Good Morning, St. Augustine!

I’m James and this is the Old City Lowdown - a local newsletter bringing you nothing but the local news that matters…

… and occasionally pictures of a guy in a Rolls Royce getting stuck on St. Augustine Beach in the middle of a hurricane (shoutout to the Beachcomber for sharing this with the world).

In all seriousness, hope you’re well after Debby stopped by to say hello.

A quick note:

I started this rag just over a month ago to update residents on what’s happening in St. Augustine and the surrounding areas - no one else is doing it and I’ve been a professional writer & ‘man around town’ for much of my adult life.

The first edition went out to 360 readers on July 4 (well, 357 if you don’t include three of my own email addresses I subscribed 😆).

Today’s edition will hit the inboxes of ~2,000 St. Johns County residents and I couldn’t be more appreciative of the support.

The Lowdown is meant to be an update on the stuff that actually matters to area residents, from one local to another. Real news, events, where to see live music, etc., etc. No politics, no crime, no inflammatory topics or click-bait headlines.

We live in an awesome part of the world and I hope this newsletter helps new residents and natives alike enjoy our little slice of heaven just a little bit more.

So, today’s intro is a one big Thank You. I am grateful to have you on board and look forward to continuing to keep you updated on the Nation’s Oldest City.

While I have you, care to answer a few questions to help improve the newsletter?

Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

In today’s edition:

Let’s get to the Lowdown.

— James Foote, Publisher | Old City Lowdown

PS - Enjoying the Lowdown? Submit a testimonial or support the author with a virtual tip.

Tuesday • 85 🌡 76 | ⛈ | 💧69% | 💨 WSW 21mph

Wednesday • 88 🌡 77 | 🌦 | 💧44% | 💨 W 18mph

Thursday • 91 🌡 78 | ⛈ | 💧41% | 💨 WSW 15mph

News that actually matters

🏘 Controversial development recommended for approval

Last week, the St. Johns County Planning & Zoning Agency endorsed the Osceola Lakes project. This plan aims to build 640 homes on 145 acres near Watson Road, Wildwood Drive, and US-1 in southern St. Johns County. It will include single-family homes, duplexes, and townhouses. Notably, 30% of the units will be workforce housing, capped at $260,000 for five years. The developer is committing $17.3 million to infrastructure, which includes a new road linking Watson and Wildwood, plus a traffic signal. But, many locals doubt these measures will suffice for the expected traffic increase. County Commissioners will make the final decision on September 3.

🚛 Dumpster Drama: St. Johns County cleans up after FCC slip up

St. Johns County is tackling recent disruptions in solid waste collection after the switch to FCC Environmental Services Florida on August 1. To address the missed collections, County Road and Bridge crews were called upon to pick up garbage, recycling, and yard waste from the missed routes of August 1 and 2. The County is leveraging all available resources to ensure FCC fulfills its contract. For any questions or to report missed collections, residents can reach the Solid Waste Division at 904-827-6980, email [email protected], or use the Recycle Coach or SJC Connect apps.

🏨 Luxury apartments to break ground at former St. Augustine Outlets site

Thompson Thrift received the green light to develop Terrassa, a $41.37 million luxury apartment community, on the former St. Augustine Outlets site. Approved for construction on July 31, the project will feature 324 units across nine buildings. The project is expected to be completed by fall 2026.

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Local government updates

🏦 Upcoming Meetings:

What the cool kids are up to this week

🧺 Aug 7 | Wednesday Pier Farmers Market at SJC Ocean Pier | 8AM-12PM

Over 40 vendors offering fresh produce, seafood, local honey, local art, jewelry, and much, much more. The pet friendly farmers market is open every Wednesday from 8AM-12PM (summer hours). the St. Johns County Ocean Pier is located at 350 A1A Beach Blvd. on the Island.

🤣 Aug 7 | Improv Night at Colonial Oak Music Park | 7:30-9PM

First Coast Comedy's seasoned pros take on any challenge from the audience, creating hilarious, unforgettable moments. Even better, this show is perfect for the whole family, as the improvisers keep it smart, clean, and always kind! Colonial Oak Music Park is located at 21 St. George St. in Old Town.

🩸 Aug 8 | Summer Vibes & Saving Lives Blood Drive at Crabby’s Beachside | 10AM-5PM

Help save a life by donating some vampire fuel to LifeSouth Community Blood Centers at Crabby’s Beachside. Schedule an appointment ahead of time to make it a quick and easy process. Crabby’s Beachside is located at 361 A1A Beach Blvd. on the Island.

🍷 Aug 8 | The St. Augustine Wine Walk by Casa de Vino 57 | 6-8PM

Experience The Ancient City while sampling a variety of specialty wines from around the globe, all while visiting charming local shops and boutiques. Casa de Vino 57 is located at 57 Treasury St. in Old Town. (Tickets)

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Save The Date:

🎸 Sep 27-29 | 7th Annual St Augustine Songwriters Festival

🌽 Oct 5-27 | The Maze at Sykes Family Farms

The latest at St. Augustine Amphitheatre

📆 Next Five Shows:

When and where to catch live music

Tuesday, August 6
Confirm with venue due to storm

Wednesday, August 7

Thursday, August 8

_{*Artists & times are subject to change. We do our best to provide you with the most up-to-date information.}

Thanks for reading the Old City Lowdown today. If you found it useful, consider sharing it with your next door neighbor. See you Friday!