Three historic homes saved

PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 08/21/09

Three St. Augustine buildings -- the earliest built about 1840, the latest 1890 -- escaped the wrecking ball Thursday after the city's Historic Architectural Review Board tabled requests by property owner George Arnold to demolish all of them.

The buildings are 74 and 76 Spanish St. and 22 Avenida Menendez.

Arnold's attorney, Seth B. Dempsey of Sheppard & Sheppard, St. Augustine, said the oldest of the three, 76 Spanish St., is "seriously deteriorated in several different ways."

The building is one of the few Territorial Era structures left, built before Florida was a state.

Dempsey said a report by an architect hired by Arnold said wood rot had damaged the 1-story building's floor. The report also said parts of its floor, some walls and the staircase are missing and the building remains an eyesore and a nuisance.

"It's the owner's contention that the structure is beyond repair or rehabilitation," Dempsey said. "The owner is seeking to have this demolished down to vacant land. (But) he hasn't decided what to do with (the land) yet."

Fred Halback, chairman of HARB, said Arnold had previously submitted drawings and a business plan to create a 150-seat restaurant by converting 74 and 76 Spanish into one building. That plan was approved, though Arnold didn't get one parking space he wanted.

But Dempsey said that approval "wasn't acceptable to the owner. It wasn't what he was looking for."

He said renovation and rehabilitation of the two oldest buildings would be cost prohibitive.

Halback said, "What was that cost? None of that data has been provided. Simply saying it's too expensive doesn't demonstrate a hardship."

He said plenty of other buildings in St. Augustine were in that condition and repaired.

HARB member Paul Weaver said a "For Sale" sign was up outside the building, priced at $219,500.

Len Weeks, another HARB member, said, "We've been working with this guy for a year. But every time he sends an application in, he sends someone else (to answer questions). He needs to come himself."

Dempsey said, "I don't know" to many board questions, adding that he was recently hired and didn't know everything about Arnold's previous history with HARB.

Halback said, "It's always easier to tear things down. I don't think that (wanting to demolish a building) is justification for demolition."

Dempsey said 76 Spanish St. is "a structure in complete disrepair. This isn't a building that's even close (to being habitable). Complete sections of it are gone. It's a community eyesore."

However, Weaver pointed out that Arnold had left the building's windows open and never secured it, allowing the rain and weather to do great damage.

"Isn't it his responsibility to maintain his properties? It doesn't look to me that he's done anything," Weaver said.

Architect and HARB member Les Thomas told Dempsey that the city wants to know the economic effect.

"You're not providing that information. In six years, (Arnold) spent $645 on repairs on that property."

Arnold, an investor, purchased the three properties in 2002.

Architect Kenneth Smith, a HARB member, said he didn't believe there was "any claim here that the building needs to be demolished."

Dempsey proposed a continuance.

The board agreed, though it warned that they would swear Arnold in and ask questions when they met next on Oct. 15.

Not discussed was 22 Avenida Menendez, where city officials said Arnold was turning into a single-family home. However, after his request and appeal to HARB to use cheaper concrete roof tiles was rejected, he filed a certificate of demolition.

Only one member of the public spoke on this issue.

Dennis Cunningham said 22 Avenida Menendez was part of the city's historic waterfront.

"I am deeply offended that (Arnold) wants to tear down these buildings," Cunningham said. "He's trying to tear down our history."

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