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By ANTHONY SERAPHIN
Like any taxpayer, I am getting more concerned about our city's real estate tax base. Most recently we lost a golden opportunity with the Florida East Coast Railway Buildings at the gateway to our city. Instead of an increased tax base for the city, Flagler College got many more dormitories and income for their every growing needs and the taxpayers got, well you know what we got.
City officials knew the three buildings were coming on the market, but kept the taxpayers in the dark. The deal was done behind closed doors, if not, how did Flagler begin construction so fast, normally a project that size takes a few years in planning and permits. Commissioner Don Crichlow told me, and remember he makes his living as an architect, that no one wanted the three buildings and the city didn't know what to do with them and besides they were never on the tax rolls anyway. Now that's progressive thinking. Where we could have had a another tax base with a hotel, or condominiums, with parking and waterviews, Flagler got more rooms for their customers and tax free.
Now we have the post office coming up and like the saying goes, if you have heard about it, it's too late, but is it and should Flagler College start looking outside the city to grow their enterprise, other colleges have satellite campuses? To see more tax- free Flagler buildings, where the post office now stands, would be a shame, especially when it could be a small post office, retail business and apartments, and most of all badly needed taxes coming to the city. I believe the percentage of nontaxable real estate in our city is now above 33 percent. When will our officials stand up and say no more? Do we want another New Haven, Conn., where Yale destroyed downtown and drove property owners out? The University of Pennsylvania, while still tax free, makes up in kind with businesses, parks, free night schools, play grounds, low cost mortgages and other tangible programs that built West Philadelphia into a vibrant, safe and productive neighborhood.
The same goes for our officials saying no to blight. The only neighborhood in our city that has boarded up investor houses is Lincolnville. These outside investors, who don't live in Lincolnville, many in Ponte Vedra, pay minimal real estate taxes, while everyone trying to fix up their properties, not only pay more taxes into the coffers, but have to see these eyesores everyday. What do possible new people, with young families, think when they drive the streets and see what these investors are responsible for? Imagine the city putting a deadline on reconstruction or tear down. Imagine the tax dollars coming into the city when these predator investors are no longer here and beautiful homes are. Cities across the nation have solved this problem and turned neighborhoods around and while protecting the property rights of the elderly long term local residents. I spoke with Mayor Joe Boles about this problem and his response was property rights, nothing can be done.
I would really feel a little more protected from my local government if The Record would also step up to the plate with some hardball journalism and investigative reporting. The old days are going fast. We now have a new city manager with vision and the reality of a changing commission and mayor.
Stagnant minds for the future won't work anymore.
Just addressing these two issues would propel, not only fresh tax dollars into our city, but the city into the 21st Century.
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Anthony Seraphin was raised in Sanford, Fla. He and his wife Judith Seraphin, have lived in St. Augustine since 2005. He is president of Global Wrap, a national company headquartered here in St. Augustine, www.globalwrap.com and owner of Seraphin Gallery in Philadelphia, Travelling Museum Exhibitions, Art Publications and representing contemporary American artists since 1972 222.seraphingallery.com
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