"Emergency Demolition"

[sheclown]

It's coming down right now.

[ChriswUfGator]

Unfuckingbelievable.

Why do people insist on moving into a historic district if they want to behave this way?

[fieldafm]

B/c they're given an environment that's extremely economically feasible to do such things.

Imagine what this city could be if we gave small businesses the same freedom to operate in the manner we let individuals wantonly destroy the historic fabric of our community?

Instead, we let whoever wants to tear stuff down a key to a bulldozer and a tank of gas... and hassle small business owners downtown about a) sandwich boards b) outdoor seating c) permits d) parking tickets levied on their customers ,etc.

[Bativac]

So according to the City of Jacksonville website, this home was built in 1916? Making it 95 years old? That's older than my grandmother. What a shame.

For all the efforts of the concerned residents, it looks like this area is going to become a showcase for a few well preserved and restored historic homes, and a mix of vacant lots and cheaply-built newer wood frame and particle board houses.

Typical Jacksonville. A massive ship heading for an iceberg despite people's best attempts to steer the wheel in another direction.

[letters and numbers]

You know I read somewhere on metrojacksonville or maybe myspringfield that rap spar and maybe another historic group are writing a new policy or something that applies to demolitons. whats up with that

[mbwright]

How many more houses or buildings can be demolished before Springfield will lose its historic status?  Why is this area not subject to review by the Historical department, or one that cares about the neighborhood to prevent this from happenin?

[CS Foltz]

I had thought that the "Fast Tracking" was put on a hold, inorder to fully look at these situations? Did I miss something somewhere or is SPAR back at their fun and games again?

[Ethylene]

So according to the City of Jacksonville website, this home was built in 1916? Making it 95 years old? That's older than my grandmother. What a shame.

For all the efforts of the concerned residents, it looks like this area is going to become a showcase for a few well preserved and restored historic homes, and a mix of vacant lots and cheaply-built newer wood frame and particle board houses.

Typical Jacksonville. A massive ship heading for an iceberg despite people's best attempts to steer the wheel in another direction.

The MACRIS homestead proper was built in 2007! Ah, the landed gentry! (I need a smiley that moons please!) 

[Ocklawaha]

Typical Jacksonville. A massive ship heading for an iceberg despite people's best attempts to steer the wheel in another direction.

Sorry to disillusion you Bativac, there is NOBODY steering this ship at all.

OCKLAWAHA

[iloveionia]

I posted this on another site.  It is evident on metrojacksonville that posters are NOT in support of this demolition.  But, I'll post here too, because my points are important.

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”

1.  Just because others have fought this fight in the past (to save the houses,) certainly doesn't mean more can't fight later on down the road.  We are certainly not the pioneers of preservation, I know that.

2.  Just because during this "mortatorium" we have lost houses to demolition, does not mean we have not learned and "pressed on."  The absolute need to address Emergency Demolitions is clearly evident based on the demolition that is going on right now.  I scream this loudly: I WILL NOT GIVE UP OR GIVE IN.

3.  Just because it seems like it is about "people," is is not.  This journey is about the houses.  WE SPEAK FOR THE HOUSES, as they can not speak for themselves.

4.  This demolition will leave a very large scar on our neighborhood.  We all lose.  ALL of us.  We can not just point fingers or place blame somewhere else.  We ALL have a part in this.  Whether you find a way to justify this demolition, or whether you sit idly by and do nothing.  Or whether you do something else. I regret not being more vocal about demolitions early on.  I regret putting my trust where I shouldn't have.  I DO not regret this path I have taken with others on saving our houses.  I WILL PRESS ON. I WILL NOT BE DETERED.   

[Bativac]

How many more houses or buildings can be demolished before Springfield will lose its historic status?  Why is this area not subject to review by the Historical department, or one that cares about the neighborhood to prevent this from happenin?

I guess I'm confused by that, too. I'm under the impression that were I to buy and restore one of these homes, it would have to meet guidelines and specifications called for by the fact that the home is in an historic district. But to tear down the house doesn't require any similar special review? Or is it just the fact that they're able to pass the homes off as structurally unstable?

[AlexS]

Here the pertinent legislation.

