ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — St. Johns County has come out on top when it comes the final recommendation for the site of the state’s Black history museum.
The decision came Friday from a statewide panel.
"What a relief, at the end of it," St. Johns County Administrator Joy Andrews said. She helped lead the effort to snag the museum which is expected to be a boost to tourism.
St. Johns County was one of eight locations across the state vying for the project. The competition was stiff, especially from Eatonville in Orange County. It's the home of treasured African American author Zora Neale Hurston. Eatonville supporters argued their location was more centrally located and more easily accessible.
However, Friday, in a 6 – 1 vote, the Florida Black History Museum Task Force chose to recommend St. Johns County as the site for the museum. History experts and politicians are on the task force.
"Of course, no one knows what the price tag will be," Andrews said.
The St. Johns County site is currently owned by Florida Memorial University in south Florida. The HBCU has agreed to provide 17 acres which is little less than three miles west of downtown St. Augustine on County Road 214, just past Holmes Boulevard. The land was the former home of the school until segregationists ran the college out of town in the 1960s.
"What role each of the three parties –- the university, the county, and the state -- is going to play will be determined on how the state will like to structure this facility," Andrews explained.
She said the state, county, and private donors will pay for construction.
And it’s not a done deal yet. While St. Johns County has won the coveted recommendation for the Florida Black History Museum, Andrews said the legislature and governor have to sign off on it.
She believes they will.
Andrews said, "That’s our expectation and hope!"