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American Beach Neighborhood Planning
Updated Version of Master Plan Presentation
2021.08.14 American Beach Presentation
American Beach is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Since 2018, Nassau County Planning staff have been working closely with the American Beach community to help preserve the unique character of the community.
American Beach, located on the south end of Amelia Island in Nassau County, Florida, has the distinction of being one of the few remaining beach resort communities in the nation developed specifically by and for African-Americans. Developed by the Afro-American Life Insurance Company in 1935, American Beach was until the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act one of the few beaches in the Southeast available to African-Americans. Even with the increased availability of beach resort opportunities for African-Americans, American Beach continued to survive during the 1960’s and 70’s as a distinctive beach community composed predominately of single family beach cottages. (Source: Historic Building Survey of American Beach, 1998)
Chronology of Recent Community Planning Efforts
2021
MASTER PLAN FUNDED
During their 2/17/2021 meeting the Board of County Commissioners approved funding for the American Beach Heritage Master Plan (name subject to change). The Plan has the following components:
- Identify Context (boundaries, zoning, history & culture, population & demographics, natural environment, previous studies)
- Determine Community Needs (walking tours, advisory committee workshops, stakeholder interviews, public listening sessions, community survey)
- Analyze Public Realm (historic sites, existing/proposed parks, conservation areas), streets, sidewalks, and trails
- Determine long-range Public Realm Vision (guiding principles, trends, best practices, visioning workshops)
The County has retained a talented team of consultants for this effort including Dr. David Barth, a nationally known parks planner, Ennis Davis, planner and creator of the Jaxon, and Carlos Perez, an Atlanta-based urban designer. The kick-off for this effort was held on April 10, 2021 at the big tent in Burney Park, at 9 AM.
MASTER PLAN WORKSHOPS
- American Beach Community Meeting - Visual Preference Survey 08.14.2021
- American Beach Community Meeting - Voting on Design Alternatives 10.02.2021
- American Beach Community Meeting - Presentation of Voting Results 11.13.2021
- American Beach Community Meeting Presentation 04.10.2021
- American Beach Community Meeting presentation 2.27.2021
2020
- The following is a video from the October 24, 2020 community meeting:
- The following was presented at the October 24, 2020 community meeting:
- The following was presented at the September 19, 2020 community meeting:
- The following documents relate to the September 19, 2020 community meeting:
- Presentation from 7/25/20 meeting: SRF Facilities Plan and Special District Update
- Presentation from 6/27/2020 meeting: Well & Septic Tank Phase Out
- Presentation from 1/11/2020 meeting sharing community survey results and potential next steps.
- Handout: Master Plan, Conservation District, and Historic District Examples
- Draft for Discussion: American Beach Zoning Districts Update
- CRA Process and Timeline
- Notice Regarding Household Income Survey (For more information, contact the County Manager’s office at (904) 530-6100.)
2019
- View Community Redevelopment Area informational handouts presented at the August 24, 2019 community meeting.
- Local Government Administration
- Planning 101
- County Budget Basics
- Visit the County Facebook page and click here for the link to watch streaming County meetings.
- Information on fire protection in American Beach from the Nassau County Fire Chief.
- View presentation from the November 16, 2019 Community Meeting
2018
- View a presentation on potential planning strategies for the neighborhood. (June 2018)
- View a presentation made to the Board of County Commissioners on exploring a Community Redevelopment Area in American Beach. The BOCC directed PEO staff to work on exploring this possibility at their 9/19/2018 meeting.
Evans Rendezvous
Planning staff is working with members of the community, as well as the County Facilities Department, on future revitalization plans for the Evans Rendezvous.
American Beach became popular with Jacksonville-area residents, but thousands of people from across the Southeast and country visited American Beach. Notable visitors included Mary McLeod Bethune, Cab Calloway, James Brown, Ray Charles, and Zora Neale Hurston. As the community grew, it included homes, rental cabins, small motels, and affiliated commercial sites. One of the most popular and enduring commercial buildings was the Evans Rendezvous, an oceanfront restaurant, bar, and entertainment venue. Says Marsha Dean Phelts, author of The American Beach Book of Homes, “To say Evans' Rendezvous was the most frequented spot on American Beach understates its popularity and impact on this resort community.” Remembered by visitors as the "heartbeat and synergy" of the community, the Evans’ was a 200-seat establishment, serving food and drinks and home to musical entertainment and dancing. Started in 1948 by Willie Evans, Sr., the Rendezvous operated continuously until 2000, when it closed.
In 2004, with assistance from the Trust for Public Land and the Florida Communities Trust, Nassau County obtained ownership of the Rendezvous site for purposes of creating an American Beach Historical Park. Since 2004, initial restoration work has been completed on the structure. After this initial rehabilitation work was completed, no further plans were put in place to continue the project.
A management plan for the property was executed in 2005 that restricts the uses of the site. Specifically, the plan requires continued public access to the beach, protection of the beach dunes, use of Evans for public interpretation, recreation and social event uses, focus on preservation and interpretation of the American Beach National Historic District, and restoration of native vegetation.