Quote from: Mondo on April 21, 2010, 09:43:05 PM
The parking for downtown businesses needs to be close because of the perception for potential for crime. It's dark, with nooks for a person to hide. The malls although statistically more targeted for crime because of the dense population dont have the same feeling of vulnerabilty at night. Especially with all of the vacant dark buildings... We need lights, security cameras just like the mall and parking that feels safe and insulated from panhandlers. We also need metered parking upto 3 hours for daytime. My friend got a ticket today while in a meeting near hemming plaza. Really makes me want to go downtown and conduct business. This isn't NYC ... Our downtown is competing with beautiful pristine Disney like malls with piped music lush furniture and fantastic security. I say open downtown to the young creative entrepenuers and let them give it an identity. What do we have to lose?
but but but they might want to tear down a old rotten ugly building for something demolishing history that no one in my generation cares about and think its time to move FORWARD! OHNOES
I think there's a job waiting for you at the COJ Planning and Development Department, Sportmotor.
Quote from: finehoe on April 22, 2010, 10:22:13 AM
I think there's a job waiting for you at the COJ Planning and Development Department, Sportmotor.
Hey facts are facts, the majority of the city does not live anywhere near the city so you need to draw them, there.
Most with extra money to spend don't know or truth be told care about the history, they look at the city and see alot of empty ugly buildings a couple bars and the high likelyhood of getting a parking ticket.
The city needs to specifically target what and who they want down town. Want people my age going out of the way you need a much better night life. Turn the old courthouse into a club take a risk lol
You want family then you need a family draw extra.
Stop this WE NEED TO SAVE EVERY BUILDING EVER MADDDDDDDDE BS, I think in the long term it hurts more then helps.
In the end we will outlive you(if 2012 doesnt kill everyone) and we will end up with all these buildings that need to be taken down in the future hindering things. Same problem with congress, everyone aims for the now fixes never the well in 20-30 years.
/$0.02
And sorry stephen housekeeping IS below me, which you can also do XD
I expected a better insult. Try again please.
I'm certainly on the fence about it in some ways. If it is a distinctive building with interesting design that adds to the allure/charm of the city, I would almost always be in favor of saving it and adapting it. If it is just a blah brick building whose only claim to fame is having a 19th or early 20th century date on the cornerstone, I really don't care if it is torn down so long as something worthwhile is put up in its place, which hopefully will be distinctive with an interesting design which adds allure and charm.
If it is to be torn down to put up a modern blah brick building or a vacant chain link fence lined lot.. (shaking head)
Quote from: Sportmotor on April 22, 2010, 10:33:39 AM
Quote from: finehoe on April 22, 2010, 10:22:13 AM
I think there's a job waiting for you at the COJ Planning and Development Department, Sportmotor.
Hey facts are facts, the majority of the city does not live anywhere near the city so you need to draw them, there.
Most with extra money to spend don't know or truth be told care about the history, they look at the city and see alot of empty ugly buildings a couple bars and the high likelyhood of getting a parking ticket.
The city needs to specifically target what and who they want down town. Want people my age going out of the way you need a much better night life. Turn the old courthouse into a club take a risk lol
You want family then you need a family draw extra.
Stop this WE NEED TO SAVE EVERY BUILDING EVER MADDDDDDDDE BS, I think in the long term it hurts more then helps.
In the end we will outlive you(if 2012 doesnt kill everyone) and we will end up with all these buildings that need to be taken down in the future hindering things. Same problem with congress, everyone aims for the now fixes never the well in 20-30 years.
/$0.02
And sorry stephen housekeeping IS below me, which you can also do XD
Sport I don't think your the best spokesperson for the younger generation... even though I just turned 30 I think I still fall into the category... if you don't listen to what Bob Dylan says.
20 somethings do care about preservation and have a shared interest in seeing the urban core grow into it's potential.
