Catholic Church and Library expansion on Thursday, November 15 Historic District Council Agenda

Submitted by

Susan Hardee Steger

St Michael Catholic Church – Proposed rendering
Jose Miranda – Miranda Architects

The Historic District Council (HDC) faces a full agenda on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 5:00  with two major expansions proposed in the City of Fernandina Beach historic district.

St Michael Catholic Church, located at the corner of  North 4th and Broome Streets, is proposing an expansion that will increase the seating capacity in the sanctuary from approximately 289 to 533, according to architect Jose Miranda.

Remarks contained in the packet indicate, “The historic character of the property will be retained and preserved in that minimal alteration will occur to the sanctuary building itself . . ”

Proposed rendering of Fernandina branch of the Nassau County Public Library

The Fernandina Beach branch of the Nassau County Public Library, although not an historic structure, must conform to the guidelines established for the city’s historic district.  The North 4th Street library will undergo a 9000 square foot renovation and a 6000 square foot addition if all goes as planned.

According to the proposal before the HDC, “the butterfly garden and courtyard space on the west elevation will be removed . . The building will retain a masonry exterior fabric, with the introduction of a new color of masonry to help distinguish the new portion of the structure.”

County and city commissions have set aside $600,000 each dedicated to the Fernandina library expansion.  Friends of the Library in Fernandina Beach are in the midst of fundraising efforts to cover the additional cost of new construction and refurbishing the facility.

November 14, 2012 10:55 a.m.