Bostwick Building To Be Demolished?

[ChriswUfGator]

The city wound up with the trio by default as the result of bad investments by its pension plan, and was later forced to take them back a second time when Kuhn went bust. It had nothing to do with preservation, as shown by the fact that they've allowed the nearly complete destruction by neglect of two of the three buildings. The snyder memorial I think they got for $1 when the church moved out, and they've let it go to rot with insufficient maintenance for 20 years. They're really talking about something entirely different with this, if they're actually willing to fix the roof and do even basic preservation work. Not just the 'well it's free, so we'll take it, but we're not spending a dime on it' attitude they usually have. Obviously I wasn't saying the city doesn't own property, just that this seems to be a signifcant change in their M.O.

[sheclown]

The Bostwick building landmark application is being heard on Tuesday at Tuesday's HPC meeting (special meeting due to the holiday).

This session is open for public comments.

At the end of this session, the application will go before the city council.

[bornnative]

What time/location is the HPC meeting tomorrow?

[Debbie Thompson]

It usually begins at 3:00, bornnative, but then it's usually on Wednesday. Hopefully sheclown will see your post in time to respond.

[bornnative]

Where is it normally?  This would be my first meeting in personal attendance.

[Debbie Thompson]

Ed Ball Building on Hogan.  8th floor.

[I-10east]

In case anyone missed it, here's a N4J vid about the Bostwick below. This building is in really bad shape and it will cost a lot of money to repair, all that I can say is good luck. I don't like the idea of going with an "empty shell facade" just for the sake of it, a building should be exactly that, a building complete with a roof; Hell, even the facade/foundation needs repair work.

www.news4jax.com/news/Future-of-Jaguar-building-uncertain/-/475880/17334844/-/ss2sulz/-/index.html

[thelakelander]

It looks to be in better shape than 11th & Market in Springfield a few years back.  11th & Market ended up being restored into 4 residential lofts.  The original developer basically kept the four exterior walls and rebuilt a new structure and roof within it.  So they ended up with a vitually new building that included nearly 100 year old brick exterior walls and unique detailing.  It's now a big one residence loft with a swimming pool/courtyard in the rear. The same style of structural reuse could happen to the Bostwick, which would be better than having a LaVilla-style grass and trash filled building foundation on a gateway Northbank corner.

[sheclown]

It looks to be in better shape than 11th & Market in Springfield a few years back.  11th & Market ended up being restored into 4 residential lofts.  The original developer basically kept the four exterior walls and rebuilt a new structure and roof within it.  So they ended up with a vitually new building that included nearly 100 year old brick exterior walls and unique detailing.  It's now a big one residence loft with a swimming pool/courtyard in the rear. The same style of structural reuse could happen to the Bostwick, which would be better than having a LaVilla-style grass and trash filled building foundation on a gateway Northbank corner.

well said.

[fsujax]

where there is a will there is a way! 

[sheclown]

I just returned from the HPC meeting.  (Oddly enough, it is only 5:00)

Joel gave a presentation the gist of which is that the Bostwick building meets 6 out of the 7 criteria needed to be landmarked.

[sheclown]

The seven criteria (which will be of great importance when this hits city council) are:

1.) Its value as a symbol of Jacksonville's heritage
2.) Its connection to an important Jacksonville person
3.) Its identity as the product of a master builder, designer or architect
4.) Its quality of architecture and the remaining elements are significant
5.) Its elements are important as a reflection of a period, method of construction, or indigenous materials
6.) Its suitability for preservation or restoration
7.) An important event occurred in the building-- did not meet this criteria

[sheclown]

Val and Karl Bostwick both spoke to this application.  Their objections are as follows:

1.) They weren't properly noticed.  The staff sent the package to their PO Box which they didn't check and only got the email version today.

2.) This is a property rights issue and the HPC has no say in this matter past the vote on the demolition.

3.) They handed out a letter from a lawyer which called for a "cease and desist"

4.) They asked for a deferral

5.) They said the city is trying to "pad" the record and they called out Jason Teal.

6.) Said the building has been there for 103 years why hasn't the city tried to landmark it before.

7.) Said they don't have the funds to fix it up and the city is putting them in an impossible situation.

[sheclown]

Jason Teal answered them as follows:

1.) Staff sent the package to the address they provided to the city and they have been receiving mail there for decades.  And time is of the essence in this matter.

2.) According to the code, the city only needs to prove that the building meets the criteria in order to landmark the building.   In order for landmark status, a building has to prove 2 out of the 7 criteria were met.  If an owner objects, then the building has to meet 4 out of the 7 criteria.  HPC feels that 6 out of the 7 criteria are met.

3.) Jason said that the letter from the lawyer to "cease and desist" is merely a written objection. 

4.) The deferral is difficult because of the time issue involved.

5.) Said that city started the landmark status after the family put in the application for demolition as a method of preserving the building.

[sheclown]

Downtown Vision, Urban Core CPAC and SPAR all spoke on behalf of preserving the building. 

Its fate now moves to LUZ and full council.

When I left, press was interviewing the Bostwicks.