518.111
Unsafe building or unsafe structure includes the following buildings and structures:

(a)Those whose walls or other structural members sag, list, lean or buckle to such an extent that they are in danger of collapse.
(b)Those with structural members which are overloaded, or which have insufficient strength to be safe for the purpose used.
(c)Those damaged by fire, wind, deterioration, or other causes to such an extent that they are dangerous to the general health or safety of the occupants or the public.
(d)Those not having exits or fire protection required by the building code or the fire prevention code.
(e)Those having any piece, part or attachment which is so insecurely fixed as to be in danger of falling or being dislodged by the elements so that it may injure any person or property.
(f)Those which are in violation of the minimum housing code, building codes, electrical code or plumbing code of the city.
(g)Unfinished construction for which the building permit has expired.
(h)Those which constitute a fire or windstorm hazard.
(i)Those which have become or are so dilapidated, decayed, unsafe or unsanitary or which so utterly fail to provide the amenities essential to decent living that they are unfit for human habitation or are likely to cause sickness or disease, so as to work injury to the health, morals, safety or general welfare of those persons living therein.
(j)The remains, debris, walls, chimney or floors of or left from a building or structure which has partially or completely collapsed, fallen or been torn down.
(k)Any abandoned swimming pool, excavation or any septic tank which threatens or endangers the health, safety or welfare of the public.
(l)Those which have been used in whole or in part for the unauthorized manufacture, processing, refinement or creation of any illicit drug wherein hazardous chemicals are used in such process. This shall include, but is not limited to, single-family residences, individual units of multi-family structures, hotels, motels, or other public lodgings, storage units, trailers intended to be pulled behind a motor vehicle, motorized vehicles, manufactured housing, or any shop, booth, structure or garden.

Sec. 518.301. - Legislative intent and findings.

The city declares every unsafe building or structure, as defined under Section 518.111, to be a public nuisance and subject to regulation. The city pursuant to authority granted by law is empowered to make regulations and take actions to promote the general health, welfare and safety of the inhabitants and to present, abate and remove nuisances, to regulate the erection of buildings and all other structures, to compel the owner to provide and maintain fire escapes and other safety features, and to provide fire districts or zones and building zones; and to prohibit, regulate or suppress, or provide for the destruction and removal of any building or other structure which may be or become dangerous or detrimental to the public.

Sec. 518.304. - Abatement by city.

In the event the unsafe structure is not demolished or the repair or other work is not performed within the time and as required by the Chief or the Building Codes Adjustment Board, the Chief shall cause the demolition or repair or other work, including, but not limited to, boarding to be performed by independent contractors, city employees, or such other qualified means as available. The Chief may also initiate prosecution for violation of this Chapter. The Chief may temporarily defer demolition or repair work when it is in the best interest of the city to do so. Such deferral shall be documented in the property file explaining the reasons for the deferral. Furthermore, no historic landmark or contributing structure which lies within an historic district (as designated by the appropriate federal, state or local authority) and which has been declared unsafe, except those structures which have been defined to be unsafe pursuant to Section 518.111 (unsafe building or unsafe structure) (c), (k), (l) or (m), shall be demolished by the city until the Chief has received approval of such proposed demolition from the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission (Commission), pursuant to Section 307.113, Ordinance Code.

Sec. 518.404. - Vacant substandard property.

Vacant properties found to be in violation of this Part may be placarded or noticed as such and required to remain vacant until brought into compliance with the provisions of this Part. In no case shall a structure be allowed to remain boarded in excess of six months after being boarded pursuant to this Chapter, except as provided herein. The Chief may approve a vacant building for occupancy pending repairs when such action is deemed by him/her to be in the best interest of the city.

[JAM]

You know I read somewhere on metrojacksonville or maybe myspringfield that rap spar and maybe another historic group are writing a new policy or something that applies to demolitons. whats up with that

The Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Department are drafting legislation to allow the mothballing of buildings in order to avoid demolitions.  Community groups and individuals have been participating with the discussions of the proposed new ordinance.  That work is being done by the demolitions committee of the JHPC.  If you want to participate, please attend the committee meetings.

The next public meeting of the JHPC is this Wednesday, January 26th, beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the Ed Ball Building, 8th floor.  The meetings last a while, so the end of the agenda where committee reports are taken up do not usually occurr until 6:00 p.m. or later.  There is no demolition committee report on the agenda for that meeting, as the agenda was set before this demolition took place.  To the extent the public wants to comment on this demolition, that would occur at the end of the agenda. The next meeting for the demolitions committee is anticipated to occur in February, for a date t.b.d.

[sheclown]

How many more houses or buildings can be demolished before Springfield will lose its historic status?  Why is this area not subject to review by the Historical department, or one that cares about the neighborhood to prevent this from happenin?

I guess I'm confused by that, too. I'm under the impression that were I to buy and restore one of these homes, it would have to meet guidelines and specifications called for by the fact that the home is in an historic district. But to tear down the house doesn't require any similar special review? Or is it just the fact that they're able to pass the homes off as structurally unstable?

I know...funny ain't it?

[sheclown]

I'm heartsick over this. 

Many of us are.

All of us should be.