One Man's Journey into Restoration

[sheclown]

1551 Boulevard could be a Klutho, it certainly bears some remarkable interior and exterior detail.  Wayne Woods's book (http://jaxhistory.com/book.htm) mentions this house as one of the more significant houses in Springfield.  From its barrel tile roof, to its unique and massive rafter tails, this house pays attention to every element.

A window isn't just a window, it is a space to put 12 little pieces of glass and mullions.  The inside is filled with columns and newels with intricate Klutho design.


It is a jewel and has found a craftsman to restore it.



But this new homeowner needs some help.

[sheclown]

Last October, Ray Colon excited about his new restoration project, was working on it when he was approached by Louise DeSpain who demanded to know about his intentions.

A thread was dedicated to this a while back:

[Stephendare]
I am meeting in a few minutes with Ray Colon, the owner of several UPS Stores in South Florida, including one in Wilton Manors.

He and his wife recently purchased a home in Springfield and have been working on it with the intention of growing their family.

His welcome wagon to the neighborhood was apparently as follows:

A man stopped in the middle of the street, didnt quite get out of his car, and asked him whether or not he had bought the house that he was working on.  Ray briefly introduced himself and outlined his plans to the man (a perfect stranger).

Within short notice a grim faced woman showed up on his doorstep and opened a conversation thusly:

I'm Louise DeSpain, and Im in charge of SPAR, and I want to know what your intentions are with this house."

He was then informed that group homes were unwelcome and unlawful in the neighborhood.

I suppose he and his foster kids can just put that in their pipe and smoke it.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,7177.0.html

However, Ray, a former NYC cop, is tougher than most and moved ahead with his project.

[sheclown]

Shortly after this he discovered that his nearly purchased property was part of an ash site.

[sheclown]

Still not deterred, Ray was able to negotiate with code enforcement and settled for $1500 in fines provided the house was finished by October of this year.

Progress was moving forward until the COA glitch.  

He is a very organized man.  He has shown me his files and his paperwork -- it is altogether and well documented.  He didn't, however, understand the finer points of the COA  process.  And although he pulled three separate COAs, he didn't do any of them the way the city wanted.  One clearly he messed up.  He put a small regular window in instead of a multipane on a little seen spot next to the chimney.  The other COA violations baffle me.  

Bottom line is an $800 fine and a stop work order which will prevent him from finishing in time to please code enforcement.  And he has a date with the special master next month to review his progress.

His comment:  "If they would have just come out and told me what I was doing wrong, I would have fixed it.  I love this house and want to do it right."

[sheclown]

"Why is everyone so adversarial?" Ray would like to know.

[ChriswUfGator]

"Why is everyone so adversarial?" Ray would like to know.

Why else? SPAR...

[sheclown]

I told Ray that the city is working on a new plan for condemned properties.

He looked at me and said "you know, after that episode last year where SPAR told me that I wasn't welcome, people left little notes on my door saying 'welcome neighbor'.  He said "it made me cry."

"I like it here -- I just want to be able to finish my house."

[fieldafm]

Watched the house renovations, at least from the outside, over my weekly bike rides into Springfield for probably about a year now.  That's a large house and the work has looked really good.  A real credit to the neighborhood.

Those columns and that ceiling look really cool!!

[sheclown]

here's another shot

[Debbie Thompson]

That house is absolutely incredible.  I'm so glad it was purchased by someone who loves it.

[sheclown]

This house will not do better than Ray Colon, a craftsman who loves it, has the skill, resources and the time necessary to do the work himself.  He dreams of seeing his children playing in the yard in the house he restored.

[buckethead]

It is time to steamroll city hall. How on earth did DeSpainintheass get to be so influential?

Why is the city such an adversarial entity? Are there developers with an eye for bulldozing springfield in favor of a new gated community?

[sheclown]

Bucket, this is what happens when we try to get folks to do what we want using a stick and not a carrot.

The city is changing its policy as we speak.  This change in policy will save the neighborhood.

[uptowngirl]

But what can we do for Ray now? How can we help?

[sheclown]

We can email the historic planning department and the commission and express our support of Ray.  We can ask that the fines be waved.

HPC MEMBERS
dcase@rs-architects.com
rmoore@jaxlegelhelp.com
aschifanella@bellsouth.net
joe_thompson@gspnet.com
jennifer.mansfield@hklaw.com
lisasellsjax@gmail.com
Jerry@DZYNECONCEPTS.com

PRESERVATION OFFICE
mceachin@coj.net
sheppard@coj.net
amartina@coj.net
spaull@coj.net

We can attend the Special Master's meeting in November and request additional time for him to restore his house without penalty.

We can stop when we see him working and give him encouragement. Invite him for coffee.

We can contact Dr. Gaffney on his behalf and let him know how blessed the neighborhood is to have someone working on this house.
gaffney@coj.net

We can thank the city for reviewing its condemned structure policy and express our gratitude for its quick action.  Especially Bill Killingsworth, Joel McEachin and Kimberly Scott.
billk@coj.net
mceachin@coj.net
kscott@coj.net