January 7, 1998

Ms. Carol Cunningham
National Trust for Historic Preservation
1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036

Dear Ms. Cunningham:

  Although I regret the necessity for doing so, I once again nominate St. Augustine’s historic Bridge of Lions for inclusion in the Trust’s 1998 list of “America’s Eleven Most Endangered Places.” I believe there is precedent for continued listing when circumstances warrant.

  After attending a December 15 forum in St. Augustine at which almost everyone present seemed to favor restoration, it is apparent that the United States Coast Guard will be satisfied with nothing less than a replacement bridge. Rarely have I encountered such inflexibility.

  At the hearing Mayor Len Weeks spoke eloquently on behalf of a restored bridge, as did Janice Williams (Friend of St. Augustine Architecture), Howard Davis (Chair, St. Augustine Historic Architectural Review Board), and Daniel Carey (National Trust's Southern Regional Office). The Florida Department of Transportation’s representative, Bill Henderson, was less committal since the official Environmental Impact Statement has yet to be released. However, he made clear, as he has in the past, that restoration is an option.

  The U.S. Coast Guard, represented by John Winslow (Seventh Coast Guard Division, Chief, Bridge Section) then spoke and turned aside every suggestion of compromise. I believe that Daniel Carey will confirm my observation.

  Let me update you on what has happened since the Bridge of Lions appeared on the 1997 Eleven Most Endangered Places List.

  At the time of the announcement the Friends of St. Augustine Architecture organized a press conference and generated widespread media coverage. This has kept the issue in the forefront of local news and has brought many letters to the editor of the local paper. It has also brought many letters from visitors. Almost all of the letters and articles are on file, both pro and con. The overwhelming consensus is for preservation.

  There are a few noteworthy suggestions from writers to the paper for solving the barge problem. Among them are:

  1. grid system to engage barges and “drag” them through the channel in the manner used in locks;

  2. fining the barge captains for strikes against the fenders, with the example of Lake Pontchatrain causeway from New Orleans to Covington, and their $25,000 fine;

  3. reinforcing the fenders.

  Solutions proposed earlier include waiting for slack tide, using an assist tug, regulating commercial tugs relative to wind and tide, and going “outside” to the sea. (It should be noted that strikes are taken by the fenders, not the Bridge itself. The fenders are like a car’s bumpers, designed to absorb modest bumps.)

  Media attention has been very good, with calls from Vero Beach, the Atlanta Constitution, the Wall Street Journal, the Miami Herald, and many grassroots organizations throughout the country. Most of these have been directed to the Friends by the National Trust office, and some from AP stories.

  Since June, the Friends of St. Augustine Architecture has distributed over 3,000 postcards to various outlets in St. Augustine, pre-stamped and pre-addressed to Senator Graham, Representative Fowler and Admiral Kramek. There has been no significant correspondence from any of them since then. Graham and Fowler have responded by urging continued participation in the public process, saying that this is a local issue, and not taking a stand (Fowler) or thanking us for continuing to send clips and expressing interest (Graham).

  The Junior Service League held the Forum previously mentioned on December 15 and suffered poor attendance from holiday competition and poor weather. The most notable result was the presentation by John Winslow for the Coast Guard, his first public speech in St. Augustine. Most of the questions from the audience were directed to him and most of the obdurate comments were from him. He represents the Coast Guard as unyielding in the matter of barge safety and convenience, far surpassing all other issues relative to the Bridge.

  The most chilling comments from Mr. Winslow reflect his view that the Intracostal Waterway is comparable to I-95 and must remain open to all boats and barges; that this bridge has been struck more than any other on the Intracostal Waterway in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina; that a strong tidal current runs along the face of the opening of the Bridge; that 85% of the barges carry fuel oil; that oil barge operators prefer the ICW because they are allowed to use single hull vessels and only one tug, while in the open ocean they are required to use double hulled vessels and two or more tugs, thus increasing the cost and time of transit and ultimately the cost of FPL customer; that St. Augustine has a large commercial interest in maritime activity and this Bridge impacts our community’s ability to grow with maritime traffic; AND THAT THE COMMANDANT HAS THE SOLE, FINAL WORD.

  While it was not made as a public statement, Mr. Winslow told one of the other presenters privately on the stage at the conclusion of the Forum that barge interests were “in the office the day after any news about changes to any bridges up and down the coast in the district, urging the Coast Guard to require wider channels.”

  Since the Forum, Rick Gleeson, a marine biologist with Whitney Lab Marine Research Center of Marineland and a member of the Port Waterway and Beach Authority indicates that his group has engaged an engineering firm to study tidal currents at the inlet for the proposed dredging and beach renourishment program. He believes that Winslow’s data may be faulty, and the study might provide proof of changes in the channel configuration.

  The long-awaited Environmental Impact Statement is still in Atlanta with the Federal Highway Administration for review and comment. It is still expected to be returned to Tallahassee this month for revisions, which will reflect the Atlanta group's ideas. Then Florida DOT will print and distribute the report and announce a public hearing with a minimum of 30 days notice. All this could come to pass by the end of March. Then DOT will retire to splendid isolation and make THE decision and will file for a construction permit with the Coast Guard. Were the forgoing timetable to be maintained, a decision could be made in late spring. Were the decision favorable to restoration of the bridge, we can be sure the Coast Guard will work to thwart such a solution.

  It is abundantly clear the Bridge of Lions remains very threatened. I hope the Trust will agree and will once again include this important structure on its 1998 list.

  Should you want me to photocopy for you my copy of the original nomination submitted to you a year ago, I will be happy to do so. However, it will be just that, a copy, and not as good as what you have.

Sincerely,

Roy Hunt