ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — UPDATE - Both the City of St. Augustine and Mike Rubin with one of the marina businesses say the city and restaurant haven't come to an agreement on the docks yet -- but the city has approved the restaurant's vested rights. In other words the restaurant will get to operate without the city interfering in who owns the property. They don't have to pay an impact fee or provide parking, as they haven't provided parking in the past. This is another step in finally getting the project back on track for the new restaurant.
ORIGINAL STORY - A new restaurant is still in the works in downtown St. Augustine where the old dilapidated Santa Maria restaurant sits near the marina.
The building sat empty for years over a disagreement on where to build docks that would be added to the restaurant.
The city of St. Augustine and the restaurant owners are working on a solution so the White family can finally begin building their new restaurant
On Monday, the city held a meeting to discuss a solution that both the city and restaurant owners could agree on and a solution that wouldn't impact any of the commercial businesses nearby in the marina.
The white family owns the Santa Maria and the two businesses across the street, O.C. White's Seafood and Spirits and the White Room Wedding Venue.
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Mike Rubin is one of the captains who works at the Pirate Ship Black Raven in the Marina.
Rubin says he's all for a new restaurant as long as his ships can get in and out of the dock.
"Safety is an issue when this boat goes out. It goes very close to the front of the Santa Maria. If there's an outgoing tide and a northeast wind then it's very dangerous," Rubin said.
Action News Jax will be following this story; we'll update this report as soon as the city and the restaurant owners come to an agreement.
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Cox Media Group
