Poll
Question:
As the last piece of history a century old along the St Johns from the Fuller Warren to the Matthews, and because of its history serving jacksonville saving lives, should Station Five be saved?
Option 1: Yes, as a museum/interactive safety teaching center
Option 2: Yes, as a museum
Option 3: Yes, but mixed use
Option 4: Yes, but unsure how
Option 5: Yes, but okay to move it nearby
Option 6: Yes, 1-4, and Fidelity KNEW it was historic and it is too bad if they can't touch it
Option 7: Yes, same as 6, but okay to subdivide lot and keep 12 feet from building safe forever
Option 8: I hate history, tear it down
Station Five was built in 1910, and is the LAST structure along the St Johns from the Fuller Warren to the Mattews and beyond anywhere NEAR a century old. It does meet criteria for protection, but Reggie Fullwood, Peyton, and Fidelity make a dirty deal to aviod sending the matter for a historic review, and Fullwood got almost $10,000 from Fidelity after sweeping historic designation under the rug and making delays after delays in that process. Glorious Johnson was LIED to by Administration, and recently presented 2007-988 to save the station and designate it historic, as it somewhat already has been by several groups. While it has lost some features which are easy to restore, the 50 year old changes are historic in themselves as part of the living history of Station Five.
Picture if you will that brown bagger pocket park which as it is will be a city paid lunch plaza for Fidelity turning into a showpiece, teaching history and safety to our children right upon the water, and serving as a special place our rescue professionals can gather for special events and things like retirement parties and graduations of firefighter classes.
Fidelity bought into the deal understanding that it could be restricted by historic designation just like if you bought wetlands or a forest with an endangered species and were limited in how you used special property. It doesn't negate the deal, and they could chip off the Station by subdividing it, and building on the rest of the property.
Do we really need concrete and glass everywhere?
People, Five belong to us and our children. It is the only place along the river you can actually "feel" history, and stand exactly where and on someplace someone stood a century ago. To move it will damage it and cost too much, and it has to be saved, because there is NOTHING like it anywhere nearby. Don't we finally need to make a special park to honor our fire fighters, or will we honor them after another 911 and forget them as soon as a few years pass. A firefighter is a stranger who will lay down their life to save yours, so will you stand up for them and make sacred and protected this historic reminder of our roots?
Please ring in.... and the next time you see a fire truck racing down the road to help someone, remember how or what you've done to honor them.
Please take active support of 2007-988, and let them know that dirty deals and corporate welfare are not tollerated. And if we get this done, know that one day a child who was taught to stop-drop-roll or use an extinguisher will survive from the lessons they learned at Station Five.... You can visit the full website at http://SaveStationFive.blogspot.com or read the stories by going to:
http://www.folioweekly.com/folioblog/?cat=59
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/102407/met_211399025.shtml
Please come to the next City Council meeting and let them know your feelings and support of 2007-988!
Yes, it should be saved.
Yes, it should definitely be saved and remain where it is. It could be used for a number of things that will be able to feed off of hits history. I don't care if there is a 60 story tower right up against it. There are a million better options than demolition.
Personally, I'd be okay with moving it, but lately I've been hearing that would be astronomical to move it. If that's the case, then the city made a really stupid deal. There are vacant lots all around there, and we give them this. Wow.
My thing it that it's not that big of a building anyway, and anyone with half a brain would be able to figure out how to build around it.
Agreed! The problem is finding someone in Administration with half a brain.....although Jon Yost at Fidelity doesn't want to see it destroyed either. They just want to be able to build, so why not subdivide it and give a 12 foot easement around it? I think if Blue Cross and Fidelity join in building on the parking lot next to the station that everyone can walk away happy. If you are considering showing up at the next Council meeting call me at 781-9473 or email at SaveStationFive@comcast.net
SAVE IT SAVE IT SAVE IT SAVE IT !!!!!!!
NO MORE DEMOLISHING HISTORY. TOO MUCH IS GONE NOW! SAVE STATION 5.
I have an idea.. lets move it somewhere in Brooklyn ( I mean Brooklyn is pretty much vacant now.)
Im sick of this government and its mentality towards old buildings... theres LITTLE to rehab on Station 5. Keep it..
Tear Fidelity down! :D
I agree, it should be saved!