St. Augustine City Commissioners will hear a presentation to save historic Echo House (what's left of it) from demolition at their Monday, March 26 meeting.
A new 501c3 dedicated to preserving African-American history in Lincolnville will make the ten minute presentation.
I support and commend their efforts.
The presentation is sponsored by Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline and the agenda describes the item as "
Why this matters: In 2015, five craven St. Augustine City Commissioners heard and rejected my appeal from the demolition permit granted the Rev. RONALD RAWLS, JR to demolish Echo House, a 1923 historic building that was once a retirement home for retired African-Americans and later a community center. As a compromise, RAWLS agreed to preserve 1/3 of it. Then last year he got a conditional demolition permit to destroy the remaining part of the structure.
The City of St. Augustine has a "right of reverter" and could sue to exercise it, because Rev. RAWLS is no longer using Echo House for a charitable purpose.
And no, my friends, parking for a church is not a charitable purpose.
And no, God did not tell Rev. RAWLS to tear down an historic building for parking, as some of St Paul A.M.E. pastor RAWLS' rowdy parishioners told HARB in 2014.
RAWLS is the Gainesville resident who demands to tear down a monuments to Confederate veterans in the Plaza de la Constitucion (rejected by City Commission, which appointed a seven-person contextualization committee) and a monument to General William Wing Loring in the West Plaza (being considered by the University of Florida Historic St. Augustine board, which is unlikely to go along with his demand).
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A new 501c3 dedicated to preserving African-American history in Lincolnville will make the ten minute presentation.
I support and commend their efforts.
The presentation is sponsored by Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline and the agenda describes the item as "
- Presentation by Madeline Wise of the Lincolnville Historical Preservation and Restoration Society Inc. (LHPRS) regarding Echo House asking that the property revert back to the City with the LHPRS committing to obtaining grants to ensure the property is made whole again to be used by the Community
Why this matters: In 2015, five craven St. Augustine City Commissioners heard and rejected my appeal from the demolition permit granted the Rev. RONALD RAWLS, JR to demolish Echo House, a 1923 historic building that was once a retirement home for retired African-Americans and later a community center. As a compromise, RAWLS agreed to preserve 1/3 of it. Then last year he got a conditional demolition permit to destroy the remaining part of the structure.
The City of St. Augustine has a "right of reverter" and could sue to exercise it, because Rev. RAWLS is no longer using Echo House for a charitable purpose.
And no, my friends, parking for a church is not a charitable purpose.
And no, God did not tell Rev. RAWLS to tear down an historic building for parking, as some of St Paul A.M.E. pastor RAWLS' rowdy parishioners told HARB in 2014.
RAWLS is the Gainesville resident who demands to tear down a monuments to Confederate veterans in the Plaza de la Constitucion (rejected by City Commission, which appointed a seven-person contextualization committee) and a monument to General William Wing Loring in the West Plaza (being considered by the University of Florida Historic St. Augustine board, which is unlikely to go along with his demand).
