Demolition debate mounting in Jacksonville City Hall as old buildings go down

[sheclown]

. This 2nd and Liberty property had a closing coming soon? It had been there 100 years, and was just days away from salvation? Wow. That's irony. Or BS

Metro North was purchasing it and planning on renovating using NSP 3 funds.  Check out the front page of Tuesday paper.

[Debbie Thompson]

First, Riverside used to be pretty seedy at one time too. I know what I'm talking about. Second, $250k would have been more than enough as the house had been completely rebuilt inside, new trusses and new covering on the roof. You see, instead of doing a bad flip where you paint over bad stuff and then sell to an unsuspecting buyer, this person started with making the house structurally sound first, like you should do before prettying it up as seems more important to you. Again, you are commenting without knowing the whole story. Which would be fine if you weren't so cocky and arrogant about your supposed knowledge and nicer about it. Third, Stephen, is Surbananite really Big Nugget under a new name?

[ChriswUfGator]

. This 2nd and Liberty property had a closing coming soon? It had been there 100 years, and was just days away from salvation? Wow. That's irony. Or BS

Metro North was purchasing it and planning on renovating using NSP 3 funds.  Check out the front page of Tuesday paper.

No kidding, I have a copy of the signed contract on my desk, it was real.

[JayBird]

Third, Stephen, is Surbananite really Big Nugget under a new name?

LoL 

[m74reeves]

I think even those of us in Riverside Avondale should be concerned about this. It's foolish to think that what is going on in Springfield can't happen in our neighborhood. Springfield has maybe 20-30 years on average of age over most homes in Riverside Avondale. Take that age + current glut of foreclosed and/or vacant houses and you can be cooking up some properties that will have code and unhappy neighbors going crazy. That is why we need to have better policies in place.

[John P]

Dont be offended suburbanite I was accused of being big nugget too. I guess they really cant beleive there are lots of people that dont see eye to eye with them. If you dont agree you must be lying or you should move away. That appears to be the mentality of this group. Meanwhile I personally continue to enjoy my historic home and help the neighborhood where I can

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

In this case, remember that we have access to more of the information than is apparent.

u can haz IP log?

[tpot]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/11/3495704/miami-beach-mayor-launches-new.html

Article in Miami about the Mayor stepping in to help save historic homes.......

[JFman00]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/11/3495704/miami-beach-mayor-launches-new.html

Article in Miami about the Mayor stepping in to help save historic homes.......

Those communists. Don't they know the only way to jumpstart economic development is to level buildings/neighborhoods and hope for the best?

[Kiva]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/11/3495704/miami-beach-mayor-launches-new.html

Article in Miami about the Mayor stepping in to help save historic homes.......

I doubt our mayor will do this. He seems more motivated to attracting re-election money from big donors than actually being a leader out in front of public opinion. I voted for him, but so far he has not done much to impress me.

[sheclown]

Kiva. That's what I heard tonight too.

[suburbanite]

Who is "Big Nugget" LOL! I'm a genuine newbie to this site. My writing style is tongue-in-cheek, if that's offensive, stop taking yourself so seriously. I am a long time resident (since 1974, age 12), who knows the west bank neighborhoods as good, if not better, than anyone. Please, I'm admittedly no Wayne Wood, but I am intimately acquainted with the area. I'm also very acquainted with Springfield, too.
I never doubted the existence of a pending contract on 2nd and Liberty, just the ability to successfully close. My interests are architecture, city planning, and sociology; not necessarily in that particular order. I'm not formally trained, but read as much as I can. Yes, it's sad to see these buildings go, but to patch and band-aid them at city cost is crazy talk. As if we don't have more pressing needs than those dubious wants. Historic fabric? That's not going anywhere. Unless of course the city tries to "La Villa" the neighborhood, which I would oppose. But I don't see that happening. What I do see is people blaming the city for being in a no-win situation. Leave the structures, shore 'em up, confiscate 'em, sell 'em, with only a hope and a prayer the cycle doesn't repeat itself, while endangering nearby lives and property values; or knock'em down, removing any danger, and allow for a new beginning. Springfield will never be what it was, the Acosta Bridge and Riverside-Avondale sealed that envelope. But there is plenty of hope for it, let it evolve.

[mbwright]

But the problem is that Springfield is becoming LaVilla, one by one.  Take a look at Historic Lavilla before, and after.  Take a look at the total house and commercial building inventory numbers before and now, in a nationally recognized Historic District (Springfield).

[strider]

It all has to do with the current definition of "unsafe" as used by Ms Scott.  If a house has plumbing issues, if the electricity is cut off (most often cut by them) and if there are holes in the wall, then the public is at grave risk from that house. 

I guess that none of us would be here under those definitions as our ancestors would have been killed off by those unsafe houses they lived in that had no plumbing, no electricity and had cracks between every log.

The phrase" in the name of public safety" has become a death sentence for many houses here in Springfield and the current actions on the part of Ms Scott and the resulting meek response of the historic staff and the Office of General Counsel has proved that Ms Scott has a lot of power and is going to use it to demolish as many houses as possible.  $400,000.00 going to her for that purpose from NSP3 alone.

Maybe when the leadership begins to realize that the recent demolitions did not just cost the demolition funds that will never get repaid but  up to $ 200,000.00 each  from the lawsuits, they might figure it out and make the needed changes to stop the nonsense.

[vicupstate]

Who is "Big Nugget" LOL! I'm a genuine newbie to this site. My writing style is tongue-in-cheek, if that's offensive, stop taking yourself so seriously. I am a long time resident (since 1974, age 12), who knows the west bank neighborhoods as good, if not better, than anyone. Please, I'm admittedly no Wayne Wood, but I am intimately acquainted with the area. I'm also very acquainted with Springfield, too.
I never doubted the existence of a pending contract on 2nd and Liberty, just the ability to successfully close. My interests are architecture, city planning, and sociology; not necessarily in that particular order. I'm not formally trained, but read as much as I can. Yes, it's sad to see these buildings go, but to patch and band-aid them at city cost is crazy talk. As if we don't have more pressing needs than those dubious wants. Historic fabric? That's not going anywhere. Unless of course the city tries to "La Villa" the neighborhood, which I would oppose. But I don't see that happening. What I do see is people blaming the city for being in a no-win situation. Leave the structures, shore 'em up, confiscate 'em, sell 'em, with only a hope and a prayer the cycle doesn't repeat itself, while endangering nearby lives and property values; or knock'em down, removing any danger, and allow for a new beginning. Springfield will never be what it was, the Acosta Bridge and Riverside-Avondale sealed that envelope. But there is plenty of hope for it, let it evolve.

The only difference between LaVilla and Springfield is the pace, the result is the same.

What is the difference between paying $2,000 to a contractor to mothball a property and $5,000 to demolish it, except that 3,000 of tax money gets wasted in the later situation?  It the city has the capability to do one, it can just as easily do the other. 

The fact is these properties are not unsafe to begin with, it is a BS excuse. 

I have to say, you totally lost me on the Acosta Bridge/R-A comment.  Care to explain?