Metro Jacksonville

Jacksonville by Neighborhood => Urban Neighborhoods => Topic started by: JaxUnicorn on June 23, 2013, 12:19:54 PM

Title: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: JaxUnicorn on June 23, 2013, 12:19:54 PM
Please consider signing this petition to stop the City of Jacksonville from destroying our historic structures.

http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-alvin-brown-city-council-members-issue-a-moratorium-on-demolitions-in-historic-neighborhoods#
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: m74reeves on June 23, 2013, 12:24:04 PM
Amen...thanks for posting.

interested springfielders may want to attend tomorrow's SPAR meeting from 6-7:30 at 1321 N. Main...it appears that these recent demos in springfield are on the agenda
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: m74reeves on June 23, 2013, 12:50:24 PM
If you're as outraged as I am, sign this petition. Here are other things you can do to support preservation in our community:

1. Send a picture via twitter, FB or email to Mayor Brown's "More of This, Less of That" campaign:

•Pictures can be tweeted or posted on Instagram with the hashtags #MoreOfThis or #LessOfThat
•Pictures can be posted to the wall of the City of Jacksonville’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/CityofJacksonville)
•Pictures can be emailed to More@coj.net or Less@coj.net

2. Attend the SPAR meeting Monday, June 24 from 6-7:30 at the SPAR offices
3. Attend the JAX 2025 Implementation Orientation meeting Wednesday, June 26 from 11:30-1 at WJCT Studios...two of the target visions are directly related to this situation:
*Exemplary Governance
*Distinctive Neighborhoods & Urban Heart
4. Join your neighborhood preservation group and be involved...whether it be SPAR or RAP or San Marco...
5. Support neighborhood not profits such as Preservation SOS. These groups need volunteers (Make It Happen day is coming up next month) and funds (which help support mothballing these homes 'til a family can be found, etc
6. Keep the dialogue going

OK, this is not all inclusive...other ideas, guys? It is Sunday, but I'll stop preaching now.  ;)
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: Cheshire Cat on June 23, 2013, 03:20:20 PM
I was the fourth person to sign this well worded petition and request.  I urge others to read it and sign as well.  This is an issue that should be important to all of us, especially those with concerns about struggling or turn around neighborhoods. This is not an issue that is "victimless" and needs to be addressed with insight and good sense for the common good of Jacksonville, it's history and it's future. ;)
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: sheclown on June 24, 2013, 08:25:44 AM
Do this.  Do this today. 
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: fsujax on June 24, 2013, 08:33:27 AM
I signed it.
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: lethonius on June 24, 2013, 09:08:02 AM
Signed and shared.
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: jaxequality on June 24, 2013, 11:48:40 AM
Has anybody spoken to Nelson Beard or Robert Prado?
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: duvaldude08 on June 24, 2013, 12:04:45 PM
Signed Yesterday
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: urbaknight on June 24, 2013, 12:40:55 PM
SIGNED!!!
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: pwhitford on June 24, 2013, 01:34:38 PM
signed
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: iloveionia on June 24, 2013, 01:35:15 PM
Quote from: JaxUnicorn on June 23, 2013, 12:19:54 PM
Please consider signing this petition to stop the City of Jacksonville from destroying our historic structures.

http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-alvin-brown-city-council-members-issue-a-moratorium-on-demolitions-in-historic-neighborhoods#

We need more support.  Please consider signing the petition.  Thank you.
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: Cheshire Cat on June 24, 2013, 01:37:37 PM
If we can get signatures for a beer contest we can get signatures for saving our historic homes.  Come on guys, please sign.  :)
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: Timkin on June 24, 2013, 03:10:50 PM
Gladly done !     I can only hope management of our City changes their tune on our historic places.   At this point I am not too optimistic.  With people like head of Code enforcement in place , our history is doomed. 


Recently we were halted from proceeding cleanup at Annie Lytle.    All we are trying to do is make it safer and better to the appearance.   The powers that be, evidently will not be a part of allowing us to make it better.  SO I am rather disgusted with Code Enforcement, City Council and an owner who cannot be bothered to spend a dime on their property.  :(
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: iloveionia on June 24, 2013, 04:30:21 PM
Halted by who exactly?
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: m74reeves on June 24, 2013, 11:45:22 PM
RESPONSE FROM COUNCILMAN LUMB TO PETITION:

QuoteThis evening I've asked the administration to suspend all demolitions in the two Historic Districts. I've also asked that they work to mitigate the adverse conditions that lead to structural deterioration rather than pursue demolition as a first choice, i.e., make the effort to stabilize a sagging porch rather than tear down an entire building. Some of you know that I plan to introduce legislation that will create a structured process for waiving the accumulated rolling fines that discourage repair and renovation. This process would allow owners who submit an acceptable plan for bringing their property into compliance to have their fines forgiven. I expect to move forward with this legislation once we complete the budget process and once we've finished our review of the proposed pension settlement.

Robin Lumb
At Large Council Member
RLUMB@coj.net
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: sheclown on June 25, 2013, 05:06:40 AM
Thank You!!!

