Neon-lit white rabbits leaping out of a high rated hat adorn the legendary indicator of Magic Seashore Motel in Vilano Seaside, positioned at 50 Vilano Freeway. Pink flamingos are additionally a colourful element of this Artwork Deco motor lodge developed in 1951, initially the Vilano Seashore Motel.
This landmark may very well be demolished if the sale goes via in December by Miami developer Essential Worldwide, the exact same agency accountable for Embassy Suites in St. Augustine Seaside entrance.
The Magic Seaside Motel belongings could be merged with land adjoining to it at 80 Vilano Highway (beforehand Pizza Hut within the Eighties and early ’90s), and simply guiding it to the north on Coastal Freeway, the 2 owned by group businessman John Arbizzani beneath the enterprise title 80 Vilano Road LLC.
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The problem known as Vilano Seaside entrance Lodge, a proposed mixed-use development that may encompass 194 resort rooms, a 5,800-square-foot cafe, 1,800 sq. toes of retail home, and a 4,000-square-foot well being/spa.
Shannon Acevedo of the St. Augustine-based principally Matthews Design Workforce, a civil engineering group, submitted an software program this month to St. Johns County Organizing and Zoning requesting model acceptance.
A mode and design analysis convention is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sept. 8 on the St. Johns County Allow Middle, 4040 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine. The North Coastal Type Evaluation Board fulfills on the second Wednesday of each single thirty day interval.
Calls trying to find comment from Important International, Matthews Type Group and St. Johns County have been not returned by push time.
Diego Ardid, co-president of Vital Worldwide reps of Rabun Architects from Atlanta and Matthews Type Group launched architectural drawings and net web page concepts, and answered queries at a Vilano Seashore Predominant Road assembly on July 21, which included Vilano individuals who belong to the North Shores Enchancment Affiliation and the North Seashore Neighborhood Alliance.
“We’ve got month to month conferences and after we hear about forthcoming duties, we discuss to the builders to make a presentation,” spelled out Vivian C. Browning, president of Vilano Seaside entrance Principal Avenue. “As a workforce, we don’t help or not help a job.”
Browning, a Vilano resident for 35 a few years, has been concerned with the group contemplating that 1997, and aided convey Publix and different retail locations in 2012, along with updates to Vilano Seaside Metropolis Centre alongside Vilano Road, which contains enhanced sidewalks, fountains, benches and group paintings.
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“It took us 12 a number of years to get Publix,” Browning defined. “We had been function down, a blighted space. We’ve produced enhancements. We’re a trip spot now.”
In level, 5 a long time up to now, Secretary of Situation Ken Detzner declared that Vilano Seaside Principal Road was designated the March 2016 Florida Most essential Highway Group of the Month.
“Communities are chosen depending on their developmental achievements and participation within the Florida Principal Avenue Program,” the push launch stated on the time. “Since its designation 13 years in the past [2003], Vilano Seaside Main Road’s achievements comprise $42 million in public/personal reinvestment, producing an internet purchase of 9 new firms and an internet obtain of over 179 new work alternatives to its Major Avenue location.”
The historic previous of the Magic Seaside Motel
The 24-home motel was purchased in 2010 and renovated for numerous a very long time by Earl and Remy Jensen, who even have the Ocean Have a look at Lodge, a 28-space lodge positioned at 2701 Anahma Generate. The Jensens, residents of Vilano Seaside entrance, have associated properties in Atlantic City and Colorado.
“Magic Seaside entrance can be purchased by December,” Remy Jensen defined Aug. 12. “We’ve got had a complete lot of useful remarks from the guests who’ve stayed right here above the a very long time.”
The Jensens spoke with Jessica Clark of 1st Shoreline Data on Aug. 12 about promoting the motel, citing well being difficulties and journey goals.
Magic Seaside Motel obtained its establish from its use as a set spot for the 1999 Warner Brothers Tv sequence “Protected Harbor,” starring Emmy winner and Golden Globe nominee, Rue McClanahan. Additionally that features Gregory Harrison, the sequence was a couple of sheriff and father of some boys dwelling in Magic Seaside, Florida, a fictional city. McClanahan carried out Harrison’s mother, and owned the Magic Seaside entrance Motel the place by all of them lived with one another. The sign, which traits rabbits, a hat and neon lights, was designed primarily as a result of the fictional proprietor’s husband skilled been a magician.
