Making History

Bob Snell | 6/1/2006

With the ancient Castillo de San Marcos fort dominating its bayfront and old St. George Street anchoring downtown, St. Augustine's future remains rooted in its past. But three corners of St. Augustine are being transformed by projects that promise to put a fresh face on the "Nation's Oldest City."

To the north, a three-story garage -- years in planning -- in the style of a Moorish castle looms over the city's visitors center. To the east, a temporary lift-span bridge is almost ready for traffic. Once open, it will allow engineers to begin repairing and reconstructing the landmark Bridge of Lions.

But city leaders are most excited about St. Augustine's new gateway from the west -- a 13.5-acre marina/residential/retail project built on the formerly polluted grounds of the old St. Augustine Gas and Electric plant.

Sebastian Inland Harbor will include a 65-slip marina, 120 waterfront condos and a four-star hotel and spa. The project, conceived and managed by Ponte Vedra Beach-based developers Matthew Merritt and Richard Newton, incorporates a public boardwalk, riverfront amphitheater and an extensive sculpture garden.

According to Merritt and Newton, the retail component will include a "signature national restaurant" and high-end boutiques.

"The city assembled this site years ago to be its gateway and then discovered it was thoroughly contaminated," says Merritt. "The project turned into a partnership between the city, private developers and the EPA. It took a creative approach, but it worked."

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