Section 106 Review: Are we doing our homework?

[sheclown]

I don't understand the criteria that well, after all, I only know what I have been researching, but I believe that houses 50 years or older need section 106 reviews?

Not just if they are located in a historic district?

One quick look at the list would tell us that many of these properties are old.  Certainly those listed in New Springfield.

And this is just for 32206.  What is Durkeeville's zip code?  How many old homes were demolished there using NSP1 funds?

Remember that the city got $ 1 million dollars for demolition under that program.

[strider]

It doesn't seem like it is just for demolitions either, anything you do to a house 50 years old or older and/ or having a historic designation or eligible for that designation must have a 106 review.  Isn't that why we hear some cities do 106 reviews all the time as a matter of course rather than take the chance they get it wrong?

In one case where the feds didn't like how funds were spent, they asked for it back.  Wonder if MCC can pay back that cool mil?

[sheclown]

Part of the 106 Review Plan is public comments. 

The neighborhood banded together and placed hearts in front of this apartment building to show how important it was to everyone.

This article was in the paper:

Neighborhood Places Their Hearts on Patterson Apartments
Submitted by Nicole Lopez
Friday, April 29th, 2011, 10:30pm


342 W. 10th Street, a.k.a. Patterson Apartments is slated for demolition.  It's only a matter of time: the sewer and electric lines have been cut and it waits in the hands of the demolition contractor.  A year ago, the JHPC (Historic Preservation Commission) approved this property for the (non-existent) formal track for demolition.  Meaning, the owner had his last chance to "restore or demolish" (demolish on his own) the property or MCCD (Code Enforcement) will abate the "problem" by demolishing it.

A small, growing, and forceful group has emerged in the neighborhood in this last year.  With a heart as their symbol, Preservation SOS sent multiple messages out to the neighborhood asking for their hearts (residents were given decorative wood hearts made by SOS to symbolize preservation support in Historic Springfield) to be delivered and adorn Patterson Apartments to send out a loud message of preservation.

Since becoming a historic district in 1987, Historic Springfield has lost over 450 homes to demolition.  If you wish to voice your concern over the unnecessary demolition of this home, please contact the mayor's office, with it's death eminent, going all the way to the top is the only way.

http://springfield.firstcoastnews.com/news/neighborhood-places-their-hearts-patterson-apartments/53156

[sheclown]

working through the list for the dates built:

1424 17th Street East Demolition – 1962

245 17th Street East Demolition – 1914

1952 Evergreen Avenue Demolition – 1919

1503 Ionia Street Demolition – 1908

533 Golfair Boulevard Demolition – 1922

1720 Danese Street Demolition – 1926

1509 Evergreen Avenue Demolition --1909

1414 Florida Avenue Demolition -- no record card

702 Phelps Street Demolition –  1909

[sheclown]

1206 Franklin Street Demolition – 1899

630 Phelps Street Demolition – 1904

3126 Plateau Street Demolition-- 1931

1971 Phoenix Avenue Demolition – no record card

2217 Evergreen Avenue Demolition – no record card

165 West 40th Street Demolition – 1951

2830 Blair Street Demolition – 1931

1721 Ionia Street Demolition  – 1909

111 East 6th Street Demolition – 1910

[sheclown]

 915 Palmetto Street Demolition – 1934

1221 Van Buren Street Demolition –  no record card

721 East 4th Street Demolition – 1904

319 Woodbine Street Demolition – 1947

1477 Evergreen Avenue Demolition – 1930

665 Ivy Street Demolition – 1928

1377 Milnor Street Demolition – 1904

892 Van Buren Street Demolition – 1933

25 East 18th Street Demolition – 1919

[sheclown]

Shall I go on?

All of the houses I have looked up have been 50 years or older.  All required a section 106 review.  None were done.

$1 million dollars spent of NSP 1 funds to demolish --

[JaxUnicorn]

Attached are screen shots of an excel spreadsheet I put together of all the demolitions completed using NSP1 funds.  Some fo the demolition lien dates are recent (2013).  Of the 59 properties listed, I've been able to find 51 properties over 50 years old with a total of 57 demolitions.  There are 8 listed for which I am unable to find the address or the demo information.

