. If you know of any property or people that should be highlighted let me know. There are good things out there and we need to share them!Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com
Dec 07 Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News December, 2007 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall
HDC, City Commission Hold The Line Recently, the City Commission was petitioned to overturn the Historic District Council’s decision to deny ‘Hardy-Board’ as a substitute replacement for real wood on an older house here in the Historic District. While this might seem to be a straightforward ruling, it turned out to be a gut-wrenching and troublesome issue for both the HDC and the Commission.The owner claimed that being required to put real wood on the entire exterior would cost an additional $9,000.00. The entire job was estimated to cost about $50,000.00, and so, the extra expense of using real wood would have raised the total about 20%. The owner was asking that she be allowed to use the substitute only for the reason of the added expense; and that is where the problem lies. In the statute concerning substitute materials on historic structures, it reads that these substitute materials cannot be used "unless it is economically unfeasible" . Now exactly, WHAT does that mean? Commissioner Sapp on Dec.4th, asked that same question. And so I ask it too, but from an expanded view. ‘Economically unfeasible’ can mean anything: If you think you cannot afford something, does the term apply? If the materials cost 5% more than original, does it apply then? What about 20% more? What become the criteria? Does the statute actually use the term ‘personal hardship’? This term was bantered about at the Dec. 4th Commission meeting. I submit there is a big difference between personal hardship and economic feasibility, especially when it comes to maintaining the integrity of the Historic District. Ahh, there’s the rub! The ‘integrity’ of the Historic District is not always something that we all agree on, when it comes to the terminology. For example, if I am financially strapped, my definition will not be the same as the rich guy’s next door. Our personal limitations, or tastes even, can eventually shape the District into a mixed bag of materials and designs, with clearly each one of us being convinced that we are doing our best to preserve the district. Allow me make a bold suggestion: "Let’s Make It Economically Feasible with Tax Credits" Frankly, we have a long way to go in the District here. I submit that the City can determine a way to assist homeowners with tax credits for required improvements made to their homes and even business properties. Why? Because, the City requires certain extreme historic standards are met, and the result is an income-producing tourist revenue stream to the whole community.So go ahead, require the owners to meet certain standards, and reward them with tax credits for maintaining what the government benefits from: a larger income stream and tax base across the City. Result? A Historic District with genuine materials, and homeowners with the ability (and the desire) to keep up the maintenance required of them. What do you think? Do you think this idea merits further study? Oh, by the way, the Commission also denied the substitute materials.....
Christmas Sidewalk Sale Permitted The City officials are allowing the shops downtown to have a Sidewalk Sale on Dec. 15th, Saturday, from 10 AM to 5PM only. Normally, the City restricts any items from being placed outdoors on the sidewalks for sale in these locations.This discount sale is allowed only once per year. As you know, downtown has unusual shops that offer everything from clothing to antiques. The Historic Fernandina Business Association expects nearly every qualified shop to participate this year. Historic Helpers Alert! The ‘Historic Helpers’, a community action group that helps the elderly and disabled in the Historic District with light outdoor tasks, has a new project that maybe you can help us with:A wonderful Black Lab-mix needs a new home. The elderly owner can no longer care for this lovable friend. He’s about 1 Yr. old and LOVES people! He sits all day every day, alone, fenced in with no people, as the elderly owner is not able to play with him anymore. He’d be great with children. He has his up-to-date shots and he is neutered! Call me if you can help.
Got News??? Hey you guys, I could use a good story about the neighborhood. If you know of any property or people that should be highlighted let me know. There are good things out there and we need to share them!Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com
Nov 07 Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News November, 2007 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall
Christmas Tree Lighting Downtown Seems like everyone has a ‘Tree Lighting’ ceremony, doesn’t it? Sometimes it can be a real let down too, if there isn’t anything to do or see there after the tree is plugged in.What is a family to do? Well friends, worry no longer. Come to the Downtown Historic District to see Santa and the official lighting of the Christmas Tree! This year is planned to be quite the spectacle with live music, and various types of entertainment. The tree will be located at the West end of Centre Street near the river. The lighting will be at 6 PM on November 24th, but get there early to get close enough to see the festivities; the crowd is expected to be large. What could be a better setting for a Christmas Tree Lighting? The quaint old shops and buildings give a very special feeling this time of year, harking back to the good old days of Christmas past. So, bring the kids and be prepared for a special appearance by Saint Nick there, too! You’ll be able to get a photo of the family taken with Santa. Pajama Party’ Shopping Day Good Grief! Did she forget to dress? How embarrassing!Well, actually, this day ( November 23rd) each year is a hoot! People from all over the region come to shop in our downtown to take advantage of big discounts in each store. The catch: you must be wearing your pajamas to get the discounts! Yes, it seems a bit awkward to wear your PJ’s around the town, but since everyone else will be doing it, it becomes a very fun day! You’ll be surprised to see what kind of pajamas some people can design for themselves, too! Do not miss this opportunity to have some real shopping fun, and catch serious bargains for this one-day per year. Who knows, maybe you’ll see me there in my trap-door jammy-jams! Historic Helpers’ Inaugural Meeting Held As I mentioned last month, our new volunteer group is calling for volunteers to help the disabled and elderly here in the Historic District, to maintain the exterior of their homes. Some of these folk have difficulty doing the yard work and painting to keep up these older homes.Earlier this month, we had our very first meeting! We had a chance to get aquainted, and learn the different skills each person can offer. If you know of someone that wants to help out, please contact me. Also, if you know of a needy property owner here in the District, let me know. Please call / email me to discuss your ideas, and get on the volunteer list. You can do as little or as much as you like. And remember; the work you do will be in your own neighborhood. Got News??? Hey you guys, I could use a good story about the neighborhood. If you know of any property or people that should be highlighted let me know. There are good things out there and we need to share them!Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com
