Strider banned from SPAR building

[buckethead]

As it pertains to the issue at hand, I am left to speculate that it is concerning the Spar insiders not favoring boarding houses. Perhaps they don't like thrift shops. IIRC, The thrift shop is to help fund a halfway house for recovering addicts.

Personally, I love me some recovery. In fairness I'm not sure I would want a recovery based boarding house next to mine. Recovery=AWESOME... Relapse=consequences.

Relapses are a reality within recovery groups. Still, it is an honorable endeavor to offer a place to those who would seek recovery.

[ChriswUfGator]

You misunderstand.

The issue, i think, is WHO is running the thrift store and WHO it benefits directly -  not that a thrift store opened in general. There is a long history b/t Joe aka Strider & the SPAR council, and the residents who SPAR represents.

Nah, that IS the issue.

SPAR represents maybe 5% of the population of the neighborhood (mostly middle and upper class white people) but makes 98% of the noise about everything. Anybody who doesn't fit their idea of who should be there, or what type of property or business should be there, they exclude and treat like $h!t.

And it's been going on for 10 years. Same old crap, different day. SPAR doesn't represent anything but a VERY vocal minority, but for whatever reason the council, mayor, and code enforcement all play along with them. The whole thing's a joke. Hell, they don't even follow their OWN rules and bylaws when it comes to electing directors and conducting meetings, but they sure worry a lot about whether everyone else is following the rules...as they see them.

Honestly, what have they really done, except constantly stir up drama? I don't see them buying, or doing anything else to prevent the demolition of, these vacant historic properties that COJ regularly bulldozes. Then they championed the biggest idiot investor to ever hit the neighborhood, who probably got his multiple low-interest mortgages from COJ with SPAR's help, and the head honcho continues to do so despite the fact that he's effectively insolvent and has dozens of foreclosures going, not to mention still ripping off the owners of his already-foreclosed places by continuing to collect rent even though he hasn't owned them since 2008.

Every time you hear anything about SPAR, it's just some silly politics and drama. S'field would be better off without them. They need to go away, and be replaced by another group that operates like RAP. I'm sure RAP would even help them restructure things, if they'd ask (but they won't). As to Strider, he has a right to attend a public meeting, and I'd advise him to go see his attorney.

[ChriswUfGator]

As it pertains to the issue at hand, I am left to speculate that it is concerning the Spar insiders not favoring boarding houses. Perhaps they don't like thrift shops. IIRC, The thrift shop is to help fund a halfway house for recovering addicts.

Personally, I love me some recovery. In fairness I'm not sure I would want a recovery based boarding house next to mine. Recovery=AWESOME... Relapse=consequences.

Relapses are a reality within recovery groups. Still, it is an honorable endeavor to offer a place to those who would seek recovery.

Well, let's look at reality a minute...

Ask the question; If his boarding houses and thrift store weren't there, what would be there?

Answer: Probably a vacant lot, or yet another empty place. Some of these people really guzzle the gentrification Kool-Aid, and if you listen to them it's better to have it vacant than to be a thrift store *gasp*. Because, you know, Saks and Lord & Taylor will surely be opening up in Springfield any day now.

[ChriswUfGator]

would you seriously like me to list in detail all the grounds for a future civil complaint against SPAR?

FSU, you can't deliberately interfere with other people's businesses the way that SPAR has without opening yourself up to litigation.

You can read from the other comments on this page that the general public finds the attitutudes shocking and the behavior critical.

If what was said about SPAR circulating a list of businesses, the sole purpose of which is for the members to band together and call code enforcement en masse in an effort to shut them down, then SPAR should rightfully get hit with tortious interference.

The information and attitudes regarding SPAR's behavior that has come out in this thread is utterly appalling. I'm honestly shocked.

[fsu813]

I've been a member of SPAR for about a year, and lived in the area for that long as well.

To various points of Stephen Dare's & ChriswufGator:

- i'm not aware of any interfernce into businesses, execpt to make sure they are on the up & up (codes, laws, etc). I am aware that they advocate for certain businesses over others, but not any interference......what do you consider interference Stephen?