If someone can tell me how to attach the actual document, I'm willing to do that as well.

[sheclown]

wow Kim.  Fantastic.

[sheclown]

And sheclown, let me see if I understand this.

The million dollars that you referenced was given to the city with the proviso that it would be used to stabilize the structures first, and that these 106 reviews were supposed to be done prior to any demolitions.

And the point of the 106 review is to determine if the money could be used to stabilize, repair and preserve rather than destroy?

And Kim Scott took the very money meant to stabilize the houses, kept it from contractors willing to do the work at near cost and used it to demolish the structures at full market value, with all salvage rights going to the demolition company?

yes.

And its even worse.  Some of these were done AGAINST the homeowner's wishes. 

[ChriswUfGator]

and apparently the salvage rights were stolen from the landowners.

the following comment from our facebook page:

I hope this means she can now be stopped! In addition to the loss of these historic structures, it seems that the policy to give salvage rights to the demolition companies is also illegal? As I understand it, these properties were never seized by the City, yet they gave away all of the private property (not just salvaged materials but also tools and anything else found on site) belonging to the owners to a third party with as little as 72 hours notice to appeal?

Well speaking of, they don't follow their own notices either, I have a client right now who was given 72 hours within which to appeal, which she was doing, then they tore it the next morning after delivering the notice.

[Cheshire Cat]

and apparently the salvage rights were stolen from the landowners.

the following comment from our facebook page:

I hope this means she can now be stopped! In addition to the loss of these historic structures, it seems that the policy to give salvage rights to the demolition companies is also illegal? As I understand it, these properties were never seized by the City, yet they gave away all of the private property (not just salvaged materials but also tools and anything else found on site) belonging to the owners to a third party with as little as 72 hours notice to appeal?

Well speaking of, they don't follow their own notices either, I have a client right now who was given 72 hours within which to appeal, which she was doing, then they tore it the next morning after delivering the notice.

You have got to be kidding me.  This is out of control.  So glad things are now being exposed.

[JaxUnicorn]

Isnt alot of this happening in Gaffney's district?

Yes, a lot of this IS happening in Gaffney's district.  09/30/13 I had a meeting scheduled to speak to Gaffney about NSP funds being used for demolitions in Springfield.  Sheclown went with me.  At that meeting we presented all sorts of documentation that spelled out what is required to use federal funds to demolish a historic structure and how the City was not following that procedure.  Gaffney seemed appalled and we set up a meeting with the City Attorney, Terrance Ashante-Barker, Kim Scott, Calvin Burney, HPC staff, CM Daniels and a few others.  We then went to see CM Brown about mothballing.  Because the attendees requested to discuss both issues were the same, the Councilmen decided to combine the meeting - that meeting was to be held tomorrow at 2:00. 

For some unknown reason, this meeting has been cancelled.  And with no communication whatsoever to me or Sheclown, the two citizens who requested the meeting in the first place.  I left a message for CM Gaffney's assistant Tiffany early this morning and have yet to receive a return call.

Don't know what the heck is going on but I'll tell you what...you will either speak to us privately with a limited audience, or we will speak to EVERYONE!

[Cheshire Cat]

Gaffney is well aware of what has been going down via Kim Scott's office.  Now it will be a matter of wanting to distance himself from what is exposed at the same time he risks his own exposure via an angry Scott.  This is going to be very interesting to watch.  The cancellation is no surprise.  This can of worms actually exposes a mindset and history of behavior that touches more people that Kim Scott. 

[JaxUnicorn]

You know what?  If folks did what is right all the time, there would be no need to worry about 'exposure' from anything or anyone.  This whole thing pisses me off more than you know and although I've been extremely angry about this for a while, it's getting worse now. 

After speaking at City Council meetings on both June 11 and June 25 about demolition, several council members said they wanted to be involved in finding out what was going on.  Emails were sent to them and no response was received.  After my statements at each meeting, I was asked to meet council members in the green room where they expressed "extreme concern" about what I was relaying to them.  What has been done?  NADA!  It is all a smoke screen to perhaps make them look like they care.  I'm telling you this - I am tired of hearing that you are upset and appalled....If you are,  DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!  This City has had ample time to investigate this on their own and they've all ignored it.