QuoteBuilding project shot down
Turn-of-the-century architecture, size the main complaints
By PETER GUINTA | More by this reporter | peter.guinta@staugustine.com | Posted: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 ; Updated: 12:22 AM on Tuesday, June 9, 2009
A zoning change that would allow a two-story brick hotel and seven retail shops to be built at 180 St. George St. was denied Monday night in a 4-0 vote by St. Augustine City Commission.
Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline made the motion to deny.
The board seemed to be influenced by public comment, which mostly opposed the project's turn-of-the-century architecture, as well as its large mass and scale.
Commissioner Leanna Freeman gave one reason for her vote to deny: "There is not substantial and competent evidence to support a rezoning."
St. Augustine architect Jerry Dixon, opposing the project, said a 2003 city resolution allowing architectural styles other than colonial in historic preservation districts is invalid because it effectively changes the Comprehensive Plan.
But Florida law, he said, requires the Plan to be changed only by ordinance.
"The resolution eliminated the standard for new construction in historic preservation districts," Dixon said.
St. Augustine architect Howard Davis also opposed the project, saying the invalid resolution was "far reaching" and "violates all of the progress (in preservation) made over the years.
"It will put the brakes on future colonial development on St. George Street," he said.
Some residents complained about the possible traffic and congestion that seven stores and a hotel would bring to that corner, others with the loss of parking spaces as the hotel would take up half the Bank of America parking lot.
St. Augustine architect Peter Rumpel supported the project, saying colonial architecture on that corner would not "interface" with St. George Street.
The project, he said, would have large shop windows and larger doors than allowed with Spanish colonial.
Charles Pellicer, a St. Augustine attorney whose Minorcan ancestors came here in 1777, said, "This is a watershed decision. If there is a center of town, this is it."
Commissioner Don Crichlow, the hotel's architect, used that 2003 resolution as a basis for choosing a style that matches nearby turn-of-the-century structures.
He decided to re-create the historic Bishop's Building, a brick structure on that site torn down in the 1960s.
But after the vote, Crichlow said building only colonial architecture without a historical basis is wrong.
"You don't build fake history and expect people to buy it," he said. "We're going in the wrong direction."
Source: http://www.staugustine.com/stories/060909/news_060909_034.shtml
I tend to groan when city government tries to impose specific architectural style standards (as opposed to legitimate planning considerations like size, square footage, parking etc.). Having someone tell you that architectural style X is better than style Y just smacks of needless bureaucrasy and potential govt abuse.
All that being said, if there were ever a place where very specific architectural style standards should be enforced, it's an historic tourist district like St. Augustine. St George street's entire economy revolves around the tourist trap image of Spanish colonialism. Building out of character structures represents a clear injury to the property values of surrounding businesses.
As for the comment "You don't build fake history and expect people to buy it" ... that's just patently false. St Augustine has a thriving and lucrative tourist injustry thanks to plenty of "fake" history. I'm not saying St Augustine doesn't have real history, just that all the "fake" stuff is quite important too. St George street itself is mostly a tourist construct, and it's probably a good idea to make sure its "character" is protected.
I agree wholeheartedly Joe.
While a boutique hotel on St. George St. would be a great addition, I think the city did the right thing by sticking to their guns with regards to adhering to the requirement for a specific architectural vernacular. This denial for rezoning doesn't mean the project is canned, just that its look needs to altered to better fit the district.