Most (not all) successful urban entertainment districts seem to develop in historic areas. People seem to like the ambiance. Of course, it's too late for that in DT Jax.
tell me if i'm wrong but isn't the city doing exactly what you say? all the city does is demolish historic buildings, unfortunately this hasn't done anything but make it worse downtown. need an example look at the lavilla area. they have also target the young crowd, like myself, with the art walk and such. weird thing is that these young people have been utilizing the old buildings that you seem to want to tear down.
There are enough empty lots in downtown to create a massive amount of density of new construction for the next 10 years...why do any more buildings need to come down and add more empty lots to the fabric?
Actually, 11-E and The Carling are two nice examples where the city saved iimportant old buildings,
and actually "Killed two birds with one stone" by providing new residential use which is so desparately needed.
Quote from: jason_contentdg on April 22, 2010, 11:03:10 AM
There are enough empty lots in downtown to create a massive amount of density of new construction for the next 10 years...why do any more buildings need to come down and add more empty lots to the fabric?
According to the original poster, this will bring the 30 somethings to downtown
Quote from: MusicMan on April 22, 2010, 11:06:22 AM
Actually, 11-E and The Carling are two nice examples where the city saved iimportant old buildings,
and actually "Killed two birds with one stone" by providing new residential use which is so desparately needed.
Other examples... every bar & club on Bay St.
so then i am to assume that he meant all the people his age are either farmers or cars salesmen. shoot lets tear them babies down!!!!
Quote from: stephendare on April 22, 2010, 11:10:07 AM
Quote from: hanjin1 on April 22, 2010, 11:07:11 AM
Quote from: jason_contentdg on April 22, 2010, 11:03:10 AM
There are enough empty lots in downtown to create a massive amount of density of new construction for the next 10 years...why do any more buildings need to come down and add more empty lots to the fabric?
According to the original poster, this will bring the 30 somethings to downtown
most 30 somethings that are attracted to endless, empty fields are farmers. Unless of course you mean, endless empty fields with cars on them, then they are called used car salesmen.
LOL
Quote from: Shwaz on April 22, 2010, 11:13:13 AM
Quote from: MusicMan on April 22, 2010, 11:06:22 AM
Actually, 11-E and The Carling are two nice examples where the city saved iimportant old buildings,
and actually "Killed two birds with one stone" by providing new residential use which is so desparately needed.
Other examples... every bar & club on Bay St.
Here, here!
Went to Lit for the Pub Crawl and it was an AMAZING use of space. Dustin unearthed and mined a true jewel!
Quote from: Shwaz on April 22, 2010, 11:13:13 AM
Quote from: MusicMan on April 22, 2010, 11:06:22 AM
Actually, 11-E and The Carling are two nice examples where the city saved iimportant old buildings,
and actually "Killed two birds with one stone" by providing new residential use which is so desparately needed.
Other examples... every bar & club on Bay St.
I know the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission had a hand in 11-E and The Carling, but did any city entity provide help for the bars and clubs on Bay St.?
^^That's what I thought.
Quote from: finehoe on April 22, 2010, 12:09:17 PM
^^That's what I thought.
I missed your point about reuse the city had a hand in... my commentary was directed towards successful rehabs of historic buildings.
And it's a valid observation, but even most of the Bay St. area looks like a toothless old hag's smile with its missing buildings and vacant lots.
Quote from: finehoe on April 22, 2010, 12:38:35 PM
And it's a valid observation, but even most of the Bay St. area looks like a toothless old hag's smile with its missing buildings and vacant lots.
Agreed. I think building should be spared demolition for private and city reuse.
How many downtown bars and restaurants bought an empty lot and put up their own building?
Sportmotor, please list any you can think of.
Sportmotor, You don't hate history, you hate the way it was taught to you in elementary school. But don't sweat the small stuff man, you'll enjoy it better in high school...
OCKLAWAHA
did you not know you were going to get blasted with the thread you started? with over 1,200 posts, i would think that you would know.
