Not to be snarky, but I really wish that Steve would put a little more effort into the maintenance and tenant screening of his many rental properties in Riverside before expanding the restaurant (Kickbacks). Subjecting homeowners who have invested heavily in their homes and the neighborhood to poorly maintained apartment buildings filled with tenants of even poorer quality is in my opinion much worse than long ticket times. I'm just saying.
This has nothing to do w/ Steve or Kickback's, but in general, Riverside has tons of lost potential with regard to the many apartment complexes in the neighborhood.
Riverside is one of the only, if only places where I've seen "named/themed" apartment buildings. The Celena, The Lucerne, The Fenimore, The Charron, etc etc....
Every night I walk, I'm consistently amazed at how 'cool' that aspect of the neighborhood is.
That being said, it seems like 90% of them are complete dumps! The Lucerne on the corner of Park/Copeland is the 'nicest' one I've seen yet, as far as upkeep goes....
Can you imagine the potential of this area if people/owners cleaned these places up?!? It drives me insane....
One of the most unique aspects of a neighborhood, something that could drive growth and historic preservation, right down the toilet...
Exactly! I'm normally not one to call out someone in a forum such as this, however, reading about the expansion plans of a business knowing what I do about the owner's other ventures drive me to call him out. The mixture of small apartment buildings and single-family homes on a block is such a unique feature of our neighborhood and it pains me to see so many in disarray. Imagine living next to one of the eyesores! We've spoken to the owner countless times over the years about the state of his building and the revolving door of scumbag tenants, but to no avail. There have been a couple of good tenants over the years, but they never stick around long. I applaud the success of Kickbacks, however, the residential aspects of Riverside are at least as important.
The rental houses are even worse, especially the older big houses that have been sub-divided.
There are several really nice, older apartment buildings like the Lucerne in the area. Corner of College and Osceola (?) is one. St. Francis on the corner of Barrs and Oak is another that was converted to condos many years ago.
No one should be afraid to use the City's online complaint system to report code violations or public safety issues. Bottom of the page at coj.net click complaints. You can even do it anonymously so that you don't get any kickback. Code Enforcement is very responsive to the online tickets.
I hope they don't clean them up so I can buy one on the cheap ;)
The neighborhood would really benefit from some better upkeep. A few of the 2 story red brick buildings are in horrible disrepair. I think the regional notoriety of the neighborhood would increase greatly if we just cleaned it up!
+1
And thanks to the historic district zoning overlay we can't get to "gentrified" and have rents sky-rocket.
Quote from: Dog Walker on April 14, 2011, 10:40:27 AM
No one should be afraid to use the City's online complaint system to report code violations or public safety issues. Bottom of the page at coj.net click complaints. You can even do it anonymously so that you don't get any kickback. Code Enforcement is very responsive to the online tickets.
Yes, code enforcement does a very good job. I have made calls many times and action has been taken. Some property owners just don't get the hint!
I think in most of the cases (with the themed/named apartment buildings), it's less 'code violation' and more 'owners too lazy/disinterested to keep up with appearances'.....
I mean, think about it...has anyone ever seen this kind of apartment set up in any other city/area but Riverside Jax?! Anyone I bring in town from Charleston/NY/Boston is amazing at how cool that is....
Anyone know where this originated? Outside of knowing that The Fenimore is named after the author (who was popular at the time), I can't seem to find any information on it...
Also, anybody know what's up w/ those 2 condemned houses on Park between Copeland and Osceola????
I had an apartment in a widely admired,really complex complex that I really cherished.
Finally moved to the rural fringe of Avondale,and when the landowner learned of my intent to leave she offered to sell the building to me,however by that time I had become familiar with the property condition,looming maintenance needs.It would have been easy to proceed with the transaction,in retrospect glad it did not happen.
Can't help but notice a seemingly spreading general state of entropy scattered throughout,even on a statewide basis.
I'm curious, how fixable are these properties? Do they just need desire and resources?
