Florida Trust's Eleven Most Endangered Historic Sites for 2008
The sites are not ranked in any particular order.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, Fort Lauderdale - American artist Frederic Clay Bartlett designed and built Bonnet House in the 1920s as a winter retreat for the Birch Bartlett families. His wife Evelyn Fortune Bartlett was also an artist. The home is the only home and studio of two recognized American artists with original furnishings that is open to the public. Bonnet House is a unique Florida treasure and its 35 acres of pristine barrier island ecosystem figure prominently in the City of Fort. Lauderdale's Comprehensive Plan. In the past, inappropriate developments that would negatively impact Bonnet House were rejected by the City’s governing agencies, but that is beginning to change. An astonishingly high amount of intense, intrusive development is advancing closer and closer to Bonnet House, demonstrating the need for stronger protection of the historic site.
Riverview High School, Sarasota – Designed by architect Paul Rudolph in 1957, this jewel of modern architecture characterizes the elements of design that came to be known as the nationally-acclaimed Sarasota School of Architecture. Through strong community opposition and assistance from the Sarasota Architectural Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and other interested professionals, a plan was created for a Music Quadrangle that would build on Riverview’s reputation as a music demonstration school and save the historic Paul Rudolph building. The School Board met in June and made a decision to demolish the school.
Dr. Henry Nehrling’s Palm Cottage Gardens, Gotha - Palm Cottage Gardens, one of Florida’s first tourist attractions, was the home and working gardens of noted horticulturalist Dr. Henry Nehrling. Over the years the property has changed owners and sections were sold. That, coupled with increased development, has diminished the 40-acre garden so that only 6 acres of the original homestead remain. The property is currently listed for sale and at risk of being razed for an estate home. The Henry Nehrling Society has a contract to purchase the property but has a daunting task of raising the necessary funds by September 2009.
Hialeah Park Race Course, Hialeah - This nationally significant site is the oldest and widest continuously operating turf horse racing track in the United States. The park marks the beginning of the City of Hialeah, and represents a symbolic resting place for the champion thoroughbreds that raced there. The owner has withdrawn plans for the proposed development but that doesn’t mean that future development plans will not be submitted.
Coconut Grove Playhouse, Coconut Grove - The playhouse has been a cultural centerpiece for the Grove since it was built in 1924, but is not protected by local designation. Recent financial issues and a threat to the historic landmark designation resulted in this listing. A re-building plan is being developed that would bring together the playhouse, a local college or university, and a commercial developer. That plan calls for income-producing development on the existing parking lot. For now, plans have the theater retaining its historic façade. There is still potential for insensitive design or adverse effects on the historic theater.
Model Land Company, Saint Augustine - The Model Land Company Historic District is 20 blocks of 1839-1930 Frame Vernacular and various Revival style structures, located at an important entry point to the city. This district includes the Hotel Ponce de Leon (Flagler College) and the Grace Methodist Church. The residential neighborhood within this historic district developed mainly during the Flagler era. The threat to the Model Land Company district is proposed demolition of 7 houses and a potential zoning change to allow new construction of a hotel.
Great Southern Hotel, Hollywood – The hotel is one of only two remaining commercial buildings that were built by founder and developer of Hollywood, Joseph Young. The hotel still sits vacant and in a state of decline. The Friends of the Great Southern had appealed the dismissal of the writ of certiorari against the City of Hollywood challenging the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness for partial demolition of the hotel. Unfortunately, that appeal was unsuccessful and the certificate stands. On a related issue, the City of Hollywood voted to allow the demolition of the neighboring Art Deco Mach property through the use of Eminent Domain. The Mach family is planning to appeal this ruling.
Boynton High School/Mangrove Park School - Noted architect William Manly King designed the Boynton High School as an additional school for the area. This 1927 building was constructed in the Mediterranean Revival style and incorporates elements of Art Deco. The school was used as a school and community center until 1994, and then transferred to the City. Since that time, the building has stood vacant and has been slowly deteriorating. Development pressure, poor maintenance, and the current economic conditions all factor into the increasing threat of demolition to the school building.
Stranahan Trading Post and Camp Site, Fort Lauderdale – The site, located next to the Stranahan House in Fort Lauderdale, was the first point of contact where the Seminole Indians and other travelers gathered to exchange goods and services. In October, the City Commission voted to allow the development of a 42-story condominium on the site.
Chert Structures in University of Florida Related Neighborhoods, Gainesville - The Gainesville area is home to a distinctive vernacular architecture constructed with chert - a local fieldstone. These chert structures are unique in construction and represent the skill of local craftsmen. Development pressure and re-development plans have taken their toll on the chert structures, most evidently in the five neighborhoods surrounding the University of Florida: College Park, Hibiscus Park, Golfview Estates, University Heights North, University Heights South. If protections aren’t enacting to save these structures soon, we may lose these unique historic resources.
Bob White Citrus Packing House & Strawn Sawmill National Register Historic Districts, DeLeon Springs - Historic sites illustrating Florida’s citrus industry are disappearing and only a handful of existing historic citrus packing houses remain in Florida and California. The Strawn Sawmill and Citrus Packing House were developed under supervision of Theodore Strawn, an internationally-known orange cultivator. The 15 historic structures located in these historic districts are threatened by vacancy, lack of financial resources for their preservation, and proposed demolition. A new Heritage Corridor was created that encompasses the Bob White site. The site is not completely out of danger but it is moving in the right direction.
Nomination Form for the 2009 Most Endangered Program will be available Fall of 2008.