Downtown's Most Endangered Historic Buildings

[vicupstate]

How about this

Metro Jacksonville:
If the people lead, the leaders will follow.

[BridgeTroll]

I like it Vic!  Add the URL at the bottom.

[buckethead]

I agree! Best one so far!

Peraps a shortened version for the quick read:

When People Lead; Leaders Follow

metrojacksonville.com

[BridgeTroll]

Next up... any graphics designers out there?  C'mon folks!

[Asia]

This is so upsetting. What can be done, besides bumperstickers, be done to help save these pieces of history?

(Not that the stickers aren't awesome, of course.)

[Ocklawaha]

American Bottoms Everywhere?  It is catchy, but I don't quite understand.

It's an inside plug for our Port growth. "Bottom" is the shipping term for the home nation of a cargo ship. It's not unusual to see signs pushing this or that bottom around international ports. We could go with "Oriental Bottoms" but since we only have about 2 cargo ships left in the USA, I thought well what the heck.

OCKLAWAHA

[Ocklawaha]

hmm.  I dare you to run around announcing that your an american bottom in riverside, ock.

Well, I couldn't be an American Bottom, but my ship sure as hell could... IF I had one... The sad part for me is, in this booming future leading port, nobody knew WTF??

OCKLAWAHA

[GENTRY]

Sorry but I beg to differ on this topic. All things that are old are not historical. What is historical is what they were and not what they are today. Only a very few of the Jacksonville Historic Society list of historical structures downtown are of any actual historical significance.

Without getting into the definition of what a historical building is, it can be said that an underground walkway is not. Abandoned dilapidated warehouses are not. An old assembly plant is not. The office building with no architectural distinction at 218 W. Church Street is just that, an office building. Hogan's Creek should be repaired for functional reasons alone. If you want to be accosted or worse, then by all means, make Hogan's Creek aesthetically pleasing. Etc...

On the other hand there are several buildings in and around downtown that are being overlooked because they are not on somebody's agenda.

[civil42806]

Sorry but I beg to differ on this topic. All things that are old are not historical. What is historical is what they were and not what they are today. Only a very few of the Jacksonville Historic Society list of historical structures downtown are of any actual historical significance.

Without getting into the definition of what a historical building is, it can be said that an underground walkway is not. Abandoned dilapidated warehouses are not. An old assembly plant is not. The office building with no architectural distinction at 218 W. Church Street is just that, an office building. Hogan's Creek should be repaired for functional reasons alone. If you want to be accosted or worse, then by all means, make Hogan's Creek aesthetically pleasing. Etc...

On the other hand there are several buildings in and around downtown that are being overlooked because they are not on somebody's agenda.

Oooooh you've done it now

[JeffreyS]

218 is worth preserving IMO.  Locally significant architect and I like it.  I love the approach lets not discuss the definition of a historical building I will just tell you what's what.

[thelakelander]

Oooooh you've done it now

Sometimes, the effort to respond is not even worth it.  For me, this is one of those times.  Either you get it or you don't.

[heights unknown]

Oooooh you've done it now

Sometimes, the effort to respond is not even worth it.  For me, this is one of those times.  Either you get it or you don't.

OUCH!!!!!!!

Heights Unknown

[heights unknown]

We've razed and torn asunder numerous jewels, diamonds and gold studs over the years which were historic gems not only downtown but around the City and County; it's got to stop, so, let's preserve what's left and not bulldoze and wreck ball every old structure for the sake of parking lots or because no one wants it right away.  There are ways to save these structures.

Demolition, wrecking balls and bulldozers should be an absolute last resort and only if the structure is unsavable, in a condemnation mode, or a tremendous and new development which will greatly benefit that area and the city is due to be built in its place.

Heights Unknown

[Dog Walker]

Some people rescue dogs and cats from shelters.  Some people go to exclusive breeders to put down a deposit for the newest designer dog.

Personally, all of my dogs and cats are rescues and I have gotten enormous satisfaction from rehabilitating, re-purposing and rehabilitating old buildings.  I have also gotten tremendous satisfaction from designing and building a new building in an industrial park.

What I would object too with all my might is having my rescue animals put down in order for someone to order a designer dog.  So don't tear down a building with life left in it in order to put up a new one or a parking lot.  Build your new building somewhere else and I will find a creative use for the old building left behind.

[mtraininjax]

Dog - both our our cats are strays, and we feed and love the rest in the neighborhood. My wife even tells me to slow down in a neighborhood, not my own, because someone's pet lives here and might be out in front of you.

I applaud Perdue and their efforts downtown, but from what I hear, it was a mess. Imaging a building that has not had AC operating for years, what that does to the walls and how technology has changed since they had tenants in there. They were without access to their data network for 10 days. I think I could not have made it!