Petition to save LaVilla Shotgun houses.

[Cheshire Cat]

I hope everyone who cares about the rich history of LaVilla, Jacksonville's own "Harlem of the South" will sign this petition to declare the last three surviving "Shotgun Houses", historic properties.  You can find out more about them by visiting the thread on this forum discussion the structures and view the three short video's on the thread as well.  http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-aug-lavilla-shotgun-houses-on-verge-of-being-demolished


To sign the petition use this link:


http://www.change.org/petitions/jacksonville-landing-use-zoning-board-support-historic-landmark-designation-for-lavilla-shotgun-houses

[Cheshire Cat]

Wanted to bump this post.  Please sign this petition to save the last three homes in Historic LaVilla.   For those who see this on the forum, you don't have to be a forum member to sign the petition.  Just click the link and you can sign.    Please folks, we can do this much to save what is left of the "Harlem of the South"!

[Wacca Pilatka]

Thanks for setting this up!  Just signed.

[Cheshire Cat]

Bump>   Please sign, this meeting is tomorrow.  Ennis is going to attend and speak if he has the opportunity.  Each time a person signs a message is sent to the inbox of Lori Boyer who chairs the LUZ.  Thanks everyone.

[sheclown]

While I'm waiting for you to sign the petition,

http://www.change.org/petitions/jacksonville-landing-use-zoning-board-support-historic-landmark-designation-for-lavilla-shotgun-houses

I'll just sit here and listen to some Billie...

http://www.youtube.com/v/XqECFy_qzkM?list=PL35034CB031A7EED8

and imagine a LaVilla, teeming with life.

[thelakelander]

Bump>   Please sign, this meeting is tomorrow.  Ennis is going to attend and speak if he has the opportunity.  Each time a person signs a message is sent to the inbox of Lori Boyer who chairs the LUZ.  Thanks everyone.

Unfortunately, I just found out I have a family issue will keep me away from tonight's meeting.  However, I have already sent each member of the LUZ a personal email on why I believe the shotguns should be landmarked.

[Cheshire Cat]

Bump>   Please sign, this meeting is tomorrow.  Ennis is going to attend and speak if he has the opportunity.  Each time a person signs a message is sent to the inbox of Lori Boyer who chairs the LUZ.  Thanks everyone.

Unfortunately, I just found out I have a family issue will keep me away from tonight's meeting.  However, I have already sent each member of the LUZ a personal email on why I believe the shotguns should be landmarked.

Family first, always.   

[edjax]

Bump so ScrubPalmetto and AuditoreEnterprise can get this thread live and working.

[Scrub Palmetto]

Thanks! I have a lot of homework to focus on tonight, but I will be back here soon to read through the thread linked in the first post. I missed all of that discussion and the videos.

What is the latest with these? Any news since August?

[AuditoreEnterprise]

Okay some of the information on the property I cannot vouch for because I do not know the extent of the circumstances, but the person that knows what I am referring to will post about it if they see it to be okay to disclose. As I stated earlier I met with Joel from the historic preservation department. What Joel had to say was that the city did not want to see them rot, however they were unsure what to do with them. I am going to assume that it has something to do with the amount of money it costs to restore a home to its original state when it is deemed historical. There are strict guidelines that someone must follow in order to undertake a project of that magnitude. Anyway, (this will shed light to my overall intent towards downtown) The city knows and understands that certain services that I have though readily available are not offered pro bono publico. Most contracting companies are smaller operations and ultimately the greed of freedom, money, and power often fog people's vision for long term relations. Now what I had to offer the city is to go in make the necessary repairs to bring them back to a point where they can be deemed "mothballed." This will be good for them because it makes investors not only see that there is progress, ultimately making them take a position to move or lose. After the buildings are "mothballed" it will protect the property from nuisance liens and code violations making renovations all the easier and allowing the time to restore it at your own pace without incurring crazy amounts of city fines... Now because I am offering this project to the city for next to free, when I undertake a larger project that I have my sights on they are less likely to take your proposals with a grain of salt, thus making grants and loans all the easier to access. Now many people may disagree with the method, but it has gotten me to the point where I am drafting a proposal for submission and turning it in within the next few days so for now it is effective... What will happen to them after they are done is hard to say. I just hope that this effort along with a usage contract will ensure that they are not abused or mistreated in the future.

[AuditoreEnterprise]

completely forgot to post the condition. One of the LaVilla 3 has a back porch that is coming down so i have to fix that first and foremost.. Couple boards was the estimate of repair from Joel. Another issue is the fireplaces were removed, which I am planning to put back as the see through fireplaces are very rare these days and fairly simple to construct and that takes care of the floor holes. As for the roofs there are a few areas that are in need of patching, but nothing too serious he said. Finally, the walls are in need of stripping and priming but an easy fix... Then it needs security lighting and boarded windows and such and the renovations will begin.. All i am waiting for at this time is the greenlight to do it.

