- April 23, 2026
Greg Feldman is a candidate for Flagler County commission District 2
I recently attended a Board of County Commissioners workshop where several issues were discussed, including the preservation of Old Brick Road, also known as Old Dixie Highway, constructed in the early 1900s.
The roadway was part of a larger network connecting the Midwest, including Illinois and Michigan, to South Florida and helped usher in the early era of tourism. For its time, it was considered a significant engineering achievement. Today, Old Brick Road is recognized by the state as a protected cultural resource.
That resource is now under pressure from development approved by the city of Palm Coast. While these long-standing plans present real challenges to historic preservation, they are not insurmountable. To their credit, the commission appears committed to preserving as much of the roadway as possible, and the developer has indicated a willingness, at least at this stage, to work with the county toward that goal.
We are now facing a second challenge to Flagler County’s history. Reports indicate the ruins of the Hewitt Sawmill site, built in the 1700s, may have been significantly damaged during the ongoing development of Sawmill Estates. The full extent of that damage remains unclear, but there is still an opportunity to prevent further loss. Ideally, the developer will work with local historians to protect what remains and incorporate the site as a meaningful community asset. Few places can offer residents the opportunity to live alongside and walk through a tangible piece of colonial-era history. This one can.
Local historians, as well as families who have lived here for generations, understand better than most what has already been lost. It is well documented that ITT Corporation bulldozed the remains of St. Joseph’s Plantation near Old Kings Road and Palm Coast Parkway. Once these resources are destroyed, they are gone forever.
Property rights have been a cornerstone of this country since the adoption of the United States Constitution, and they must be respected. But respect for property rights and preservation of history are not mutually exclusive. We can, and should, do both.
The decisions made today will shape what remains tomorrow. Once history is lost, it cannot be replaced. Preserving it is not an obstacle to progress; it is a mutually beneficial commitment to Flagler County’s heritage and future.