QuoteYou can even do it anonymously so that you don't get any kickback. Code Enforcement is very responsive to the online tickets.
Cannot do it anonymously. You may think you can, but you get tracked just the same using the IP address. Best to come clean, put it in as you would as a business owner or resident. Once you hit submit it is a public record though and anyone can search on the ticket. If the City cannot find who put it in, they cannot call and confirm and thus has no record of the ticket. Let's not give the city any reasons to be less efficient than they already are.
Just saw a presentation at the TPO which pointed out that our new working population will be seeking apartments in highly urbanized areas where less use of cars and shorter commute times are possible. Home ownership is not appealing anymore. Any smart apartment owner should be getting his property ready now.
QuoteAny smart apartment owner should be getting his property ready now.
Yeah sure....I guess. Have you looked at the purchase and sale values of multi-family properties since 2007? They have taken the same swan dive that all of real estate has taken. So people lose their homes, move in with other family members in SFH, so you get 2-3 families living in a SFH or apartment to cut down on costs and share expenses. Meanwhile the people who own the Multi-family cannot find new tenants to backfill the old tenants leaving, their properties are depressed from the short-sales and foreclosures and their property values are 25-50% of their value when they bought during the boom years. Of course, you could be battling the big guys down the street who are offering 2-3 months FREE rent, when you cannot afford to offer the same thing because your pockets are not as deep.
Take a look at the for rent signs, they are everywhere, property owners are hurting because we have 11% unemployment and its really hurting every phase of our economy.
Just remember, as we have found out to our everlasting dismay in Springfield, once the house in in the "Care" system, and code enforcement has a case file, it could be on the road to rolling fines and eventual demolition.
I don't know if RAP would be willing to contact the owner first instead of involving the City, but you may want to take that route first.
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 14, 2011, 01:11:26 PM
QuoteYou can even do it anonymously so that you don't get any kickback. Code Enforcement is very responsive to the online tickets.
Cannot do it anonymously. You may think you can, but you get tracked just the same using the IP address. Best to come clean, put it in as you would as a business owner or resident. Once you hit submit it is a public record though and anyone can search on the ticket. If the City cannot find who put it in, they cannot call and confirm and thus has no record of the ticket. Let's not give the city any reasons to be less efficient than they already are.
mtrain..COJ public record does not include IP addresses. Anonymous means exactly that. Oh and by the way, I'm ba-a-a-a-ack..just needed some time to calm down.
Quotemtrain..COJ public record does not include IP addresses. Anonymous means exactly that. Oh and by the way, I'm ba-a-a-a-ack..just needed some time to calm down.
Go ask Lewis in ITD. He'll tell you a different story, or one that makes you unhappy.
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 14, 2011, 01:52:06 PM
Quotemtrain..COJ public record does not include IP addresses. Anonymous means exactly that. Oh and by the way, I'm ba-a-a-a-ack..just needed some time to calm down.
Go ask Lewis in ITD. He'll tell you a different story, or one that makes you unhappy.
It doesn't matter if you think your presence would be documented or not. They will always keep record on everything. The best thing you can remain fully anonymous is to go to a public internet cafe or place that has open WIFI with your computer bought via cash to submit those reports.
-Josh
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 14, 2011, 01:52:06 PM
Quotemtrain..COJ public record does not include IP addresses. Anonymous means exactly that. Oh and by the way, I'm ba-a-a-a-ack..just needed some time to calm down.
Go ask Lewis in ITD. He'll tell you a different story, or one that makes you unhappy.
mtrain you are partially right..they do have IP addresses on file..but that doesn't tell you who filed the complaint. Only tells you what provider was used. And the only way that is available is if the person lodging the complaint uses E-Care and does it themselves on line. I'll wager 90% of city complaints are made by calling the city call center. To get any additional information would require law enforcement getting involved and I seriously doubt the average person is going to take it to that extreme.
You just want them to assume that the code enforcement truck was driving by and saw the junk car or the broken windows.
