Changes coming to North Front Street: demos approved for icehouse, tank farm

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

August 6, 2018 10:00 a.m.

Historic District Council Special Meeting, August 1, 2018

Icehouse located in area bordered in red.

During their Special Meeting on August 1, 2018, the Fernandina Beach Historic District Council (HDC) unanimously approved two demolition applications for what some have considered waterfront fixtures along the riverfront: the old ice house and the tank farm.  The address for both is 231 N. Front Street, even though the items are located opposite each other along the roadway.  Although neither structure is located in the Historic District, both lie within the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), meaning that the HDC must approve demolitions within that area.

Icehouse at 231 N. Front Street

The icehouse, which was built in 1983 to support the shrimping industry, has been decommissioned for several years; the metal warehouse and tank farm date to at least 1985. Hall Investments owns the icehouse, and Florida Petroleum owns the tank farm and associated buildings.

Tank farm located in red bordered area south of Port warehouses.

Florida Petroleum tank farm and warehouse

The HDC received assurances that all EPA requirements have been met for the removal of the petroleum storage tanks.

No future plans for the sites were presented.