City interested in demolishing Claude Nolan building?

[duvaldude08]

I thought the people who own the park view site had plans for it? I guess if they dont actually own it, it doesnt make a difference. Hopefully they dont tear it down. We be a cool building to refurbish.

[mbwright]

I think it is in the older review of the building, but I recall a mosaic image of the Cadillac logo in the floor, that is spectacular.  This was truly a showcase building.  I would seriously doubt you could build this building today, given the lack of materials and craftsman today.  This would be a great loft building. 

Is there any way to see who requested this?  Why no notice, no hearing, no historical review, etc?

[JaxNative68]

the only loss would be the interior construction.  the exterior has been modified so much, there is little left that resembles the original building.  the exterior of the building has very little qualities that would allow it to have protection under the guise of being ââ,¬Ëœhistoricââ,¬â,,¢ ââ,¬â€œ age simply doesnââ,¬â,,¢t do it.  on a quick glance at the photo, there many changes to the building that reduce its historic value.
1. all the brick details have been stuccoââ,¬â,,¢d over.
2. the ground floor storefront has been removed and filled in.
3. the ornate cornice has been removed.
4. the above grade level windows have been removed and in filled with stucco/masonry, smaller windows and glass block.
5. additional art deco like details (vertical fluting) have been added to the building.
6. a additional two stories were added above the one story structure.
7. i can't tell from the photos, but i'd be will to bet the parapet has been modified.
upon further inspection, this list would grow vastly.
i'm an architect and i find very little redeeming qualities of what is left of the building's exterior facades.  Klutho has probably long turned over in his grave as to the modified appearance of his design and would probably want it put out of its misery.
i can't image this building could be restored to its original self very cost effectively.
this building in its original state was a striking building. what has been allowed to happen to this building is a shame.

[sheclown]

I believe the front is just stucco over the brick

[JaxNative68]

if you were to take a plan cut thru the building at various levels, it appears to be more than just stucco applied to the brick.  vertical element look as if they were removed along with additional furring out of the exterior face to make the stucco on a continuous plane.  again, it is a shame that these modifications were allowed to happen to this building. the architect that drew up these modifications should have had his license revoked as a result.

[sheclown]

Nothing that can't be undone.

[thelakelander]

To me, even the two industrial/warehouse buildings along Orange Street are worth preserving, as opposed to being another piece of scorched downtown earth. These structures (including the heavily altered Main Street building) come a dime a dozen in the older Midwest and Northeast.  However, you'll have to search hard to find another early 20th century vertical automobile dealership complex still around in Florida, much less Jacksonville.  I personally can't think of a similar warehouse/industrial structure anywhere else in Jacksonville. To add to this, Claude Nolan himself is a pretty significant figure in Jacksonville's history.  Given his prominence, there's no telling what other type of monumental events (the Confederate reunion of 1914 for example) took place at this site. Team these two components together and focus on research around them and you probably can develop a strong case for preservation.   

[thelakelander]

While working on another assignment on my laundry list of things to finish by tomorrow, I came across this.  It's a photo after the Great Fire of 1901, taken from the waterworks site, looking south towards downtown and the river.  The left part of this image captures the site this building would eventually be built on and the gas plant next door, which survived the fire.

[urbaknight]

It's multi story and urban, I think that the city thinks it's too urban.  If it were one of those stupid strip malls or carcentric subdivisions, threr'd be no discussion to tear it down.

[mbwright]

or another family dollar store..

[DDC]

http://apps.coj.net/PAO_PropertySearch/Basic/Detail.aspx?RE=0743860000

This is the owner. Whatever that means. Anyone know anything about them?

937 MAIN STREET LLC
P O BOX 330108
ATLANTIC BEACH, FL 32233

Is this another situation like the Bostwick Building?  Demolition by neglect?

[edjax]

Just wondering out loud....  What was the last building of historic significance torn down in the urban core?  When did it occur?

[edjax]

Btw..in my prior post when I say urban core I am really referring to area we would consider as the core of downtown on the northbank.  No lavilla or Brooklyn sites.  Northbank.

[thelakelander]

For downtown, probably Worman's Deli at Adams and Broad.  That was a few months back. The actual urban core? No telling, since buildings vaporize throughout the Northside on a regular basis.  Since we really haven't dug deep into the history of these minority areas, as we have with some of the more well known neighborhoods, I'm sure we're not aware of half the history lost.

[edjax]

Northbank.  Not northside.  And not sure wormans was all that significant. Other than it was a building on the fringe of downtown.