Quote from: hanjin1 on April 22, 2010, 02:38:23 PM
did you not know you were going to get blasted with the thread you started? with over 1,200 posts, i would think that you would know.
actually I didnt start this thread, infact I was at 3layers eating with a friend when this apparntly posted up, stephen moved posts here and started it like a child
nothing new tho :D
Three Layers? Isn't that in a historic building? ;D
There is something quite compelling about walking within hundred year old walls. Touching their surface. Viewing the workmanship of my great grandfathers.
Historic structures are the best structures. They are the fabric of who we are.
The reason that a lot of city entertainment districs are in downtown areas is because old worn buildings in most places can be bought pretty cheaply... Here we have a bunch of buildings that are priced out of range for reasonable rehab... Especially since the people who owned them just let them rot while they were waiting for the big real estate boom. I bet they are so disappointed that it all went south, literally. The bulk of the buildings weren't built well... Many during the depression after the great fire. I think the city should create incentives for younger hip entrepenuers who have no cash but lots of energy, relax some of the building codes so buildings could be used even without an elevator (how many wheelchair bound people go to a night club or really care if they can't get upstairs? It costs 100 to 500k$ just for an elevator! That you can't use in a fire if you had to get the wheelchair bound out anyway! (new York grandfathered lots of buildings in) I would love to live above my business... No car everyday would be awesome. I can't afford it! And we as a city should make a choice to reclaim downtown. It needs a heart, it needs pride and it needs all of us. Or at least those of us who want a better more self reliant life, where local businesses thrive and retain the money spent in them within our community. The corporate retailers are robbing of us of our identity. Jacksonville has always had issues with who it is... Well we are more developed now and it's time to stake our claim and create a place that is unique, proud of it's southern heritage, welcoming of it's new diversity and culturally dynamic. This is a great city... It just needs us to stop complaining and judging everyone and collectively take ownership of it and clean it up!
Maybe if more young people appreciated their roots, both individually and as a community/nation and the events, contributions, and sacrifices highlighted and represented by the teaching of history, museums, family trees, historic artifacts, sites and structures, literature, etc, we wouldn't be experiencing some of the many issues found in our society. Of all of the above options, only historic sites, artifacts, and structures give us a tangible way of connecting to our past. Imagine our world without the Taj Mahal, the pyramids, Great Wall of China, or Independence Hall, or Williamsburg.
A people without roots is likely to share the destiny of a tree without roots - blown away by the winds of life.
Other parts of the world are passing us by because our youngsters don't have a clue that New Mexico isn't a country and Canada isn't a state, much less who the last 5 presidents were, what are the wars of the last 100 years or what's happening outside of the superficial world of the celebrity of the day twitter gossip channel. Just watch Jaywalking on Leno to see how bad things are.QuoteGeorge Santayana:
Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Totally on point!!! That's why I'm excited about the new city museum going in The Landing. I'm going to their meeting next Thursday. We should all go and make our ideas a part of that. It seems like they are really open and trying to build up the sense of community here. Anyone else going?
IMO... A museum should go in a historic building...not the Landing.. The Landing is an entertainment complex.. It is not old enough to have historic importance.. Put a museum in PUBLIC SCHOOL NUMBER FOUR or some other large historic landmark. I know this probably would never happen in Jacksonville.. just saying.... Historic properties would give a whole new gleam to a museum.
No offense to anyone... The Landing is a flop. always was ..always will be. It just has the distinction of being one of a very few ( compared to ...say...Atlanta ) destinations in the downtown area at night.
QuoteThere is something quite compelling about walking within hundred year old walls. Touching their surface. Viewing the workmanship of my great grandfathers. Historic structures are the best structures. They are the fabric of who we are.
Walking around in a building in use is one thing, but just saving a structure because its 100 years old to keep it around and HOPE someone will occupy it is wrong. We don't build structures to let them sit idle, so why would you keep "historic" facilities only to let them sit alone? Bad idea, tear them down if not in use.
