BOOMTOWN: now condemned.

sheclown · February 22, 2012, 12:12:29 PM

Shiny orange sticker on the old Boomtown walls reads "condemned".

Any of those around here who had the joy of visiting Boomtown in its glory back in the early 2000s would not have believed the electric urban vibe that occurred in this now forgotten block.

I remember seeing and hearing folks waiting for room inside on a Saturday night -- I remember walking with Lisa Neary from her home on East 7th to Boomtown for a play and a plate of pasta.

Music, pretty women, artwork, and Stephen with his frying pan.

And now this building is condemned.

I say Let this be the first mothballed commercial building in Jacksonville!!!

Does anyone have contact with the owner? Would he be willing to do this to save a once-vibrant space in the saddest stretch of Main Street?

John P · February 22, 2012, 12:33:34 PM

Kevin Gay. ONH.

avs · February 22, 2012, 03:25:50 PM

yeah, that is Kevin's bldg

daveandcatherine · February 23, 2012, 12:09:28 PM

the truly sad thing is that this problem is EASILY fixable. The owner is asking $400K for that building. The price combined with the cost of fixing it up is more than just a reach for most people....it doesn't make good financial sense. By greatly reducing the price the owner would get "something" for the property and the building would not face the wrecking ball.

Non-RedNeck Westsider · February 23, 2012, 12:52:56 PM

He will get something in return: a demolition, paid for by us. Lower property taxes & an easier sell for any developer that wants to come in and put up a Dollar General.

Rumblefish · February 23, 2012, 12:59:23 PM

Quote from: daveandcatherine on February 23, 2012, 12:09:28 PM
the truly sad thing is that this problem is EASILY fixable. The owner is asking $400K for that building. The price combined with the cost of fixing it up is more than just a reach for most people....it doesn't make good financial sense. By greatly reducing the price the owner would get "something" for the property and the building would not face the wrecking ball.

Sure, but what did the current owner pay for the building? Its very easy to tell someone to sell their building when you will not recognize he loss.

daveandcatherine · February 23, 2012, 01:36:08 PM

It appears he bought the property for $825K in 2006. Unfortunately without investment in the property, the economic downturn, etc. etc. the property is now appraised at $165K. I feel very sorry for the owner who is about to have a property worth about $87K once the place is torn down. I've also heard that this unfortunate owner had a car go through another one of his buildings on main a couple months ago. BUT.....I also feel sorry for every resident of Springfield who has had to endure a neglected property and is now going to lose another structure on Main street.

Before I start getting hate mail from people...take a deep breath. This is not a personal attack on any person, place, animal, tree etc....... Just my opinion.

thelakelander · February 23, 2012, 10:36:07 PM

^Or perhaps he wants to let if fall apart to the point the building caves in and he can do something else with the property? I don't know if that's the case but if it is, it wouldn't be the first time this has happened in the urban core.

strider · February 24, 2012, 08:25:17 PM

I do not think that is Kevin Gays way of doing business. He did do a nice job on the old Ralph's Pawn Shop on the corner. But perhaps he bit off more than he can afford to do with the real estate issues we all are facing.

daveandcatherine · February 25, 2012, 08:25:08 AM

I've never met Kevin Gay and therefore have no reason to believe that he has malicious intent when it comes to his properties. Like many people in the the last five to ten years he probably bought in the high hope that things in Springfield would get better. That property values would continue to rise and businesses would be flocking to Main street. THIS IS NOT THE REALITY OF WHAT HAPPENED!
Most of us have homes in the hood' that and worth much less then we paid for them. That doesn't mean I'm going to let my 100+ year old home fall apart because of it's market value. We are STEWARTS of these historic buildings and have an obligation to care for them. We play the hand we are dealt.
The real truth is the only thing that is going to revive Main street is small business. Without infrastructure in place this in not possible. Vacant land is almost exclusively developed by large corporations. Building a McDonald's where there used to be a historic building is not the answer my friends.
Mr. Gay has a golden opportunity here to do the right thing.....not only for Boomtown but for the brick market across the street which is also condemned.
Springfield has had its fair share of carpetbaggers swooping in (and out) with the promise of saving the neighborhood. The lifeblood of the neighborhood is Main. Kevin Gay holds the key to its future.

Debbie Thompson · February 25, 2012, 11:39:20 AM

Keep an open mind, and don't automatically paint Kevin Gay with a black brush. From what I've heard of him, he has good intentions. He may not have the funds. Why not keep an open mind about him and approach him about securing and mothballing the building?