Poll: Sons of Confederate Veterans wants old Duval County Armory; Yes or No?

[CityLife]

All very valid concerns. But again, if the alternative is a total lack of maintenance, eventual condemning, and demolition.... I like the dollar deal, even as a stop gap to save a great building like the armory.

Lake mentioned 9th and Main. When was that building last used? 2009?

The Child Care facility at 1st and APR? 2008?

What about Jax Seafood in Lavilla? Never?

Jax sucks at managing property, and it seldom ends well.

Nobody knows what the alternative is because an RFP hasn't been issued. Without the city seeking bidders, nobody has a clue who would be interested, what they would be interested in doing, how much they would spend on repairs, etc.

The amount of people/groups that have been interested (and still are interested) in buying 9th and Main is lengthy. I forget a lot of them now, but off the top of my head Carmine's sticks out.

But yes, you are absolutely right that Jax is awful at managing property. Giving away The Armory to a group that isn't exactly beloved by all for a $1 a year without feeling out the market would be right up there with the worst of COJ's land management moves.

[Demosthenes]

Wasnt an RFP issued for all of these locations previously?

[Cheshire Cat]

Wasnt an RFP issued for all of these locations previously?

An announcement had been made sometime back that an inventory of city owned property and structures was to be done and then discussion and decisions about how to address what was owned undertaken.  Since then there has been no further discussion that I know of.  As to a recent RFP I am unsure as to when the last one was done.  If however we have reached the point where a dollar lease is being proposed, another RFP "should" be issued.

[CityLife]

Yes RFP's for others have been issued and I imagine that is why the city isn't doing 20 year leases for $1 at those places, because they know there is some value and demand. The city was also trying to sell those places, not give out free leases, so its not really apples to apples with the Armory. I can't speak for the other properties, but the city handled the 9th and Main RFP process horrifically and then just stopped even working with interested parties. The real problem with the 9th and Main deal was that the city had an above market valuation of the property.

The valuation of The Armory should be...what does the user contribute to the public good of Jacksonville as well as the immediate area, how well will they repair/maintain the building, what will they pay the city for a lease or will the use potentially have revenue sharing capabilities in lieu of a lease...and probably other stuff I can't think of right now.

I want that building in use and repaired as much as everyone else, but I'd like to see a fair, democratic process that benefits all the residents and taxpayers of Jacksonville...not a select few who worked out a behind the scenes deal.

[Cheshire Cat]

Yes RFP's for others have been issued and I imagine that is why the city isn't doing 20 year leases for $1 at those places, because they know there is some value and demand. The city was also trying to sell those places, not give out free leases, so its not really apples to apples with the Armory. I can't speak for the other properties, but the city handled the 9th and Main RFP process horrifically and then just stopped even working with interested parties. The real problem with the 9th and Main deal was that the city had an above market valuation of the property.

The valuation of The Armory should be...what does the user contribute to the public good of Jacksonville as well as the immediate area, how well will they repair/maintain the building, what will they pay the city for a lease or will the use potentially have revenue sharing capabilities in lieu of a lease...and probably other stuff I can't think of right now.

I want that building in use and repaired as much as everyone else, but I'd like to see a fair, democratic process that benefits all the residents and taxpayers of Jacksonville...not a select few who worked out a behind the scenes deal.

Yup, you hit the nail on the head! 

[mbwright]

Don't let MCCD hear that there is water damage, and abandoned.  They will want an emergency Demo in no time.

[Cheshire Cat]

Don't let MCCD hear that there is water damage, and abandoned.  They will want an emergency Demo in no time.

This building and it's issues are already on the radar.  I don't think we will see any moves to attempt to demolish, although in this city one should always keep their eye on the prize.

[John P]

Wasnt an RFP issued for all of these locations previously?

An announcement had been made sometime back that an inventory of city owned property and structures was to be done and then discussion and decisions about how to address what was owned undertaken.  Since then there has been no further discussion that I know of.  As to a recent RFP I am unsure as to when the last one was done.  If however we have reached the point where a dollar lease is being proposed, another RFP "should" be issued.

This was in the paper last week http://mayportmirror.jacksonville.com/news/premium-news/2013-06-14/story/jacksonvilles-investments-restaurants-not-likely-be-fully
I cut and paste the part of about the 9th and main building but it talks about other city properties too.

The city also must find a buyer for a vacant restaurant building at the corner of Ninth and Main streets in Springfield. The city has owned it since January 2010, and Springfield residents say it’s become an eyesore that holds back the neighborhood.

