Staff bloggersThese blog entries are written by members of the MyNassauSun staff. Nassau scoreboard
Baldwin 7, Hilliard 6 Yulee 35, Bishop Snyder 15 Breaking news: Highway Patrol investigating Nassau fatal accident
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident on Interstate 95 near Yulee. Details about the accident that occurred in the southbound lanes at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday were not immediately available. Dana Treen Nassau County scoreboard
Fernandina Beach 40, Yulee 7 Hilliard 49, Branford 10 West Nassau County 41, Ribault 31 Where have the builders gone?
WILL DICKEY/The Times-Union -- The foundation of Tuscany at Marsh Lakes has been posted with unsafe building notices as the condominium project sits unfinished and abandoned Thursday, November 6, 2008 in at Florida A1A and the Intracoastal Waterway in Nassau County, Florida.
By KEVIN TURNER, The Times-Union The Tuscany was supposed to showcase 36 high-end Nassau County waterfront condominiums in three towers that should have been completed by now. Instead, it's a project in limbo, with an asphalt drive, an amenities building and a cluster of pilings that were to support one of its towers. But other than that, nothing else is there. Contractors had worked diligently starting in 2006 to build the much-vaunted project, situated on a spit of land wedged between Florida A1A and the Amelia River. The first floor of the three towers was reserved for parking and the floors above were to contain the condominiums, offering views of the river. But work ended in November 2007. Contractors left the site and haven't been back since, leaving behind garbage, a trash bin and of course, much unfinished work. "It came to a screeching halt," said Nassau County Commissioner Mike Boyle, who represents the district that includes The Tuscany. "It's an eyesore, and I get plenty of complaints about it on a regular basis." And now county officials are taking steps that threaten the project with demolition if work doesn't resume soon. The Tuscany had been controversial because Dallas-based Allegiance Development got permission through a mediated court settlement to build the towers 45 feet high, in excess of county code by 10 feet. County building officials halted work three times for various infractions, including putting fill dirt in an area subject to flood erosion, putting a trailer on the site and installing infrastructure without permits. Kurt Goll, president of residential development for Allegiance, contacted the Nassau County Building Department Oct. 7 in response to a letter and to let the department know the project isn't dead - despite a year of inactivity - Deputy Building Official Robert Sasser said. Goll told Sasser that he was working with a potential investor and seeks to rebid for another general contractor to resume construction. Sasser said he understands that the project lost its initial financing but the land itself isn't in default. Sandy Solomon, office manager for the Nassau County Building Department, said it would cost Allegiance about $7,700 to reinstate the 14 permits that have expired. On Oct. 8, a county building inspector posted an "unsafe structure" notice on one of the pilings, Solomon said. Sasser said the notice gives Allegiance 60 days to renew permits and get back to work. After that, Sasser will begin the months-long process to get demolition started, he said. "They've got until the day I put the saw to the concrete," Sasser said. Goll didn't return calls for comment Wednesday and Thursday. The Tuscany is but one of many multifamily construction projects halted by the economic downturn. Bankruptcy hit two condominium projects in St. Johns County, leaving both with abandoned, unfinished buildings. Avila at Palencia on U.S. 1 was nearly finished when it went bankrupt. About 23 two-story condominium buildings were finished, but two or three of the project's four-story buildings were abandoned in various stages of construction. Developers of the Isles of the World Townhouses completed five of 11 planned condominium buildings and left six not done. "They found themselves on hard times, there were no sales and then the banks entered the picture," Howard White, St. Johns County deputy building official, said of both projects. "Unfortunately, it's like musical chairs when the music stops. There's no seat to grab." White said county officials hope the banks will find buyers that will finish those projects. White said St. Johns County has come out of the downturn relatively unscathed, because there are areas around the country where there are many abandoned, unfinished projects. Officials in Duval and Clay counties said they could not readily determine if any unfinished projects in those counties have been abandoned. kevin.turner@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4609 Cart ban does not work for handyman
DON BURK/The Times-Union
