Whose responsible?

[JaxResident]

Are lenders, banks, and REO/BP0 Asset Management Companies being held to the same standard by city code enforcement in ensuring that the properties they are trying to sell stay properly secured, lawns mowed, trash picked up, etc?

There appears to be a double standard (in some instances)....not all.

[CS Foltz]

In a short word ............NO! Different set of rules for developers versus residents! I could use the Park Avenue as an example.....compared to one of the Historical Homes in Springfield that gets fast tracked to demolition!

[JaxResident]

Thanks for the clarification. I would surmise that if people conducted a thorough investigation on many of the properties in Springfield (available for sale) that sit unsecured, grass overgrown, trash and litter scattered about, it would be discovered that a majority are not owned by residents of the community.

Many in fact are owned by Asset Management Companies and Property Investment Companies whom got them via tax lien sales, auctions, foreclosures, etc.

The same rules should apply no matter who are you (resident, property management company, asset management company, property flipper, etc. If you hold the title, you make sure the property has been properly secured, the yard/grass mowed, litter kept picked up, etc.

It isn't fair for the city code enforcement people to penalize resident's and allow the "big boys" a great deal more leniency.

[CS Foltz]

JaxResident.........I concur and so do alot of other people who live in Springfield who have had to deal with Code Enforcement and therein lies the crux of the matter. One set of rules, bound in stone and enforced for one group and the same rules that are ignored for the developers and the like. There does need to be some continuity and even handedness applied across the board! Code Enforcement does what they can within the Codes, but even they don't apply equal translation  for all..............Codes need to change to something reasonable that allows residents to have a fighting chance to save their homes or mothball them for future potential use.......two different scenerio's, two different set of rules, should be fairly easy to work it out!

[JaxResident]

CS,

You would think this would be a no brainer, right?

Instead, the city keeps pushing suburban sprawl and building one "Knots-Landing" subdivision after another....big McMansions.....

Instead, we have spacious historical homes in Springfield that could be turned into absolute picturesque houses. The one on Ionia that SOS is trying to save from being demolished is $40K. Not only does it have the main house, it has a carriage house on the property and a basement apartment. If someone could buy this place for $40K, I bet with putting say $80-$100K into it in renovations (maybe that is too high or too low...I have no idea), they could not only make it beautiful, but it would enhance the neighborhood and raise everyone's property values.

Especially if whomever renovated it actually lived in the house.

[iloveionia]

^now that this home on Ionia you speak of (1626) is clean and protected, (albeit, much more work is needed,) my next step is to talk to the owner (whom I've maintained dialogue with,) to relist the home for sale, but this time with a local Springfield Realtor.  We have plenty, I'll give him the options, and hopefully he will choose.  It is indeed a GREAT house with the potential for added income.  The main house for a family, the full basement (finished by the way,) for a "man cave" or added rental, and then as you mention, the carriage house.  

And JaxResident, I concur with you.

[JaxResident]

Hey iloveionia,

I had the privilege (yes, it was a privilege) of seeing the place on the inside. I pictured what it could be, gutted, saving what can be saved (original trim, moldings, etc) and put back together. It has so much potential and could be an incredible home.

If it does go back on the market, please let us all know so we too can help get the word out. Anything to save this property from being irresponsibly demolished.

[iloveionia]

JaxResident,
You can count on it.  And thank you, thank you very much.

[CS Foltz]

One small step at a time iloveionia and JaxResident..............SOS has the right idea, now to just plant seeds that have the chance to sprout............a little Council member backing (who ever the hell is going to step up to the line........maybe Cresimbi?)a few needed changes to the Codes and we might have a winner!

[JaxResident]

I think everyone has the idea. Plant the seeds of change and see if things can grow......

Would it be worthwhile to try and get a paper (such as Folio) to pick up a story on the proposed demolition of these historically and architecturally diverse properties in Springfield? Or, would that just be spinning our wheels?

if they would run the story, photos of various properties that are on the demo list could be provided.

The property at 1626 Ionia is a great place to start....

[ChriswUfGator]

Code Enforcement will let a bank-owned house rot away until it falls in on itself without pressing the issue, but will hassle actual Duval residents trying to fix a place up to no end. This is another one of the many many unfair, bogus, and absurd things about Code Enforcement that needs to change pronto.

In my opinion, the double-standard exists because Code Enforcement knows that if they pull some B.S. stunt and demolish Bank of America's property by not telling the owner about violations, intentionally mailing the notices to the wrong address, and then fast-tracking it for demolition before anybody finds out about it (like they do to everyone else) that they're guaranteed to be sued. But they think the average Joe will just put up with it. And sadly most of the time they're right.

[Ocklawaha]

Hey iloveionia,

I had the privilege (yes, it was a privilege) of seeing the place on the inside. I pictured what it could be, gutted, saving what can be saved (original trim, moldings, etc) and put back together. It has so much potential and could be an incredible home.

If it does go back on the market, please let us all know so we too can help get the word out. Anything to save this property from being irresponsibly demolished.

First step? How about a photo or two on this thread?

OCKLAWAHA

[strider]

Try here:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,9762.0.html

This thread talks about this house but is trying to be a bit more generic and deal with other issues.