Aviles Street construction underway

Loren Townsend Zawawi reports that work has begun on Aviles Street in the heart of downtown St. Augustine and she told local Historic City News reporters that she hopes all goes well for the business owners as the facelift continues during the coming weeks.

Aviles Street, formerly known as “Hospital Street”, is believed to be St. Augustine’s oldest street.

Zawawi, who grew up in St. Augustine, is looking forward to the extended sidewalks for outdoor dining and “pretty white lights” crisscrossing overhead.

She jokingly wrote, “If I was cynical, I would insert “in order to illuminate the panhandlers” but I will refrain”.

Zawawi can remember a time when the downtown plaza area, including Aviles Street, was free from the annoyance of beggars. At Monday night’s regular meeting of the St. Augustine City Commission, there will be a presentation by staff relevant to a strategy to reduce aggressive panhandling.

The City of St. Augustine awarded the $206,500 Aviles Street Rehabilitation Project to Gibbs & Register, Inc., of Winter Garden. According to an announcement released by the Office of Public Affairs, Gibbs & Register has significant streetscaping experience in the central Florida area.

The project includes a new streetscape which will provide on-street dining, new underground utilities, new brick streets, sidewalk widening, benches, landscaping and new street lights.

The on-street dining was approved by the city commission earlier this year.

Photo credits: © 2010 Historic City News contributed photograph by Loren Townsend Zawawi