- April 26, 2024
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John Seibel, founder of Heritage Crossroads — the historic byways nonprofit — addressed the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners Aug. 1. He wants a Flagler tourist center to be higher on the priority list to be submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation.
The county submits a list to FDOT annually for consideration on its funding list. According to County Administrator Craig Coffey, “Last year, we got the whopping total of $0.”
“What we’re trying to do is improve tourism,” Seibel told the board. “Tourists bring residents. Tourists bring customers.”
The Heritage Crossroads Interpretive Center was currently ranked at No. 10 on the county’s list. Seibel wanted it higher, ideally in the top 5.
“We are full of assets that nobody knows about,” he said. “With the fall of the housing industry, I think it’s a lot more important than it was five years ago.”
Last year, Seibel made the same request, but priced the project at more than $1 million. This year, he claimed only $150,000 was needed to get the center off the ground.
“I beg you to please, please consider raising this on the list,” he told the board. “The whole county would benefit from this structure.”
The board approved its current list without changes — with a U.S. 1 trailhead for Lehigh Trail at No. 1 and pedestrian/bike paths on Seminole Woods Blvd. at No. 2 —by a vote of 3-2.
George Hanns and Nate McLaughlin opposed the motion, in support of Heritage Crossroad’s proposed center.
