Man pleads for his home.

[sheclown]

Oh, the owner should have done things differently, that is for sure.

But he didn't.  He gave up and walked away two years ago after being injured and losing his job.

Threw his hands in the air.

Preservation SOS saw the green demolition sign and got in touch with the owner.  We contacted the city.  We have spent time and energy trying to renew his strength and energy.  We want him to know that he has folks on his side, on the side of his house.  He is meeting with people, writing emails, making phone calls.

As far as SPAR is concerned, you'll have to ask them if they support a moratorium on demolitions.    I would hope they would.

[stjr]

Wonderful effort, Sheclown.  It's people like you and your group that will ultimately change Jax.  People who passionately care and don't stand idly by.  Good luck.  We need to save these buildings, no doubt. 

[Springfielder]

Where is the City Council rep on this?

Were certified mail notices sent to the owner of record?  If not properly notified, he may have a legal stop to this as well.

How about SPAR?

Seems odd this is coming down to this last minute reprieve without more going on leading up to it.  Reminds me of the Springfield car wash story.  There has to be more than meets the eye.

Is the City bureaucracy literally bulldozing people or are people, out of ignorance, fear, or laziness not taking the City seriously until it's (almost) too late?  I have been to code hearings and observed a real desire by the City to work with owners who simply show up and say they genuinely care about their property. Not taking the City's side, but not assuming the owner played their cards properly either.

I hope, if the building is worth saving, the City can back off.  But, I wish owners would do their part to be more proactive in not tempting fate and letting these issues get to the edge of the precipice.  What's the City to do if the owner doesn't respond to their notices?

If the man is right about the building permits, maybe the City Council needs to revisit the local ordinances.  Again, where is the City Council district rep on this?  Did he/she know of this before it went this far?

We, as a group met with the council member for this district, which is Gaffney. We asked him to help with a moratorium to temp stop all demos until each structure could be reviewed to see if in fact, it really is a threat to public safety...(meaning that it's about ready to come crashing down) Because many of the ones on the demo list are not, and this is one of them.

We asked for his help and all we got was basically, nothing....and later has said that it's all legal issues and that he needs to know what the community feels about it. Now he's not asked for any kind of public hearing, he's not asked for a community meeting, but he does seem to follow along with whatever spar wants...which is disturbing in of itself, since spar has been known to give the thumbs up for demos

Now the owner did drop the ball when he got frustrated and walked away...but finding out that he was being hit with a rolling 250 daily fine that has long since exceeded the value of the house...who wouldn't give up. The system is failing us and the ordinance which was changed with the help of councilman Davis (who is part of the north Florida builders assoc) so you tell me, did his hand at making it easier for the city to aggressively go after owners and demo by neglect...impact situations like this...you bet.

[CS Foltz]

Davis is a NEFAR bufoon! Gaffney is no better................there has been an attempt to engage Dr Johnny in several issue's around Springfield and within his District..............total count, to this date, zero! If he wishes to run again....he needs to do the job he was elected for! If he won't.......get rid of him!

[sheclown]

Wonderful effort, Sheclown.  It's people like you and your group that will ultimately change Jax.  People who passionately care and don't stand idly by.  Good luck.  We need to save these buildings, no doubt.

Thanks!  and Amen!

[just_chi]

I hear that there is going to be a 'sit-in' on Jeff's front porch, anyone heard about that??

[nvrenuf]

Interesting idea. Has anyone checked with Breaking Ground as to when they plan to roll the bulldozer?

[sheclown]

It is wrong for the city of Jacksonville to bulldoze this man's house.  

No reason justifies this act.

I do not believe this house will go "gentle into that good night."

[iloveionia]

"Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

[sheclown]

To All [city officials involved in this process] :

Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.

Ms Scott, code enforcement really has a thankless job in this.  We ask you to keep our neighborhoods safe and sound and then get nervous when your department does just that.  I certainly can understand the impossible position here.

Jeff Waltz has been showing the house to several people and is waiting to hear if one option will work out.  If this is the case, a current resident of the neighborhood, with available knowledge and assets, will take on the project.

I understand that it is frustrating to see the same homes come up year after year and that it must seem like no one will take them on.  However, many of the houses in Springfield sat for a decade before being restored and now are beautiful assets to the city.

I believe, we as a city, need to take a fresh look at the condemned structures policy as it applies to historic structures.  Historic structures cannot meet the public safety standard as applied to the rest of the city without being at risk of demolition.  Just as building codes have adjustments made for historic structures, so too should historic dwellings meet a different standard as applies to public safety.

The only way for this to happen is to come up with a middle ground between restoration and demolition.

Code enforcement has boarded up 283 homes in the last couple of years.  That is an enormous amount of work and the neighborhood is grateful.  I understand that to continue to place condemned structures "on hold" will increase code enforcement's responsibility and work.

However, placing this structures on hold may very well be the only way we save them.

By adopting this position, the city will save many of its homes.

Today, this week... it is wrong to demolish Jeff Waltz's house... the historic district will lose a (relatively) sound home and will gain another empty lot.  Let's take the time to explore other possibilities.

Once lost is gone.

Many thanks to each of you.

[sheclown]

Baby, it ain't over 'till its over...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkURz6H0I0I&feature=related

[Debbie Thompson]

What an excellent letter, She Clown.

[Debbie Thompson]

Here's my contribution, sent to all council members, cc the mayor.  I embedded the picture on this thread into the email at the end.

You may remember the owner of 423 Walnut Court standing before you begging for his home at the last council meeting on 8/24.  We need your help.  This historic house is not in imminent danger of collapse, as you can see by the embedded picture.

This is the latest...just two days after the council meeting:    08/26/2010 - 1998-4546 - Re-inspected by E.Lancaster, R.Prado, and K.Scott structure has piers missing or collasping, framewall, porch, roof and termite damage Proceed with demoltion E.Lancaster

Missing piers, porch damage and termite damage are all repairable, often at a surprisingly affordable cost.  If this historic home is demolished, we have once again lost an important piece of our historic fabric.  What is the hurry?  This house is not a public safety hazard.  It is not in danger of imminent collapse.  Please....look at it.  Do you really think it needs to come down immediately?  It does not.

Please, we at Preservation SOS beg you to issue an IMMEDIATE moratorium on demolitions in the Springfield Historic District, and stop the demolition of this historic home, and any others, until we can address the issues.  In the meantime, we ask you to contact Code Enforcement and put the demo hold back in place immediately, pending a work out of this situation.

[sheclown]

Since this house is (obviously) pre-1978, anyone know what sort of "lead safe work practices" have to be put in place to demolish her?

[Noone]

Sheclown, Thanks for the kind words. I wrote a letter to councilman Gaffney. Copied the rest of the council. Hope it helps.