PS4 would be a great idea, if there was anything around it that would lead to more development. A history center is a museum plain and simple. You don't put a museum on the grid and hope people add around the museum. It opens at 8, closes at 5, no better than the downtown buildings.
Trying to get young people to care about "historic" in jax is like asking the SJTC to stop building new trendy restaurants. Nice idea, but it won't happen, because the young people want to go to new and trendy. The Landing is dead without more people living downtown. It cannot compete with SJTC and no one wants to drive for the same thing you can find on Southside Blvd.
PS4 would be a great idea, if there was anything around it that would lead to more development......
Lets look at this for a few minutes....
First off ..PS #4 can be reconnected to the Riverside Park it once adjoined ,simply by constructing and landscaping around it, a pedestrian walkway underneath the approaches to the Fuller Warren Bridge.. That would put it two blocks from the 5 points shopping district. The artwalk is appx 3 blocks south of it. So you're saying theres no possibility for development in the area around PS#4?? That it is a better idea to put a museum in that flop downtown ,affectionately known as the landing versus a historic building? You're saying that youth does not care about history?? I'm not so sure that is the case...
As to PS 4 sitting unused for 40 years that was (respectfully) mostly BECAUSE the foundation who purchased it, wanted to develop it for residential... THEY MAY HAVE , but if they did, I was never aware of it, have tried other ideas..Never heard about any of those...just the residential...and in THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION , who would pay for a condo/apartment that has breath-taking view of traffic on a fly-over on its west side and an Automotive Repair shop on the East side?? No one that I can think of.. This must be unanimous because residential never did end up working there ,and IMHO NEVER WILL. A museum is a different situation altogether... and the building is appx 45,000 Square feet, so we not only need a museum , but some other organizations , commercial ,etc in it so as to make it a destination.. A destination development WILL work at PS#4 .. guarantee it! Coupled with a museum, it could make a wonderful tribute , as another member posted , to Jacksonville's few-remaining Historic Pieces. It is not like PS #4 has no potential whatsoever...nor any hope for development around it. Thanks to the mindless destruction of our downtown urban core, it will be far more monumental to attract sizable numbers of people there , than to PS#4 and the Riverside/5 points area... I am no specialist at anything... but common sense should be obvious in this matter.
Quotecan be
As long as I have been reading metrojax, people have been using the words "can be". Lots of things can be done. Wayne Wood worked for a number of years to bring an arts market and followed through on his words of it "can be" done. Who will walk in his footsteps and fulfill "can be" for either PS4 or FS5?
Should we let these buildings sit empty for another 5 years? 10 years? Waiting for someone to fulfill "can be"?
I personally think we should let them remain. I guess if they were YOUR buildings ,,they would already be gone.
Im not sure that I understand who you are and what you stand up for, except your claim to be a realist. .. Fine ..be a realist.. I am an optimist. If it takes 5 , 10 , 30 years and they are finally reused the end result is they are being used again.. If we demolish them they are gone forever.
I sure hope from the sound of your opinions ( and again you are entitled to them) that you don't walk in Mr Woods footsteps. I can say that I at least spent a year out on the School grounds with a few other kind-hearted volunteers TRYING to improve School house 4. :) And I guarantee you this sir.... IF I CAN POSSIBLY PROVE YOU WRONG , YOU CAN REST ASSURED I WILL ! :)
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 23, 2010, 01:24:31 AM
Should we let these buildings sit empty for another 5 years? 10 years? Waiting for someone to fulfill "can be"?
If the alternative is yet another empty lot, yes.
QuoteIf the alternative is yet another empty lot, yes.
And city resources will be wasted to police and maintain empty buildings. We talk about waste we see, what about this and all that which we never see, know its wrong, but chose to ignore. Ignorance should be outlawed, but yet it thrives in Jacksonville.
Well, mtraininjax, it seems to me your approach has already been tried in DT. How's that worked out?
QuoteWell, mtraininjax, it seems to me your approach has already been tried in DT.
