Historic District Views

Let’s talk about the Historic District and the upcoming primary election. As you might know, the Ocean, Highway and Port Authority race is on, and there are three seats being filled this year, a majority of the five-member board that oversees the Port of Fernandina.

Personally, I think this race is more important to the Historic District’s future than the county commissioner races. Why? The port has far more presence here than any other government entity. Their ability to hurt/help the district is immense.

So, with all this on the line, I have asked each candidate in the Aug. 26 primary — Jennifer Kelly-Sheffield and Danny Fullwood, candidates for the District 2 seat, and Margie Gandy and Shirley Lear, candidates for the District 3 seat — to respond to three questions that can tell us where they stand on helping us preserve our beloved Historic District. The third seat will be voted on in November.

Wow ... what a Fourth of July evening we saw this year! Downtown was just bustling with thousands who 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 enthusiasts gather downtown to visit the art shops and catch special offers and showings there; it's a nice evening stroll.

The City Commission met with the Historic Fernandina Beach Association June 10 to discuss how the two could work together more closely to create a long-term vision for downtown and 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.

If you live in the Historic District, you have surely heard about the request by a resident here to place hardy board siding on the entire exterior of her home. The Historic District Council originally turned down that request.

Not to be daunted, the resident found a lawyer, and the case recently was heard again, with the new testimony of a historic-structure expert testifying to the age and condition of the structure.

He confirmed the existing wood siding was not original anyway. So, the HDC approved the replacement.

There was a lot of talk around town about how the original ruling was unfair, and how hardy board is a fine material, etc, etc.

As you may have heard, Lane Development Co. has purchased two more riverfront parcels adjacent to the current townhouse and retail development downtown. While I have yet to see the plans for this addition, it might be a good move for all concerned.

Let me explain: the parcels in question are a vacant lot on the riverfront, the Florida Petroleum Co.'s fueling docks, and - get this - the "tank farm" east of Front Street. I must say I never thought I'd see that parcel sold. Just the reclamation costs alone will be sky high.

Here is a little something the family can do on the weekends that won’t cost a cent!

The Historic Fernandina Business Association has received permission from the city to license acoustic musicians to play downtown during April. This will be the pilot program of “Downtown Entertainment,” another part of the association’s efforts to attract visitors downtown.

The permit allows the HFBA to place musicians and artists downtown to provide locals and visitors a bit of entertainment while shopping and browsing the area.

The musicians will be permitted to perform each Friday and Saturday evening from 2 to 8 p.m. at different locations along Centre Street, from the docks to Eighth Street. Now, all this depends upon the traffic, weather and, of course, the musicians. I will be taking applications from musicians during March, and conducting the required auditions of those unfamiliar to us. Since there are such longtime slots available, and so many locations (five), I see the need for many musicians each weekend.

One of our downtown Fernandina businesses, Amelia River Cruises, is embarking on a great new service. You may have heard of this; they are ferrying passengers to and from St. Marys via the riverways. It turns out to be a very nice trip. Takes about an hour, and costs only about $15 per passenger.

Along the way, you get a real education about the history of our fair island and river, plus you get to see lots of beautiful scenery and lots of creatures in their wild habitat.

Well, to make things even more interesting, the owners are hoping to secure the right to make calls upon Cumberland Island as well.

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 (who on Sunday won a Golden Globe for her performance in the film) as Edith Piaf. The film will be shown Wednesday and Thursday 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 films" created back in the day by locals.

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 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. The entire job was estimated to cost about $50,000, and so, the extra expense of using real wood would have raised the total about 20 percent. 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.

Seems like everyone has a tree-lighting ceremony, doesn't it? Sometimes it can be a real letdown 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 Fernandina Beach 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 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 24, but get there early to get close enough to see the festivities; the crowd is expected to be large.