One Man's Journey into Restoration

[uptowngirl]

Well heck we can ALL do that "-)

[Springfield Chicken]

Well, be sure to promote the date we need to be there to support him.  I was in that house when it was for sale and it is incredible.  But, like many homes in Springfield, it fell into hard times and needs a ton of work.  Bringing that home back to its original condition will not be easy, cheap, or fast.  Anyone trying to do it and do it right deserves all the time he needs and any support we can lend.

[ChriswUfGator]

How on earth did DeSpainintheass get to be so influential?

Because she socially isolated a group of followers with debatable moral character, then took advantage of the situation.

I'm sure that, within the walls of SPAR, they had probably convinced themselves that they were doing the right thing. Or maybe not. Even now, I could be giving them too much credit. But the bottom line is that they cut themselves off from any diversity or capacity for oppositional debate, which are both needed to maintain perspective. In the absence of any dissent or opportunity for debate, they totally lost perspective and went berserk, demolishing 1/3'rd of the National Historic District they were supposed to be protecting, trying to drive out everyone who didn't share their views.  

SPAR is the real-estate version of Lord of the Flies.

[Kay]

Listen, the historic planning department is not that difficult to work with.  You have to follow the JHPC's recommendations and should.  He should call Joel or Lisa or go down there and get it worked out. 

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

[sheclown]

Kay, I completely agree!

And, we should let him know how grateful we are to have him restoring this property, and let the city officials know what a great RESTORATION job he is doing (that can never hurt).

[sheclown]

Part of the problem is that homeowners/restorers get overwhelmed and need encouragement and direction.  For those of us who have been around, we understand the process and can navigate our way through. 

Those who are new to this (and to Jacksonville) will not have the kind of local knowledge that makes this process logical.  And to add to this the fact that code enforcement was called in the first place because of complaints, makes it disheartening to say the least.

His work is beautiful and I encourage everyone in the neighborhood to stop by and give him a kind word. 

It's that simple.  Be neighborly. Encourage those who are true preservationists at heart and the neighborhood will thrive.

[Miss Fixit]

We should absolutely support Ray and his family's efforts.  JHPC and the planning department are reasonable and generally helpful.  Problems occur when homeowners don't understand the procedures they are required to follow, or buy a property with no knowledge of the unique requirements for renovating in an historic district.  Education is the answer.

The City recently began mailing information on the Certificate of Appropriateness process to new homeowners AFTER closing of their properties.  That's an improvement, but not enough.

It is essential that prospective homeowners are notified of the intricacies of living and renovating in an historic district before they sign a contract for purchase of an historic home.  Some realtors provide that information, but not all.  City Council should require a disclosure for every transaction involving an historic property.

[Springfield Chicken]

The city was quick to put ash notices on the property record cards but there is nothing on the records to indicate that a home is in a historic district.  And since many homes are bought at auction or from the owner, there isn't always a Realtor involved to explain what the restrictions are (and many who don't sell in the historic districts on a regular basis don't know any way).  Why can't there be a tag on the property record cards that links to more info on the historic district rules and regs?

[Debbie Thompson]

From what I've heard, in the past, real estate professionals who knew about them were reluctant to notify potential buyers of historic district requirements prior to sale because they were afraid it would scare off too many buyers.  I guess that's good for business, but probably makes for some unhappy buyers when they find out the truth.  Especially if they don't find it out until AFTER they've had a run in with the HPC. Then it makes the HPC and the historic district look like the bad guys.  People are upset, and rightfully so.

That said, many, I'd even venture to say most, real estate agents are not even educated on historic districts and their unique requirements.

[urbanlibertarian]

Buyer beware.  That's why we have real estate attorneys.

[strider]

From what I know so far, this is very much an issue with the guy not quite understanding the entire process.  He has COA's, so he has a conversation with the people down in the Historic Department and they tell him how they would like to see something handled or done.  He thinks that is enough and has done what he needed to do. He did not realize he still had to go get another COA.

The result is probably more of another type of mis-communication rather than intentional hindering.  So, yes, with a bit of help, this will be resolved in a satisfactory way.

[Springfield Chicken]

I don't know if notification on the property record cards would help things.  But I AM working on an educational program for Realtors about selling in historic districts and selling historic homes.

[sheclown]

A person needs to know what s/he is getting into before s/he buys!

Currently, if he were to get discouraged and leave, then city would brand him as an absentee owner and fine the crap out of him, the house gets put on the Formal Track to demolition and the city tears it down. The sum total of the rolling fines and eventually the $20k demo lien splash over onto everything else he owns in town.

Welcome to the Hotel California.

Take a risk and restore?

Not likely given the current policy -- thank God the city is reviewing its condemned structures policy!

In the meantime, let's give a little love and understanding to those brave souls out there doing it and encourage them to keep on restoring.

[fieldafm]

Buyer beware.  That's why we have real estate attorneys.

If I did business like that, I would have went bankrupt during the real estate crash like many of my peers did.  In my young life, I have fortunately learned that sacrificing long term relationships for short term gains will only serve to ruin you in the end.

[Miss Fixit]

Buyer beware.  That's why we have real estate attorneys.

If I did business like that, I would have went bankrupt during the real estate crash like many of my peers did.  In my young life, I have fortunately learned that sacrificing long term relationships for short term gains will only serve to ruin you in the end.

I don't fully understand fieldafm's response, but agree with the suggestion in the post he quotes that this thread supports the need for attorney involvement in real estate transactions.  I would certainly counsel my clients about the pros and  cons of purchasing in an historic district.  Unfortunately, most real estate transactions today are never reviewed by an attorney, and many title companies do little if anything to explain the various exceptions and encumbrances affecting property.  That's why a legally mandated disclosure regarding historic status is necessary.