Yes, far more structures to go too. City wants to cut 60 million out of the budget, so they want to cut out libraries and places that educate our minds. I am against that, but we could also go after slumlords and people allowing their buildings to sit empty.
The old JEA building on Julia has been empty for 10+ years, just sitting......A good example.
so i assume we might as well just decimate downtown and tear down all the buildings. that'll do it then everyone will come
Quoteold rotten ugly building for something demolishing history that no one in my generation cares about
It's a shame that our generation is personified by people with your viewpoints. If you don't care about historic preservation, go to the town center. Right now. Pack up, move out, go.
The only reason anyone goes downtown is for the history and character of the urban environment. Otherwise, 10 bars wouldn't have popped up and thrived in the past 3 years, Artwalk wouldn't be a success, and you wouldn't have this forum. Downtowns are for celebrating a city's history. Whether you know it or not (I'm guessing not), you do appreciate the historic structures and architectural details that have totally vanished from modern construction.
IMO, PS4's viability rests on the potential expansion of RAM to the lot across the street. If/when that expansion happens, Timkin is right in that PS4 could be again connected to Riverside Park. PS4 would be a much more attractive building to develop. The highway creates obstacles, but plenty of buildings have been retrofitted to keep highway noise out.
Talk of expansion of RAM could create a catalyst of change for Annie Lyttle. It's a gamble for sure, but it would be an immensely more calculable gamble in that scenario.
I'm very hopeful of that happening.
fielda, could you elaborate more on where RAM might expand to? I wasn't aware of that but I'm quite interested.
Clearly he doesn't care about historic preservation. As to the City maintaining or securing PS 4 he is so far off base it is ridiculous.. The CITY hasn't done boo-squat for PS 4. I was personally boarding the place up during my cleanup effort... The sheriff's office was on again/off again with helping to monitor the place.. Even adding a silent alarm system to the building to alert them when people broke in was for not. The Alarm was destroyed within a month.. and the city never paid a cent for any of that , except the occasional police drive by.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,5418.0.html
RAM wants to build a walkway that will extend underneath the I-95 all the way from the current market space to Riverside Park (where the Park St. exit is). It would allow artists to line the walkway with their art and connect the two spaces.
QuoteThe only reason anyone goes downtown is for the history and character of the urban environment.
You must not know much about downtown. I guess going to Riverside, Avondale, San Marco is all the same, because of the history and character of an "urban environment"? If there is sooooooooooooo much character, why does the Snyder Memorial Church still sit empty? Why is the old Library still sitting empty? Why is the old JEA Office building at 233 West Duval Street still empty, after more than 10 years of no one in it? Why? Surely its got character, it was built in 1955, anyone care that it sits empty?
Interesting dates and history and sizes of buildings in Jax, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Jacksonville
According to that list, we have no "skyscraper" buildings older than 1926. I'd like to see the Laura Trio get fixed, but to start the process and halt it where they are, its a travesty and a real eye sore to downtown Jacksonville.
Timkin - How about an update on PS4, are you getting closer to adding new chain link to the front entrance? How is the roof holding up? Built in 1917, if we give it 7 more years, it will truly be historic. Can it last that long from my bulldozer?
So Mtrain, how long should a building be vacant before the city demand that it be demolished?
All of the Laura Trio buildings have been vacant for well over a decade, so obviously, you would like to see them leveled. Both the Carling and 11E buildings were vacant for over a decade as well. It's really a shame that they were allowed to stand for so long.
The St. James building was vacant for many years, at LEAST 5 I think. Shouldn't that disqualify it as an appropriate location for a city hall?
Does your manifesto extend to suburban big-boxes that moved yet another 2 miles farther out into the suburbs, leaving blight in it's wake?
BTW, what should be done with the vacant land? There is enough vacant land in LaVilla to plant a huge wheat field. At least that would achieve some utility.
