Code Enforcement Demolitions are set to begin (Blight initiative)

strider · February 06, 2015, 08:18:09 AM

Yes, the entire blight initiative should be a important issue talked about to potential candidates. It may appear at first to only effect the urban core and the poorer among us but the potential for financial damage to the entire city is there. And from this list, the policy is moving on to places like Arlington. Even the more modern ranch designs that were showcased in the recent Arlington tour are going to be under fire from this ordinance and the policies being followed. The cut off is supposed to be 1965. Think of Murray Hill, San Marco, St Nicolas and think about how they would look with every other house gone. From the 5 million in fees collected (2.5 million to the city), that is somewhere around 33,000 structures alone and does not account for all the vacant structures nor if some registered were multi family. HUD has stated the number could be up to 72,000 units.

There are always options to demolition. Even with the new "Blight Bill", there are options. And yet, demolition is the first choice here, even when the other options available are more affordable. When you talk to people like Kimberly Scott and Jason Teal, you realize that it is a choice they make to ignore parts of the ordinances they are sworn to follow and uphold. It is policy to use the most destructive methods in dealing with the issues facing the poorer urban areas of this city. That policy is set by people like Denise Lee, Bill Gulliford, Alvin Brown and yes, even approved or at least accepted by Lori Boyer and the others that say they are for better polices.

The only way to change those policies is to change the people setting them.

JaxMetro · February 06, 2015, 08:25:54 AM

Just happened upon this site yesterday after seeing the blip about a new transit corridor to Tampa. Great site, informative.

JaxUnicorn · February 06, 2015, 09:24:08 AM

Found a link to the documennt! Hope it works for everyone....

http://www2.coj.net/rfp/documents/CapitalImprovementBids/CF-0082-15.pdf

The list of properties begins on page 38.

IrvAdams · February 06, 2015, 09:26:57 AM

Welcome, JaxMetro; this is indeed an awesome forum, big on history as well as current political issues. We want to preserve our architecture and the urban fabric that used to serve us so well before the city exploded in suburban sprawl.

JaxUnicorn · February 06, 2015, 12:51:12 PM

I have edited the original post to correct a typo and the City's error on addresses. I've also added the year built and RE# with some additional information if I happened to notice it. The addresses that were changed now have an asterisk in front of them.

sheclown · February 06, 2015, 01:11:31 PM

Urban Renewal. Pure and Simple.

http://www.youtube.com/v/mWGwsA1V2r4?rel=0

And if you think this just affects vacant structures, talk to Mr. Foster.

iloveionia · February 07, 2015, 12:08:41 PM

"Slum Clearance Committee"
Eerie.

JaxUnicorn · February 08, 2015, 10:32:39 AM

Sheclown, that is just sad.... I don't know what else to say.

thelakelander · February 09, 2015, 07:46:57 AM

Here's 1023 Dora Street. Built in 1930, it's the last retail storefront in the westside of Brooklyn that's not on Park Street. It's definitely not in danger of falling down but has been vacant for some time. With the stuff happening in Brooklyn, it's the type of structure that an urban pioneer would take a chance on to retrofit as a small office, residential loft or art gallery. Too bad the push to turn a little section of Brooklyn into a historic district failed.

Once it's gone, the best hope for this little footprint is a well maintained grass lot or parking lot until the redevelopment craze demolishes the rest of the historic buildings on this block.

strider · February 09, 2015, 08:43:18 AM

From the page of Sunday's Times Union - from Steve Patterson:

http://jacksonville.com/news/politics/2015-02-08/story/demographics-show-canidates-face-many-jacksonville-consitutuencies

QuoteGloria DeVall, a preservation activist from the urban core, said she's concerned about the city's heavy-handed approach to dealing with neighborhood blight, as well as better parks and pedestrian and bicycle safety.

"There's a sense that the urban core parks are being neglected," she said

QuoteBruce.Lipsky@jacksonville.com
Gloria DeVall, a longtime Springfield preservation activist, said she feels the city is guilty of heavy-handed enforcement, like the threatened fines for this house on Market Street. DeVall organized an army of volunteers to paint the house.

sheclown · February 16, 2015, 12:45:34 PM

on the list above is the house from this post last year:

Quote from: sheclown on March 31, 2014, 05:56:10 PM
An east Springfield woman received a notice last Thursday for trash in her yard --debris she is cleaning up from a fire which recently destroyed her home. She is working in getting estimates from contractors and slowly cleaning up the interior.

So imagine her surprise when contractors hired by code enforcement began cleaning up the yard. And to do so, they knocked down a portion of her fence to get the equipment in.

She called JSO. Three cars showed up.

After much heated discussion, the contractors and the city left, but not before returning a wheelbarrow full of trash to her front yard.

"The letter said I had 15 days and I only received it last Thursday!" she said.

As the contractors drove off she yelled after them "I"M NOT PAYING FOR THIS"

Dercel's house in on the blight demo list just sent out for bid. Needless to say, this is news to her.

Certainly the house has suffered damage from the fire; however, it is her desire to rebuild her home and return there with her family. It hasn't been a year since the fire and it is boarded up.

sheclown · February 16, 2015, 12:46:35 PM

This house in New Springfield on Market Street is a beauty. One hundred years old and still standing (for a little while, at least).

thelakelander · February 16, 2015, 12:52:56 PM

So they can demo properties against the owner's will? Leaving the owner with a vacant unusable property and bill for a demo not requested? How does this improve the neighborhood's ability to become economically viable again?

thelakelander · February 16, 2015, 12:57:51 PM

Quote from: sheclown on February 16, 2015, 12:46:35 PM

This house in New Springfield on Market Street is a beauty. One hundred years old and still standing (for a little while, at least).

If this house is torn down, it will be the first empty lot on that block of Market Street. New Springfield has the majority of its historic building fabric still in place. It's a wonder it's not an official historic district already. This compact little district would be a perfect fit for conversion of vacant building stock into affordable housing. It's close to downtown, industry, has its own commercial strip and would be a good transit oriented development location with BRT and the north commuter rail corridor penetrating its boundaries. It would be shame to start destroying it now.

NaldoAveKnight · February 16, 2015, 01:43:11 PM

Quote from: sheclown on February 16, 2015, 12:46:35 PM

This house in New Springfield on Market Street is a beauty. One hundred years old and still standing (for a little while, at least).

Seriously? I've lived in Springfield. It's not for lightweights. Every property owner in Springfield is jumping for joy that these complete eyesores and magnets for crime are being addressed. Anyone against responsible stewardship of this community on the ropes must be related to Dusty Simmons or holed up in a Mandarin gated community, lamenting the loss of neighborhoods of 'character' in between trips to Whole Foods, Starbucks and Chick-fil-A.