Update on Annie Lytle Preservation Group

[iloveionia]

If Tarpon is talking, I want that direct line.  They have helped in the loss of Springfield's historic homes.  They have a few homes they can give to PSOS.  Empty lots as well.  I love the school and applaud the efforts of the group providing love and care.

[PATSY/AUTUMN]

Thanks to all of the supporters we have here.  Naysayers, meh, I prefer to see the positive in life.  PSOS has worked wonders in Springfield.  Our efforts are different in some ways, but the intention remains the same.

[johncb]

Please dont think I dont find your passion admirable,Jacksonville could certainly use more folks like your group.I just dont understand WHY.Why that poor building? Its not like it was even used that long.The amount of money to rehab it would be staggering to contemplate.I just think you alls passion would be so much more needed elsewhere,where the fight might have a positive outcome,thats all.Its a sad reality that in this day and age,its far cheaper to demolish and rebuild than to rehab.

[Kay]

Keep on Pasty/Autumn.  Annie Lytle needs to be saved and rehabbed and will be a wonderful addition to the neighborhood.  Ignore the naysayers.  It is a good and worthy cause.  And it will happen.

[PATSY/AUTUMN]

Despite all the negativity a lot of people have, we will continue.  Progress of a sort is being made.
We hope to have more positive results to report on soon. 
Until then, I Love Ionia, Dog Walker, She Clown and all the rest of our supporters keep believing in us.

[iloveionia]

I fell in love with the school as soon as I saw it off the interstate. Keep pressing on. I understand. Been there, done that, still there.

[icarus]

I'm a little late to this thread but has anyone looked into setting up a not-for-profit to rehab the school (community center, arts center)?  Also, what is the status of the current ownership?

I dealt with this property almost ten years ago where the Foundation that owned it turned down a multi-million dollar offer for it.  Based on experience, I doubt the Foundation could see its way through to do anything.

[HangingMoth]

It's a beautiful building, Keep it up PATSY/AUTUMN. I saw that it made the list of haunted places in VOID magazine. Maybe there is a fund raising/ promotion for restoration in something like that, just a thought.

[Noone]

I'm a little late to this thread but has anyone looked into setting up a not-for-profit to rehab the school (community center, arts center)?  Also, what is the status of the current ownership?

I dealt with this property almost ten years ago where the Foundation that owned it turned down a multi-million dollar offer for it.  Based on experience, I doubt the Foundation could see its way through to do anything.

What is the name of the Foundation?

[mtraininjax]

Once RAP is able to get the dogpark operational I think having more people in the area will help PS 4, and ultimately find a solution. I know Doug Milne continues to lobby for a positive outcome.

[PATSY/AUTUMN]

Mtrainjax, Mr. Milne does continue to support the cause. We have a lot of people who support us in our efforts.  But lately the more vocal have been the negative people. 
Every weekend we make a little more progress in our work.  for the curious you may see this on our FaceBook page "Save Public School Number four / Annie Lytle. We return inside on the 26th of this month with big plans.

[mtraininjax]

When RAM opens the dog park, there will be more people down there who will be asking and questioning why such a great building sits empty. Same will happen with 220 Riverside opens and people see the fire station. Just hang on and change will come. I know Timken used to rip me for saying it needed to torn down, but I think now that the area of Riverside Park is changing, it will infect PS4 as well. I am hopeful.

[PATSY/AUTUMN]

This past Saturday (Oct. 26th)  two of the upstairs rooms were completely cleaned down to the bare floors of clothing, trash etc.  It was a mighty effort.  Looking forward to cleaning out more rooms starting Saturday morning and until we have them all done....however long that takes.  Dog Walker came by and gave us some wise suggestions and Officer Mike with JSO stopped by to see our progress.
This weekend some of our team plan on helping PSOS with one their pet projects.  It's such a great thing they are doing in Springfield!  Our volunteers are happy to get a chance to work with them and maybe learn something from their experience. 

[Jumpinjack]

When RAM opens the dog park, there will be more people down there who will be asking and questioning why such a great building sits empty. Same will happen with 220 Riverside opens and people see the fire station. Just hang on and change will come. I know Timken used to rip me for saying it needed to torn down, but I think now that the area of Riverside Park is changing, it will infect PS4 as well. I am hopeful.

Thanks for your change of heart. I believe you are right.

Just two days ago, I spoke with a young college student who didn't know anything about the school's history or place in the community. All she saw was destruction and she was happy to break the law and trespass in the building for thrills. As we talked she began to understand that the building was once strong, important to our neighborhood. With help from volunteers like Tim and Patsy it could be again. She is now an advocate for preservation and restoration of the building. She sees that the location near Riverside and the park could be an exciting gift to make the reuse of the school possible. I wish we had hundreds more converts like her.

[icarus]

While I applaud the beautification of Annie Lytle, I'd really like to understand the goal and the history.

In 2007, in a deed executed by Doug Milne's office manager, Shirley Moore, as the president of the Ida M. Stevens Foundation, the building was transferred to Pennisular Brooklyn, LLC of which only Doug Milne is listed as a manager. What is interesting is that Foundation Holding IV, Inc., presumably an instrumentality of the Ida M. Stevens Foundation, retains ownership of all the remaining property and by all .. I mean all.

The property was then purchased for $86,600 at tax sale by Tarpon IV, LLC. But, the discussion here fails to acknowledge that Tarpon owes $16,660.85 in nuisance liens on the property that have accumulated since 2010 a well as over $41K in unpaid property taxes.

Looking at the legal descriptions, Doug Milne and the Ida M. Stevens Foundation are the only ones capable of doing anything about the property.  Literally, you can not enter the school property without crossing  Foundation Holding IV's reserved property interest. 

Sitting on the sidelines, based on these facts, here is my observations about the situation:

1. the school building was transferred to both reduce the tax and legal liability to the foundation of its ownership.  The remaining property was kept in Foundation Holding IV's name so that the Foundation still exerts economic control of the building without having any of the liability or the cost. ( a good legal strategy for the Foundation but a bad one for preservation)

2. At this point, I am sure that Tarpon is willing to let go of it because they obviously bought it without proper due diligence.

3. If Tarpon was to transfer the property, I assure you it would be subject to the taxes and liens levied by the City. ($60k+/-)

4. I am sure Doug Milne is cooperating with the group because you are doing the work the Foundation has refused to do for decades (demolition by neglect). And, based on the reserved property rights, no one can develop, sell or really do anything constructive with the property without Doug Milne's consent.

I'd slow down on preservation efforts and start asking some real pointed questions of Doug Milne and the Ida M. Stevens Foundation. And, I'd be looking for a thank you card because you are giving the private owner a huge gift.

Again, not trying to be negative Nancy but I hate to see a savy investor take advantage of the hard work and good will of others.