New Residents/Preservation Group to Replace SPAR?

[smallwood]

My name is Larry Smallwood, just to let people know. This year I have stated to Spar and other groups that I am going to start Springfield the Heart Of Jacksonville program. I am a local 30 plus years working in and around springfield. Like many of you I have heard stories of redevelopment of this area for years. I am tired of them and I am currently in the process of changing that.The permitting, code enforcement and other activities aid home owners, but the system has flaws no one is perfect.This is about all I will say today, I have a lot of work to . Have A Great Day

[Deuce]

Wow Larry, that's like a hit and run in the forum world. There are a lot of Springfielders on these boards like myself who would be interested to know more.

[fsu813]

This is a serious question......

1) What kind of things does SPAR support that some people, the founders of SHARP I assume, do not support? Anyone have an example or two? I'm trying to see the difference between the two....

Thanks!

[Springfield Girl]

How is the permitting currently done? I just remember hearing about all these permits and certificates you need to get work done. I never cared and we've never gone through spar with any of our repairs. Although I do remember someone on the spar board once talking about how they liked to cruise through the neighborhood and report houses with non-historical windows. I thought that was adorable.

SPAR has nothing to do with permiting. They have no authority regarding construction or design issues. Springfield and Riverside/Avondale are recognized national and local historic districts that fall under the secretary of the interior's guidelines. At least I think that's the correct governing authority. All construction including window replacement is dictated by the building dept. who you don't want to mess with especially now that construcion is slow and they have more time on their hands. I came home last year to find a building inspector in front of my house who wanted to site me for building a pergola in my back yard. The planning dept. has an inspector that drives around Springfield, Riverside and Avondale looking for violations.

[fsujax]

This is true.  I had to get the OK to build a shed in my backyard from the City not SPAR. I called SPAR and was referred to the city.

[zoo]

This is great news!

I hope the preservation mission is not just one of opposition to demolition, but is driven by fundraising and marketing to potential buyers/rehabbers so some of these homes actually get restored. If the mission is just to oppose demolition without a solution to jumpstart restoration, SHARP may want to further develop how mission success will be measured.

GOOD LUCK SHARP!!!

[fsu813]

1) What kind of things does SPAR support that some people, the founders of SHARP I assume, do not support? Anyone have an example or two? I'm trying to see the difference between the two....

[Springfielder]

we don't even know who the members are yet....seems that most of us Springfielders haven't heard anything about it yet....so I'd like to know that, as well as what differences they have as a goal(s) that differs from spar

[alta]

They are against any more structures being demolished to make way for the developer driven infill projects.

Code Word for SRG.  Stephen Why don't you take your fight to the Historic Preservation Commission?  They are the governing body that approves any demolision in Springfield. Not SPAR. 

[Springfield Girl]

What happened to diversity and inclusiveness?

[smallwood]

Good Mourning Springfield.
Just to help with some questions that need some answers.
1. The reason for the historical department is to keep the historical fabric of the area in tack. Mr. McEachin job is to not remove any houses at all, and to aid the residents in rehabbing their property.
2. Code enforcement which is a city agency has the mission to keep properties safe and that repairs meet health and safety codes, yards cut etc. However when some of these houses that have been sitting so long that they have them on the demo list. Some of them for years so the city after long periods of time bring them down.
3. Building department is responsible for all building and remolding , fences yard buildings etc. They must meet codes and regulations. Most of these items are put in place by insurance companies.
Each one has a job and responsibilities and a point of view.
QUESTION ?   The history of Jacksonville and springfield is getting lost who is going to bring our past to life?
Answer   You the people, get active with any organization
This city has a major problem  NO VISION

Have a Great Day

[Deuce]

Code Word for SRG

Enumerate please! It is my understanding that SRG has done their building on empty lots, that they have not torn anything down. I saw the lot before my house was built, empty. Every house that I've watched go up, empty lots. So please provide a list of all historical properties that have been torn down for their apparently horrible infill development.

Id prefer hardworking people any day over a preponderance of people who simply want to drop 300k on a house, shop outside of the neighborhood and make everyone else miserable all day.  (referring to a few of the pointlessly uppity residents---not SPAR)

Them's fighting words. I am one of those uppity people who dropped over 300k on a house. Does paying more for a home make me non-hardworking? I have a job like everyone else and work hard to bring home the bacon (I just bring home a few more strips). I do everything possible to keep my dollars in the neighborhood. I've tried shopping at the downtown Winn-Dixie and I always ate at whatever res. permutation was at 9th and main. Yes, I'm uppity, so I want to spend my money at upscale stores, restaurants. As those come to the hood, they'll get my money.

I'm curious to know whose lives I've made miserable by all this. I've contributed money to SPAR, the dog park, other funds. I maintain my house and I'm constantly improving upon it. I clean up trash on my street and in my alley. I don't have a dog that craps in other people's yards (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,4840.msg74524/topicseen.html#new). I was about to go through the motions to get on the code enforcement board before they were abolished. The only thing I haven't done to improve the neighborhood is physically devote my time to the organizations and improvement efforts, but that's coming.

[spr]

Love him, hate him, or just want your money back from him: Stephen Dare continues to confound - and inspire - Jacksonville.

For the past 20 years, Stephen Dare's projects have followed a reliable pattern: grandiose expectations, scaled-back reality, eventual debt. Gifted with an orginal turn of mind and a storyteller's ability to mesmerize, Dare has inspired others to believe in his ablity to breathe life into Jacksonville's urban neighborhoods. But his critics paint him as a con artist and a cheat. and many who've worked closely with him contend Stephen Dare's main project is to promote Stephen Dare.

[fsu813]

oh gimme a break. Mr. Dare & co just has a different vision than others. just because things haven't worked out in the past as he'd like doesn't mean it's been a malicious attempt to con anyone. he's very educated on this area.

i don't agree with him on everything thing he throws out there, but he is a very talented guy and whatever orgnaziation or business he lends his time to will benefit.

just for the record, i think SRG has been very good for the neighborhood....and i don't care if they've demolished a few deteriorating historical houses in the process. historic houses in the area are not on anyones endangered list. i wouldn't be living in the area if SRG hadn't spent a whole lot of time and money improving it and bringing high value homes into the area. and i can't even afford one, rather i live in a very old house.

[Sigma]

oh gimme a break. Mr. Dare & co just has a different vision than others. just because things haven't worked out in the past as he'd like doesn't mean it's been a malicious attempt to con anyone. he's very educated on this area.

Same argument can be said for Craig Van Horne, but that doesn't stop Stephen Dare from a one-sided slander of the man on this forum. Therefore, it's only fair to invite MR. Van Horne to join the group!