RADO's Newest Renovation

[jason_contentdg]

I definitely like the proportions of the example better.

So what kind of control does RADO, RAP, or any of the other historic preservation organizations have over cosmetic choices like those your originally posted?

Rado is a not for profit developer, rap oversees the design of all of the new construction and rehabilitation in riverside and avondale and offers there suggestion to the city's historic preservation board.  But RADO was started by RAP.

[Jason]

Ahh, ok.

So what kind of power does RAP have?

[Jason]

RAP offers grant money for "Historic" renovations, right?

[gregbeere]

So..............It seems like the point here is that if you live in Riverside / Avondale and you are wealthy or live near the shops or the river, RAP cares what your architecture looks like.  If you live in work force / or low income housing in the same historic designation but on the fringe and possibly next to a crack house, RAP and the Historic Preservation Board do not really care what the architecture looks like. Please prove me wrong.  Good design and historic preservation is not only for the rich.  As for "tufsul", fronting more money does not solve the problem.  The brackets on the blue bungalow above were removed to add columns.  The brackets were existing....or free $$$!  Well, at least the owners have a cool 16” deep porch to hang out on.  From what I understand, RADO was formed by RAP.  I understand that everyone has an opinion and there is always going to be someone who disagrees with certain decisions especially in design issues.  My problem is with the entity that was set up to regulate proper historic architecture in Riverside and Avondale "RAP" who in turn sets up an organization to construct and rehab affordable homes "RADO".  If you are going to enforce guidelines, please do it across the board, not only when it effects your own property values.   I just love the comment "….. it is better than it was before"             Is it really?     

[jmccharen]

Wow, this is a funny thread.

RAP does "care" about what we build (by we I mean RADO). They regularly and cordially give us hell for this or that. They don't hold the authority to regulate design, but they help administer the historic guidelines. As I understand these are COJ guidelines somehow related to Department of the Interior rules. Any construction in the district has to get a Certificate of Appropriateness before it can be permitted. They approve everything we do, including columns on porches.

Funny story though: on a Myra Street rehab we were cited for having non-historic columns on the porch...but they were original to the house! We don't know what we're talking about, when we say "historic", half the time. Even the folks in charge.

All in all, the folks at RAP and with Historic Preservation at COJ do keep these neighborhoods looking good and consistent. And I have to say, having toured homes built by several other nonprofit developers in Jacksonville, RADO blows most of them out of the water both in terms of design and construction. I happen to have a little bit of RADO pride. Just wait til you see our all green-built development on Green Street! And no, I'm not interested in re-opening the various worthy fights that development has seen since it's proposal.

We really have done a bang up job on that block so far. The homes in this corner of the neighborhood are small and plain, but very cute. If anyone wants a personal tour, just give a ring.