This is not the first time CM Lumb has come to Springfield's rescue.

http://myspringfield.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=1828&hilit=1647+Pearl+Street

He was the one who stopped the demolition of 1647 Pearl Street and put a moratorium on demolitions which lasted over 500 days.

He has also worked very hard with the community to draft legislation mentioned in this email.

Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: mbwright on June 25, 2013, 08:31:33 AM
This is good to hear.  I hope it will be a permanent hold, rather than 500 days.  That is only less than 2 years. 
I really hope that there is a long and arduous path to demolition, with lots of review, public meetings, HPC review, and other steps, that will ensure demos will not occur.  The homes need a chance, and the Historic neighborhoods need the homes, and all other structures, warehouses, factories, schools to be in place.

A beautiful antique quilt is not nearly as functional, or pretty, with many holes in it.  This is the same with Springfield.  With Restoration, and repair, and appropriate infill it can be beautiful once again.
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: sheclown on June 25, 2013, 08:44:28 AM
" A beautiful antique quilt is not nearly as functional, or pretty, with many holes in it.  This is the same with Springfield.  With Restoration, and repair, and appropriate infill it can be beautiful once again."

a great way to look at it.
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: Timkin on June 25, 2013, 02:58:15 PM
Quote from: mbwright on June 25, 2013, 08:31:33 AM
This is good to hear.  I hope it will be a permanent hold, rather than 500 days.  That is only less than 2 years. 
I really hope that there is a long and arduous path to demolition, with lots of review, public meetings, HPC review, and other steps, that will ensure demos will not occur.  The homes need a chance, and the Historic neighborhoods need the homes, and all other structures, warehouses, factories, schools to be in place.

A beautiful antique quilt is not nearly as functional, or pretty, with many holes in it.  This is the same with Springfield.  With Restoration, and repair, and appropriate infill it can be beautiful once again.

I  certainly hope that the halting of demolitions include all historic homes and commercial buildings.  We really should not have to lose one more , anywhere , let alone in Springfield where many were razed that very definitely should have been saved, instead.


The ONLY ones profiting from this insanity , are the demolition companies.  Id rather see them out of business. 

( Just my $.02 ...no retail value )
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: JaxUnicorn on June 26, 2013, 11:28:50 AM
Quote from: Timkin on June 25, 2013, 02:58:15 PM
I  certainly hope that the halting of demolitions include all historic homes and commercial buildings.  We really should not have to lose one more , anywhere , let alone in Springfield where many were razed that very definitely should have been saved, instead.


The ONLY ones profiting from this insanity , are the demolition companies.  Id rather see them out of business. 

( Just my $.02 ...no retail value )
Agree completely Timkin.  And I, like iloveionia, am curious as to the scenario you referenced earlier in being stopped in your cleanup effort of Annie Lytle school.
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: Timkin on June 26, 2013, 12:12:13 PM
The question was posed, By who?   We do not have a name.   One weekend we were working there , as we do pretty much every Saturday.  During the subsequent week we return to find the building tightly boarded up.   I have tried repeatedly to contact the owner , with zero response.     A few people on our crew returned the following ( last )  Saturday.  Within minutes a JSO officer was there.  It happens that another group of people ( not with our volunteer group, and I presume there to wander through the building, or photograph or whatever )   was told  by the officer to leave and not return.    As I shared with Ionia  the securing seems consistent with that seen in Mothballing.  I do not know if the owner chose a private party to secure it or MCCD had it secured.  Either way, I am not going to presume it is okay to remove this stuff and continue work.     Certainly in light of the recent demolitions in Springfield,  I am not going to Code Enforcement for help or to get answers.

My guess is , this results from some of the community.. that is people in the community that see this as an abandoned building , and that no one cares about it ,and that it is free reign to tag, vandalize , and party in .  No secret at all that it has happened for nearly four decades.    But that would only be a guess.

With no response from the owner , We have no idea who to turn to to allow us to continue work, and that is where it stands.   It is frustrating , as we made great progress .
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: m74reeves on June 28, 2013, 12:51:37 PM
People, I encourage you to sign this petition if you haven't already and promote to your friends and family. Our council members will be going on vacation soon, so let them know this is still important to you.

It takes less than a minutes to do this. While Councilman Lumb has responded favorably to looking at the current issues related to demolitions and code enforcement's policies in general, we need to make sure all our elected officials are on board. When you sign this petition, our mayor and council members will hear your voice. THANKS!

http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-alvin-brown-city-council-members-issue-a-moratorium-on-demolitions-in-historic-neighborhoods
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: JSquared on June 28, 2013, 01:08:53 PM
Signed from the suburbs.
Title: Re: Petition to Stop Demolitions in Jacksonville's Historic Districts
Post by: Debbie Thompson on June 28, 2013, 07:50:46 PM
Thank you, JSquared.  Who's next?  Keep 'em coming!  When you sign the petition, an email is sent to every city council member and the mayor.  Include you comments in the petition about why our history is important to you.  We are being heard.