White meets with Florida Memorial officials

Local St. Augustine news reports from Greg White, chair of the West Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency, say top Florida Memorial University officials visited recently to discuss commercial and residential development of its of West Augustine acreage.

The Florida Memorial property, 350 acres west of Holmes Boulevard along C.R. 214, has not been ruled out as a possible satellite campus for the university — which closed the campus of what was then known as Florida Normal College and moved to Northwest Miami in 1968.

In either event, road repaving, residential development plans, and multijurisdictional efforts to build infrastructure along West King Street are all good news.

City and county officials last year developed a strategy for West Augustine development and Congressman John Mica supports federal funding for utility and road infrastructure.

Last year, City Chief Operating Officer John Regan got City Commission approval for utility extension to serve a planned residential development in the area.

County Public Works Director Joe Stephenson announced recently that repaving the length of West King and beyond will begin in April.

The Abraham Lincoln Lewis Archway, may be one of the last remnants of Florida Memorial University. It was relocated across the street to Collier-Blocker-Puryear Park, restored and dedicated last year with a marker noting the contribution of Florida Memorial students to local civil rights efforts in the 60’s.

The park and arch names represent leadership in the history of Florida Memorial University.