Potential Demolition in Avondale

[Metro Jacksonville]

Potential Demolition in Avondale



Recently, homeowner Brunson Lambs' request to demolish the historic structure on his property at 1945 Greenwood Avenue was heard before the City Council's Land Use and Zoning (LUZ) committee. A decision on the issue was deferred until the City's building inspection office had a chance to review the soundness of the structure. The following is the presentation that Riverside Avondale Preservation gave at the original hearing.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-feb-potential-demolition-in-avondale

[fsu813]

I always thought it was Bronson, not Brunson.

huh.

The chart on property values was eye-opening!

[grimss]

Me, too. I actually think the JHPC report misspells his name.

The assembled documentation represents a VERY comprehensive rejection of the applicant's claims, so it will be interesting to see how LUZ handles this--even more so when the full Council gets it.  The structural integrity issue was really the only point still in question; in fact, LUZ has limited discussion at the March 2nd meeting to this element alone, presumably because it was pretty clear at the earlier meeting that none of Harden's other arguments were holding water. The other day, a neighbor of mine was talking to the code enforcement officer who's assigned to the historic district, and asked him what he thought was going to happen with the bungalow. The officer apparently said it was still anyone's guess, which doesn't sound to me like a ringing endorsement of LUZ's record of upholding JHPC rulings.

[fsu813]

i wouldn't think it would be hard to get 50 people there supporting RAP at the next hearing.....

[Steve]

Correct - it was Bronson.  I thought it was too, then I read the JPHC report, which apparentlyt misspelled his name like four times.

Yes, it would be awesome to get a ton of people at LUZ in a show of support of RAP on this.

[fsu813]

what's good for one Historic District is good for the other, no?

If I were czar for the day' i'd make be a coordinated effort on hearings such as this to get all 3 historic districts involved / get people to show up & write emails/letters.

[Captain Zissou]

They could have done a little better with the before and after photos of the property, but overall some great points.

I watched the Ingleside house get remodeled and the results are amazing! I hope more homeowners can put this kind of effort into their properties.

[xian1118]

maybe RAP can pay for the remodeling so the owner doesn't have to?

[hooplady]

I guess I still don't understand the economics involved in these requests for demolition.  How is the owner better off with an empty lot?  Is the raw land worth that much more than selling the property at a bargain price right now?  He doesn't have the money to renovate but he has the funds to hire a lawyer and pay for demolition?  Especially in this case, where the cost is relatively modest.

Such a lovely home.  If this one goes, all of us in historic districts are in trouble.

[Captain Zissou]

This whole scenario doesn't make sense to me.

[Dan B]

what's good for one Historic District is good for the other, no?

If I were czar for the day' i'd make be a coordinated effort on hearings such as this to get all 3 historic districts involved / get people to show up & write emails/letters.

You have to get more people in Springfield on board with the anti-demolition movement. We arent nearly as fervent as Riverside in that regard.

[Kay]

Let me respond to a few posts.  RAP doesn't have the money to pay to renovate this property--we'd have to raise funds.  Additionally, the property owner has money.  However, the property owner stated at the JHPC hearing that he does not want to maintain the property or sell it because he wants to keep the land to leave to his grandchildren.  This is not a case of economic hardship. 

I don't think our members expect us to raise money to renovate a private home owned by someone who can afford to renovate it themselves.  Before the local historic district designation when structures were not protected from demolition, RAP raised money to move homes in danger of demolition.  We also restored homes that were in bad shape that we acquired and then sold. 

Today, the law says you cannot demolish a historic structure unless it meets certain criteria.  This home does not meet the criteria so RAP's role is to advocate for denial of the demolition request. 

Additionally, the home is not in bad shape.  It would be a great house for a young couple or an older couple looking to downsize.  The home could be added on to as well.  That’s not to say that someone wouldn’t want to remodel the interior. 

RAP Board Chair

[Overstreet]

I would think leaving my kid a positive cash flow rental property would be more important than raw land that would still require mowing maintenance (ie monthly cost).

[fieldafm]

I guess I still don't understand the economics involved in these requests for demolition.  How is the owner better off with an empty lot?  Is the raw land worth that much more than selling the property at a bargain price right now?  He doesn't have the money to renovate but he has the funds to hire a lawyer and pay for demolition?  Especially in this case, where the cost is relatively modest.

Such a lovely home.  If this one goes, all of us in historic districts are in trouble.

Drive down that street and you'd see why the owner wants to demo and sell the lot.  This particular bungalow is the smallest home on a street lined with sizeable houses.  There are also a few lots for sale on Greenwood (I think one just sold recently) that are ripe to build like-size homes. 
I don't support demo in any shape or form, but if you drive down the street its not hard to see why he wants to sell a bare lot instead.

I agree about the Ingleside home.  One of my favorites in the area!  I've stopped the owners in their yard before to ask about their landscaping.

[Debbie Thompson]

The charm of historic districts is that a small bungalow may reside next to a large home, unlike the cookie cutter subdivisions where there are six elevations, and all the homes are similarly sized.

I had a boss who lived in Jax Golf.  One day, driving down his street, he because distracted by some kids playing in the street. He drove in his driveway, and couldn't figure out why his garage door opener wouldn't work.  It took him awhile before he figured out he wasn't at his house.  He was a few doors down at a house that looked EXACTLY like his.  :-)

I'm with you, FSU, I have said on more than one occasion all the historic districts should work together. If we spoke with one voice about preservation, our voice would be so much stronger.