HARB approves demolition of 1971 building to make way for new St. Augustine fire station

The Historic Architecture Review Board voted unanimously Jan. 15 to approve a certificate of full demolition for the former Blue Waters Jewelry building at 500 Anastasia Boulevard, allowing the city to replace the 1971 commercial structure with a new fire station.

Staff told the board the masonry vernacular building is recorded in the Florida Master Site File for documentation but is not locally or nationally designated and lacks distinguishing architectural features; staff noted the design for the new fire station already received Corridor Review Committee and planning approvals. "This is really our last step before going to construction plans and permitting," said Christina Evans of Gulfstream Design Group, the applicant representative.

The board asked staff whether archaeological review was required; staff said the site is not within an archaeological zone and archaeological investigation is not mandatory for this parcel. Roger White, president of the Saint Augustine North Davis Shores Neighborhood Association, told the board residents had waited more than a decade for a new station and said they were "ecstatic" the project is moving forward.

Board members praised the proposed midcentury design and said the replacement building would better serve the community. A motion to approve the certificate of demolition passed with all votes in favor. The board emphasized that its role in this case was to consider the demolition request; replacement design and permitting were addressed through other review processes.