Mtrain... hehe...man you just are endless with the negativity. Thank you so much..PS 4 has a new owner now... You may have known that ..may have not.. If you clearly read any of my previous posts..maybe you had too many Schlitzs :D.... I have put the PRESENT owner in touch with two (2) prospects who wrote to ME... I presume they read the articles of my efforts on the School... So hold off on your bulldozer for now.. I ll be the first to let you know if one is needed... Your tone is again spiteful and negative. but thats okay... you will not get the satisfaction of bulldozing the School .. I WILL MAKE DAMN SURE of that. :)
It is obvious ...not just to me but to many that you are one of those who want to Raze everything in sight just because its vacant..
And to be candid the roof is obviously not in good shape ,,but that does not ruin the building's potential as a project... It is simply that the mindset was residential for 30 years and we now know that is not going to work. I ,for one am glad to see it change hands because I now belive it has a chance and a very good one at that to A . See renovation and B. see a new use.
Hold off on your bulldozer.. I ll be the first to let you know if that situation changes. :)
There is no need for you to launch such a negative attack on one (Timkin) that has done so much good in this community, and truly is working with the owners for positive change. Frankly mtrain, you don't have a clue about how active, and of what progress he has made, and how with MJ's full support, he is moving the mountain. I'm not at liberty to post the details, but believe me, we haven't heard the last of this.
The reason the downtown is a ghost of it's former self is we have no economic driver. A few redesigned, walkable, urban core street scrapes, streetcar, convention center in downtown and rebuilt Jacksonville Terminal, power us onto center stage of America's resurgent urban cores. Laura Street, and the 2030 mobility plan address all of these issues. The foundation has been laid, here at MJ, and by our contributor's like Timkin. We would like to remember all of you for your positive thoughts and actions.
OCKLAWAHA
Thanks Ock and Stephen.... M....... you just sit on your buldozer and have another Schlitz...and another and another... because I think you're going to be sitting on ( not using ) that bulldozer for a long time to come. Again ...people like yourself run their mouths and watch things happen.. people like myself MAKE things happen. That is just one of (thank god) many differences between your "Hot air" ( yes ..that is actually your hot air you're hearing) and MY actions.
You will see positive changes at Public School #4. Mark my words. Then , lets see who the hot air really belongs to...
M-train ...if you have nothing positive to say ...to me at least, Id rather you keep your mouth shut.
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 23, 2010, 12:35:51 AM
Walking around in a building in use is one thing, but just saving a structure because its 100 years old to keep it around and HOPE someone will occupy it is wrong. We don't build structures to let them sit idle, so why would you keep "historic" facilities only to let them sit alone? Bad idea, tear them down if not in use.
With this thinking, why do we have archaeological digs, museums, libraries, historical sites, monuments, history books, documentaries, retrospectives, parties and events with retro or historic themes, tribute bands, highlight shows, "classic" TV channels, memoirs, collectibles, antique shows, etc.? The fact is, most people invest a significant amount of resources in seeking out our past history and preserving remnants of it.
Mtrain, either you have a damaged past that causes you to disavow it or you are just posting to tweak those of us who treasure history. Not sure which, but it matters not. Fortunately, the viewpoints you espouse are not sincerely shared by many including young people.
History is an acquired taste for some and appreciation of it grows with time in the minds of many. Few young people appreciate antique furniture, for example, or keeping up with the family tree, but as they reach mid-life their tastes, interests, and perspectives change. As they come to realize we are all here but for a mere moment in time, and that the really important things in life are our experiences, not our material belongings, many of us begin to seek meaning and context for those experiences. Putting things within historical context is an exercise toward this goal. The ability to see tangible evidence of our past is critical to our ability to imagine it and grasp its meaning. Living for only today is what ails much of our society. That money, resources, and, mostly, personal relationships and accomplishments and sacrifices by others are disposable and have no long term consequences bodes poorly for the sustainability of our culture and way of life. That you and others like you lack appreciation of that is your great loss and I feel sorry for the emptiness you have within you. QuoteTrying to get young people to care about "historic" in jax is like asking the SJTC to stop building new trendy restaurants. Nice idea, but it won't happen, because the young people want to go to new and trendy. The Landing is dead without more people living downtown. It cannot compete with SJTC and no one wants to drive for the same thing you can find on Southside Blvd.
