Good news in Springfield

[Miss Fixit]

During the presentation portion of Celebrate Springfield last weekend, Bill Cesery said that he's been approach by a couple developers about building on Main Street.

He also mentioned how a Redell Street project was being seriously considered again.

Jim Burkhart, President of Shands Jacksonville, mentioned that they are considering developing a hotel near Shands as well, somewhere near the Walgreens I believe.

A hotel near Shands would have an interesting impact on the neighborhood, creating oportunities for new related businesses nearby.

Did Cesery provide any specifics on the type of development contemplated for Main Street?

[Dan B]

The plan, as it sat a couple of years ago, was the purchase, and redevelop the "bloodiest block" (University Plaza and Lincoln Court) into hotels and retail.

I do not know if this fell apart

[nestliving]

It is Jack Meeks and JoAnn Tredenick..   Sigma, Jensen Hande always said he had plans, but nobody ever saw them. I don't think he truly had any real intention on building here. He always told me about them but never showed anything.. He got what he wanted from the property, a nice profit for sitting on it and putting nothing into it...

Jensen's had some great plans for that space, Just decided to live elsewhere. can't say I blame him.

[CityLife]

whoops

[soxfan]

Jensen's had some great plans for that space, Just decided to live elsewhere. can't say I blame him.

Can't say you blame him for what??? Not developing an awesome property that he got for dirt cheap? For sitting on a property and letting it decay? What can't you blame him for?? No one gave him a hard time about his plans like some of these other developers (ie. the car wash) because no one ever saw any.. His idea was great, in fact it's almost the same as Meeks idea. I think he got in over his head and didn't realize how much it really costs to renovate an old building and decided to sell it when he realized he couldn't afford to see his idea to fruition and then bitched and moaned that the neighborhood was no good. No one from the hood ever gave him any problems. He got a fine once for the lot being overgrown and the city had a company come in and clean it up, that's the extent of his "problems" from the neighborhood. After that happened, he kept the yard clean and then I did it for him in exchange for using the building.. So, what is it that you can't blame him for?? Us, neighbors were looking forward to him renovating that building and would've helped him any way we could've.  That's fine that he decided to go live somewhere else, that's his choice, we don't want anyone that doesn't want to be here..

[nestliving]

settle down big guy. no one is dissing on your beloved Springfield...What I am saying was that the cost of him doing the place up far out weighed the cost of selling it and moving to to a place already done.

considering the current economy it was prolly the best decision he ever made.

you guys need to chill out....

[Sigma]

I'm not buying that excuse.  He bought the place back when banks were throwing money at Springfield and everywhere else.

Something happened with his financing, I just don't remember what.  Ingrid Greene was his agent so she could probably tell us more.

[Miss Fixit]

Uhh I thought this was supposed to be the positive, no name calling forum about Springfield?

[fsu813]

"Did Cesery provide any specifics on the type of development contemplated for Main Street?"

- no, he didn't.

[JensenHandeStudios]

I'm not buying that excuse.  He bought the place back when banks were throwing money at Springfield and everywhere else.

Something happened with his financing, I just don't remember what.  Ingrid Greene was his agent so she could probably tell us more.

Greetings,
I had some fantastic plans for that property.  It killed me to sell it but I had to move on and find somewhere to live.

As far as all the money banks were throwing at Springfield. I couldn't get any of it do to the building's zoning.  The building is zoned residential.  The banks looked at it and said, NO, this is commercial. I would explain that it's going to be a house/residential.  They wouldn't think out of the box.

Never had any problems from the neighbors. Just the anal guy on 7th Street who tattle-tailed on me for some firewood stacked up. The city sent notices to the Walnut address so I never received them.  I ended up having to pay 1500.00 to the city for stealing my firewood and mowing the lawn.  All the guy had to do was call me and let me know it was bothering him and I would have taken care of it.

Anyone who knows me knew it killed me to not build that place out and be a positive part of the neighborhood.  To say otherwise is wrong.

[Sigma]

Thanks so much for replying and straightening that out.  Now Its coming back to me why the financing was a problem - the zoning!

I do recall the ideas that you had and I thought it was going to be fantastic!  I hope you realize that dream.

[nvrenuf]

Project 180 concept that was discussed at Celebrate Springfield was very exciting. I'm thrilled Cesery is working with them.

[Miss Fixit]

Project 180 concept that was discussed at Celebrate Springfield was very exciting. I'm thrilled Cesery is working with them.

Would you please describe the Project 180 concept?  I unfortunately was not able to attend Celebrate Springfield...

[fsu813]

It's a youth organization aimed at at-risk children, mostly in low-income housing projects.

They have an academic, athletic, and healthy living components in which they are, apparently, very successful (some of the stats read were impressive).

[Springfield Girl]

I just wanted to address the zoning siuation above in case anyone else runs into that problem. I was selling a duplex that was zoned commercial and the banks were having none of it. The buyers wanted to live in half and rent the other half out. The problem with the financing was that, even though the property was built as, set up and being used as residential it had commercial zoning which would require the property to be rebuilt under commercial guidelines and codes if it was damaged or destroyed. The banks do not want this added liability. I called zoning and was told that this is a pretty common issue in historic districts. The remedy is to have zoning write a letter saying that they would not require the property to be rehabbed or rebuilt under commercial guidelines. Once the liability has been taken off, the lenders usually lighten up.