City: Spanish Quarter Under Private Management to Open “No Later Than October 1”
By Rhonda Parker
St. Augustine – The Spanish Colonel Quarter Living History Museum Quarter is being guaranteed by the city to open under private management “no Later than October 1, 2012.” This will be exactly one year after the surprise closing due to budget shortfalls of the museum that has been a source of civic pride and a landmark historic site on St. George Street for fifty years.
According Dana Ste. Claire, director of the St. Augustine Department of Heritage Tourism, it could happen sooner.
"There is that possibility. More likely they will need the time for rehabilitation and redesign, but negotiations will be complete by the end of the fiscal yea and that does give the opportunity to accelerate," Ste. Claire said.
Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield reported on the bidding process to the City Commission Monday night. Birchfield said the bidding process is continuing for private partner who would run the museum with the city and the University of Florida. UF owns the site, but leases the museum back to the city annually.
Birchfield said another round of invitations to bid have gone out this week to add to the three previously submitted proposals from the private sector, which includes: Pat Croce of the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum, St. Augustine Historical Tours, Inc., and Orlando Dinner Entertainment, Inc.
All qualified bidders will attend a mandatory site visit February 10. Birchfield said there would be an evaluation committee of four UF and three city staff to review the applicants, with announcement of the winning bidder on May 15.
“We will turn over the keys July 1, and the Spanish Quarter will reopen under private management October 1,” Birchfield told the St. Augustine City Commission Monday night.
Links to previous articles concerning the closing of the Spanish Quarter Colonel Museum
Birthday Surprise: after-50-years-sa-s-spanish-quarter-to-be-closed-by-city
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