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Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News Amelia Island Fall Arts Fest In the historic downtown area, a wonderful new annual art festival is coming November 10th and 11th. There will be over 100 artists there, and special foods offered, to. The Festival will be held along Centre Street from the waterfront to about 4th St.Now this will be a fine arts show, not just a catch-all craft show. Specialty artists are coming here from far away to show their wares. So, if you are interested in seeing some very special and exclusive art forms, come join us downtown. If you are a wine enthusiast, there is even a Wine-Tasting event, with 5 vendor-locations throughout the downtown area. You can sample fine wines (many of which you will see for the first time) and learn about new offerings in the wine world. Are you a new or upcoming artist? There will also be an "Emerging Artists" section that will showcase the work for several young artists just getting started. There is no charge to attend the Festival, however, to participate in the Wine-Tasting events there is a small fee to register. Amelia Cruisers Car Show Shine up the old Edsel, and get downtown to the 11th annual Amelia Cruisers Car Show! It will be held on Saturday, Oct.20th. This event is always a fun time for the family. You’ll get to see cars here that you can’t see anywhere else. This year, about 250 cars are expected to be entered in the show. They will be displayed all along Centre Street, and if you have a few dollars, you can even buy some of them! These are real ‘show cars’, of all sorts. You can find rare vintage automobiles, fully restored, or even customized cars ready to ride! There is no charge to attend the event.Charities supported by the Cruisers are The Children’s Miracle Network, local student scholarship funds, and others. Over $60,000 has been donated by the Cruisers within the past 10 years, according to The Cruisers. Historic Helpers !! It occurred to me the other day that we have a community here that really cares about their neighborhood and their neighbors. Unfortunately, there are some neighbors here that are not able to maintain their properties as well as they might want, due to health, age, or other issues beyond their control. That’s where you can help!Introducing Historic Helpers; a neighborhood-based community action group that is dedicated to helping neighbors improve their homes in the Historic District. I have had discussions with people around the Historic District about helping older folk with their yard work or house painting, through a volunteer program. What a worthy idea! So, if YOU are interested in helping some of the neighbors that have difficulty helping themselves, contact me, and let’s get started! We will be organizing the group, identifying skills, schedules, etc. Also, we will be creating a list of properties / owners that need the help. Note: this is NOT going to be a new-home-renovation program (like on TV). At this early stage, we will have severe limitations:
Got News??? Hey you guys, I could use a good story about the neighborhood. If you know of any property or people that should be highlighted let me know. There are good things out there and we need to share them!Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com
Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News ‘Sounds on Centre’ Street Dances The weekly concerts (SOC) were a rockin’ good time for all those that were able to attend! The street dance with live music downtown proved to be a way to bring together all the townsfolk in a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy the music and dance a little!The Historic Fernandina Business Assoc. put on the event, with the help of some great sponsors. They intend to do it again next year, so stay tuned! If you liked the concerts, please contact the City Commissioners and local businesses to voice your approval. Meddaugh House; what is the Real story? Frankly, I thought this story was over and done with. The building is gone, there is a replacement there in its place, and that’s the end of it, right? Apparently, I was wrong. This story has grown legs, and there seems to be citizens, yes that’s right, citizens that are concerned enough about this loss to keep the story alive! And I could not be any more proud to hear that. As you may know, the historic (1872) house, located at 130 N. 6th St was torn down and replaced quickly with questionable if any, approval by the Historic District Council (HDC) and the City. I reported this in earlier articles here. Now, the City Commission has looked into this at last. How far this will go is unknown, but the evidence is building up. Who knows? One day we may discover all the facts. I have always hoped that the ordinances were followed to the letter, and that perhaps this was all just a horrible mistake. I am not so sure anymore after having read the evidence to a disturbing time-line of events. The HDC ‘s recording of that application for the renovation does not show any request to ‘raise and move’ the structure. Certainly that was the event that caused the destruction of the house. Had they known, perhaps they could have asked for a structural inspection prior to moving it. So, was the HDC aware of the pending move or not? If so, why don’t the records show that? The building official claims that he did not authorize the demolition of the building, and ha came back to the site only to find the house gone and replaced! Who approved all this? Or, was it approved at all? As much fun as this story might be for all the conspiracy theorists, it still remains that the loss is permanent, and tragic. I am quite hopeful that we get the complete story here someday soon. In the meantime, our job is to remain diligent concerning the preservation of these old structures. It’s our legacy. Be sure to ask your Commissioner about this. Annual Historic District Picnic Sunday, September 9th 3 PM Contact me (261-6846, or netthall@hotmail.com) to tell me what you are bringing this year. I’ll be grilling some tasty things on the BBQ………….. Who wants ribs???? See your old friends, and meet new ones. This is really so much fun, don’t miss it this year! Plus, you get a great meal! Got News??? Hey you guys, I could use a good story about the neighborhood. If you know of any property or people that should be highlighted let me know. There are good things out there and we need to share them!Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com This is a privately funded newsletter, not related to any government body.The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the publisher, unless otherwise noted. Main Street, Florida! Sherry Garbarini and other interested downtown merchants attended the State’s workshop recently concerning the Main Street program, designed to pump life back into slow downtown economies. They will be sharing their information with the HFBBA (Historic Fernandina Beach Business Association) at the next general meeting, which is Tuesday Feb. 20th, 8:30 AM at the City Hall. This will prove to be a terrific event for all downtown merchants!
