These little houses, IMO, would be perfect for single, working professionals....as they're basically about the size of an apartment, yet a single story house.
QuoteAn old historic community in Springfield recently went under foreclosure. Historians are hoping the low-price tags will be enough for someone to purchase the homes. The Dancy Terrace homes were built around 1911, and first occupied by working families.
Historians call the neighborhood of 24 bungalows, just off North Main Street, a unique development not only to Jacksonville, but the country. Dancy Terrace, with it's unique architecture, is considered the largest and oldest remaining courtyard community of its kind.
Three years ago, the developer who bought the run down homes renovated a few of the properties, and listed them for $189,000. Not long after, though, the housing market tanked and the properties didn't sell. Just last Friday, Dancy Terrace went into foreclosure.
For Springfield residents who fought to preserve this piece of the past, the foreclosures breathed new life into plans to revive the community. Now, six properties are listed at the low price of $25,000, and banks have bought the rest. The hope is, the enticing price will bring new neighbors to the community that remains a piece of Jacksonville's historic past.
Here's the video link
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/default.aspx?maven_playerId=articleplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referralObject=926740390 (http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/default.aspx?maven_playerId=articleplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referralObject=926740390)
This is awesome news!
I know some in the neighborhood had been looking into grants for workforce housing but the owner had juts been asking too much to make it work. There is a similar place in San Antonio that was turned into an artists/workforce housing complex with the same type of grants.
I spoke to a man who said he lived in one of these bungalows in the 1970s. He said they are (were) very nice inside.
It would be a shame to lose them. Let's hope the low price will bring some pioneers into the terrace.
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-3-dsc_0003.jpg)
Renovated house.
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-22-dsc_0023.jpg)
Unrenovated houses.
The two houses renovated in 2007 have fallen back into disrepair, but not as bad as they were. Here is the full photo tour: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/401/78/
It was wishful thinking by the developer to actually believe people would pay what they were asking for these.
I think their hand was forced. They had to charge what they could in order to break even. The owner that was holding the note on them (the same one that went belly up) would take no less than 2 and a half million for the terrace, so the developer that was trying to save them didn't have a whole lot of wiggle room. He was charging what he had to.
Now there is a legitimate chance to save them. Lets hope it happens.
Anyone know which of the 24 are selling for $25k, and who interested parties should contact? I'm hoping for first-time homeowner restorers vs. investors!
Gotta love the uprooted Queen Palm. ::)
Queen Palm down!
It was in the way of the picture... :D
To be honest, when one can go a few miles north and pick up houses that are larger and ready to move in complete with appliances and central air and heat for the same price, why would someone pay that for one that pretty much needs most everything? Dancy Terrace is a great idea, but will not survive unless the houses are all but free and the cost of making them habitable is low enough that they can be rented as low cost housing until the economy comes back up. The areas in Jacksonville to the north are no worse than Springfield as far as crime and actually offer more in the way of retail and such. Add in the lack of loans to rehab and it doesn't look too good for those houses at the moment. The target buyer can and will do much better elsewhere. An investor with vision and patience is exactly what is needed.
Ah yes, low cost houses. Not workforce, not affordable, not patient rentals for Shands, but low cost... Yes, Im certain that will save Springfield. It has served us so well in the past.
As far as Crime, I think you need to do more research.
I did a stat check at 5th and Laura, and then on silver and 32nd.
The area 25 blocks north had 43 more assault and battery's 4 more burglary's, 1 murder(vs none at 5th and Laura), 5 more robberys, 2 lewd and lascivious (vs none at 5th and Laura), and 16 more thefts.
Now, in fairness, if you move that to Dancy Terrace, some of the theft numbers go up, but there aren't 24 overgrown dilapidated structures at 5th and Laura... So its not apples to apples.
FWIW, I actually agree that it will likely take an investor with vision and tenacity to make something work there. When it was Section 8, it was dangerous. I would prefer not to see it go back to tenements. I think that would be bad for the neighborhood.
As I said earlier, it would be great to see them turned into nice little houses to rent...much like an apartment, as they're quite small.
Any ideas on who owns the properties post foreclosure? I wonder what the would be willing to sell for.
Low cost housing, affordable housing or whatever you wish to call it does not automatically equate to high crime as some seem to want to believe. In the case of small, one story houses like Dancy Terrace, all you have to do is read back in the various posts about how they wanted too much for them before and that should tell you that they can not be "high end". At least not for a long time yet.
As far as Silver and 32nd, just like in Springfield, one area up north can be better or worse than another. Some areas, like off of Pearl and Tallulah, are very nice, well maintained and as safe as it gets in this town. And, unfortunately, deals are available. And that was the only point to my post. Everyone needs to understand, including the banks and investors holding theses properties, what they are up against. The idea of familes buying into Dancy terrace right now is sadly just dreaming. Young professionals have better places to go and with the deals on the market, most investors with cash will go another way.
Saving places like Dancy Terrace just got a lot harder these last few months or so. Dreamy eyed retail or artist type uses had trouble gaining ground when the economy was strong, let alone now. Finding a valid and practical use for them now is better than letting them go away. Housing lower income residents, many of whom are already here, seems like a good deal for the community, if it can be done without inducing the crime issues. Think of college students at Dancy terrace. They can only afford low cost housing, but would you not want them here?
LISC does affordable, low cost housing. Perhaps they would be interested in a valid plan for that at Dancy Terrace. It would save an interesting group of houses, a bit of history and accomblish something positive for the community.
Affordable housing I am down with. Section 8/HUD housing is not an option. But I still wonder if these places could support residential at this point.