Ten Reasons to Save Fire Station Five

[thelakelander]

Doesn't look good for the old fire station.

Jacksonville turns over deed to old firehouse to company

By Matt Galnor

If the old Fire Station No. 5 is going to avoid demolition, a developer will have to work a deal with Fidelity National Financial - not Jacksonville City Hall.

The city turned over building's deed to the Fortune 500 company last week, the final piece of a 2005 land swap that likely inches the three-story yellow brick structure on Riverside Avenue closer to demolition.

Fidelity notified the city in December that it planned to demolish the 105-year-old building, but the city had three months to come up with a plan to relocate it.

That time came and went. Even a slight reprieve to try to work a deal with a Fernandina Beach developer didn't work out and the city turned the deed over Friday.

Fidelity spokesman Dan Murphy did not return phone and e-mail messages left Monday seeking comment.

As part of the swap, Fidelity built a riverfront park and gave the city more land for the Northbank Riverwalk. In return, Fidelity got more land to potentially expand its Riverside Avenue headquarters.

To avoid demolition, the building would need to be moved somewhere in the nearby Brooklyn neighborhood because it's too big to fit under overpasses and bridges in the area.

The city pegged the cost of moving the building at $600,000 - though one developer said it would cost half that estimate.

All proposals brought to the city to move the building carried a significant city investment with them, spokeswoman Misty Skipper said.

Jerry Spinks, president of the Jacksonville Historical Society, said the only hope for the building is someone who sees it as the perfect place for their office.

"It's preservation lies directly in finding a use," Spinks said.

City Councilman Warren Jones has been trying to find a developer and says he'll continue talks now with Fidelity now that the company owns the building.

The Fire Department left the station in May 2008, moving about a mile away to a $2 million facility on Forest Street.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-04-19/story/jacksonville-turns-over-deed-old-firehouse-company

[stjr]

Maybe Fidelity will be "easier" to negotiate with than the City.  They certainly have a lot more money than COJ so maybe they could ease up on demands.  The positive PR wouldn't hurt them either.  I can't imagine they have an immediate need for a new building so why not leave the station there and see what happens.

[CS Foltz]

Good idea stjr! Infact maybe they could renovate and refurbish right where it sit! Done right it could be a real jewel and definently a feather in their cap! That bldg has lots of potential but thats their call...........like you say "Why not leave the station there and see what happens"!

[Jason]

In the short term it would make for a great meeting space or themed restaraunt... Firehouse Subs in an actual firehouse?  What a novel idea!

[Dog Walker]

Probably not enough money in the sub business for that building, but a high end restaurant like Espeto's Brazilian Steak House would probably work.  That location would be perfect for any business entertainment type restaurant.

[Cliffs_Daughter]

Their HQ office is still in Mandarin by the library, isn't it?
That would make one EXCELLENT HQ building, in my most humble opinion.  

[fieldafm]

A firehouse sub location typically grosses around 550-650k in sales a year.  Not enough cash flow or a logical DCR for a single sub store to work in that location.  
The developer that was trying to save the building wanted the city to basically give him extremely valuble property on Forest Street(remember that will be a primary feeder to the interstate) and to pay just under half the relocation expenses.

Sorry to say, there isn't a financial scenario that makes sense for the fire station.  Fidelity has been a good steward to the city and has made good on their contractual obligations on the riverwalk land(even giving the city leeway and additional time to work a deal on the firehouse).  As much as I hate to see anymore historical structures being torn down in this fair city, its high time that Fidelity do what that land as they wish... which hopefully means expanding their campus in the future(its good to have Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies headquarted in Brooklyn).  The time to save the station was a long time ago.

I'm sure thats not a popular opinion... but the old Brooklyn is gone for good.  I think its better we remember it for what it once was, and look forward and focus on its future... which is to say an economic engine for our city's future.

[JaxNative68]

for the two million dollar price tag of the new fire station, the city could have relocated and renovated the historic structure.  the city dropped the ball big time on this one!

[vicupstate]

A firehouse sub location typically grosses around 550-650k in sales a year.  Not enough cash flow or a logical DCR for a single sub store to work in that location. 
The developer that was trying to save the building wanted the city to basically give him extremely valuble property on Forest Street(remember that will be a primary feeder to the interstate) and to pay just under half the relocation expenses.

Sorry to say, there isn't a financial scenario that makes sense for the fire station.  Fidelity has been a good steward to the city and has made good on their contractual obligations on the riverwalk land(even giving the city leeway and additional time to work a deal on the firehouse).  As much as I hate to see anymore historical structures being torn down in this fair city, its high time that Fidelity do what that land as they wish... which hopefully means expanding their campus in the future(its good to have Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies headquarted in Brooklyn).  The time to save the station was a long time ago.

I'm sure thats not a popular opinion... but the old Brooklyn is gone for good.  I think its better we remember it for what it once was, and look forward and focus on its future... which is to say an economic engine for our city's future.

What about the Firehouse HQ idea?  What about a Firehouse HQ AND restaurant, with the restaurant serving as a observation site for training purposes? 

Where there is a will, there is a way.  The problem is there is no WILL.  No vision either for that matter.  This city is such a JOKE when it comes to historic preservation. 

BTW, just how much taxes are being paid on that city owned land on Forest Street now?  That would be zero, since it is in public hands.  The city gave away land for a song in LaVilla ($2 a sq. ft), what is the difference?  If the relocation costs were in fact $300,000, then the city's part would be less than $150k. The city has spent a multiple of that on other buildings such as the 20 W Adams building that still sits half-done.     

Give me a break

[TheProfessor]

Fidelity needs to move the fire station for sure.  Fidelity is a wealthy Fortune 500 company. There are many empty lots in Brooklyn where the fire station could go.  Someone who is a Fidelity insider please post info on a good company contact, so that we may relay our sentiments to them and so that this historic structure is not demolished.

[JaxNative68]

^not to mention a lot of the fidelity higer ups persoanlly purchased land all around Brooklyn as personal investments in anticipation of the changes to come in brooklyn.  maybe they need a tax credit and could donate one of these lots to aide in a possible fire station relocation.

[hanjin1]

i think we all know deep down inside that tomorrow fidelity will go and quickly have this demolished just like the lerners building was

[buckethead]

 

[RockStar]

Well, just 'cause something is old doesn't make it historic. Demo it already. What do you call that architectural style anyway? Bland Box?

Is this thread historic yet? Cause it's getting old. LoL!

[Captain Zissou]

Come on Rockstar, you of all people should realize the potential of this building.  You rehabbed and revitalized a bland space downtown. Imagine the potential for this building.  It would make a great restaurant, bar, office, anything.  All it needs is TLC. Historic structures are the only thing that keep Brooklyn from turning into SJTC north.