_________________**________________ Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News May, 2007 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall
Thoughtful Approach To Historic Renovation Please allow me to comment on the recent loss of the Meddaugh House on the corner of Broome and 6th Streets. While there seems to have been a lot of effort to save the house, the result has been, as you may know, the total loss of the structure. At the pace in which we are losing historic homes here, we may be faced with losing our Historic District classification someday within the next 30 years. I am not here to point fingers or blame anyone at all. It seems that this process was transparent, and the ordinances were followed to the letter. But, if anyone is to be blamed, it is the ‘process’. To this end, I offer these 4 proposals to the HDC, and to the City Commission. 1. Never, ever again allow a historic structure to be lifted as this one was, for a basement or garage. There are a thousand reasons that we can clearly see now how poor this idea was. Certainly there are times when a house must be partially jacked up and made level for structural reasons to save the house. But, to allow a house to be moved from it foundations and returned, is, as we now know, a recipe for disaster. Some people are ‘good fits’ for historic houses, while others are best served by living in newer homes. It takes a special person to live in a historic home, and deal with the myriad of repairs and lack of modern conveniences that come with the privilege. 2. Major Structural Renovations should require an engineering study. Whenever a structure is being eyed for MAJOR renovation, i.e. removal of part, or major addition to the structure, then require an engineering study, which shows you there is not a loss likely to occur. An architect is not a structural engineer. 3. Create a severe financial penalty for such a loss resulting from renovation errors such as this one. Should all your efforts still fail to save a structure, then penalize the owners for causing the City an irretrievable loss. The Historic District is a highly prized and irreplaceable asset to the city and county. Contractors and homeowners should be aware that IF their plans go awry, the penalty would be severe. The funds received from the penalty could be used to maintain the Historic District. 4. Study the possibility of relaxed construction standards for older homes . It is stated that this house had sub-standard construction, which exceeded the 50% rule for the inspectors. I suspect that most of the 120 year old houses here have that same problem. I submit there must be a way created that allows the inspectors to waive off the strict standards of the current building codes. These codes simply do not apply to housing that was created in an era of vastly different construction methods and designs. Let me close by stating that Fernandina Beach is becoming more attractive everyday to those with very deep pockets, thanks in large part to the good efforts of the City. These folk have the unique capability to remove and replace houses at a cost that you and I would consider unthinkable. Perhaps the City Commission will study these recommendations, and do something to stop the next accident. ____________**____________
Historic Home Loss is a Tragedy Many of us have been watching the interesting progress of the remodeling of the historic house at the corner of N. 6th St. and Broome St. If you have not seen this job, it’s really worth the time to study it.The ‘Meddaugh House’ as it is referred to on the Historic Survey, was built originally in 1872, and is located at the North end of the 'Silk Stocking District' where some of the island’s most beautiful homes were built in the Victorian era. The home sold about a year ago, and the owner made plans to build a basement and garage under the existing structure! This, of course, required lifting up the house, and moving it to the rear of the lot, digging out the hole, building the basement and garage, and returning the house to the original site. As if all this wasn’t enough, the house was completely gutted, in preparation for the new drywall throughout. For us preservationists, we took solace in the fact that the original structure exterior and framing would remain intact. Well, this past month proved a great tragedy for us all. The house, according to City officials, had developed an irreparable slant during the moving. In addition, the interior framing, when exposed for the drywall, showed signs of severe damage and poor original construction techniques. The entire house was demolished and rebuilt with new materials. Now, another historic home is lost. I can tell you that at the rate of 1 or 2 houses per year lost to development, destruction, or any reasons, we will have lost the Historic District within a generation! Even if the structures are rebuilt to ‘look like’ the originals, we will end up with a theme park, rather than the real thing. I only write this as a note of sadness, not as a point of shame, and to plead with all our citizens to be vigilant in saving these old landmarks. Let’s preserve our Historic District as the original, not a theme park! Chuck Hall, Fernandina Beach
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Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News February 2007 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall Downtown Yard Sale… March 24th Many of you have responded with the desire to participate in the Big Downtown Yard Sale. It is set for March 24th…..so, get your ad money to me….it’s a whopping $5.65 per site. I’ll run as much advertising as I can with that money. Everyone will get a map of all the locations to distribute to the visitors. This will show them where all the other yard sales are!Looks like so far today there are about 12 sites to be included in the Big Sale Please contact
me, and let’s get you on the map for the Big Sale !!!! The City of Fernandina Beach is pleased to
announce the receipt of a grant for the Fernandina Beach Historic Properties
Resurvey Project. A $20,000 matching grant was awarded for the purpose of
conducting a survey of historic properties in the City. The existing historic
properties survey was completed in 1985 and is out of date. The new survey will
reflect the many changes that have happened in the City since 1985, and will
include all properties currently in the historic district, as well as those
properties outside of the district that may now be eligible for inclusion.
Completion of the new survey will also provide an inventory of the City’s
historic resources, which will be a valuable resource for disaster planning.
