Preservation Prevails by Nicole Lopez
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/2321828905_BsdntB8-M.jpg)
It has been over a year since a historic home in Springfield has been demolished, and the turn of the New Year marked 2012 as the first year since designation without a single demolition. That last statement needs to be repeated: 2012 is the first year without a single demolition in Springfield since 1987.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-jan-preservation-prevails-by-nicole-lopez
Congratulations to all of you. Impressive!
Indeed. Very impressive work. Congratulations and Thank YOU to ALL involved.
Positive and caring people doing positive and caring things! Way to go, Jacksonville!!!
I'm glad mothballing is an option now - it can be very helpful. Great piece.
Great work. It's amazing to see what dedicated people can accomplish. It's easy to get cynical about so many things - but this story shows that a group of volunteers can actually make a major difference that will have a long-term impact on the social and historical fabric of the neighborhood. You guys really should be proud of what you have managed to accomplish so far.
Quote from: Adam W on January 16, 2013, 07:41:45 AM
Great work. It's amazing to see what dedicated people can accomplish. It's easy to get cynical about so many things - but this story shows that a group of volunteers can actually make a major difference that will have a long-term impact on the social and historical fabric of the neighborhood. You guys really should be proud of what you have managed to accomplish so far.
Oh don't stop being cynical yet, you'd be amazed at the fights we've had during this process, with code enforcement over one thing or another, and with SPAR which continues to try and cut us out of the loop and undermine our efforts, while paradoxically also trying to take credit for the results. I guess old habits die hard.
But it's not all bad, along the way we've gotten some amazing help from the folks at the HPC and the building department, who have been very supportive. I think they all wanted something like this to happen, there just wasn't a group out there for them to play ball with. Before us, the neighborhood's 'preservation' group was actually causing many of the demolitions. Thankfully those days are over.
We do have one problem that all of you can help us solve. We've stabilized and mothballed these structures, but we need to find them a "forever family" willing to spruce them up and live in them. So far we've found one home a new owner, but we have other properties seeking loving families. The only restriction is that you have to fix it up, not demolish it. Please contact me or any of the other PSOS members if you are interested, so we can arrange a tour.
& thank God for Chris who keeps us out of trouble -- mostly. Every crazy grassroots org needs a good lawyer.
Looking forward to seeing more and more of those wonderful red hearts.
So proud of and thankful to everyone involved in this effort! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!!!!! Putting actions to words. It does not get much better for a city than this. WELL DONE! 8)
Chris, Bill Hoff, the president of SPAR, just commented on how great mothballing is. The present SPAR board has supported this effort 100%.WE are grateful for the work SOS and the city have done to make this happen. Can we quit beating SPAR up every chance we get? Please?
I was back at the Drew house again today. Picking up trash. (: Also spotted another house with a heart. Took a picture. Want to know where some more are located and would it be alright for me to post them on FB? I have started a Photos by Big Cheese and am using it to put my crappy pics. I would like to have one album dedicated to the "This Place Matters." Spread the word a little bit more. BUT, I will NOT post anything without permission. Promotion is strictly up to you. Do not want to step on any toes..
Thank you LauraB.
Big Cheese. You can friend on Facebook "Preservation SOS" we are a person there.
We have a Dancy Terrace page you can "like" and post there too.
Sounds like we need to make a page: This Place Matters.
Lemme see what I can do in these next days.
Darling, you can post and spread the word and knock 'em dead all you'd like.
We appreciate all the love and support we can get in saving the houses!
Run with it! Spread the word of preservation!
(as to where are the located?) Gosh. Every quadrant in Historic Springfield.
(Ionia, W. 3rd, Hubbard Terrace, Laura, W. 4th, Liberty to name a few.)
thank you, iloveionia. I am just the new kid on the block trying to make a difference in my small way.
I will friend Preservation SOS. And, yes, This Place Matters would b wonderful!
ANYTHING IT TAKES!
Quote from: LauraB on January 16, 2013, 01:44:42 PM
Chris, Bill Hoff, the president of SPAR, just commented on how great mothballing is. The present SPAR board has supported this effort 100%.WE are grateful for the work SOS and the city have done to make this happen. Can we quit beating SPAR up every chance we get? Please?
For the responses and discussion on this point, please see the split topic here:
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,17247.0.html
I have posted the pics. of the house with the hearts on Pearl which I mentioned above. I will try and get out and take more This Place Matters as I find them. Post them too. Doing what I can to help.
To iloveionia: Be still my heart! I was over that way today looking. Been a long time since I was in that area. I am overjoyed at the progress and the beauty of a lot of what I saw. I don't remember much more than blight on my visits. Hooray for everyone making a diffrence!
I have to say; "I love Ionia, too!"
Ionia was hard hit with demolitions. Half of the housing stock on that street is gone unfortunately. But what does remain looks pretty darn good doesn't it? "We've come a long way baby!"
With thanks to SPAR and Greenscape, over a dozen trees were planted up and down Ionia last weekend. What a blessing!
It's a lovely street with MANY long time homeowners there who have lived in Springfield for upwards of 30+ years. I love all of Springfield's streets, but Ionia is surely my favorite.
I did a lot of driving around looking at homes. It was exciting. I hadn't been in that area since I finished taking photos in the Old City Cemetery. It has certainly changed for the better. I stopped and took a few pics. of the house at 7th and Market (?) and at a oouple of other places. I got a couple over at 9th or 10th and Main. Was going to take some more there but some sketchy looking guys walked by and I got a little uncomfortable. After I was back at the car I realized they semed to be more spooked by me than visa-versa. AND, what really ticked me off is some more I took including one on Ionia didn't take 'cause my card was full. DAMN! lol Posted them on my Photos by Big Cheese for anyone to get al look.