By LARRY HANNAN, The Times-Union If you live near Edwards Road in Nassau County, Hayward Newell is the man to call when you need something fixed. Newell, 74, is the neighborhood handyman. He can fix your air conditioner, toaster, microwave or any other household item. Now he's trying to fix a law that doesn't allow golf carts on county roads in Nassau. Because of numerous disabilities, including numbness in his legs, Newell rides a golf cart around the neighborhood when making repairs. He was recently stopped by police and told the law didn't allow him to ride a golf cart on the road. Newell will ask the County Commission on Monday to allow him to ride his golf cart on the roads. If the commissioners agree, golf carts will be allowed on Edwards Road from South Royal Palm Drive to where the road dead ends. Golf carts also will be allowed on nearby roads such as Royal Palm Drive, Randy Road, Newell Road, Twisted Oak Drive and Parrish Drive. All are two-lane residential roads with low speed limits. Commissioner Mike Boyle said allowing golf carts along Edwards Road is right for this neighborhood. It isn't something that should be allowed in every neighborhood. But the Sheriff's Office has been supportive of Newell, and he is inclined to support the request, Boyle said. Sheriff Tommy Seagraves couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday. The vehicles can only be operated during daylight hours by people older than 16. The carts also must have efficient brakes, reliable steering, safe tires, a rear-view mirror and red reflecting warning devices in the front and rear of the cart. Anyone who wishes to ride a golf cart in the area must register it with the county. County commissioners need to decide whether code enforcement or the Sheriff's Office will be in charge of enforcing the new rules. Newell said he expects about six to eight people in the neighborhood to register. He also suspects other neighborhoods might want to do the same thing. Those neighborhoods would need to petition the commission to get it approved. Newell's wife, Helen, first got the golf cart for her husband in 2002 after he had hip-replacement surgery. He didn't want to ride it at first, but now rides it all the time. Helen Newell paid about $500 for the cart. All of Hayward's tools are in the back, including a tool box, wiring and a chain saw. The golf cart runs on six batteries, which cost about $60 each. A veteran of the Air Force and a former worker at Anheuser Busch Cos. in Jacksonville, Newell took early retirement in 1992. He is now a jack of all trades, and was working on fixing a microwave on a recent day before granting a newspaper interview. There are no sidewalks in the area, but Newell said it is fairly safe to ride the golf cart. The cart goes about 14 mph and he usually signals that he's turning by pointing his hand in the direction he's going. Commissioners will consider the issue at 7 p.m. Monday in the commission meeting room at 96135 Nassau Place in Yulee. larry.hannan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4470 Republicans sweep Nassau races
It’s a sweep for Republicans in Nassau County. Sheriff Tommy Seagraves has been re-elected , while two new faces, Danny Leeper in District 1 and Walter “JR” Boatright in District 5, will join the Nassau County Commission. Tammy Stiles has been elected Nassau’s next property appraiser, while Melvin Usery will join the Ocean, Highway and Port Authority for District 1. GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain outpolled Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama in Nassau, garnering 71.40 percent of the vote to Obama’s 27.63 percent. Referendums put before Callahan and Hilliard voters also passed. SHERIFF PROPERTY APPRAISER COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1 COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 5 OHPA DISTRICT 1 HILLIARD REF No. 1 HILLIARD REF No. 2 HILLIARD REF No. 3 CALLAHAN REF No. 1 Results do not include provisional or overseas ballots. Full results available at votenassau.com
Election Day feedback
My Nassau Sun would like to hear from you about how voting goes today in Nassau County. If you have problems voting today, experience long lines, malfunctioning machines or other issues, we want to hear from you. If everything goes smoothly, let us know about that, too. Contact Editor Amelia A. Hart at (904) 261-7606 x6352 or e-mail amelia.hart@mynassausun.com.
Nassau scoreboard
Ribault 42, Fernandina Beach 25 Lafayette 41, Hilliard 0 Bolles School 59, West Nassau County 21 Yulee 21, Keystone Heights 0 Hilliard woman is killed when car is hit by semi
A 38-year-old Nassau County woman was killed around 2 a.m. Saturday on U.S.1 when her car was struck as she pulled into the path of a tractor-trailer rig. Pamela R. Myers of Hilliard was northbound on U.S. 1 when she began a left turn onto Jackson Trail, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The southbound Peterbilt truck struck the right front of her car before swerving off the road and into trees on the side of the road. Myers, who wasn't wearing a seat belt, died in the accident. Truck driver Leonard Sibley, 56, of Norman Park, Ga., and passenger Andrew Harrell, 53, of Tifton, Ga., were wearing seat belts and weren't injured. — Dana Treen Nassau scoreboard
Bolles School 55, Fernandina Beach 13 Hilliard 41, Trenton 6 West Nassau County 20, Interlachen 0 Bradford 33, Yulee 14 |
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