Staff updates: state grant ranking for surveys, FY27 grant application, and adaptive reuse at Lord Heigl House

City staff told the Venice Historic Preservation Board they are awaiting the state’s final budget decision on funding for a historic resources survey and that they are preparing a FY27 grant application for additional surveys.

Harry Klinkhammer, the historical resources manager, said the city’s project for a Seaboard and Edgewood historic resources survey ranked 32 out of 76 projects submitted to the state and that “the way the budget is kind of falling, it looks like, you know, there's a good chance we will get the funding.” He added the city is preparing a FY27 grant application to survey Golden Beach and Gulf Shores (defined as roughly from Aldi Amarr down to the airport and from Harbor Drive to the Gulf).

Klinkhammer also updated the board on the lease of the Lord Heigl House to a business lessee. He said staff met with the lessees and discussed balancing the business plan with historical interpretation; he told members the lessees are aware the building is on the local register and that any exterior changes would be subject to the board’s review (or HRM review until any ordinance changes take effect).

Klinkhammer announced a ribbon cutting for the former Bessey Museum building scheduled for June 5 at 9 a.m. He said the lessees indicated no planned exterior alterations beyond minor items such as signage; staff described the lessees as “strong historic preservationists” with experience owning historic properties in St. Augustine.

Board members welcomed the updates and expressed support for adaptive reuse of locally registered structures. No votes or formal directions were recorded on these items; staff will continue grant tracking and coordination with the lessees.