Guest Column: The Commissioners Albatross

The Commissioners Albatross

Bruce A. Maguire
St. Augustine, FL

As with every major project such as this, there are hidden costs and problems which may not surface until after project completion, yet their negative effect lingers and festers like an open wound. Such is the case with the loss of parking on the Avenida Menendez.

Don’t underestimate this issue. This is big…real big! One of the underlying premises of the entire Reconnecting the Castillo to the Bayfront project is the “complete reconstruction” of the bayfront. For this to occur, redesigning the Avenida Menendez and the wholesale removal of the parking spots would be a mandatory requirement. Reconstructing the bayfront may be a nice idea, but remove the blinders and look for the wounds about to be opened.

Under every proposed redesign option, the Commissioners will have to make the overt decision to remove all parking along the east side of the Avenida Menendez. Currently, there are approximately 19 parking spaces plus the 16 potential parking spaces occupied by the horse carriages. All of those would be lost.

Except for the early morning hours, I would estimate that these parking spaces are the most highly utilized parking spots in the City. Tourists park there just to get out and take photos of the waterway. Vacationers and residents alike park there to be closer to the restaurants along the bayfront. A soft romance on the bulkhead in the evening is made easier because of the parking. Imagine having to park in the City parking garage and having to walk to the bayfront for that romantic interlude.

To exacerbate the “lack of adequate and appropriate parking” situation, the National Park Service has made the decision to remove a major section of their parking lot, which will remove another 70+ spaces. That raises the count to 105-110 spaces lost to our tourists and customers. Let’s do a simple computation: 105 spaces times a minimal turnover rate of 6 times 2.5 occupants/car equals 1,575 visitors each day that are removed from the bayfront! Where are those 630 cars going to park?

I suggest our Commissioners drive through the back streets of downtown St. Augustine. Go as far west as Riberia Street and north to Orange Street and take note of all the tourists and residents parked on the streets around Flagler College. Then drive south of King Street to San Salvador Street, between St. Francis Barracks and Maria Sanchez Lake and over to ML King Avenue, again tourists parking on the streets. Take special note of the illegal parking directly on the bulkhead alongside the City Marina and in front of the Marion Motor Lodge. Then try and tell the residents and tourists that removing the parking is a legitimate action with no consequences.

Halback has labeled these parking spaces as “platinum spaces.” I disagree! They are “gold plated platinum parking spaces” because they are so critical for the tourists and the businesses along the bayfront, including south to St Francis Barracks. Kudos to Commissioner Freeman, for she has seen the problem and voiced her concern. Don’t forget, the City survives because tourists spend money at our local businesses. Remove the parking and remove the tourists!

In its initial mission statement, the Reconnecting the Castillo to the Bayfront project was offered to make improvements to the bayfront and A1A in time for the City’s 450th Commemoration in 2013-2015. However, this grant funding has the potential to provide capital funding for improvements to the bayfront and A1A, leaving improved connections between downtown and the Castillo – bayfront for the community’s benefit long after the celebration.

Bruce Maguire is a life-long resident of St. Augustine and Green Cove Springs. He graduated from the University of Florida where he was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Business, with a specialty in Real Estate, investments and planning. Following 21 years in the Air Force as a fighter pilot, Mr. Maguire retired at the rank of Lt. Col. and returned to St. Johns County. He served four years as a County Commissioner, presiding as Chairman for one year. During the four years, he represented St. Johns County on the North Florida Regional Planning Council and the Metropolitan Planning Organization. He was appointed by the Governor to serve on the 2010-2020 Florida Transportation Plan development board. He currently owns and operates several businesses within the community.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer