Save the Bostwick Building!

[acme54321]

Timkin, I would agree with Pinky that the level of work necessary to mothball the structure is almost certainly beyond what a volunteer crew could accomplish.  We're not talking about sweeping and clearing debris - the building needs some serious structural mitigation (plus the aforementioned roof) to even get to a point of medium-term physical stability.  It speaks to the integrity of that old building style that the walls are even still standing now...a building built in today's method/style would probably have already collapsed if it were placed under the same stress.

They don't build them like they used to, and soon we'll only be able to learn about "how they used to" through pictures vs. preserved physical examples.  Very sad.

With PSOS, we look at the mothballing process in two parts really.  The part that requires licensed contractors (and insurance & etc) and the part that is perfect for volunteers.  Certainly the stabilization of Bostwick will require the proper permits (even tho -- and probably especially tho -- it is temporary).  After this is checked out by the building inspection department, then volunteers certainly could do some cleanup. 

It's a good system that works for us.

You've had success with 100 year old houses, now maybe it's time for a hundred year old commercial building

[Debbie Thompson]

Takes funding.  :-) 

[Ocklawaha]

I like your idea Ock but it ignores the financial reality of the situation.  In you're scenario, either the property owner eats the cost to partially demolish and donate the land or some entity like the city would have to purchase it for public use.

"or some entity like the city would have to purchase it for public use."

BINGO! Hey it is our first post fire building.

[Timkin]

Eminent domain.   The City takes the building.  Does necessary stabilization for conversion to public use.


There is a way to save the building if the right people are willing. Same held true for Worman's (too late now)

Same is true for the Trio, FS#5 , PS#4 , Jones Brothers building.

The "right people" cannot see past the end of the dump trucks and bulldozers.    Heck , in Gary, Indiana, they at least leave the buildings to crumble.  No money to save them or tear them down.  In Jacksonville , we never have money to save them but ALWAYS have money to tear them down. 

If the Bostwick Building is somehow spared, I will be nothing short of astounded.   I'm not holding my breath, because demolition almost always ends up being the end-result.

[thelakelander]

The city is already in the red.  There's daily articles in the FTU about the mayor's office and council struggling to balance it.  We can't even properly work (time-wise) with a guy who wants to build his successful local brewery downtown, much less work with a property owner who's made up their mind to rip the structure down.  I just can't imagine, COJ pulling a rabbit out their hat to spend $500 to $1 million on this structure anytime soon.

[Ocklawaha]

No argument here about the current 'bus wreck' and attending paralysis in both our finances and city hall. Never an original thought - never any creativity in finance = a city too dead to bury.

I don't know if you ever studied grantsmanship (though I suspect you did) but I noticed you criticize the lack of imagination in some past grant applications of our various departments and agencies. Wanna bet if we really tried we could write and win a grant for a nuclear powered fly swatter? Bet we could, right behind the idea for concrete rain! Dull, unimaginative applications for grants usually fly like a cast iron Frisbee.

Sadly, even in this economy there are literally thousands if not millions of grants written for projects with far less merit then the Bostwick, Annie or the Jax Terminal Subway.

[thelakelander]

The building can be saved and there are a lot of options to do so.  However, with time ticking on pending demolition, many (including finding, convincing and applying for grants) become more unrealistic with each passing day.

[ben says]

Eminent domain.   The City takes the building.  Does necessary stabilization for conversion to public use.


There is a way to save the building if the right people are willing. Same held true for Worman's (too late now)

Same is true for the Trio, FS#5 , PS#4 , Jones Brothers building.

The "right people" cannot see past the end of the dump trucks and bulldozers.    Heck , in Gary, Indiana, they at least leave the buildings to crumble.  No money to save them or tear them down.  In Jacksonville , we never have money to save them but ALWAYS have money to tear them down. 

If the Bostwick Building is somehow spared, I will be nothing short of astounded.   I'm not holding my breath, because demolition almost always ends up being the end-result.

For eminent domain to happen, in my opinion, there would need to be an idealistic, charismatic, powerful atty in the mayor's general counsel office. I don't think they have one.

That, or there needs to be some super legal nonprofit that's applying for grants as we speak. I don't think that's happening either.

Tis a shame.

[strider]

There is always within the programs (federal?) like NSP and the Jacksonville Journey, money set aside for the demolition of blight.  However, in the case of the Bostwick building, it is the owners who now believe it is less expensive to demolish rather than save so the city will not have to pay a dime to demolish though the process to save it will be costly.

[Timkin]

No argument here about the current 'bus wreck' and attending paralysis in both our finances and city hall. Never an original thought - never any creativity in finance = a city too dead to bury.

Sadly, even in this economy there are literally thousands if not millions of grants written for projects with far less merit then the Bostwick, Annie or the Jax Terminal Subway.

^ Which begs the question, how can it be a priority to make a grant possible on something that may or may not fail while historic buildings like this go down without a thought?

Who is in charge and what are they thinking?

will it cost millions to STABILIZE the exterior of this building so that it could be utilized in some way? or still less expensive to demo.  ( Think I already know, but am asking anyway )

[Ocklawaha]

Reminds me of my Okie roots.

2 gents sitting on the front porch of a farm house, staring at a dark sky with a wall cloud hanging low... The wind is REALLY kicking up clouds of dust, mixed with large hail stones.

"Earl? Tornado's coming."
"Yup. They do that Bubba"
"Earl? This one appears to be a big one."
"Yup. It looks just like the one that knocked down old momma Smiths house."
"Earl? Lookie yonder, there goes the neighbors barn."
"Yup. This twister's getting bigger, I think I see 3 vortex' in there."
"Earl? Reckon we ought to go in the house."
"Nope, we ain't never been hit yet."

Oh God! Now I know why I feel a such a kinship  with Jacksonville's genius leadership. We're off to see the wizard... no on second thought, can't do that, thats in Kansas.

[Timkin]

There is always within the programs (federal?) like NSP and the Jacksonville Journey, money set aside for the demolition of blight.

Exactly what I do not understand.  The building needs a ton of money spent on it ,no question. But a blight?  Not visually,at least.

*shrug ..

I have little doubt it will be removed.

[Dapperdan]

Wouldn't it be great if Shad Khan stepped up and bought it and fixed it up? To me it would be a great fire museum dedicated to the 1901 fire, sponsered by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

[Pinky]

Why does it have to be Shad Khan, or for that matter, somebody else?  It would be a simple matter for the preservation-minded posters here to form a LLC and raise money to buy and restore the Bostwick. 

Deeds, not words.

[strider]

There is always within the programs (federal?) like NSP and the Jacksonville Journey, money set aside for the demolition of blight.

Exactly what I do not understand.  The building needs a ton of money spent on it ,no question. But a blight?  Not visually,at least.

*shrug ..

I have little doubt it will be removed.

Blight is the wording they use.  I agree, it is not blight to me either.   Common sense says it is better to save the buildings, and in fact, the law says it is the city's duty to save historic buildings, but that seldom stops this city or in particular, the head of MCCD, from demolishing buildings.

It is very interesting that the paperwork MCCD sends out to notify a new owner that the building they just got is condemned and must be repaired or demolished states that the city can repair the building if you, the owner, do not.  Even though the head of MCCD always says they can not repair, the paperwork she must have approved says otherwise.  Imagine if the hole in the roof had been repaired rather than MCCD just sending out letters trying to convince the owners to demolish. Not only would that have been a big plus for the community, but less expensive for the city in the end.