[sheclown]

The shotguns need all the help they can get

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-aug-lavilla-shotgun-houses-on-verge-of-being-demolished

They are landmarked, and that is a wonderful thing, but reading about interest in helping them is wonderful news.

[Cheshire Cat]

So you talked to Joel.  Cool Beans.  Did he tell you whether or not he was actually able to get the final designation for the homes as being historic?  The idea to mothball is a good one but you need to ask Joel about actually getting on the City's approved contractors list.  Did you get into the houses at all?  The foundations were good last time I was there but that was some time ago. The floors inside were actually good with the exception of one where someone broke through the floor to squat inside the building.

You may want to think about also offering a price for restoration if the structures have indeed been designated.  There is a very sizable amount of money in the city's historic preservations funds that go only toward preservation. Those funds can be used for any historic structure in the city and these buildings are city owned.  No one talks about the funding much and that may be because some developers have their eyes on the money.  Don't let that stop you from inquiring and pushing for funding.  You can contact the City Auditors office or email them and get the actual figure for the monies left.  I hope Joel will help you make the case for mothballing but full restoration would be lovely.  If nothing else the city can then resell the restored structures.  Since you mentioned that you had experience in dealing with ruins in Italy, you really should ask Joel about Genovar Hall.  I told you about that yesterday.  That building has over 750k in it if you can believe that.  It is also historically designated.  All of the windows, doors and historic bits and pieces are supposedly stored somewhere by the fraternity I told you about.  The city would have to call their attorney who was at the time a fellow named Reggie Estelle.  Let them call him though.  I told them it was their responsibility to get all of the fittings when the structure was deeded back to the city.  My guess would be no one did.  According to preservation requirements the exterior of the building must remain the same but the uses inside are completely open.  See if you can't get some info on it.  I kind of though it might make a sort of market place kind of like the straw market in Charleston S.C.  That would require some plumbing for bathrooms but not a whole lot of finish work inside.  It could keep the open warehouse look.   Just some suggestions for you.  I had a contractor check the structures back in the day and even with one having a roof problem, he deemed all of the structures worthy of restoration.

There is a woman who has been behind a recent effort to have the buildings designated and restored.  I will look for her name in my papers.  I can't remember it off the bat.  She will do all that she can to help you, I am sure of it. 

[AuditoreEnterprise]

So you talked to Joel.  Cool Beans.  Did he tell you whether or not he was actually able to get the final designation for the homes as being historic?  The idea to mothball is a good one but you need to ask Joel about actually getting on the City's approved contractors list.  Did you get into the houses at all?  The foundations were good last time I was there but that was some time ago. The floors inside were actually good with the exception of one where someone broke through the floor to squat inside the building.

You may want to think about also offering a price for restoration if the structures have indeed been designated.  There is a very sizable amount of money in the city's historic preservations funds that go only toward preservation. Those funds can be used for any historic structure in the city and these buildings are city owned.  No one talks about the funding much and that may be because some developers have their eyes on the money.  Don't let that stop you from inquiring and pushing for funding.  You can contact the City Auditors office or email them and get the actual figure for the monies left.  I hope Joel will help you make the case for mothballing but full restoration would be lovely.  If nothing else the city can then resell the restored structures.  Since you mentioned that you had experience in dealing with ruins in Italy, you really should ask Joel about Genovar Hall.  I told you about that yesterday.  That building has over 750k in it if you can believe that.  It is also historically designated.  All of the windows, doors and historic bits and pieces are supposedly stored somewhere by the fraternity I told you about.  The city would have to call their attorney who was at the time a fellow named Reggie Estelle.  Let them call him though.  I told them it was their responsibility to get all of the fittings when the structure was deeded back to the city.  My guess would be no one did.  According to preservation requirements the exterior of the building must remain the same but the uses inside are completely open.  See if you can't get some info on it.  I kind of though it might make a sort of market place kind of like the straw market in Charleston S.C.  That would require some plumbing for bathrooms but not a whole lot of finish work inside.  It could keep the open warehouse look.   Just some suggestions for you.  I had a contractor check the structures back in the day and even with one having a roof problem, he deemed all of the structures worthy of restoration.

There is a woman who has been behind a recent effort to have the buildings designated and restored.  I will look for her name in my papers.  I can't remember it off the bat.  She will do all that she can to help you, I am sure of it. 

I forgot to ask him about that one, but I will bring it up when I speak to Luis Flores. He seemed adamant about keeping the seminole club as it is on the interior and also whatever building is behind it. Apparently the same person owns both of them. He didn't mention getting on any list though so I am assuming that is only to bid on city contracts as usually is the case. I really don't think I would need the city to pay for the shotgun homes to get them to mothball state. After that I have a guy that will likely open his construction account for me to use at my disposal which could complete the good majority of the work costing the city nothing at all.

[Cheshire Cat]

Thanks Gloria.  So they did finally get landmarked.  That is good to hear.