HPC Agenda 7/2010

[Springfielder]

I would love to have been there for all of this, but having the pleasure of reading through Stephens comments and commentary is so worth it!! 

I hope that my letter was read into record, or at least it has been included into record.

Thanks to all who were there and endured such crap, to speak up for our neighborhood.

[Timkin]

And so........What is the outcome..  Did they genuinely listen to your concerns and have any intention of helping you? or was this just a formality before they proceed....

I am just curious.  IF it takes boarding up , cleaning up, WHATEVER to save these places, I ll gladly pitch in

[iloveionia]

OMG.  I thought I was going to die.  Food delivery and alcohol would have helped.  Someone HAS to take on that responsibility next time.

First off, Lisa Sheppard spoke to the Commission before we all did, and quite frankly I just wanted to say "ditto."  I just love her.  

The Commission read and received all of our letters and emails.  I'll bet one or more of them read the various internet blogs too.  They were very aware we were coming, very aware we were there.

Everyone from Springfield that spoke addressed different points and I witnessed lots of nods in agreement and positive facial gestures in our favor from the commission towards the preservation of Historic Springfield homes.  Lisa, Joel, Samantha, and Autumn (HPC Office,) breathed sighs of relief and seemed to whisper "thank you" to the Springfield folks who remained.

They (the Commission) "get" the policy change necessity and the struggle it will be, AND also re-formed/re-established a committee before we departed to take this on!  Lisa Sheppard helped immensely to "set this up" (the revisit of the committee.) All the commission has ever known (most are new,) is what code enforcement presented and what the former SPAR director stated which by standard was in favor of demolition.  The chairperson stated this to us as a group, sort of apologetically; we didn't know anything different.  So by my summation, when Code and the representative for SPAR say demolition, how else do you respond?  The Commission was very appreciative and thankful we, the community, were there.  Our voice was heard!!!!!!!!!  They want to work towards positive change and they want to include us. 

I feel very good about was has occurred in this month in regards to preservation.  We have come together as a group of concerned people for preservation and incited the right people, in the right position to be our voice.  

It's not over yet.  But what a great (positive) start to the process of preservation that should have NEVER disappeared.  

Whoot!  Whoot!

P.S.  I did paraphrase two letters that AVS gave to me.  You were heard.

[Timkin]

Kudos to all of you..  I really wish it did not require individual areas of the city to form groups of Preservation but that as a collective we could speak as one for the whole city.

I am certainly not crying the blues or feeling sorry for myself ,but in PS#4s case , I fought in everyway I know how to ...I worked on it until I no longer regularly could.. Quitting is not in my vocabulary... It is a bright spot in my day that you people all went down there ,  and made yourselves heard.

Again i wish Historic Preservation could work as a collective and not require individual areas to form chapters... Brooklyn/LaVilla to my knowledge, have zero representation , So I fear the very very few remaining pieces , shall eventually also fall... I hope that I am wrong....

[uptowngirl]

I agree with everything Ionia posted. A specail thanks to Lissa, Joel, and Samantha. If no one else made the point this evening, stephen did. He spoke specifically to the history Jacksonville has lost, not just in our neighborhood, but in many, many others. He brought the point home-which was fitting as he was the last speaker. We opened the doors, and Stephen took them through each room. I want to thanks Stephen, MetroJaX, and all the readers and posters here for helping us- we can go a long ways on our own I suppose, but with your support and forum we can save history!

So to each and everyone of you,the good people of Springfield, and MetroJax in particular------THANK YOU! You aremaking a difference in our environment, history, and lives.

[uptowngirl]

Timkin, the one thing I took away from this meeting is it is not only us- your school, the Riverside FS, Ortega for godsakes.... they all need to be protected. We need to all band together and do the right thing and save our history. I am in it for the long haul!

