Density Lost: Street by Street

[sheclown]

Take the number of remaining historic houses (minus the infill) on any particular street.  

Count the total lots on the property appraiser's data base map.  

Divide.  

And record the density loss.

Ionia down 30%

Clark down 46%

Carmen down 100%

(I'm currently working on Walnut)

[uptowngirl]

[sheclown]

Walnut looks like this:

92 original structures (residential and commercial)

131 lots

71% or

Walnut has lost 29% of its historic fabric.

[uptowngirl]

This is a Historic Neighborhood, how did we lose so many houses in so little time? Houses that had been standing for over 100 years? Houses that had been abandoned and neglected, left to slumlords and criminals for decades, all gone in the last couple of years under a historic group's stewardship.

Looking back at a rough timeline, the neighborhood started declining in the late 60's early 70's and went into a deep decline in the 80's. It was not until the late 90's early 2000 that they neighborhood started turning. (History as I have been told) Trailblazers like Lisa Neary saw the potential in these gorgeous homes and began restoration/renovation of these grand old ladies. I will not get into the political history from this point on, but I think there is an important message here: These ladies made it through the "bad times" of 1960-1999 mostly intact, with facade changes for sure, their insides chopped up by panelling and drywall, in some cases completely abandoned and condemned for decades. Even in drug and crime infested decades these ladies made it with most of their original woodwork, tile, windows, and fixtures. But once this became a historic district, once people who claim they want to "save these ladies" moved in, once the neighborhood started making that "turn", the ladies started coming down. We have lost significantly more historic structures during the time of supposed preservation, than during the decades of drugs, crime, slumlords, and neglect. The same group who condemns rooming houses (which were prevalent in the past) is responsible for losing more historic structures in the last two years than the last 10 decades combined. The self proclaimed stewards of Springfield's fantastic history have failed miserably. More damage to our historic fabric has occurred under this stewardship than at any other time in the history of the neighborhood.

The past five years have been spent waging internal neighborhood battles, more and more residents joining in and trying to force SPAR to stand up and preserve the fabric we have left. That time is over now. Concerned residents are banding together and making a stand on their own to save what is left, "hit or miss" performance on the most important asset in the neighborhood is not acceptable. The sheer amount of historic structures lost under the stewardship of an organization created to protect our historic designation and fabric is not only unacceptable, but shameful.  How many vacant lots will it take? Take a look at Durkeville or Lavilla, will it take that much? How much infill will it take to turn this neighborhood from a historic district, to a new housing development that "looks like a historic district"? How much are you willing to lose? As for me, I am not willing to lose anymore, I do not wish to be further embarrassed by the pathetic stewardship provided to Jacksonville's first neighborhood. I will make a stand and attempt to make a difference.

[Springfielder]

Amen sister! I'm right there with you and will certainly do whatever I can to help save what's left.

[fsujax]

that large picture of the vacant lot with the Watson for sale sign, is the lot where my grandmother grew up! I now live behind that lot!

[avs]

The lot next to the Watson lot we are leasing for the eastside community garden - which is a good use for vacant lots

[uptowngirl]

The lot next to the Watson lot we are leasing for the eastside community garden - which is a good use for vacant lots

I cannot thank you enough AVS asnd ONH, for making a longtime dream for these vacant lots come true! While I have nothing against infill, I really think it stops becoming infill when the majority of street is comprised of new construction. Unfortunately the eastside has already incurred the damage, I would LOVE to see some of these lots become community parks and gardens instead of "the New Ionia" or the "New 3rd St E".

[avs]

ONH did not fund the construction of the Laura Street garden.  They allowed us to "umbrella" it under them while we created our own non-profit to manage it.  Our non-profit, Sustainable Springfield, is now up and running.  The Laura Street Garden's lease will transfer to Sustainable Springfield in September when we will also begin collecting memberships for the eastside garden, which we are going to run more as a communal garden - that way more people can be involved.

We have a lot on Ionia that was donated to us as well that we plan on building a community orchard on.

[sheclown]

Walnut looks like this:

92 original structures (residential and commercial)

131 lots

71% or

Walnut has lost 29% of its historic fabric.

1528 Walnut Street:  It's Coming Down

[Timkin]

If this house in the above picture is demolished , it should be a crime.

I am like a broken record about our history.. NOT ONE MORE BUILDING ANYWHERE should be demolished..

The numbers in Springfield are shocking, and sad, and follow the list of neighborhoods, namely LaVilla and Brooklyn which are all but gone.. This is so wrong on so many levels.

[ChriswUfGator]

This is a Historic Neighborhood, how did we lose so many houses in so little time? Houses that had been standing for over 100 years? Houses that had been abandoned and neglected, left to slumlords and criminals for decades, all gone in the last couple of years under a historic group's stewardship.

Looking back at a rough timeline, the neighborhood started declining in the late 60's early 70's and went into a deep decline in the 80's. It was not until the late 90's early 2000 that they neighborhood started turning. (History as I have been told) Trailblazers like Lisa Neary saw the potential in these gorgeous homes and began restoration/renovation of these grand old ladies. I will not get into the political history from this point on, but I think there is an important message here: These ladies made it through the "bad times" of 1960-1999 mostly intact, with facade changes for sure, their insides chopped up by panelling and drywall, in some cases completely abandoned and condemned for decades. Even in drug and crime infested decades these ladies made it with most of their original woodwork, tile, windows, and fixtures. But once this became a historic district, once people who claim they want to "save these ladies" moved in, once the neighborhood started making that "turn", the ladies started coming down. We have lost significantly more historic structures during the time of supposed preservation, than during the decades of drugs, crime, slumlords, and neglect. The same group who condemns rooming houses (which were prevalent in the past) is responsible for losing more historic structures in the last two years than the last 10 decades combined. The self proclaimed stewards of Springfield's fantastic history have failed miserably. More damage to our historic fabric has occurred under this stewardship than at any other time in the history of the neighborhood.

The past five years have been spent waging internal neighborhood battles, more and more residents joining in and trying to force SPAR to stand up and preserve the fabric we have left. That time is over now. Concerned residents are banding together and making a stand on their own to save what is left, "hit or miss" performance on the most important asset in the neighborhood is not acceptable. The sheer amount of historic structures lost under the stewardship of an organization created to protect our historic designation and fabric is not only unacceptable, but shameful.  How many vacant lots will it take? Take a look at Durkeville or Lavilla, will it take that much? How much infill will it take to turn this neighborhood from a historic district, to a new housing development that "looks like a historic district"? How much are you willing to lose? As for me, I am not willing to lose anymore, I do not wish to be further embarrassed by the pathetic stewardship provided to Jacksonville's first neighborhood. I will make a stand and attempt to make a difference.

How did it lose so many historic houses in such a short period of time?

SPAR

[Lunican]

Lampru Apartments


Silver Dollar