The Landing is far from "historic" other than for its failure to succeed. Using it to make your case against historic preservation is completely off base.
The fact is that many, if not most, successful "downtown" entertainment districts in this country reside in areas featuring concentrations of historic, unique, quirky, and intimate structures with charm, warmth, and character that can't be duplicated today. And, as to young people appreciating that, go to many college towns or campus fringes and see what types of buildings house the liveliest night life, or go look at the average age of people in entrainment districts located in historic areas.
Going to SJTC is akin to going to Disney World. It can be fun, but it is all fantasy and synthetic. There is nothing genuine about the place. Like comparing real leather or wood to vinyl, cotton to polyester, margarine to butter, canned vegetables to fresh, a photocopy of great art to the original, a recording to a live concert, and email to an in-person meeting .... there is a reason the market place values the genuine article many times more than the copy or fake.
stjr...... Thank you for your thoughts .. I think M-train's insults are personal and directed mostly at me... Especially his threat with a bulldozer.. IF HE IS SMART...and I question that .... he would not go around using such threats... It is probably indicative of the misery of a life he suffers , and I regret that....but his negativity is counter-productive.. I could be wrong but I would wager he would never spend 10 cents of his money or 30 seconds of his time to help anyone do anything, unless there was something in it for him. :) but there are those kinds in this world. I will go on doing what I am doing... and I suppose he...free to his opinion , will go on doing his deeds too.
well, I hate to interrupt a good argument...but, I just found out that the HPC will be honoring Lisa Neary at the Annual Preservation Awards Ceremony for her work...
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,6729.0.html
Thursday May 4 @ 6:00 in the Main Library Auditorium.
The Annual Preservation Awards Ceremony will honor individuals and organizations that have contributed to historic preservation efforts in Jacksonville. Lisa will be honored during a memorial tribute at the beginning of the ceremony.
Congrats to her.. For the record.... I am not trying to start a huge disagreement in this thread (or any other for that matter) I worked on the Annie Lytle issue into the wee hours of this morning.. I had a very pleasent and encouraging conversation with a potential developer... actually part of a large group of developers.... I hope M will take the time to read this thread and recognize that I am not launching a personal attack... I am trying to save history ...whether he views that history not worth saving or otherwise.
Even given PS#4s condition , these folks will be arranging with the new owners (these parties have been put in direct contact with each other)...and I will be meeting with both sides. They feel even given its condition, there is a solution which would not involve removing the School. Both sides are aware of its protected landmark status..
I will keep the forum posted of the findings. I find my approach productive at least. .. Only time will tell where this leads.. but the important starting point is THERE IS A DEFINITE INTEREST.
and for the record...they may well be interested in the FS#5 building as well... again time will tell. They are aware of the urgency to act on FS# 5.
So possibly...very possibly even , 2 landmarks may be seeing the light in the end of the tunnel...and not that of a demolition team.
I remember about 10 years ago when someone was trying to make PS#4 into condos, and one of the selling features was that the park would be at the builidng's doorstep. When they built the flyover, instead there is a chainlink fence and a scum pond of standing water at the buiding's doorstep. Good going... If they can take down the fence, drain the standing water, and extend the "under the bridge" cobblestones, that building can still work, even for residential. You can install soundproof windows.
That was around 2000 when Atkinson and Knight was listing it...had a banner across the front of it.. I think a few units even actually had interested buyers .....until they learned about the forthcoming, now present day flyover ramp. the installation of that , alone took away alot of the front yard. .
For whatever use may be in store... it would nearly be a must to somehow reconnect the School to Riverside Park. It can be done very easily.
I have plans from the condo design. They had quite a few buyers too, more than just a handful. Pity, that it didn't turn out that way.
Vicup.....GLAD to hear you have those....they could come in handy...