[iloveionia]

Yes.  Stephen brought up very eloquently the history of Jax and what we have lost and can not get back. 
Policy change will help historic neighborhoods and sites. 
I would make contact with HPC about the Annie School efforts.  Photos, clean-ups, etc.  They just need the knowledge.  I think in the end the positive effort and policy change will help all history, not just Springfield be protected.
I remember that school when I first came here, before I knew about the story and your love and efforts to save her.  I have a picture of me in front of it with my arms open to the sky.  It can be done.  It will be done. 

[Timkin]

Timkin, the one thing I took away from this meeting is it is not only us- your school, the Riverside FS, Ortega for godsakes.... they all need to be protected. We need to all band together and do the right thing and save our history. I am in it for the long haul!

I read you loud and clear... and I am not trying to sound sarcastic by asking this question... HOW do we make this happen??  How do we make this Council and this City management GET it through their skulls that WE DO NOT WANT ANOTHER PIECE OF OUR HISTORY DESTROYED??

I am ALL FOR banding together...  Not much in to the nightclub scene or bowling alleys or football, but when it comes to helping my fellow man , or saving a building from a destiny it should not have, I am all over it.. Hopefully my trackrecord precedes me.

[sheclown]

Stephen's speech made grown women cry.  He talked about Harlem and the Harlem we lost.  He talked about houses, famous and colorful ones that are forever gone.  He pointed fingers and told the commission that they will be accountable to future generations.  It was a thing of beauty.

Lisa Sheppard has been great in all of this.  Very professional.

Uptown reminded the committee of the environmental issues present and asked the question:   what will happen to all of the local children when they tear down lead paint, asbestos shingles and ash-infected soil?

And Strider gave us a brief history in Springfield's condemned property drama.  He tied property values to demolition rates.  

The new chair is delightfully candid.  He asked us to appoint one speaker for our side.  We declined, but promised to keep it brief (all but Stephen - and he didn't).  He held the neighborhood accountable for the state we're in.  As he said, SPAR has been supporting demolitions for years, what is the HPC to do?

And our fearless leader, Iloveionia, could hardly contain herself.  Clapping, running to the podium, a sort of gansta cheerleader for preservation.  Springfield couldn't have a better gas pedal to get things done.

There will be a subcommittee which will address alternatives to the Formal Track.  This ought to happen quickly and will be open to the public.  And we need to be there.

[sheclown]

Timkin,  this really isn't a Springfield issue.  The affects all historic structures. 

[iloveionia]

And we need to be there.

YES.  EVERYONE FROM EVERYWHERE. NOT JUST SPRINGFIELD.
And I mean the all caps in a positive way. 
The momentum can not die.

[Timkin]

Agree completely... maybe it is that my previous post was misunderstood... Like we have RAP who really has no jurisdiction over PS#4 although Im sure most everyone associated with RAP , loves the building , and would support it staying...( Im not so sure about Corrigan)  There is no Brooklyn Preservation Group... No LaVilla ( and its is really too late for that area..its mostly gone)

I guess what I am stating reflects directly from Sheclown's post  "This affects all historic structures"   I could not agree more..  My question is why are we not a collective, instead of RAP, and * gulp  SPAR and Ortega Preservation?    Does this make sense at all to anyone ?  

[Timkin]

tell me where and when... I will be there.

PS... For anyone who wants contact information on PS# 4's current owner I have all of that..  The former owner retains the surrounding property ( literally around the building and all of it on College).

[uptowngirl]

As Stephen outlined (and as we saw with out own eyes tonight) the whole city is at risk. HPC was basically forced to approve a demo request in Ortega because it is a LOCAL historic district! The house was not only sound and not a damn thing wrong with it, but was cute, very cute to boot. Amazingly enough the  "potential Owner (from Out of state by the way) has already spoken to a well known Springfiled culprit-SRG, Realtor mentioned Mac Bisset by NAME. So I guess we know the future for that poor property-GO BACK TO ATLANTA and take away their history! It is our bad luck a girl from JAX married into that family....

[Timkin]

Well...it aint over , till its bulldozed.. Is there any chance this house could be moved? GIVEN to someone to move versus demoing it.. or is it's location a hinderance to moving it . ?