Regan: Proctor will sponsor heritage plan modifications

Historic City News local reporters were watching Monday night as Chief Operations Officer John Regan told city commissioners that he is working with Florida Representative Bill Proctor to garner support to return management of the heritage program to the city.

That includes the city retaining management of 34 state-owned historic properties including the Spanish Quarter.

According to Regan, Proctor says that he will sponsor modifications to the state legislation that authorized a University of Florida takeover of the city’s heritage program “if the university and city can work out our differences.”

Regan said that, in discussions with Proctor and UF Vice President Ed Poppell, he noted the heritage program needs $960,000 to operate each year; money he says the university doesn’t have.

According to Regan, the city can support those operating costs through revenue-producing entities like the city-owned Casa del Hidalgo ($65,000 annually) and Visitor Center parking facility ($378,000 annually) as well as reduced service costs through other city departments.

The UF takeover legislation was originally sponsored by Proctor several years ago as the city sought funding to repair the properties. The legislation gave UF management of not only the properties — but also the heritage program itself.

The city has since developed its own business plan to make the heritage program self-sustaining. Regan said every city department is part of that effort.

The city will also be developing a Historic Preservation Institute patterned after the successful Nantucket model (developed by the University of Florida), drawing together the city, the University of Florida, Flagler College, and the National Park Service.