I invite everyone to attend what will be an incredible conclusion of Historic Preservation Month this Friday, May 30th, 5-8pm at the Flagler Center in Downtown Stuart. By the wonderful hand of fate, I will be moderating this Stuart Mainstreet event right here in my childhood city, and city of my father and grandparents starting in 1952. I must mention that my mother has written a well known coffee table history book on Stuart, “Stuart on the St Lucie.”
The event will have three different sections, but I will speak generally here.
Did you know that Downtown Stuart was once, in the 1970s and 80s, rat infested and mostly boarded up? Did you know Stuart was absolutely on the verge of being flattened by a wrecking ball? Yes it was, until something really special occurred. A grassroots effort of citizens and business people along with political leadership came together and fought to restore crumbling Stuart and give it new life. Today Downtown Stuart is the gem of Martin County.
The name of the program I’ll be moderating is Saving Stuart: Then & Now, Telling the Story of Downtown Stuart’s Revitalization.The keynote speaker will be world-renowned architect, ANDRES DUANY with business partner and wife, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk. Duany was Stuart’s visionary or better said, its guardian angel. How this all came together, a little town like Stuart, working with famous Andres Duany is a story you won’t want to miss!
The panel will include:
Joan Jefferson- Joan is the key political factor, former City of Stuart of mayor and wife of architect Peter Jefferson. The couple left busy Ft. Lauderdale and moved to Stuart eventually setting up house and work in the downtown Post Office Arcade putting their “money where their mouth is” and inspiring a sea change. Today you’ll notice Joan Jefferson Way named in her honor at the foot of the Roosevelt Bridge.
Ann MacMillan– who with her former husband, Dr. David MacMillan, invested financially in the Post Office Arcade with the Jeffersons and opened the “Arcade Bookstore” bringing investment, business, and people to the run-down Downtown. Ann is a cornerstone.
Nancy Smith– Stuart News reporter when the editor was beloved Tom Weber. In this pre-social media or internet era, The Stuart News was the lifeblood of the community and kept the dream of a revitalized downtown alive and growing.
Julie Preast -Business owner/Pippette children’s clothing and future historian extraordinaire documenting how people fought for Duany’s plan and Confusion Corner did not get mowed down by FDOT’s new Roosevelt Bridge; the Lyric Theater was saved by unlikely hero, Roy Laycock; Dancin’ in the Streets was a blast and raised money for decades: and the Old County Courthouse, also on the verge of destruction, did not fall but was restored revealing its beautiful art deco heritage.
Jimmy Dirks– Stuart Stained Glass owner and artistic inspiration, an incredible person traveling to Tallahassee many times. Jimmy saw it all!
Dan Hudson– Manager, City of Stuart, during a later era of implementation as it takes many years for things to come together. Dan has tremendous understanding like a bridge from past to present.
Ted Astolphi –CEO of the Economic Council, will tell stories of the importance of the Business Development Board’s influence as well as the critical step of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, and Dan Cary, getting Duany to Stuart in the first place. Ted has great understanding of the business community’s role and like me a MCHS Class of ’82 graduate!
Last, award winning author Blake Fontenay, will read excerpts from his book SAVING STUART FLORIDA, REBUILDING AMERICAN”S HAPPIEST SEASIDE TOWN. This book reveals things I never knew! Just fantastically written. There will be a question and answer period.
Please see the above flyer for details about reserving your seat; it is expected to be a sell out and I will leave you with some newspaper excerpts Julie Priest unearthed.
August 24, 1988 Stuart News
