Is Springfield Regressing??

[ChriswUfGator]

A vintage cartoon from Robespierre's days. I see some striking resemblances...

[sheclown]

There are many reasons Main Street is a waste land.  Businesses on Main Street paid dearly for the beautiful road we have now. Construction, bad local politics, hostility, mismanaged grants...all of it has played a role. 

The economy and construction were factors that we could do nothing about.  The others are within our control.  Now is the time to do the things we can.

[peestandingup]

There are many reasons Main Street is a waste land.  Businesses on Main Street paid dearly for the beautiful road we have now. Construction, bad local politics, hostility, mismanaged grants...all of it has played a role. 

The economy and construction were factors that we could do nothing about.  The others are within our control.  Now is the time to do the things we can.

Yeah, but did the hostility & neighborhood politics scare off potential business for good?? I guess there's no way to really answer that question & only time will tell, but I imagine it's gonna be a rough road ahead.

Riverside/5 Points I noticed has seen a lot of business closings lately & empty storefronts. Not to the degree of Main, but it still makes you wonder if that area (an area that's consider to have "made it" & one that's attractive for new businesses) is having trouble, it's probably not a good sign for an up & coming business district like Main.

But then again, 5 Points has always had a big turnover rate. At least what I've noticed.

[iloveionia]

I don't personally think "business has been scared off for good."  BUT, there will be challenges.  Folks need to be "allowed" to open up shop for whatever they wish.  We need folks to take a chance on Springfield, despite all the bad rap in regards to Main Street and Commercial "development."  We do need something aggressive to get it open and rolling.  People need to be helped and supported.  Period. Do I think it's a big deal?  No. SPAR can't do it, they've proven that and more.  A concerned group of residents and businesses and friends need to take it on.

[vicupstate]

Can someone give 2,3 or more examples of businesses that were actively discouraged by SPAR from opening, other than the Car Wash? 

[sheclown]

The thrift store was trashed on the forums:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,5752.0.html

and code enforcement was called on us (by SPAR according to code enforcement) because we had a sandwich board out on the sidewalk.

[thelakelander]

I remember for a while, there was a push to demolish the Park View Inn, despite the owner's attempts over the years to renovate it.  Fortunately, it now appears that everyone is backing the latest renovation effort.

[ChriswUfGator]

They boycotted the new thrift store on Main, do a search for the 30 page thread on that one to see SPAR's attitude at its worst. They all posted here. They boycotted the BP station and tried to have it shut down because the manager let someone put a "rooming house" flyer up. They ran off the proposed grocery store across from old Boomtown (the pink building) by submarining them with COJ complaints right before their opening. Cost those folks their life savings. They have tried to have Strider's sober house shut down for 7 years running, with code call in campaigns. I think the guy had a code inspection every 2 weeks for years and they still kept calling BS complaints in.

I can go indefinitely with this, there are probably a hundred examples, and they did it to me personally as well. They had a dozen+ of my properties condemned in 2 days and the tenants kicked out, by looking up my name on the tax rolls and calling in dozens of bogus complaints. My crime? I had put up a sign on one of my buildings advertising rooms for rent, which were actually in my (legal) rooming house off McDuff (not even in Springfield). They never called to ask, though. They secretly lobbied to get Stephen Dare's commercial building demolished right before its redevelopment into stores and loft space started.

You asked for a handful of examples, so there you go. When you get a group of 90 year olds together and give them telephones, an unlimited gin supply, and nothing better to do with their time, it's amazing how dangerous that group can be to everyone else's livelihood. Lol, even COJ wasn't immune from the BS, right before DeSpain's departure they were trying to have Joel McEachin (COJ's historic preservation director) fired because he wouldn't approve the demolition of all the historic structures SPAR wanted demolished, since there was nothing structurally wrong with them. It was actually those emails that wound up forcing DeSpain out.

[ChriswUfGator]

I remember for a while, there was a push to demolish the Park View Inn, despite the owner's attempts over the years to renovate it.  Fortunately, it now appears that everyone is backing the latest renovation effort.

Of course they switched sides, since they're probably planning on taking credit for it once its done...

[letters and numbers]

you know i dont know. I mean im serious about opneing a guitar shop and they were very supportive and offered business counseling and information on tax incentives and grants. I met the owners of Sweet petes and they had nothing nice things to say about thier help too. they said a new business was moving in their downstairs area too because I mentioned the construction on the first floor. so I dont get it? i mean it seems to me like they want to help and they talked to me for a while about what things they are planning and can offer. maybe it was just the times? i mkean a few years ago having a starbucks and panera was a real possibility the way the markets were booming. now its not and maybe that chnaged things. i dont know. really i dont know about all of that stuff you mentioned but ive been pleased with them so far. geez the new director there even called 2 building owners for me to see about availability and rent. maybe the old director just had bad ideas about commerical. im supposed to stop by  later in the week to get all that tax information and ill get the scoop for you guys. investgative reporter!

[ChriswUfGator]

Well they recently had a change in the executive director position, when the old one got busted tearing down the historic properties she was supposed to be protecting. Since then I think everyone is in "wait and see" mode. I have to say it's been business as usual so far, with that zoning appeal they filed as a last ditch effort to try and stop the car wash from reopening. Doesn't speak to much of a new leaf to me. But if you're finding them helpful, then I'm glad it's working out for you. You must be an upper middle class white guy/gal judging by SPAR's level of helpfulness.

[strider]

SPAR Council itself is not really to blame as much as it is both the past ED and many of the board members, past and present, and primarily the membership that supports them, you need to worry about.  The small group that is within Springfield that is part of SPAR Council that hinders this area much more than it helps. It is their ideas of what Springfield should or should not be that is the issue. It is that group that Stephen and the rest of us speak of; it is that they work through SPAR Council that ends up making SPAR Council the bad guy here.

And Stephen, you missed an important business that has seen the boycotts in action.  Three Layers.  From the owner's mouth to our ears at a SAMBA meeting.  It was not stated as SPAR Council, but this small group that works through SPAR Council that he spoke of.

However, all that being said, SPAR Council gets a grant from LISC to do the commercial Corridor work and I have to say that very little value has been gained from their efforts to date.  I believe it is the influence of that small group, which indeed does include some of the board members.  Until that changes, we will struggle.  Until the organization embraces all of the existing and potential business, include many they do not like, we will continue to struggle  Until the grant money from LISC is used for all of Springfield's benefit, not just a few favored businesses, we will continue to struggle.

[Springfield Chicken]

As a relative newcomer to Springfield (almost a year) I've heard a lot about the past actions of SPAR.  But what I've seen since I've been here is mostly that it's trying to do good things for the neighborhood.  Is it perfect?  Nope, but what is?  We just became members last month.  I figure the more people who have a voice in what goes on, the better.  I'm hopeful that in 2011 we see positive results from all areas of the community - the old groups and the newer ones like Preservation SOS as well.  We all want the end result to be positive growth that benefits the residents and businesses in the community, lower crime, more preservation, etc.  I believe it will happen!

[iloveionia]

Letters:
I love the idea of a guitar shop.  Kudos. 
I also am pleased to hear that SPAR is supporting your efforts.  They should be and I am glad for that.
I think as Gator said many of us are just in a "sit and wait" position.  See what they do, if indeed they do/have turned a new leaf. 
And yes Chicken is right, we all want the end result to be beneficial and positive for Springfield.
Main Street needs to be a Main Street pronto.  Welcome businesses, all of them.  Everyone. 

[mySpringfield]

Main Street needs to be a Main Street pronto.  Welcome businesses, all of them.  Everyone. 

Agreed.