Florida’s Senator Bill Nelson tours rehab work on Fernandina Beach historic post office building

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
September 3, 2016 3:46 p.m.

Under overcast skies on September 3, 2016, United States Senator Bill Nelson and his wife Grace joined elected officials, members of the media, and curious local citizens to inspect progress on the rehabilitation of the historic Fernandina Post Office on 4^th and Centre Streets in downtown Fernandina Beach, FL. The Nelsons and the public were welcomed by Fernandina Beach Postmaster Edwin Lang and regional representatives of the United States Postal Service (USPS), who led the group on a tour of the exterior work as well as providing an inside peek into the second and third floors of the building, which once served as a Federal Courthouse, Customs House and Immigration Office.

In addressing the assembled crowd, Senator Nelson explained his longstanding interest in the project and his efforts to secure funding to restore and rehabilitate the building, which he believes is central to the vitality of the Fernandina Beach downtown. He said that despite its falling into disrepair over the years he has always believed that the building has “good bones” and that the highest and best use for the property would be as Fernandina Beach City Hall.

Nelson recounted his efforts to address the local historic building’s problems through legislation that passed the Senate but was not taken up by the House of Representatives.

Although the building has been on and off the USPS list of surplus property during the recent past, it is not currently on that list; nor is it listed for sale.

David Martin, USPS District Manager for the Gulf Atlantic District, welcomed Senator Nelson and advised that most of the work done thus far was to the exterior of the building.

Project architect William H. Bishop III, principal with the Jacksonville architectural firm of Akel Logan Shafer, explained the scope of the work and reported that a completion date for mid-January 2017 has been set. Current work will stabilize the historic structure and prevent further decay. To that end, the HVAC system has been upgraded.   Basement drains have been unclogged. The original gutters that were enclosed in the walls have been closed off. They will be replaced with an exterior drainage system that is authentic to the period of the building.

All restoration and rehabilitation work is being done in accordance with the Secretary of Interior’s Guidelines.

Bishop reported that the original windows have been restored, including the hardware where available. Windows that had been removed to accommodate window air conditioners were located in the building’s attic. They have been reinstalled. All windows are operable.

The building exterior has been cleaned and the stucco is being stabilized. The building is being painted with a protective paint. Original iron railings and grills were removed and restored. They will soon be reattached to the building. Because a complete set of construction drawings was found in the basement, specifications for missing elements like windowsills and exterior terra cotta entablature could be reproduced. Boston Valley Ceramics is completing work on missing exterior terra cotta ornamentation, which is scheduled for delivery in mid December.

With the completion of work on the building, additional work will be done to clean and improve the landscaping as well.

The basement, a large space that was not on tour, has been cleared of years of abandoned equipment and other property. The old furnace boiler was removed, along with old insulation. A new electrical box has been installed.

The project is on schedule and within the budget, which is just shy of $1.2M.

The Renaissance Revival style building was completed in 1912 and was the first steel beam construction in Fernandina. Age, weather and deferred maintenance have taken their toll on a building that was central to city life for so many decades. Although the USPS moved its main Fernandina Beach facility to a new building at Citrona Drive and Sadler Road close to 20 years ago, the USPS has maintained operations in the historic Centre Street Post Office building, although staffing and hours have been dramatically cut back.

The USPS financed a major renovation of the former federal courtroom in the building almost 25 years ago, but money for building renovation has been in short supply in the region, due to the need to reconstruct facilities destroyed in major hurricanes that have hit the Gulf Atlantic Region in the intervening years.

Also among those in attendance for the walk-thru were City Commissioner Len Kreger, Amelia Island Fernandina Restoration Foundation President Adam Kaufman, President & CEO of the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council Gil Langley, Fernandina Beach Main Street Executive Director Jeff Kurtz and city lobbyist Arthur I. “Buddy” Jacobs.

Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.