Happy Thursday, St. Augustine. It’s starting to feel a lot like concert season at The Amp outside. Things are warming up in the Old City, new businesses are popping up left and right, and there’s no shortage of things to do around town. It’s safe to say that spring has sprung.
In this week’s Old City Lowdown:
• Blue Ribbon Projects
• Beach Bagels & Pickle Factory Open
• Events, Live Music, Local Gov’t & More
Thanks so much for being here. Now, let’s get to it.
PS - We’d be grateful if you forwarded this email to a friend and followed us on Instagram and TikTok.
James Foote
Publisher | Old City Lowdown
NOTICES
• Surfside Parking Lot Closed thru March 7 | St. Johns County is making improvements to the entryway at Surfside Park, so no parking until this Sunday. Park amenities (beach access, restrooms, etc.) will remain open.
• City Begins Smoke Testing | Starting March 9, the City of St. Augustine will conduct smoke testing of the sanitary sewer system through March 20 across neighborhoods including Lincolnville, Davis Shores, Downtown, and North St. Augustine. Door hangers will be distributed to affected properties ahead of time.
FLORIDA’S BLUE RIBBON PROJECTS
Blue Ribbon Projects Bills Face Setback in the Senate, But Not Defeated
Today, the Florida State Senate debated the “Blue Ribbon Projects” bill, SB 354, which faced strong bipartisan opposition. The vote was delayed, which is good news for those against the bill, but it’s not the final defeat many expected.
What are HB 299 and SB 354?
These companion bills—HB 299 in the House, sponsored by Rep. Lauren Melo (R-Naples), and SB 354 in the Senate, sponsored by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala)—would create a new category of large-scale development called "Blue Ribbon Projects." If approved, landowners with 15,000 or more contiguous acres could fast-track approval for huge mixed-use developments. This would bypass local zoning rules and future land use plans that residents have worked on for years, possibly limiting public input and local oversight. (flsenate.gov)
Lawmakers describe the bills as smart growth and conservation efforts, but the wording does not back up those claims.
Sixty percent of each project must be designated as a "reserve area", but there is no requirement that land be preserved in its natural state. It can be clear-cut. In fact, 100% of the total acreage, development and reserve area alike, can be clear-cut. The only uses barred from reserve areas are solar farms, data centers, and golf courses, and those remain permitted in development areas. Two public hearings are required before a project can be greenlit, but local officials are largely obligated to approve any project that meets the statutory requirements. Public input is mostly ceremonial. (Florida Phoenix, Feb. 26)
Why are there two bills?
Introducing companion bills in both chambers is standard practice in Tallahassee. Only one bill needs to pass both chambers. Usually, the version that moves faster in one chamber passes there first, then the other chamber considers it.
Who's behind these bills?
Companies connected to the Manhattan-based investment firm Ruane Cunniff have spent over $230 million buying more than 80,000 acres of rural land in north Florida, including over 50,000 acres in St. Johns County. The firm hired nearly 20 lobbyists to promote the bills in Tallahassee. Its entity, Jax-Palatka Farms LLC, donated at least $290,000 to Florida politicians before the session started, including $10,000 to each bill sponsor on the same days they filed their bills. (Seeking Rents/Jason Garcia, VoteWater)
What's next?
The Senate’s decision to postpone the vote was important because bipartisan opposition made lawmakers slow down. SB 354 will probably come back with changes, but opposition is increasing. Meanwhile, the House is expected to vote on HB 299 soon. (Florida Phoenix, March 3)
What you can do
Floor votes in both chambers are imminent, and this is the last real window for public pressure to matter. Here's how to make your voice heard:
Contact your state legislators. A phone call or email to your state representative and senator carries more weight than most people realize, especially on a bill this contested. Find your legislators at flsenate.gov.
Contact the St. Johns County Commission. The Commission has formally opposed the bills, but they need to know their constituents are paying attention. Reinforce that opposition and encourage them to keep the pressure on Tallahassee.
Tell your neighbors. This is arguably the most important step. Share this story. Talk about it. Awareness is the first line of defense.
Track both bills in real time at flsenate.gov.
FIELD REPORT
CONDITIONS: |
|---|
Air Temp: Hi 78 | Lo 61 |
Humidity: 74% Precip: 0% |
Winds: ESE 3-10mph / 16mph |
Pressure: 30.21inHg |
UV Index: 7 |
Sun: 6:46am↑, 6:27pm↓ |
Moon: 7:48am↓, 8:47pm↑ |
Moonphase: Waning Gibbous |
Tides: 3:02am↓, 9:15am↑, 3:16pm↓, 9:37pm↑ |
Water Temp: 62-64 |
Water: The Atlantic near St. Augustine carries a notable swell Thursday, with NWS forecasting east winds 5–10 knots and seas 4–5 feet nearshore. Morning fog may linger near the inlets before clearing, with a slight chance of afternoon showers. The Intracoastal and St. Augustine Inlet remain calmer, with only a light chop expected.
Land: The first weeks of March signal the start of spring bird migration across Florida, and the marshes and hammocks of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas reserve are prime viewing ground. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are among the first arrivals along the coast, while sanderlings, ruddy turnstones, and red knots still work the Atlantic tideline before their own push north. You may even catch a glimpse of wood storks nesting in the Matanzas basin shallows on calm mornings before they head north.
Sky: Three days past the Worm Moon, the waning gibbous fades gradually each evening after its March 3 fullness. In the west after sunset, Venus climbs higher nightly and sits strikingly close to Saturn this week, both visible low on the horizon at dusk. Jupiter burns bright high in the south, visible even before the sky fully darkens.
