New Residents/Preservation Group to Replace SPAR?

[fsujax]

^^I might join that one! :-)

[strider]

Posted by: fsu813 
strider,

in your opinion.....what are the long-term goals of SRG and what is long-term affect on the area if they reach their goal?

Let's face it, the long term goals of SRG are to be successful selling it's houses, and perhaps, developing it's commercial interests.  On the surface, one can easily say they match, or at least mesh well with the goals of the residents to have a prosperous and safe community.  To be honest, the long term goal of SRG should matter to no one but SRG.  They are a for profit company and as such, are actually only concerned for their own profits.  That does not say that SRG has not done a lot of good for this community nor does it say that any of the principles do not care for Springfield.  Just that a for profit company can not nor should not be the primary leader or "power" that leads this community forward.  For every good thing that has come from SRG, one can find a negative.  SRG does not like the old empty houses.  It isn't the lots they are after, but rather a look they prefer over the boarded up and "broken" house.  A negative from SRG. It is also within their right to feel that way. If Springfield turns around and things begin selling again, then will SRG stay or cash out?  We don't know.  Nor should we care.  They should only be a small part of what makes Springfield good and successful.  Some have put SRG "up there" and that can be dangerous.  Perhaps not by design, but just dangerous by fate.

Frankly, if SRG were to be 100% successful, 90% of the residents would like the new, old style looking area we would have.  Only a relative few of us would truly miss the 30% to 40% of the old homes and commercial buildings that were lost along the way.

But the point here is that SRG is not the real problem.  They can only be used as an example of how a developer that seems to do mostly good can also be part of the problem.  The worst problem right now is a community organization that has stated it no longer is worrying about the historic houses as a primary mission.  It is now a commercial development organization and does not have to listen to any of it's membership or anyone in the community at all for the matter.  That is why something else must be done.  It may be what Smallwood is going to propose, we will have to wait and see.

[Springfield Girl]

The healthier we can make the neighborhood in the short term will determine what happens in the future. Thank goodness there is still a lot of rehabbing and new construction going on which means the neighborhood is still moving forward. The last thing we want is for development to stagnate. Mack has said to me many times that if you're not changing you are dying and I have found that to be true. Sometimes I would love to lay back and not have to fight so hard for Springfield but I know it is something I can't afford to do at this time. I feel this economy has been good for Springfield in many ways. When people were asking upwards of 150k for condemned houses with no historic fabric left, I was realistic enough to know that most of the bad ones were not going to get rehabbed. Now with the prices getting lower people have an incentive to rehab the worst ones and can afford to do it, so I think the historic homes stand a much better chance today than they did 2 or 3 years ago. It's a catch 22. I was glad when the prices were so high because I thought it would get the flippers and shoddy rehabbers out but it also kept new homeowners away. We've got the best possible situation now. Homeowners can afford to buy and rehab and banks won't lend money to investors and flippers. I hate to lose old houses as much as anyone but the long term holding and neglect was not working either and hopefully the teardowns have gotten people outraged enough to demand more action from the city. The demos have gotten the attention of the historic commission and we are moving forward to try and come up with a solution other than demolition now or demolition by neglect which are the only options the city has at this time.

[AlexS]

demolition now or demolition by neglect which are the only options the city has at this time.

Doesn't Sec 307.110 already provide the means to prevent demolition by neglect ? Seems to me the city already has more options, but decides not to use them.

[Springfield Girl]

Alex, you're right and we want the city to get more proactive.

[Kathryn]

How about this idea?

Battered U.S. cities buy foreclosed homes to rebuild

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE53N14K20090424

[Springfielder]

demolition now or demolition by neglect which are the only options the city has at this time.

Doesn't Sec 307.110 already provide the means to prevent demolition by neglect ? Seems to me the city already has more options, but decides not to use them.

That's the main problem, the city won't do what's right, they seem too content with allowing the demos to continue with no desire to preserve the historical value and integrity. The city does indeed, have options...but fail to use them

[ChriswUfGator]

how about a Springfield Florida State Seminoles club? that sounds good to me . . . .

[AlexS]

Whatever happened to the new organization ? Or was it all just a rumor ?

[Karl_Pilkington]

how about a Springfield Florida State Seminoles club? that sounds good to me . . . .

I think they already have one and they ususally meet around 11pm near the corner of 8th and Boulevard.