City may spend $300K to renovate VIC

St. Augustine Heritage Tourism Director Dana Ste. Claire outlined for Historic City News reporters, commissioners and an audience of about 40 attending a 450th Workshop yesterday, his recommendation for creating modular and mobile exhibit units inside the Visitor Information Center.

Ste. Claire proposed using city staff to modernize what will become a 5,000 square foot main exhibit area with two potential 1,000 square-foot side pavilions.

The City of St. Augustine owns the Visitor Information Center — Ste. Claire estimated the proposed work to cost about $300,000.

Commissioner Sikes-Kline appeared lukewarm to the proposal, saying that she had hoped the City would not get involved “in the museum business”.

City Manager John Regan suggested any funding action wait until tomorrow’s budget workshop meeting, when he promised “some new funding ideas.”

Ste. Claire said visitors will progress through a collection of exhibits and demonstrations that depict the historic eras of the City; beginning with the native peoples, arrival of the Spaniards, and continuing through today.