Main Street, Florida! Sherry Garbarini and other interested downtown merchants attended the State’s workshop recently concerning the Main Street program, designed to pump life back into slow downtown economies. They will be sharing their information with the HFBBA (Historic Fernandina Beach Business Association) at the next general meeting, which is Tuesday Feb. 20th, 8:30 AM at the City Hall. This will prove to be a terrific event for all downtown merchants! All New…. Historic District Website Yes indeed, not to be outdone by the New York Times, The FHD News has it’s own website now. You can see it by browsing over to http://fhdnews.com Send the links to your friends, too. They can sign up for the News, info, and offers from the local businesses._____________**_________________
Fernandina ‘Historic District’
News
October 2006 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall Historic District Picnic Big Hit !!! One and all had a good time at the annual Historic District Picnic. In addition to the horse and carriage rides provided by Amelia Island Carriages (which stayed busy the whole time!) we had lots of great food provided by the best cooks in town!!! There was a flaming BBQ, smoking the most tender chicken you could have asked for, too! I suppose the best part of the Picnic each year, is getting to meet new neighbors and see old ones, too. Someone or other will appear, out of no where, that I haven’t seen in 40 years or so, always surprises me! What a cool thing to have happen. Tours of the sculpting studio were again on the menu, and everyone loves to hear the story about how my grandfather used to raise terrapin turtles on the very site of the studio, for consumption by the local dock workers. In fact, the foundation of the studio is actually the pond that Grandfather raised them in ! We are thinking about changing the weekend on which the Picnic is held. Seems that many of you sent regrets, as you would be away on that Labor Day weekend. I was thinking that later in September would be a good date. Please send me your ideas on this….. would you come if it were on another date? When is good for you? Port Authority vote is Nov. The current sitting member for District 3 of the Port Authority is Ed Gandy. FHDN asks voters to remove Mr. Gandy from the Board. He has been party to historic house demolition, and to attempting to expand the Port facilities into the HD neighborhoods. Keith Sawyer is the challenger. County, City, must reduce Taxes There is a rumbling in our area. You can feel it everywhere. The citizens are FED UP with these leaps in ad valorum taxes each year! The only ones protected from these increases are the homeowners that have fortunately filed for homestead exemption; and still, they, too, can expect a steady 3% increase per year. The election results show you how people feel about it. The incumbents are heading for the hills! New Commissioners are taking office, and with them, the new hope that taxes can be significantly reduced !!!! Not JUST held, but actually reduced. Consider the fact that there are millions of dollars in new taxable properties coming on line every year, yet, your tax still goes up? In a world where dollars made sense, you would expect a reduction in YOUR tax, when hundreds of other properties START paying new taxes, right? Oh sure, we have all heard the rhetoric from the county administrators that spout ‘increased services’ as the reason. BULL. I say ‘fire the bums’ and let’s salvage what’s left of our own county…… Historic District Preservation As you know, the River waterfront is turmoil about the zoning, density, etc, of the parcels there. While this may not be directly affecting the HD proper, there is some concern for us anyway. There are parcels along 2nd St that are asking to be rezoned to C-3. We agree that their plans for mixed-use are good. That area needs a boost. However, the FHDN is opposed to a 45-foot height allowance there adjacent to the HD. As a matter of record, we’d rather see height limits at 35 feet, and a 30-foot buffer to any heavy rezoning adjacent to the HD. All New…. Historic District Website Yes indeed, not to be outdone by the New York Times, The FHD News has it’s own website now. You can see it by browsing over to http://fhdnews.com Send the links to your friends, too. They can sign up for the News, info, and offers from the local businesses. Get the News by E-mail If you are getting the News by snail mail now, and would like to get it by email, just send me an email to netthall@hotmail.com and I’ll add you to our list. Add your friends, too! Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com
Discover Fernandina's Historic District. Visit www.FHDnews.com
Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News September 2006 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall
Come to Your Picnic !!!
Oh boy! It’s time for the annual Labor Day Picnic for the Historic District. This is a great time for meeting your neighbors and seeing old friends. It is set up as a ‘pot luck’ dinner, so think of a covered dish that you can bring to share. We will provide the tables and chairs, cups, plates and flatware. You might even call us a couple of days in advance to see if we will need ice or something. Thanks. Again this year, the Amelia Island Carriages will be giving residents rides around the neighborhood. Other businesses are invited to contribute also ! (great exposure to the neighbors) This always proves to be a fun afternoon; hope to see you here. I plan to fire up the old BBQ, too! It will be "Rain or Shine" Sunday afternoon, September 3rd, 4 PM at my house, 315 Calhoun St. (that’s at the corner of N. 4th and Calhoun St. across from the Catholic School). Call us at 261-6846 with any questions. An RSVP would be nice, as I’d like to know how much to set up. Last year we counted over 80 people!!!!
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."Helen Keller Port Authority preliminary vote for Republican party: Sept 5th The current sitting member for District 3 of the Port Authority is Ed Gandy. FHDN asks voters to remove Mr. Gandy from the Board. He has been party to historic house demolition, and to attempting to expand the Port facilities into the HD neighborhoods. Planning Board Eyes C-3 Zoning Requests Closely The Planning Advisory has turned down requests made recently to rezone some industrial properties to C-3 (mixed use). While the FHDN is in favor of mixed-use along North 2nd St. We are opposed to a height limit of 45 ft. (rather see 35 ft limit) and the ability to build edge to edge (rather see a 30 ft buffer along the adjacent lot line with the homes there). Certainly this issue will continue to rise up, and we hope that the PAB will perform due diligence in representing the neighbors. We all want to see progress, but not at the expense of our future quality of life. Small Business Owners: The County Commission is planning to raise the trash disposal fees soon. You might want to contact them to get the details, and see how it will affect your business. Rumor holds that the fees might as much as double?!! Get the News by E-mail If you are getting the News by snail mail now, and would like to get it by email, just send me an email to netthall@hotmail.com and I’ll add you to our list. Add your friends, too!
Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com
District
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Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News April 2006 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall
"Vote to Protect Your Future"
The Historic District News is currently interviewing local candidates; concerning one thing: what is their position to the Port’s expansion into the Historic District? As you know, the FHDN is absolutely against this expansion. This expansion will only hurt the Historic District. So far, we have responses from Sapp, Malcolm, Williamson, and Thompson. They all support saving the Historic District. We have yet to get responses from Perry, Stewart, and Raysor, although we have asked. While all the candidates have something to offer, we ask that you consider the MOST experienced and qualified candidates that oppose the Port expansion. Let’s save the Historic District while there is still a chance. An elected Commissioner that has the guts to protect the Historic District (as the voters wish) can help protect our future here in Fernandina.
The election is April 11th. If there is a run-off in the election for Group 5, the next election will be the next month. Seethe Political page on this site: Click here
Port Expansion Update
At the recent Planning Advisory Board meeting, the Board passed the Port’s rezoning request, subject to a rarely used ‘developers agreement’. This agreement must be drafted and returned to the PAB at a future meeting for review and approval. Then, the PAB will send the rezoning request onto the City Commissioners for their approval or rejection of the rezoning. (whew!)
This agreement is designed to stop the Port from installing high security lighting, fencing, and buildings on the parking lot site. Our interpretation of the State requirements for Ports, shows that the State can force the Port to install all items in violation of the City’s requests. This link is to the State Requirements for Ports: http://www.myflorida.com/myflorida/government/governorinitiatives/drugcontrol/min_sec_stds_final.doc
The Port is under the mandate of State and Federal law enforcement where security in involved. Since 9-11, the Port here has had many changes required of it by the State. In fact, the City lost access to the right-of-ways around the Port, as the State restricted these locations from traffic. There was not a request, just a ruling. We believe that ANY agreement made with the Port is subject to being voided by the State.
Well, the Port has passed the Staff’s review, and the PAB approval, so the City Commissioners vote is the last hurdle. If we are to save this Historic District neighborhood, this is our only hope. Please contact these Commissioners to voice your opposition to the Port expansion.
Ken Walker 261-9875 (H) email: kwalker@fbfl.org Joe Gerrity 261-3556 (H) email: jogerbmw@aol.com ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.comPlease note: wood sculptures are available at www.shadyoakstudio.com
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Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News March 2006 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall
"Port Expands into Historic District"
Unsettling news for residents of the Historic District: The PAB voted narrowly to approve rezoning a large parcel in the Historic District to C-2 for more Port facilities. There is also talk of a rare ‘developers agreement’ to attempt in keeping this parcel as a parking lot. Sounds nice, but remember, the State and Federal governments control the Port. They will break ANY agreement that obstructs their desires at the time. Just last year, the State told the City that we could not longer use the right-of-ways around the Port. No debate, no request, just an edict….State control… The City Commission needs to be wary of any agreement with the Port. Since 9-11, the Government looks upon Ports as ‘special security risks’ and can move to restrict and secure them in an instant. There will be no debate when they do. Rezoning is the key that sets this parcel into the State’s control. Let’s not give up our own Historic District to the State. Keep this parcel as residential zoning. Additionally, a 24-hour private parking lot surrounded by homes is a real slap to the residents here. This developer has changed agreements several times, expanded its borders, and demolished houses without proper permitting. Is this the reward we get for having this neighbor? Will the City Commission vote to preserve the Historic District? Waterfront Changes Update Well, we are off to a slow start with the Planning Advisory Board presentations. The meeting on the 22nd of Feb was interesting, as the PAB tabled every application! Many people were very upset that they could not be heard at the meeting. There is even an application to transfer housing density units from a parcel on 11th st.!!! So, Tiger Island is not the only location the developers are attempting to get density units from… Confused yet? This will be a new precedent in the transfer of housing units from one area to another….very interesting, perhaps dangerous? Additionally, changing many parcels to C-3 zoning is of concern, as some of these are adjacent to residential areas. Prefer to get the Historic District News by email? I send the Historic District News to many people by email. It’s a great way to catch up on the news, without more paper! If you like, just email a note to me at the address below, and I’ll add your information to our database, for future mailings of the newsletter. You can even add a friend! Out-Of-Towner? I Need Your Email address !!!!! Sadly, we will be stopping the snail-mail to our non-local owners in the Historic District, as our postage costs are out of sight!!! We want you to stay abreast of events here, so email me your address for future mailings.
Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.comPlease note: wood sculptures are available at www.shadyoakstudio.com
Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News Feb 24th 2006 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall "SPECIAL EDITION"
Dear Historic District Neighbor, as you may know, the Port Authority has purchased residentially-zoned land within the Historic District (about ½ acre!). Since their purchase, they have demolished two Historic houses there. This parcel is at the corner of North 3rd and Dade Streets.