Lol @ all this debate over IP addresses. In this day and age of file sharing most people use a proxy anyway. So I guess they'll be racking their brains trying to figure out why someone in Indonesia cares about a junk car in Riverside. Wait 5 minutes I'll mysteriously be in China. Or Russia. I must have a private Concorde.
BEN SAYS san Marco and springfield and maybe st nick have named apartments too i lived in one in san marco. you know this one I remember is nice in springfield (http://gallery.myspringfield.org/Other/Springfield-at-Night/DSC01599/1020882683_zX5oU-S.jpg) adam b is the owner and hes a cool person and did a smooth reno job. there's a home around the corner from there that I might buy but still deciding
Quote from: ben says on April 14, 2011, 12:00:01 PM
I think in most of the cases (with the themed/named apartment buildings), it's less 'code violation' and more 'owners too lazy/disinterested to keep up with appearances'.....
I mean, think about it...has anyone ever seen this kind of apartment set up in any other city/area but Riverside Jax?! Anyone I bring in town from Charleston/NY/Boston is amazing at how cool that is....
Anyone know where this originated? Outside of knowing that The Fenimore is named after the author (who was popular at the time), I can't seem to find any information on it...
Apartment living was a "northern concept" that made its first appearance in Jacksonville, I believe, with the San Juline Apartments on Memorial Park (although there was no park, just a picnic ground, at that time). The idea really took off in Riverside, with the Fenimore being merely the most elegant example. The multi-family units really help keep the area dense and diverse.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on April 15, 2011, 11:55:47 PM
Lol @ all this debate over IP addresses. In this day and age of file sharing most people use a proxy anyway. So I guess they'll be racking their brains trying to figure out why someone in Indonesia cares about a junk car in Riverside. Wait 5 minutes I'll mysteriously be in China. Or Russia. I must have a private Concorde.
http://www.youtube.com/v/uu21rM9ahkY
This always give me the goosebumps.
-Josh
Since this thread started, I have been more aware of the small apartment buildings and quad-plexes that dot "old" Riverside, south of Stockton St. Most of them that I have seen are full and in good repair with well maintained lawns and surroundings. Some, like the Lucerne, are very nice.
When these apartments and the big duplexes in Riverside were built, most people rented their homes since mortgages were almost impossible to get. Don't forget that the thirty year, fixed rate mortgages we take for granted did not exist until the late 1930's.
Because they were intended for families, most of them have multiple bedrooms, dining room, and living room with fireplace. The fancy ones on Riverside Ave. have mostly been converted to condos.
Quote from: riverside planner on April 14, 2011, 10:07:29 AM
Not to be snarky, but I really wish that Steve would put a little more effort into the maintenance and tenant screening of his many rental properties in Riverside before expanding the restaurant (Kickbacks). Subjecting homeowners who have invested heavily in their homes and the neighborhood to poorly maintained apartment buildings filled with tenants of even poorer quality is in my opinion much worse than long ticket times. I'm just saying.
What is Steve's last name?
Quote from: Dog Walker on April 19, 2011, 04:57:55 PM
Since this thread started, I have been more aware of the small apartment buildings and quad-plexes that dot "old" Riverside, south of Stockton St. Most of them that I have seen are full and in good repair with well maintained lawns and surroundings. Some, like the Lucerne, are very nice.
When these apartments and the big duplexes in Riverside were built, most people rented their homes since mortgages were almost impossible to get. Don't forget that the thirty year, fixed rate mortgages we take for granted did not exist until the late 1930's.
Because they were intended for families, most of them have multiple bedrooms, dining room, and living room with fireplace. The fancy ones on Riverside Ave. have mostly been converted to condos.
The Lucerne is a great building...all the buildings owned by Greenbrier Park LLP are immaculate. And yeah, the apartments in the Lucerne have dining rooms, French doors, foyers, bedrooms, nice bathrooms, utility closets, and updated kitchens. Great place.