“It’s just been very frustrating to know the city is the reason why nothing has happened,” said Bill Hoff, president of Springfield Preservation and Revitalization, a nonprofit neighborhood group.

The city is open to selling the property “if that would contribute to Springfield revitalization,” said Chris Hand, chief of staff for Mayor Alvin Brown.

He said the property has some “environmental challenges” from its former use as an auto repair shop. A sale of the property also would have to clear up back taxes, which total about $90,000, according to the Duval County Tax Collector’s office.

The Ninth and Main property was a boarded-up repair garage when the city gave Symbiosis Investments a loan to help convert it into a combination restaurant and lounge. The building housed two restaurants, Henrietta’s followed by Nosh, but both closed. Symbiosis later defaulted on repaying its loan.

Hoff said Springfield can support a restaurant at Ninth and Main.

“If the city would just get out of the way,” he said, “it could be used for a community asset.”

The city has gotten some offers, albeit for less than what it invested through the loan.

In 2012, Springfield resident Marlon Hubbard and some fellow investors offered to buy the building for $138,000. Hubbard said he waited months and eventually withdrew the offer because it was taking too long to get an answer from the city.

Hubbard planned to put a coffee bar, a piano bar and a venue for live performances in the building. He said it would have been open by now.

“The longer it sits like that, the more money a potential investor had to put into it to bring it back up,” he said. “They [city officials] are not gaining any value by having it just sit there.”

The city had planned to hire a consultant to evaluate all the city’s real estate holdings. But both firms seeking that contract would have charged more than the $150,000 budget for the study. Hand said the city will either narrow the scope of the study and rebid it, or do an in-house study.

He said the Ninth and Main building “will be a priority” for that study.

[Demosthenes]

Ah yes. More studies. Lets stop all progress for Studies. When did John Peyton get back to the 4th floor?

[ChriswUfGator]

“It’s just been very frustrating to know the city is the reason why nothing has happened,” said Bill Hoff, president of Springfield Preservation and Revitalization, a nonprofit neighborhood group.

Oh the irony. Really, this has got to win some kind of award...

[icarus]

“It’s just been very frustrating to know the city is the reason why nothing has happened,” said Bill Hoff, president of Springfield Preservation and Revitalization, a nonprofit neighborhood group.

Oh the irony. Really, this has got to win some kind of award...

+1

[Cheshire Cat]

The city had planned to hire a consultant to evaluate all the city’s real estate holdings. But both firms seeking that contract would have charged more than the $150,000 budget for the study. Hand said the city will either narrow the scope of the study and rebid it, or do an in-house study.

He said the Ninth and Main building “will be a priority” for that study.

The bottom line here is that the Mayor and his administration publicly announced that there was to be a list made of city owned properties and "nothing" was done.  There are far too many announcements coming from the mayor and his administration about plans that are never realized.  It is unsettling.  There is also the question of why between Public Works, Public buildings and a city real estate office that we would be hiring someone to create a list of city owned properties when the city should be able to generate an up to date, accurate list without the need for a "study" by an outside organization.  The lack of an updated list is not only problematic but in many ways unacceptable.  These assets belong to the citizens and by the appearance of things, it does not look like the city even has an understanding of what those assets are!  Amazing!

[Noone]

^^^We are so LOST. Wait until the secret FIND list is unveiled on 6/26/13. Talk about a clueless council.
Anyone want to make a donation to 2009-442 the Corrupt Council Area Reef.
Did anyone go to the 6/19/13 DIA Board meeting? DIA Board member Barakat asked if the armory is in the DIA zone. It is not. Fellow Board member Allegretti when notified that the Sons of the Confederate Veterans were seeking a dollar a year asked "Will that be in Confederate dollars?" The man just brings the house down. That is why the Downtown Experience chaired by Tony Allegretti is the most fun subcommittee of the DIA.

[Noone]

While the city is at it, does anyone want to put together a development team and try to lease the Old Courthouse with me? It's a pretty prime real estate spot. I'd say worth at least $7 a year.

I'm in for a buck. We have water access right next door with Hogans Creek.

[sheclown]

The city is still struggling with racial issues.  The only people who don't seem to think so are the ones who have lived here all of their lives. 

There is a high school named after a KKK leader and it is predominately filled with children of color.

The issue is too sensitive for this -- maybe some day, but not today.

IMHO