Annie Lytle School Purchased

Timkin · January 21, 2011, 06:44:07 PM

Quote from: JaxNative68 on January 20, 2011, 12:37:06 PM
I still think it would make a great artist studio/loft building. similar to the upper level of city market in savannah or the torpedo factory in alexandria.

Could not agree more. There are endless possibilities as to what it could be used for, and I would be agreeable with (just about) ANYTHING at this point ,so long as the structure remained in it's present footprint and was not significantly altered.

In the present situation (one group owning the land ,other than what the school is on,and another owning the school itself and the land beneath it) this is probably , from a standpoint of ever finding a potential investor/developer the worst possible thing that could have ever happened, short of the building finally being demolished, which clearly would make some people, VERY happy, given the statements made.

Timkin · February 25, 2011, 08:13:56 PM

Quote from: Ocklawaha on January 17, 2011, 12:40:19 PM
Might be that a sympathetic attorney or two on this site would be willing to take on the formation of a citizens preservation group and investigate the monkey business going on behind the scenes. If laws have been violated better to file on them now rather then waiting for the damn building to fall down or be torn down.

OCKLAWAHA

If there is a sympathetic Attorney or two on this site who can do something....I beg of you...I implore you to please do so... It is only my opinion , but I think I am right, that these events were done deliberately , so as to finally be rid of the building... It makes NO SENSE at all for a company to buy a commercial property on a tax-sale and DO NOTHING WITH IT.... NOT EVEN MARKET it , unless of course , SOMEONE PAID THEM TO DO IT .

If the shoe fits , wear it

ChriswUfGator · April 26, 2011, 12:59:39 PM

Quote from: Springfielder on January 19, 2011, 08:38:20 AM
Both the firehouse and the school are special, as they're both historic...both have had many of us fighting to save them. This just happens to be a thread about saving the school, just as I'm sure there's one about saving the firehouse.

The school building itself is stable, even with the damage to the interior, the actual structure is sound. The problem is, the those who have purchased the property have failed to make good on what they had said were their intentions...some may have fallen victim to the down slide of the market, some just simply didn't have the financial support and some just flat out not truthful as to their intent; of which, is now the case.

There are many options as to what an investor could do with the structure, however, it would of course, as with any large structures, require a great deal of financing. One of the down sides of the structure is the location, which is off the beaten path and sits under the flyover for the bridge...which does not make it look inviting to many. Still, as I said, there's many options as to what it could become, to those with money and vision.

+1

It needs a new roof and a whoooooooooooooooooooooooole lot of graffiti cleanup, but the structure is sound.

Timkin · April 26, 2011, 01:04:32 PM

I wonder how to get spray paint off of 94 year old brick ? or would it just be easier to paint it?

Dog Walker · April 26, 2011, 04:26:41 PM

It can be taken off, but it's time consuming and expensive. Then, because the cleaned areas are CLEAN, the rest of the brick has to be cleaned to match. Carefully!

Timkin · April 26, 2011, 05:06:57 PM

I was wondering what the process would be , DW.. I have a pressure washer if that would be a means to do it.. problem is getting a water source. or if that isn't a viable option ,what do you suggest? perhaps strypeeze? The out door graffiti is getting out of hand on it , saying nothing at all for the inside..

I did contact JSO about kids "camping" there this weekend. My understanding is they were promptly removed , even from the basement where they thought they could "hide" from police.

Dog Walker · April 26, 2011, 05:18:33 PM

Good for you, Tim! Hope they do more than escort them off the property.

Straight pressure washer will erode old brick and blast out the mortar. There are a couple of citrene based solvents that can be applied, scrubbed, then low pressure rinsed with a pressure washer. It takes several passes to get all of the paint out of the pores of the old brick. High fired brick doesn't absorb the paint so much and is easier. Concrete can be treated the same way, but it is usually easier to just paint it a matching color. All of out overpasses and expressway columns are painted anyway.

Timkin · April 26, 2011, 06:06:18 PM

Well..... Looks like its getting time to spruce the place up again.. We all know the owner isn't going to bother.. Am going to check with Code Enforcement to make sure they have no objection.

Dog Walker · April 26, 2011, 06:08:54 PM

Tim, I have seen contractors on the site painting out graffiti and re-securing the school. I think that the City has taken over these chores from the owners and is just adding up the costs to the liens on the building.

The graffiti on the columns and around the back has been painted out, but the usual window has been pried open again.

JaxNative68 · May 03, 2011, 09:20:09 AM

Quote from: Timkin on April 26, 2011, 05:06:57 PM
I was wondering what the process would be , DW.. I have a pressure washer if that would be a means to do it.. problem is getting a water source. or if that isn't a viable option ,what do you suggest? perhaps strypeeze? The out door graffiti is getting out of hand on it , saying nothing at all for the inside..

I did contact JSO about kids "camping" there this weekend. My understanding is they were promptly removed , even from the basement where they thought they could "hide" from police.

Pressure washers and harsh chemicals are very bad for historic brick structures. Very mild soaps, slow water drips and soft brushes are the best, but expensive due to being very labor intensive.

http:/www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps

JaxNative68 · May 03, 2011, 09:21:44 AM

sorry the web site should have read:

http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/briefs/brief06.htm

Noone · January 09, 2014, 08:40:42 AM

Any update on the landlocked PS4?

Dog Walker · January 09, 2014, 09:52:14 AM

A dedicated group of volunteers led by Patsy has worked on Saturdays for months and has cleared out almost all of the debris in the upstairs classrooms, halls and stairs. They have moved tons of stuff to the curb by hand, one bucket load at a time. Just incredible dedication.

A graffiti vandal was arrested inside the building while in the act of spraying a tag on the wall of the auditorium last Friday. A JSO officer doing a routine check of the building in the middle of the day found him up a ladder. He spent the night in jail and it was his birthday. JSO is checking the building almost everyday.

Timkin · July 24, 2018, 11:21:56 PM

You can follow the progress of the Annie Lytle Preservation Group on their website. www.savepublicschoolnumber4.com

While I am not involved with the group presently I won't say never again. In over 12 years we have done some serious sprucing up to the Annie Lytle building and grounds.. The majority of the building is cleaned out . The base wall around the building, once covered with graffitti has been painted and cleaned up.. We have a regular security group on site nightly... Interestingly the amount of vandaliism and tagging has become minimal thanks to the security team and their efforts. Also, countless volunteers who have come along which is probably the most heartening part of the seed, Dog Walker and I planted years ago when we began cleaning it up.. It also has an updated owner who lives locally but so far has not made any formal plans for the school..

We continue to have hope for its future.