The Florida Part of Level out Division of Historic Assets regarded the motel in 2013 for Incredible Florida Principal Highway Rehabilitation Job.
Vilano Seaside entrance development
The 50-area Vacation break Inn Convey had a clean opening in late July at 150 Vilano Highway. Hyatt Location, a 120-place resort, will open within the slide at 117 Vilano Highway.
Current lodges within the Vilano Seaside Metropolis Centre/Principal Avenue area encompass Hampton Inn & Suites (94 rooms), Oceanview Lodge (28 rooms) and Saint Augustine Seashore Dwelling (16 rooms). Different getaway leases within the Vilano area incorporate Ocean Sands Inn, Beachcomber Cottages, and VRBO and AirBnB leases.
Moreover, 49 townhomes are deliberate on a vacant 3-acre lot on the intersection of Loja Avenue and Vilano Freeway, inside simply the Vilano City Middle. The residential problem, set forth by Dylan Cadwalader and his Vilano Springs Development group, is adjoining to the brand new Hyatt presently lower than improvement and throughout the road from the Vacation getaway Inn Categorical.
Neighborhood opposition
Neighbors within the North Seaside entrance area based the North Seaside Neighborhood Alliance, a bunch of residents and group small corporations, earlier than this yr to handle points greater than a enchancment they thought-about may negatively have an effect on the group setting and wonderful of lifetime.
Instantly after extra than 600 residents signed a petition versus a proposed 11,000-sq.-foot, 3-story mattress and breakfast on the nook of twelfth Road and Coastal Freeway, the endeavor was halted.
As of Aug. 18, 690 women and men signed a brand new petition asking to droop permits for industrial and combined-use developments in Vilano Seaside entrance City Middle.
Michael Clare-Salzler, a 10-yr Vilano resident, is aspect of the North Seaside Neighborhood Alliance. Clare-Salzer thinks there was a departure from what the Vilano Seashore Major Avenue workforce initially deliberate, which integrated retaining slightly seaside local people, and like organizations that residents would use.
“The first system has deviated and is now centered on tourism and vacationers. We launched this workforce to take care of a development which might have skilled a detrimental have an effect on in the area people,” Clare-Salzer described. “We aren’t anti-progress. We wish liable enhancement in the neighborhood. We wish to see progress that may impact the county in a useful method, that won’t induce the area people pressure.”
In keeping with the workforce, the ultimate feasibility study for Vilano Main Avenue was achieved in 2007. The group believes that infrastructure assessments must be carried out — web site site visitors, utilities and environmental experiences — to find out if the neighborhood can help and maintain the substantial current and proposed jobs.
“We aren’t soliciting for factors which are out of the conventional. The residents are nonetheless overlooked of it,” Clare-Salzer reported. There’s a absence of laws … I acquired into this given that I reside on this group and as a result of reality I used to be anxious concerning the absence of particulars. The county will get tax bucks and that’s the willpower. It’s an inherent battle. What’s the county eyesight? What are the county aims? County procedures should should be aligned.”
Breau Alexander is a Vilano Seaside entrance resident who moved from Atlanta in 2011. She additionally joined the North Seashore Group Alliance this calendar yr.
She claimed attended the June convention of the Vilano Seashore Predominant Highway and that residents ended up inquiring about Magic Seaside entrance Motel after listening to it may very well be offered.
“The issues have been being brushed greater than,” she described. “A ton of women and men have moved listed right here and are viewing variations and actually really feel powerless, even longtime residents. We’re taking a look at a broken strategy that leaves out the individuals. Commissioners, builders and residents can all do the job on the arranging. That’s a civil manner for this to materialize. The residents solely by no means rely and I uncover that insulting. That’s the reason they’re observing this response of anger and emotions … getting data has been troublesome.”
For particulars concerning the North Seaside Area people Alliance, pay a go to to neighbors4northbeach.com.
