Our History Disappearing Right Before Our Eyes

[Metro Jacksonville]

Our History Disappearing Right Before Our Eyes



One by one, elements of Jacksonville's history and cultural heritage continue to disappear. Here's a look at three properties currently facing the wrath of the wrecking ball.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-may-our-history-disappearing-right-before-our-eyes

[ricker]

sending my emamil NOW

[vicupstate]

I have a very hard time believing any of these structures are beyond repair unless there is extensive termite damage.

My guess is the Cohen house lot will be sub-divided, if it is big enough, and McMansions put on each of the new lots.

[InnerCityPressure]

Done and done.

[mbwright]

sad.  The madness must be stopped.  The river road house I am sure is worth restoring, although it may not be the typical mcmansion the owners want.  It is very significant.

[Captain Zissou]

Unless it was absolutely falling apart, why would you demolish a 6,000 square foot house?? The replacement cost would be enormous. I don't think the owner would gain much by subdividing the lot. That would be out of scale for the area and based on the 2 or 3 houses recently built in that neighborhood, people are looking for big lots and big houses.

[MusicMan]

The River Road homeowners were offered north of one million dollars for the lot, so they agreed to sell if they can get permission to knock it down. Sad part is that I have heard from a source close to the transaction that the potential buyer has not expressed an interest in even walking through the building. Will build a single new home on that lot, which is over one acre in the most expensive part of San Marco.

[mbwright]

The existing home could not be built today.  I would venture a guess the potentially new house would be generic,  no style, and certainly not one that would be considered significant, nor historic in another 75+ years.  Why don't they just build a new house in Queen's Harbor, or other non-historic area.    I recently toured some very large new houses as part of the Tallahassee Builder Association Parade of home, and it was truely amazing how poorly built thye were, and had major flaws, or design issues, in my opinion.  I would hate to see this happen.

[duvaldude08]

why would anyone want to demolish that home. Holy Crap! I want to know how the inside looks like.

[thelakelander]

The River Road homeowners were offered north of one million dollars for the lot, so they agreed to sell if they can get permission to knock it down.

If this is accurate, that's a pretty strong financial incentive to take it out.

[Tacachale]

Ennis, did you ever find out why the Hurston flower shop was destroyed? Is there really a risk of losing the house too? Considering the connection to one of the most important American writers, this should be a top historic preservation priority. Under no circumstances should this be allowed to be demolished.

[sheclown]

House itself is in no danger of demolition   But the flower shop was an important piece of the historical site. Steps need to be take n now to ensure the protection of what remains

[Josh]

Clearly the problem with that River Road home is that it doesn't have enough Chinese drywall inside. Unbelievable.

[Timkin]

Unbelievable is an understatement.

[Redbaron616]

Landmark or national historic status is nothing more than the seizing of private property because somehow the public believes it belongs to them. Never mind that the public (or government) has never put a dime into one of these buildings. Somehow they believe it belongs to them and they are going to take it. This adds considerable burden onto the current owner who is no longer allowed to do as he wishes to his property.