(https://www.floridamemory.com/fpc/spottswood/sp00095.jpg)
I believe this is the dark building on the right side of this historic photo.
QuoteThe Downtown Investment Authority could begin marketing property in LaVilla for development.
The idea was presented at the DIA board's Strategic Implementation Committee meeting Friday for property at 905 W. Forsyth St., formerly the home of Lee & Cates Glass.
Duval County property records show the city bought the quarter-acre site in 2003.
"What we're asking is to make a recommendation to the full DIA board that would cause staff to offer a notice of disposition," said DIA Redevelopment Manager Guy Parola.
"In other words, market it to the masses," he said.
Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/the-cawton-report-dia-may-offer-lavilla-property-for-development
Right there at the corner of Davis St and Forsyth. Even still has the Lee & Cates sign on top of it. I drive by there often and haven't even noticed.
(Sorry about the impossibly long street view link)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/905+W+Forsyth+St,+Jacksonville,+FL+32204/@30.3288061,-81.6691928,3a,58.3y,16.7h,91.81t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s4JctTXFKPamGlmQYdqyPqg!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x88e5b7152cc39013:0x8e0e72063bbdf05?hl=en-US
Should what's left of LaVilla be sold off to a developer for master-planned development, or individual parcels meted out by the DIA?
A master developer shouldn't be anywhere near LaVilla, IMO. Besides, short of the city taking property again, much of LaVilla isn't owned by the city now.
Whatever happened to plans to city some of the city's massive inventory of property?
In most instances when COJ becomes owner of a piece of real estate in Jax it is a death knell for that property. They never develop them and they never maintain them. Inevitably, when they decide to sell it, they ask top dollar and expect the Buyer to also pay all back taxes that have accrued while the COJ owned it.
It's usually a disaster. They own millions of dollars of property (perhaps hundreds of millions), and in fact are still acquiring property even today, and I'm really not sure why.
Any opportunities for master-planned development in La Villa sailed decades ago. After the River City Renaissance that sadly razed most of La Villa, an opportunity existed but the city couldn't be bothered to do it.
Quote from: MusicMan on October 16, 2017, 08:39:06 AM
In most instances when COJ becomes owner of a piece of real estate in Jax it is a death knell for that property. They never develop them and they never maintain them. Inevitably, when they decide to sell it, they ask top dollar and expect the Buyer to also pay all back taxes that have accrued while the COJ owned it.
It's usually a disaster. They own millions of dollars of property (perhaps hundreds of millions), and in fact are still acquiring property even today, and I'm really not sure why.
Yeah, and coj thinks they should have ownership of the landing, too?!?!? Oh h3LL to the NO!!!!!!! lol smh lol