Public School Number 4 Is On Fire

[thelakelander]

There have been several proposals for redevelopment since 1981.  Here's a snippet about some failed Annie Lytle redevelopment proposals from the book currently being developed by Metro Jacksonville.

In 1981, the Annie Lytle was purchased by the Ida M. Stevens Foundation for $168,000.  The Stevens Foundation, which converted downtown’s old Duval High School into senior citizen apartments in 1977, had planned to do the same with Annie Lytle, but federal funding programs for such projects were discontinued, killing the project.

Subsequent plans to turn the building into a human service agency center were put on hold until the planned reconfiguration of the Fuller Warren and the expressway.

In 1995, the building survived a two-alarm blaze, believed to have been set by vagrants, causing the auditorium’s roof to cave in. Two months later, it caught fire again when piles of trash were set ablaze.

In July 2000, Jacksonville-based Cheyenne Properties announced its intentions to purchase the Annie Lytle.  Cheyenne’s plans for the property at 1011 Peninsular Place (now 650 Chelsea Street) were to restore it into a 20-unit loft condominium complex called Lytle Place.  Development plans also included converting the building’s basement into a 26-space underground parking garage, and a public park at the building’s front entrance.  To help facilitate the redevelopment of the historic property, the Jacksonville City Council approved a measure recognizing the school as a city-designated historic site.  With the designation, Cheyenne’s project would qualify for historic preservation-related tax break advantages, including a 10-year, 100 percent property tax freeze on improvements made to the site.

Marketed to nearby downtown office workers with one, two and three bedroom units priced between $100,000 and $250,000, the developer secured contracts for 10 of the 26 units during the pre-selling phase. In 2002, before construction was to begin, Cheyenne Properties discovered that expansion plans for I-95 included adding elevated ramps within a few feet of the school’s front door.  This eventually killed the Lytle Place development by making the original proposal financially unfeasible.

In 2005, the City Development Company sought the city council’s permission to demolish the school and construct a new, $14 million, 140,000-square foot, 140-unit retirement facility in its place.  As a result, led by long-time Annie Lytle advocate Timothy Kinnear, public outcry followed, culminating with a request for the building’s preservation from the Southern Regional Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation to Mayor John Peyton and Council President Kevin Hyde.  In addition, in observance of May being the National Historic Preservation Month, the school made the Jacksonville Historical Society’s list of 12 significantly endangered historical properties.  These efforts to preserve the Annie Lytle resulted in the developer withdrawing its demolition request before city council.

[JHAT76]

Thank you for the info.  As typical of most historical buildings the history is very interesting.

[leahfu]

Hey guys, how good are my chances of getting some pictures of the school tomorrow after I'm off work? I'd really like to go today, but I'm sure it's pretty busy and I really don't have the gas. I almost cried this morning when I saw the news on my facebook feed. I've never been, but I've always wanted to go..even just outside.

[fieldafm]

Just got back into town, leaving to check out the damage.  Sad day, two great buildings (potentially) lost within the last few months.  Tim, my heart goes out to you man.

[Jumpinjack]

Some nice photos and a mini-history of the building on jacksonville.com. Tim, your picture is there too, nailing down the plywood window covers.

[Dog Walker]

Hey guys, how good are my chances of getting some pictures of the school tomorrow after I'm off work? I'd really like to go today, but I'm sure it's pretty busy and I really don't have the gas. I almost cried this morning when I saw the news on my facebook feed. I've never been, but I've always wanted to go..even just outside.

Do NOT go into the building.  You will be arrested.  There is nothing different to be seen outside except that the JFRD broke open the front door to get to the fire.

[leahfu]

Do NOT go into the building.  You will be arrested.  There is nothing different to be seen outside except that the JFRD broke open the front door to get to the fire.

I was not interested in going inside at all

[Jaxson]

What concerns me most about Public School Number Four is that it is an example of how our local heritage is crumbling from a passive war of attrition against historic buildings that can never be replaced.  I immediately think about the Arcade/Center theater building that collapsed onto itself from neglect.  It, and many other structures, are victims of those who would rather run down the clock on them than would take action to build a bridge from our city's storied past to the future.

[Timkin]

Sources tell me that 90% of the building IS NOT DAMAGED BY THIS FIRE.  the failing remains of the Auditorium roof were in fact taken down by the blaze.  Somehow I expect for the information given to the city to be spun completely out of context, as it clearly is being spun by local news media and whomever else.  The WHOLE building was not affected.  But this will , unfortunately be the City's green-light to demolish it.

Im sure by now , Doug AND Tarpon are celebrating... as is who ever the bastards were that set this fire.


Sorry if I sound like im pissed off.  IM VERY PISSED OFF!!

[riverside planner]

Sources tell me that 90% of the building IS NOT DAMAGED BY THIS FIRE.  the failing remains of the Auditorium roof were in fact taken down by the blaze.  Somehow I expect for the information given to the city to be spun completely out of context, as it clearly is being spun by local news media and whomever else.  The WHOLE building was not affected.  But this will , unfortunately be the City's green-light to demolish it.

Im sure by now , Doug AND Tarpon are celebrating... as is who ever the bastards were that set this fire.


Sorry if I sound like im pissed off.  IM VERY PISSED OFF!!

You should be pissed off! 

[Timkin]

What concerns me most about Public School Number Four is that it is an example of how our local heritage is crumbling from a passive war of attrition against historic buildings that can never be replaced.  I immediately think about the Arcade/Center theater building that collapsed onto itself from neglect.  It, and many other structures, are victims of those who would rather run down the clock on them than would take action to build a bridge from our city's storied past to the future.

That was preventable.  this is STILL preventable. The problem is GREEDY owners who care more about lining their nest-egg than preserving a piece of our historic fabric.

No council person worth their salt nor any administration should allow this building to be demolished.  It is a plain as day that this was an intentional act to do such, and if they consent to allowing it to be demolished, they are, in my opinion , no better than the owners and the person(s) who set the fire.

The building was built , pre-dating sprinkler systems to be FIRE PROOF . This is the 4th fire I am aware of in 2 decades.

The city needs to wake its LAME ASS UP and help us save the place, not line another demolition company's pockets, by taking it down.

The owners, both of them should be jailed for neglect.  period.

[mtraininjax]

Timkin, Sorry about this, Yeah, you are about right, when the JFD says its time, there is not much to stop the wrecking ball.


Time to line the troops up to save the Fire Station on Riverside.

[billy]

The "90% destroyed" quote is an inaccurate assessment of the probable damage,
relative to it's prior condition and the elements of the building that are still remaining.

[iloveionia]

The city needs to wake its LAME ASS UP and help us save the place, not line another demolition company's pockets, by taking it down. 

+1

[Jaxson]

Dude.. don't go there.  You are such an idiot.

Nice, up to name calling, great class! Nice!

Please, mtraininjax, hear me when I say this from the depths of my heart.  You may or not know the place that Annie Lytle holds in timkin's heart, but it brings me to mind the impermanence of this world and how many of us want to hold something to their heart in this world that endures.  It is very damn hard to just let go for the sake of the 'future' or for 'progress' when we know that these seemingly minor things present to us a cold, hard look at our own mortality.  Please let timkin grieve in his own way for this building.  It is not just a pile of bricks, but was the heart of a vibrant community that  educated and nurtured many young people who called this city their home.  I do not believe that timkin is lashing out at you directly, but he is speaking against an attitude that does not understand the depths of throwing such special places like Annie Lytle to the dustheap of history.  I know that you want good things for our city, but I also know that forums like this are places where we can work harder to understand our differences while feeling some empathy where possible...