- Chris, there is a reason why SPAR is the face & voice of Springfield: b/c noone else has stepped up and taken that responsibility! They have put in the time, effort, money, etc that is takes and noone else has. Stephen referenced some time ago about a possible new group forming similar to SPAR but with a different mission, but nothing has materialized. If you have large enough group of people, the time, energy, and resources nessecary to advocate, protect, and represent the neighborhood then let's do it. But noone has shown this. So since that option is no feasible, the other realistic option would be to join SPAR. If enough of their members want to make adjustments to thier mission or policies it will happen. This doesn't seem to appeal to those who have an issue with SPAR either. You have to do one or the other, if you wish to have a legit complaint. If you don't want to do either then what are you complaining about? It's like those who complain about politics but do not vote. I'm not saying SPAR is 100% fanatastic, i'm saying that they are the largest voice, the most effective mover & shaker, and have the best interest of the neighborhood in mind. Some might take issue with a detail here and there, but the vast majority of what they do is non-contraversail and positive. Apparently you only hear about the negative things, unfortunatley. If you are interested in the positive things, i'm sure many people could fill you in that have a broader knowledge than myself.

BTW - they got off the ground by renovating and selling historic houses, i believe, everyone "championed" Craig, and vacant properties don't get demo'd unless they have major structural issues.

Again, i'm certainly not a SPAR aplogist by any means, but the illogical negativity directed their way puzzles me. If you don't what they are, do something about it, basically. But don't down play thier importance.

[fsu813]

Stephen,

yes i'm seriously interested in knowing what exactly you have a problem with concerning SPAR policy, approach, etc and what actions they've done that are worthy of a lawsuit, in your opinion.

Not to be smart, but i beleive that in the Folio article, it referneced that your lawsuit against Van Horn was dismissed for a number of reasons, so perhaps you don't have the best judgment in deciding what's worthy and what's not. Or perhaps you do, i'm not sure.

[braeburn]

You misunderstand.

The issue, i think, is WHO is running the thrift store and WHO it benefits directly -  not that a thrift store opened in general. There is a long history b/t Joe aka Strider & the SPAR council, and the residents who SPAR represents.

I am not misunderstanding anything. It is quite clear that as long as it benefits SPAR or the residents who SPAR represents and nobody else, then it is acceptable. If this Strider person wants to use his own money, time and effort on his own ventures with HIS OWN PROPERTY and is within the limitations of what's acceptable and allowable by law, who is anyone to condemn or tell him otherwise?

This person has been given a scarlet letter by a select few individuals. And these individuals are going to do anything in their power to cause this person to suffer an economic loss until he has to move out of the neighborhood.

That's not preservation or restoration at all.

[braeburn]

Taken directly from the SPAR website:

SPAR Council is a non-profit community organization, whose purpose is to provide leadership to the residents of Historic Springfield to revitalize, preserve, and restore the community through its diverse programs. Springfield is Jacksonville's first, and oldest, sub-division, established in 1869.

All SPAR Council Officers and Directors are volunteers and residents of or business owners within the Springfield National Historic District. A minimum of 2/3 board directorship resides within the Springfield National Historic District.

Sounds like they should change their acronym to RAPED: Restoration And Preservation Exclusively for the Directors.

[Karl_Pilkington]

If what was said about SPAR circulating a list of businesses, the sole purpose of which is for the members to band together and call code enforcement en masse in an effort to shut them down, then SPAR should rightfully get hit with tortious interference.

uhm..calling code enforcement to report violations of the law is not and will never be tortious interference with a business or contract, but don't listen to me.....file away... hire those trial lawyers they need the business!

[Karl_Pilkington]

Deliberately harrassing using these methods most certainly can be tortious interference, karl.

Also, there happens to be a very clear legal case to be made using publicly posted material from an individual who was a spar board member claiming to authoritatively know that properties in the neighborhood were hopelessly contaminated with environmental issues despite this being a lie.

It caused two separate deals involving millions of dollars to fall through.  Deals that would have happened except that the potential investors felt that the neighborhood organization had more reason to tell the truth than the person selling the property.

then they should definitely take your legal advice and file some suits already!  sounds like you've got a slam dunk there, why not go for it? I love legal posturing, its so much fun, but only if the lawyers get paid! afterall corporate entities must be represented by members of the bar, so yeah go for it.

[Karl_Pilkington]

muah?  nope never, have never, will never, could care less about SPAR thanks for asking though.

[Karl_Pilkington]

you are very welcome!

[nvrenuf]

I really wish non-Springfield residents on this forum would quit implying that SPAR represents and speaks for all of us and that were all real pleased with everything they do. It simply isn't true.

[braeburn]

Upon rereading this entire post, it looks like everyone is quite aware that it's "select few individuals" and not the entire neighborhood...

[sheclown]

...and btw, Strider did pay his $50 and is a card carrying member of SPAR.