Now they are planning to rezone this residential area to commercial C-2 !!! This action in NO WAY enhances the character of the Historic District. Rezoning these lots, would in fact, split the Historic District into 2 parts, separated by a commercial use. This zoning allows bars, banks, retail, warehouses, and so much more. They could build lot edge to edge, up to 45 feet high.
Tourists and residents walking to and from the north blocks of 3rd and 4th Streets would have to walk through the Port facilities, as this change would extend the Port beyond their location along North 3rd St..
They claim this is ‘only’ for a parking lot. The Port already a has parking lot for their employees. Yet, they have decided that this parcel in the Historic District would enable them to use their existing parking lot for more profitable things. A convenience for the Port Authority should not further destroy the Historic District’s charm for generations to come. Let’s not lose sight of the long-term effects of such rezoning.
Businessmen Be Warned
Downtown business people will certainly feel the affect of such changes, as the Historic District is paved over yet again. Tourists that come to see the charming neighborhoods, will instead see a chopped-up District. Surely, they will find other places to visit that preserve history correctly.
If you care about your business, you should care about the Historic District remaining intact. A failed Historic District means a failed downtown, too.
Call To Action; PAB Meets March 8th
Help us save the charm of the Historic District. Please contact the Planning Advisory Board members to voice your opposition to this change in BOTH the Land Use Plan, and the Zoning to commercial. Attend the meeting if you can, but PLEASE…. time is running out!!!!
Catherine Hartley Senior City Planner (904) 277-7325 ext. 2 Mark Bennett (chairman) 815 South Fletcher Ave (904) 491-4778 Marilyn Williamson 1744 North Fletcher Ave (904) 277-3274 Richard Bradford 23 South 5th Street (904) 261-7619 Paul B. Condit 2727 Jean Lafitte Drive (904) 491-8499 David Beal 218 Lighthouse Circle (904) 491-1924 Shaun T. Woleshin 862 Parkview Place East (904) 261-5571
Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com
Quality, select, hand-made wood sculpture from Amelia Island, please go to www.shadyoakstudio.com
Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News February 2006 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall Waterfront Changes are Coming! All right folks; this is the day we have been waiting for. The Planning Advisory Board is meeting on Feb. 22nd, 6 PM at the City Hall to discuss the proposal made by Zev Cohen & Assoc., as represented by prior City Planner (and current Cohen Associate), Lupita McClenning. This firm will be the first to propose major; sweeping changes to the waterfront, since the CRA was approved. The success of this project may dictate the future use of the remaining parcels along the river downtown. If this project is approved, and is a financial hit, other owners will follow suite, many believe. This project is really quite complicated, and asks for major changes to the current Land Use Plan for this area. The City’s Planning Office has stated that these plans will require big changes, even at the State level. After all, there are 100 townhouses in the plan PLUS commercial spaces and maybe even a Marina! The impact to the downtown area will be huge. This is going to be a MUST-SEE meeting! I will be there, and I hope you can be too. BAM !!! It Came Out of Nowhere! You are doing your job, raising your kids, and paying off your dream home in the Historic District, when suddenly, BAM !!!! You get a notice that someone is planning to rezone your neighborhood for something new; a parking lot, or a hotel, or whatever. Now what? Do you just groan and rollover? Do you get angry with the City? Do you just complain, and resign to the rezoning? I believe that what you do next is critical to the long-term viability of our Historic District. We are on the beginning edge of serious changes here, and while some are good, some are not-so-good for our HD. I ask that you keep alert, and make your voice heard! As you know, it is very hard to turn a parking lot back into paradise! Yard Of The Month Our winner this month is Mike Veal, at 426 N. 4th St. You have got to see this tribute to ‘correct planning’. Mike has done a wonderful job with his yard. He’s put in a lot of time and labor, and it has really paid off! Thanks, Mike! Prefer to get the Historic District News by email? I send the Historic District News to many people by email. It’s a great way to catch up on the news, without more paper! If you like, just email a note to me at the address below, and I’ll add your information to our database, for future mailings of the newsletter. You can even add a friend!
Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com
Happy New Year! Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News January 2006 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall
Historic District Fees are Reduced! The City has reduced the fees that you and I pay to the Historic District Council for a permit to improve our homes within the District. What was previously a $25.00 fee is now down to $15.00 for the ‘Staff Approval’. Great direction (lower yet, please)!!!. Do you think that someone down at City Hall is actually listening to you? This is odd….is it possible that the City actually understands the economic value of the Historic District? It is pretty obvious to most of us that the Historic District; intact and improved, is essential to the prosperity of all the downtown businesses. Poor Historic District- poor businesses. Plain and simple. There are other fees affected, too, such as the fee to HDC for and addition to a home. You can see all the details at this web link: http://www.fernandinabeachflorida.org/calendar/agendas/agenda120605rm/supdoc/8.1.pdfThe Townhouses are Coming We have been waiting for this shoe to drop….Kavanaugh, Tringali, and Hardee; 3 familiar names to us old-timers, are all throwing in together to build 100 townhomes, commercial space, and perhaps even a marina along the waterfront, all the way back to 2nd St., from Alachua to Broome Streets. This will prove to be a major impact for traffic, population, and revenue. Does this mark the beginning of New Fernandina? Is this a glimpse into our future here? This will be a long time in the works to get through all the legal hoops; stay tuned……. Yard Of The Month Our winner this month is John and Janet Vantomme! They have a great yard, across from the Catholic School, at 221 N. 4th St. They recently built a terrific 2-story garage, and it really fits the site well. Drive by and see what hard work can do !!!! Prefer to get the Historic District News by email? I send the Historic District News to many people by email. It’s a great way to catch up on the news, without more paper! If you like, just email a note to me at the address below, and I’ll add your information to our database, for future mailings of the newsletter. You can even add a friend! Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.comHere’s a little bonus story I received by email today. I think it is relevant to our Historic District. We all need to stick together to make things happen here. Anyway, enjoy the story! Chuck A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his
wife open a package There is a mousetrap in the house!" concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it." The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap inthe house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers." There is a mousetrap in the house!" catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient
the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great
sadness. you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News November 2005 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall My Christmas Wish Whew! Another year is past! And an important year it has been for the Historic District! We have seen things happen within the District that we never thought we would see; historic homes torn down without permits, downtown businesses having tax and financial burdensto the point of breaking), and our real estate taxes rising more than we could have imagined. Gladly, we have seen dilapidated, abandoned houses being rebuilt to become handsome neighbors. We have met new residents to the District, too, bringing renewed enthusiasm for the history of the area. We have seen a continued debate for the future of the Riverfront, with lots of people giving their time and energy to this important project. My ‘Christmas Wish’, is that this coming year will give us a truly united vision for these tough issues. We have a wonderful Historic District. We CAN even have a stronger District, more successful local businesses, and reduced taxes. I really do believe this, and my Christmas Wish is to share this vision with others. This coming year, we can move closer to this goal Historic District Grant Application is Done! The City has sent away the application to the State for the matching grant, which will support the re-survey of the historic homes here. City Planner, Catherine Hartley, sends along her thanks for your support. The letter writing campaign was a big success! Now we wait for the State’s reply….. Yard Of The Month Our winner this month is Roland and Charlotte Knight, of 120 North 6th Street. They have a wonderfully large yard, with lots of amenities to dress it up! Drive by and see… Prefer to get the Historic District News by email? I send the Historic District News to many people by email. It’s a great way to catch up on the news, without more paper! If you like, just email a note to me at the address below, and I’ll add your information to our database, for future mailings of the newsletter. You can even add a friend!
Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com
Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News November 2005 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall Big News………A Possible Historic District Grant !? Good news !!! The City is trying to receive a grant from the State concerning performing a new survey of the old houses here. This will provide more protection for these old homes, and might benefit the owners in other ways as well. The City needs your help. They must have letters of support from concerned citizens for this grant. The grant will provide $20,000, to match the City’s expenditure of the same amount. The total cost of the survey is estimated to be $40,000. I have written my letter, how about you, too? It need not be long and complicated. Just tell the State that you think the City needs the grant for a long awaited re-survey of the old homes here. That’s all it takes ! BUT you must get your letter to the City Hall before the end of this month! The project for which the City is requesting grant funding is a new historic properties survey of the City. The survey area will focus on the existing historic district (downtown, Old Town, the lighthouse and Oxley Heard) as well as some additional areas outside of the historic district that may have properties that qualify for inclusion in the historic district (example: Peck High School). The survey area will encompass approximately 187 acres and will include almost 500 properties. This could really help us protect and improve our homes, and neighborhoods, without a ‘catch’ like we ran into with the CRA of last year. Call Catherine Hartley at 277-7325 ext. 2 for more details, or…..Please refer to my web site at this address for the whole story. Yard Of The Month Our winner this month is Cecil and Mary Catherine Bennett of 403 Calhoun St.. They have really created a wonderful yard to enjoy. Our thanks to them for making their place great-looking! You can nominate your neighbor, too! If you have seen a particularly nice-looking yard in the Historic District, let me know. Just email or call me, and we’ll see who wins next month! Happy Thanksgiving! We are hopeful that you have a great holiday this year, and be careful not to burn the bird! I’ll see you next month with a special December issue! Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com ____________**______________
Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News October 2005 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall Meet Your Neighbors, Pat and Fran Keogh Pat and his wife, Fran, purchased the old Lannon house at the corner of S. 3rd St. and Ash St. (Murdaugh House circa 1919). You may have noticed the extensive work going on there. Since this is a commercially zoned property, they have big plans for the location. The original house is being converted to a restaurant. In the rear of the property, facing Ash Street, they are building the structure that has met with some controversy concerning the total height of the building. The new building will contain offices, and on the top floor, there will be 2 apartments with elevator access. The restaurant that is coming is "29 South Eats" and boasts itself as a ‘chic neighborhood bistro’. You can even go online to http://www.29southrestaurant.com, and see the menu, restoration photos and lots more! They plan to open this Fall. The proprietor is award winning Atlanta chef, Scotty Schwartz. Want Us To Spotlight Your Neighbor? Has your neighbor done something special with their home in the District? I’d like to hear about it. Next month, I’ll highlight another special neighbor that is taking particular pride in our Historic District. So, contact me with that address, and I’ll get the interview in print! Yard Of The Month Does your neighbor have an extra-special green thumb? We will display our Yard-Of-The-Month yard sign in their yard if you let us know! It’s just a nice way to show your ‘thanks’. Get a ‘Circa’ Plaque for Your Old House You have seen the oval signs, or ‘plaques’ that we call the ‘Circa’ plaques, on old houses throughout the Historic District. They are black and white, oval shaped, and display the year that the house was built! You can get one, too! Call Catherine Hartley at 277-7325 ext.2. There is a sign permit fee of $25., plus $35. to build the sign and you might be asked to confirm the date of construction. It’s a wonderful way to show your Historic District pride! Personally, I think the City should issue plaque permits in the HD without permit fees. Your Opinion, Please What do YOU think about the direction of the Historic District? Is the City Commission doing enough to protect this valuable resource? Should the City provide more benefits to those that properly maintain their homes and businesses? What about properties which are allowed to fall into disrepair? What about funding to maintain the District? What about developers plans for the District? Some have asked about organizing a group to represent the District to the City Commission in the event of problems such as bad zoning requests, congestive development plans, or the like. Let me know your thoughts.
Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com ____________**____________ Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News September 2005 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall What a great Historic District Labor-Day Picnic!!
Did you make the Labor Day Picnic on Sept. 4th? Yes, it was great fun, and we had a chance to meet neighbors that we never had met before. The event attracted about 80 people! We had horse and carriage rides courtesy of Amelia Island Carriages, and tours of the homes and art studio here along Calhoun Street. What I enjoyed most was, the long-time residents were able to meet the newcomers, and tell them about the ‘good-old-days’ of Fernandina! I even learned a few things about our history I did not yet know! One of the benefits of the picnic was that downtown business owners became more acquainted with residents. This can only help strengthen the Historic District for everyone. Keep an eye out for our next neighborhood event coming soon! We will announce it right here. How about a big Halloween Party for all the kids? Or perhaps an ‘Autumn Festival’? Let me know…… New Bumper Stickers are Here !!!! Great news! The new ‘Historic District’ bumper stickers are here, and we are trying to get one to every resident in the District! Show your District pride by sticking them on everything! Don’t have yours? Just give me a call at 261-6846 and I’ll see that you get yours! We only have a limited supply, so call soon! Results of the HD Expansion Survey? Well, we received a few responses to last month’s query, "What do you think about the City’s hope to expand the Historic District?" As you might guess, most folk seemed to like being in the HD, but, they would not recommend it to their friends, unless the City came across with some perks, such a tax incentives, fee reductions, etc. Most did not have good things to say about the services in the HD being superior ….OUCH !!!!! I’ll be telling this to the City officials, too. What do YOU think the City can do to make the HD more attractive to homebuyers?
City Services to HD should be lower priced? As mentioned above, some thought that the City should provide special perks to Historic District residents, such as lower building permit fees; to encourage restoration. Lower real estate taxes to create a better financial environment for HD owners, as recognition of the business they support. What about a tax-incentive program that would reward owners for fixing up their properties? This has been a big hit in other cities. Why not here? Why not now? Let me know what you think about this topic. Do you have some idea that might assist your neighbors in the Historic District? Next month, we will be featuring an ambitious homeowner working wonders with their home in the District! Send us your recommendations for nominees!
Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com
Fernandina ‘Historic District’ News August 2005 For and about Fernandina Beach’s Historic District Publisher/Editor Chuck Hall Come to the Historic District Labor-Day Picnic!! This is going to be big fun! Come meet your neighbors throughout the Historic District! Bring a picnic dish and a beverage that you’d like to share. We will have all the plates, cups, and utensils there. Starts at 4PM Sunday Sept 4th. It will be at Hall’s Haven, at 315 Calhoun St. We will have lots of fun, and maybe even some live bluegrass music !!!!! Don’t miss this one. All your neighbors will be there! Please RSVP, so we will know how many to seat. 261-6846 School Starts at Saint Michael’s Acadamy If you’ve enjoyed the summer without the traffic around the school, well, that’s all about to end soon! School starts on Aug 15 th, so watch out for those children, and the increased traffic around the school. Theatre group performs a new Play in August "The Champagne Charlie Stakes" is a new play for this month at the Amelia Community Theatre, located at 209 Cedar St (behind the museum). The play runs on selected evenings through the month of August. Adult tickets are only $12. What a great evening in our neighborhood! Call them at 261-6749 City wants to Expand the Historic District? City Planners have talked for some time about the idea of expanding the Historic District to include more homes and properties near downtown. What do you think about this? Has the City provided good enough service to the current owners, enough so that you would be delighted to be included in the Historic District ? Or, have your neighbors complained about how much trouble they have gone through with the City simply because they are included in the Historic District? Call or email me with your comments. Does the Historic District Get the Respect It Deserves? I sat down recently and did some old fashioned cipherin’…..you know the kind…. With a pencil! Let’s imagine for a minute……If the Historic District has approximately 200 homes, and about 70% of those have had expensive work done in the past 5 years (approx. $40,000 each on average). That equates to almost 6 million dollars from that source alone toward the improvement of a major draw for tourism in Fernandina Beach and Nassau County. Think about that. The whole county tourism trade benefits from your improvements (as certainly you do, too) without a DIME of City or County funding. Tourism has long been recognized as the most eco-friendly and lowest cost-per-dollar-income-source. If a local firm put 6 million dollars into the local economy, the local officials would be handing out ‘appreciation awards’, but that’s not for us. So, DOES the Historic District get the respect it deserves? Email me with your view…..
Chuck Hall 904-261-6846 netthall@hotmail.com |
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