BULLETIN
Deal: Have a deal to promote? Shoot us an email.
Pets: Golda is up for grabs
Property: 1920’s Cottage
Sightings: Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
FROM THE LEDGER
Scam Alert: Fake Permit Letters
Some St. Augustine residents have received fraudulent letters claiming they owe money for unpaid permits. If you get one, don't send money or personal info; contact the City directly at a verified citystaug.com email, or call the St. Augustine Police Department if you think you've been targeted. More Info
Historic Bank to Become Hotel?
St. Augustine's Treasury on the Plaza cleared its first hurdle toward becoming a 120-room hotel. The plan includes a hidden parking garage, restaurants, a spa, and street improvements, with a final vote scheduled for March 23. More Info
Shore Drive Trail Nixed
St. Johns County commissioners voted 3-2 to kill a long-planned walking and biking path along Shore Drive in St. Augustine South, ending years of debate over the safety-versus-development dispute. The $1.1 million will now go toward a new park along the San Sebastian River. More Info
Seawall Meeting at City Hall
FDOT is hosting a public open house today, March 5, from 4–6 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall on the planned A1A seawall replacement between the Bridge of Lions and Charlotte Street. The $19.9 million project includes a new coquina concrete pedestrian barrier and promenade, with construction running from this spring through late 2027. More Info
Sporting Jax Finds its Home
Sporting JAX has secured a privately funded site near St. Johns Town Center for a 15,000-seat stadium anchoring a mixed-use district with hotels, retail, and residential space. Both teams will continue playing at UNF's Hodges Stadium while planning and engineering get underway. The men's season opener this Friday, March 7. More Info ($)
Healthcare Jobs Expo April 8
St. Johns County is hosting a Healthcare Career Expo on April 8 from 3–7 p.m. at First Coast Technical College, connecting students and job seekers with local employers like AdventHealth, Baptist Health, and UF Health. More Info
FOOTNOTES
• Purple Olive owners launch Beach Bagels (now open)
• Pickle Factory St. Augustine opens March 6 in Uptown
• Adventure Landing property sells for $3.6 million
• Free Seeds at the Main Branch Library
Featured Event
Spring Beach Cleanup with Matanzas Riverkeeper
Mar 7 | 10am-12pm | 510 A1A Beach Blvd
Join Matanzas Riverkeeper and the City of St. Augustine Beach for a community cleanup along A1A Beach Blvd from Pier Park to A Street.
Multi-Day Events
St. Auggie Shorts Film Festival | Mar 6-7 | Flagler College | Info
Searle's Sack and Encampment | Mar 6-7 | Downtown | Info
Cirque de Paris | Mar 5-15 | St. Augustine Premium Outlets | Info
Thursday 5th
🎵 The Space Heaters | Prohibition Kitchen | 6-9pm
🎵 Evan Honer | Ponte Vedra Concert Hall | 7:30pm | Tickets
🎵 Rod Stewart | St. Augustine Amphitheatre | 7:30pm | SOLD OUT
🎵 Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band | Cafe Eleven | 8pm | Tickets
Friday 6th
First Friday Art Walk | Downtown | 5-9pm | Info
🎵 Esh x Schief | Prohibition Kitchen | 6-9pm
🎵 Blossomin’ Bone | Spinster Abbott’s | 7-10pm
Improvapalooza 2026 Night 1 | 3rd Space Improv | 8pm | Info
🎵 Selwyn Birchwood | Cafe Eleven | 8pm | Tickets
Saturday 7th
The Amp Farmers Market | St. Augustine Amphitheatre | 8:30am-12:30pm
Guided Exploration Hike | GTM Preserve | 9-11am | Info
Fort Mose Militia Muster & Training | Fort Mose | 9:30-11:30am | Info
Spring Beach Cleanup with Matanzas Riverkeeper | St. Augustine Beach | 10am | Info
Lance Family Farmers Market | World Golf Village | 11am-3pm | Info
The Minorcan Experience | Alcazar Room | 2-3pm | Info
PechaKucha Night | St. Augustine Amphitheatre | 6pm | Info
🎵 Bad Dog Mama | 6-9pm | Prohibition Kitchen
Improvapalooza 2026 Night 2 | 3rd Space Improv | 8pm | Info
Comedian Michael Palascak | Cafe Eleven | 8pm | Tickets
🎵 Jake Shimabukuro | Ponte Vedra Concert Hall | 8pm | Tickets
🎵 Trae Pierce & the T Stones | Prohibition Kitchen | 10pm-12am
Sunday 8th
Farmers Market at the Classic Car Museum | St. Augustine Shores | 10am-2pm
🎵 Jammy Buffett | Colonial Oak | 6-10pm | Tickets
🎵 Bret Michaels | St. Augustine Amphitheatre | 7pm | Tickets
🎵 Magnolia Boulevard | Cafe Eleven | 8pm | Tickets
Upcoming:
🎵 The Smiths (Robert) at Spinster Abbott’s | Mar 13 | Info
St. Augustine St. Patrick’s Parade | Mar 14 | Info
All Paws on Deck: Benefitting Swamp Haven / Hosted by Boat Drinks | Mar 15
St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival | Mar 21-22 | Info
Vilano Bridge 5k/10k | Mar 28 | Info
I follow three rules: Do the right thing, do the best you can, and always show people you care.
— Lou Holtz
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