Folio Weekly: Main Street Man

[Lunican]

Owen Holmes great article on Chris Hionedes is online. Check it out:

http://www.folioweekly.com/folioblog/?p=420

[downtownparks]

He did put one Maimi-esque, beachy, 4 story strip mall looking thing in the story... I would be really curious to see what the HPC and the design review committee would think of that rendering for Main St in Springfield.

[downtownparks]

He did manage to blame neighborhood advocates for his woes though, I thought that was nice

[downtownparks]

Maybe he does now...

[soxfan]

I believe that he only did the work at the beaches because the people in Atlantic Beach sued him. He is a useless lying P.O.S.. He's lied so many times to the people of Springfield and Downtown that he doesn't even know who he's lied to. Do you really think that any of these projects will even get started?? We've heard it all before, I won't hold my breath...

[thelakelander]

Let's see...since I've been here....

1. Old JEA Building - said he was going to turn into office/residential = currently vacant

2. Jones Furniture - said he was going to turn into law offices = currently vacant

3. Florida Ballet - was going to turn into cafe/restaurant = currently vacant

4. Jewish Center - bought and immediately put on the market for twice the sale price = currently vacant

5. Claude Nolan Cadillac - going to turn into lofts = currently vacant

I'm sure I left out some, nevertheless, does anyone see a pattern here?

Anyway, you can't force someone to develop their property, but they should at least have the gall to maintain it.

[downtownparks]

BTW, in the interest of full disclosure, Since the Times Union story a few weeks ago, his lots and buildings have been being kept up to a much greater degree. They are still blighted, but they are at least mowed, and the weeds have been cut back off the fences.

We are currently trying to work with zoning or code to get the razor and barbed wire down at least.

Its also worth noting, the Hionides group was made aware of the over growth and trash back when the Martha Pellino issue came up. nothing happened.

Now, with a little media pressure, it appears he is getting a little clarity on the issue...