Inside 113 E. 3rd St.

[Ethylene]

I just thought I'd add my two cents now, as I can attest to the fact that yes indeed structures have collapsed in Springfield. While I don't know the age of the building and it was not a "house" a two story garage/apartment somehow built on the lot line collapsed early Christmas morning in I believe 2005! Gave me quite a shock as it was diagonally across the back alley from my home! I was delighted to see it go frankly, my Christmas present!

The "family" living there then slowly and aggravatingly cleared the lot and attempted a rebuild over the course of many months/years but not to code and it was eventually demolished.  That family is gone and the house was sold/maybe foreclosed and is now being restored! The bogus replacement structure was to be a "rental" with what surely would have been a stream of less than desirable types out of clear sight of authorities. This saga has taken a very positive turn as far as I am concerned.

[Timkin]

If the structure you mention was built on a lot line, and eventually collapsed, sounds like one that was not built to code even back then, so probably a make-shift structure. 

In any case it was next to a house you say is now being restored. .. and I think what we were trying to get at is the integrity of the historic structures in Springfield.. now minus this garage apt building you are speaking of.  If It collapsed , it was either A. Not built well, B. Not maintained or C. Both.   For the most part , the structures of Springfield do not pose a threat nor have they, even in this instance harmed anyone.  They usually do not fall down on another structure or person .  Without the help of a bulldozer most of these places aren't going anywhere.

[Ethylene]

If the structure you mention was built on a lot line, and eventually collapsed, sounds like one that was not built to code even back then, so probably a make-shift structure. 

In any case it was next to a house you say is now being restored. .. and I think what we were trying to get at is the integrity of the historic structures in Springfield.. now minus this garage apt building you are speaking of.  If It collapsed , it was either A. Not built well, B. Not maintained or C. Both.   For the most part , the structures of Springfield do not pose a threat nor have they, even in this instance harmed anyone.  They usually do not fall down on another structure or person .  Without the help of a bulldozer most of these places aren't going anywhere.

Totally agree!

[sheclown]

[Timkin]

Sheclown, is that the home that is being rehabbed or another slated for demo?

[iloveionia]

This home is condemed and on code's hit list.
The COA notice is to mothball the home so the owner can rehab without harassment.

[sheclown]

from Chris Farley's research

[sheclown]

http://www.youtube.com/v/UQbBNQjaC74?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0

[jaxequality]

There is a lot more to this story, I'm sure. If this man owned a lot of land (properties and or houses) the real question is was he taking care of the houses he purchased or doing the typical PSOS hoard, board, and neglect? You can't save or preserve houses unless you start working on them. The city has an obligation to protect citizens that live in a neighborhood and pay their property taxes. If you can't afford to maintain one property don't buy another property. How many houses does one man need?

[strider]

Jaxequality, please read the thread and watch the video.  Your comments were not on subject.

I would think using an alias of Jaxequality you would want to have the laws equally enforced instead of selectively enforced against those businesses or people some may not like.  Which is what this video is about.  It is also about recognizing that the houses do not commit crimes, do not sell drugs nor do they harm anyone.  It is just easier for this city to blame the house than to do it's job of stopping the criminal activity. 

[JaxUnicorn]

There is a lot more to this story, I'm sure. If this man owned a lot of land (properties and or houses) the real question is was he taking care of the houses he purchased or doing the typical PSOS hoard, board, and neglect? You can't save or preserve houses unless you start working on them. The city has an obligation to protect citizens that live in a neighborhood and pay their property taxes. If you can't afford to maintain one property don't buy another property. How many houses does one man need?

"PSOS hoard, board, and neglect?"  What does that mean?  For the record, PSOS does not currently own any homes at this time.  The last one donated to us was recently sold for the cost of the back taxes with anticipation that it will be restored.

The City also has an obligation to protect our historic structures, which it typically does not do.

[movedsouth]

save the houses!

[sheclown]

Save the houses !

[Jax Friend]

There is a lot more to this story, I'm sure. If this man owned a lot of land (properties and or houses) the real question is was he taking care of the houses he purchased or doing the typical PSOS hoard, board, and neglect? You can't save or preserve houses unless you start working on them. The city has an obligation to protect citizens that live in a neighborhood and pay their property taxes. If you can't afford to maintain one property don't buy another property. How many houses does one man need?

"PSOS hoard, board, and neglect?"  What does that mean?  For the record, PSOS does not currently own any homes at this time.  The last one donated to us was recently sold for the cost of the back taxes with anticipation that it will be restored.

The City also has an obligation to protect our historic structures, which it typically does not do.

PSOS may not currently own any properties, but how many homes have been sold to organization member? How many homes are owned by a single member? Of the networks of homes PSOS has had a hand in, how many are better off? Does PSOS as an organization have the capacity to measure the good they are or are not bringing to Springfield, or is it really just a group of free agents getting cheap houses? I think these are the right kind of questions you ask of an organization. 

[sheclown]

The anger toward PSOS stems from those in the community who believe that the way to revitalize a community is to remove the homes in need of renovation -- it is not an unpopular belief -- it is shared by the blight committee.  However, it is this mindset that led to the leveling of LaVilla and will do so to the urban core if enacted.

It is also a poor way to handle our resources -- filling landfills and leaving lots to be mowed.

As far as your concerns about PSOS personally profiting from the donated houses, I will address that.  One of the battles we fight is for transparency of city actions and while we try to be as transparent as possible (and I invite you to our forum and our website http://www.preservationsos.org/our-houses) I will answer those questions here as well.

Over the course of 4 years we have been donated 12 houses.  Two on Walnut Court, one on Clark Street, one on Second Street and 8 in Dancy Terrace.

The first on Walnut Court:  http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=13480.0

This house had 400k of rolling fines on it.  Jeff, the owner, tried to give it away to others, but no one would take it.  PSOS did.

We mothballed it and gave it to a lawyer who contacted us and wanted to set up a home office.  We transferred the deed and he shortly thereafter lost it to back taxes.  We learned a lesson here -- and now require back taxes paid at the time of transfer.

The house is still standing and has been purchased by JWB builders.

We stopped the bulldozers on this one for sure.

The second Walnut Court donation is this one:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,15453.0.html

This house was a burn out and was given to us.  We gave this house to Steve of "The Palace Company" who is lovingly restoring it.