The Horse and Buggy Pick Up at Mackinac Island
by Tim Burningham
Amelia Island is a very desirable location for many Europeans. Originally coming from the British Isles, my wife and I decided that this was the right place to drop our anchor. We soon found that there were actually quite a lot like-minded Europeans that shared some of the same common business and social interests as we did. So a small group of us started the European American Business Club. Now a year later the club is flourishing and we all believe that nurturing our European American connection is a good thing for Amelia Island and for the current European ‘infiltrators’. I have a personal vision of what this special corner of Florida could become over the next decade – a 2020 vision for European Americans. I hear of many groups and business leaders that are studying the long term development of this island. I hope they will consider the outsiders point of view which may be what is needed to influence and stimulate incumbent local politicians who just think about local interests. So let’s consider these ideas:
Attracting the right people – there is no doubt that this community has a deep pool of creative, broad minded people with a wealth of experience that can be drawn upon to envision an even better long lasting home for existing and future residents. We can become a caring community that nurtures our environment and cherishes our diversity…. not just a compound for the wealthy or potentially a depressed community falling into disrepair. We already have a rich blend of nationalities and cultures here. We need to attract not just vacationers and retirees but professionals, trades people, budding entrepreneurs and a few more Europeans and Globalists in the mix! If we attract the ‘right’ people with a similar vision for the island, good things can happen. They will demand improvements in education, medical services and facilities, transportation and a physical and technological infrastructure.
Stabilizing the property market – as we pull out of the gloom of the past few years and start removing all those For Sale signs, this area has the potential of becoming one of the most desirable pieces of real estate in the South East. The developers have to figure out how to allow the light commercial, port, tourist, retail and residential interests to co-exist. We have a selection of farsighted real estate champions with international aspirations, that understand what it will take to shake up this property market.
No motorized traffic on Mackinac Island;why not the same onAmelia Island
Reducing our dependence on the automobile – we could lead the way in providing a more clean and efficient means of getting around. Let’s start using our legs rather than sitting on our backsides! The whole historic district could become a pedestrian zone similar to what has been created in most historic districts in Europe. Wouldn’t it be great to walk to town on Saturday mornings with a shopping trolley, visit the market, chat with the neighbors, and have a pint at the pub just like we did in our villages back home! Let’s get people on their bicycles and the walking trails. Why not start thinking about a light rail system that connects a terminal and parking lot at the bridge with the historic district, looping the island down Fletcher to the Plantation, stopping at the airport and back to the bridge. Possibly collect a small toll for non residents, an annual road pass for residents and make sure the lumber truck drivers pay their fair share for beating up our roadways – the best means of traffic control – we shouldn’t pave paradise to put up more parking lots. The 50 year master plan should reflect the phasing out of today’s automobile.
Creating a boating community – we are surrounded by beautiful waterways and marine life. How do we encourage the responsible development of this natural resource and allow the development of a couple of world class marinas as a destination for cruisers, sailors and day trippers. With the right operators and charter companies we can attract visitors and their foreign currencies from as far away as Canada, South America and Europe. If you haven’t yet got the message on what these local waterways have to offer just talk to Captain McCarthy and take a river cruise to open your eyes.
Becoming an arts and cultural center – many great annual festivals are already flourishing such as the established shrimp and jazz fests. However new ventures have recently appeared inspired by Europeans such as the Blues Fest and Search Amelia fueled by Dutch blood, the Petanque America Tournament fueled by Belgian sweat, and skydiving fueled by a flying Welshman. We don’t have to visit too many restaurants in town to find good European cuisine and great European chefs. These events and locales attract the types of visitors that we want and should embrace – art lovers, music lovers, car enthusiasts, writer and readers, film makers and movier goers. The ultimate catalyst for concert goers would be the creation of an intimate, world class concert hall that would seat audience of up to 15,000. What a coupe that would be for Amelia Island.
If you share this type of outlook for our wonderful community come join us for a glass of French wine at our next monthly meeting on March 9th at the Beach Club and hear from our airport manager about what is in store for the local airport – they may not be ready to expand the runways to accept new Concord flights from London’s Heathrow Airport, but who knows what’s on the agenda! You may actually think we are all a bunch of dreamers, but then realize what John Lennon was thinking when he wrote “Imagine”. So let’s ‘imagine’ Amelia’s dream together.
by Tim Burningham – EABC
