1325 Laura -- demolition hearing at HPC

[Timkin]

Suit should be brought for preserving ALL Historic Buildings in whatever area.

[iloveionia]

Future news headline:
LOST Jacksonville.
"The entire county of Jax is wiped out by non-preservation minded city officials and offices."

[Debbie Thompson]

I'm sorry.  I don't consider myself to be a stupid person, but I don't understand.

1)  We were told there is a moratorium on ALL demolitions in the historic districts, unless it was a public emergency.  Clearly, this one isn't.  It even says so in the demo COA.  This house is not in danger of falling down.  Which brings me to point...

2)  If the house isn't in danger of falling down, why was the demo approved?  Which brings me to point...

3)  Last month, HPC denied the demo, passed a motion to require the minimum be performed on the building to make it safe under 518, and to bring three bids on the work for a finding of economically unfeasible.

So, with HPC still not even having met again yet, why is this COA approved already?

More importantly, in a National Register Historic District:

Why isn't our city using the laws already on the books, and which it has at its current disposal, to stabilize these houses and charge the owner?  

Why can’t we require owners to sell the houses if they can’t afford to fix them?  Why are they allowed to leave them open to the elements as this owner and so many others have done?

[Demosthenes]

I suspect this has more to do with a frustrated neighbor beating a bees nest, then anything else.

[peestandingup]

Future news headline:
LOST Jacksonville.
"The entire county of Jax is wiped out by non-preservation minded city officials and offices."

"..in other news, the First Coast Outer Beltway has finally been completed. With enough cheap cookie cutter crap & strip malls along it to shake a stick at. Byaaah!!"

[Debbie Thompson]

Demosthenes, you are doubtless correct. However, why should a frustrated neighbor be permitted to do this?  It's happening too often in Springfield.  People who bought their homes, fully aware there were unrehabilitated homes nearby, are now being allowed to complain about them now until they are brought down.  When you buy in a National Trust historic district, you have an obligation to historic preservation.  If you don't want that obligation, don't buy there.  Buy somewhere else. Simple as that.

[Timkin]

Seems like its a double-standard..  Presumably you can buy a historic home in a Recognized Historic Neighborhood,  Do nothing with it.. go in yourself and make it structurally unsound, then have it demolished by neglect.


Only in Jacksonville.     This is Bull $h!+ !

[Debbie Thompson]

Yup, that about sums it up, Timkin.  That's exactly what you can do.

[movedsouth]

just a quick FYI: 1325 Laura was deferred at Wednesday's HPC meeting. Both Preservation SOS as well as SPAR spoke against the demolition. A representative (son?) of the owner spoke briefly indicating that the house was in his opinion dangerous to enter and he may need more time to find an engineer to agree with that finding of his.

If I understood correctly, the deferral is in part due to trying to figure out how upcoming legislation like mothballing will affect this house.

It is not over yet and there is a chance that the house will survive a bit longer.

[wsansewjs]

Here is a conspiracy theory...

Why UF/Shands is right next to Springfield?
Is UF/Shands HUNGRY for expansion?
Sudden and swift moves from the officials to bulldoze all the houses down to scare the remaining tenants and house owners out of Springfield to capitalize on the opportunity to seize the lands for the expansion?

I think this is something bigger than Springfield, and it is an unfortunate victim of it.

A waging war between the Springfield supporters and destroyers.

What they say... GOD SAVE THE SPRINGFIELD (in homage to God Save The Queen) Only time will tell!

-Josh

[Timkin]

That is an interesting theory.

[uptowngirl]

Here is what really kills me- people complain and complain about that vacant house thinking once it is down everything will be soooo much better! Little do they know it just becomes a whole new issue. I am surrounded by vacant lots that the upkeep of are killing me, none of the owners will sell, and if I dont keep them up they ecome a jungle. Now I have to deal with kids and adults cutting through the lots, looking in my backyard and taunting my dogs. SOOOO not cool, When the houses were there it was not an issue. If you want oh so pretty perfection move to a gated community

[Ralph W]

Code Compliance has the duty to cite these vacant overgrown properties, although they may need a little help from a call to 630-CITY. Let those lots get nasty, keep your lawnmower in your garage and make the city do its job.

[Ocklawaha]

NAGASAKI


JACKSONVILLE

ANY QUESTIONS?


OCKLAWAHA

[Timkin]

If it is Historic , in Jacksonville, it is endangered. I don't care where it is located.