Blight committee ponders razing sound structures --

[sheclown]

Citizen is fed up

[sheclown]

Citizen asked if tax certificates had been sold by the tax collector, could the city demolish the structure(s)?  The answer is yes.  It was recommended that people not buy tax certificates on property that may be demolished.p

[sheclown]

Citizen asked if tax certificates had been sold by the tax collector, could the city demolish the structure(s)?  The answer is yes.  It was recommended that people not buy tax certificates on property that may be demolished.

[sheclown]

Lee wants an update from the CDCs on organizing neighborhoods

[sheclown]

Jim Robinson, public works, talked about throughfare plan presentation next meeting.  List provided by council members and citizens.  Will show who's responsible and how they're going to fill in gaps. Will have maps, too.  Lee said now that the sheriff's office is taking over illegal dumping so now public works xan soend more on mowing

[sheclown]

Kim Scott spoke about foreclosures.  Activity stopped in 2004 because there were no nonprofits to hand the property over to.  There needs to be a plan for what to do after foreclosure before city starts foreclosing again.  Wants to present what other cities are doing.   Including tearing down entire blocks.

[sheclown]

Lee accepted her offer to make a presentation in 2 weeks.  Presentation will be with mccd, housing and community development and real estate.

[sheclown]

Jones's committee is also looking at what to do with foreclosured properties

[sheclown]

Jones is going to ride around with chief ivy.  Anderson thanked lee for her courage and agreed to ride around with her. 

Lee thanked other council people and admin for coming together to work on this citywide problem

[sheclown]

Proposed Agenda
Stand Up for Your Neighborhoods
August 27, 2014
10 a.m.
Don Davis Room

Committee: E Denise Lee, Chair; Council Member Jim Love; Council Member Bill Gulliford; Council Member John Crescimbeni, Council Member Bill Bishop, Council Member Greg Anderson, and Council Member Warren Jones.

Call to order
Approve minutes from August 13 meeting

Old Business:
Report on policy regarding structures that are 50 years or older – CM Warren Jones
Discussion of information presented by Jason Teal at Aug. 13 meeting
Review of benefits of foreclosure vs. demolition
Subcommittee on business permitting and licensing (Certificate of Use) – Chair CM Warren Jones
Draft legislation from Paige Johnston
Update on cameras and Operation Cease Fire –Pat Ivey, JSO
Report on the number of neighborhoods that have been organized over the last 3 years – Kenny Logsdon
Database of neighborhoods and status of clarifying classification between neighborhoods and organizations.
45th Street Amoco Station PUD – Cherry Shaw
Can the grandfather clause in part 7 be amended in this case?
Status of proposed legislation to draft rezoning ordinance to another category.
Crime statistics for 45th Street and Avenue B – Pat Ivey.
Report on Payne Street near 13th Street and Moncrief Road – Paul Tutwiler, NWJCDC
Status report on 13th and Moncrief – Robert Prado
Report on legal steps that are being taken on this property and report on status of other such properties.
New Business

Public Comment
   30 minutes will be allotted at end of meeting.

Adjourn

[Debbie Thompson]

Who was able to attend?  Summary?

[thelakelander]

The revamped bill has passed. Most vacant buildings outside of the few designated historic districts in town can be torn down with ease.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-01-27/story/jacksonville-council-passes-bill-requiring-demolition-blighted-homes

The largest negative impact will be the Northwest section of the city. Unfortunately, there's still no realistic plan in place for actual redevelopment and economic revitalization neighborhoods.

[JimInJax]

I would rather look at empty lots than falling down buildings, overgrown with vines.

[thelakelander]

^That's what they say in Detroit too. They also don't have a viable plan to actually deal with economic revitalization in their distressed communities either.





Locally, you can see this now in what used to be the neighborhood of Sugar Hill. It's a pure mess of trash filled overgrown vacant lots in what used to be one of the most economically viable historic African-American neighborhoods in the city. Pretty much identical to the Detroit images above.  Since none of the older black neighborhoods are considered historic districts, despite  being just as old and impressive as the Springfields, Riversides, etc., we're going to see structurally sound places like this:


A vacant residence in Durkeeville

end up like this:


1436 Eaverson Street in Durkeeville

To be honest, I'd rather see taxpayers invest in a third option. One that focuses on redeveloping structurally sound vacant structures for use as affordable housing, job creation, economic opportunity for these neighborhoods. There's examples of strategies across the country that may be applicable for us. We and our political leaders just have to advance to the point where we have more pride in our community and our ability to turn things around, if that's truly the goal.

[strider]

This is a thread that has the revamped bill posted.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,22328.msg401584.html#msg401584

While the original bill made a point of insuring they could just as easily take historic structures as any other, at least this version keeps the few protections this city allows it's historic building stock to remain in tack.

What is ironic is that this bill uses definitions that will primarily apply and do damage to the very less cared about neighborhoods that brings millions of Federal dollars to Jacksonville every single year. Those millions are really supposed to be used to revitalize those neighborhoods not mow them down. What is truly sad is that these communities probably could be saved and revitalized for the same money if not even less than the city will spent to demolish them.

This bill also gives the option of taking and donating the property to both non-profits and for profit entities so that that get rehabbed and put back to use rather than just demolition.  However, regardless of the rhetoric from even good council members like Lori Boyer, as long as deals have been  made and people like Kimberly Scott and Denise Lee have their way, demolition will be the far preferred and used method of dealing with what they have determined to be blight.