Renovating historic buildings and houses in St. Augustine is a time consuming process, which is one of the reasons why it is difficult to get renovations done. The state the economy is in now doesn’t help to speed up the process either. According to Billy Triay, the property management supervisor of Heritage Tourism, when renovating a building you have to put all the work and time into it and you can not take weeks off or months in between. Otherwise, you will have to start the process over again. You have to get on it and stay on it.
Triay would love to get some more renovations done before St. Augustine’s 450th Celebration, but there is a need for funding. Sponsors are always an option, but people are not always fond of donating to the government. Maggie Studwell and I went on a tour around town with Billy Triay to learn about the history and renovations of the city-owned buildings and about the difficulties that are involved in the process.
The De Mesa/Sanchez House is an example of a successful First Spanish Period renovation. Triay said this was the biggest restoration project the city has seen. The house finished restoration in 1974.
One of Triay's major concerns is attracting the younger generation to St. Augustine. The Spanish Quarter is one of the city's biggest problem areas due to its neglect and its decaying area. The buildings now run at a annual deficit of $250,000, partially, Triay says, due to the lack of innovative programs for tourists.
Triay looks at one of the buildings of the Colonial Spanish Quarter. Because the building is constructed with wood, it is more susceptible to damage from weather. The lack of glass windows allows water to seep inside.
These houses were built in the late 1800s. There are signs of Greek architecture, but there is not much proof to back this up. The exterior of these houses are in need of some work and in this case the tenants are responsible for the renovations.
The Watson House is on the list of top priorities when it comes to renovations. Built in 1968, this house is in need of some serious work. It is stable right now, but for only so long. It is a priority because tenants are renting out the house and the house needs to be in a suitable condition to keep them safe and pleased. It will also be a financial loss for the city if the house is not renovated soon because they will not be able to rent the house out.
A closer look at the deteriorating conditions of the Watson House. Shingles are falling off, paint is chipping and wood is rotting.
Billy Triay shows us how hollow the foundation of the Watson House is and how much work the balcony on the house needs.
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