"Emergency Demolition"

[fieldafm]

What's sickening is the only person that responded to me(after multiple attempts) was someone that wasn't even on your list Sheclown.

Real responsive government we have around here. 

We hassle small business and give them an environment that is artificially difficult to compete in while our economy crumbles around us and our unemployment rate cripples hope of a meaningful recovery... yet we allow the wanton destruction of the mere fraction of the remaining historic stock left in one of the city's nationally recognized historic districts. 

Isn't it crazy how those roles aren't reversed?!?!

[Timkin]

I'm heartsick over this.  

Many of us are.

All of us should be.

+1   Not just heartsick.  Disgusted.  Fed up  .  Worried.    Key persons in our City Government do not give a damn about Historic Buildings ( this is obvious and has been the case at least throughout my lifetime and probably well before)

Not sure how to make this stop...before anything that resembles Historic Fabric is no more in this City.


This is "Rigged Demolition"  Deliberate measures taken so that demolition will be guaranteed.


Much Like Annie Lytle School will eventually meet its demise.. No practical maintenance done on it since or before 1960, and so , it eventually becomes so dangerous, that Demolition is granted with no argument.  That is exactly what is taking place there.

[sheclown]

plenty of original features left, trim and doors:

[sheclown]

even door knobs

[vicupstate]

Jacksonville, Where history dies.

[sheclown]

Jacksonville, Where history dies.

+1

[mbwright]

Much of this could have been salvaged.  There is no reason to behave in this manner.  Since there are obvious violations by multible parties, owner, various city agencies, etc, who can bring charges?  The city and owner are in violation of most of the code that was stated here earlier, including the original building permit, stement that it was unstable (as caused by the owner).  Why no checks and balances?  "trust us, we're with the government" does not work.

[Bativac]

I think at this point it's obvious that the people of Jacksonville, by and large, care nothing for the history of their city or for structures that have been in place for a hundred years or better. The people in the government don't care, the people living here don't care, only a handful of people are really concerned about the fact that anything in Jacksonville that was built by previous generations is being torn down. I've about given up on Jacksonville.

Complaints fall on deaf ears. Doesn't matter who you are or who you're complaining to. I guess I can sort of understand wanting to give someone the right to do what they choose with their property but these homes aren't like the millions of 1950s ranch homes we have around town.

It's always ironic, to me, that these homes are torn down without a second thought, but that great pains were taken to preserve that stupid orange dinosaur on Beach Blvd.

[stjr]

I think the leaders of MJ should present this story to the mayoral candidates and ask for on-the-record responses to how they feel about historic preservation.  Go for it!

[peestandingup]

Anyone got friends in the Mainstream Media around here that could get this story picked up? Because (sadly) that's still how a lot of people get their information.

I think its time to start playing hardball with these clowns & put down the paint brushes for now. Some embarrassment needs to happen...and soon.

[sheclown]

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.


--Dylan Thomas

[AmyLynne]

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.


--Dylan Thomas

Like it was never even there.....

[iloveionia]

I am sorry we could not save this house.
It's just not right.

[sheclown]

Fixation on minutia robs us of significant action.

The only significant discussion about Springfield properties ought to be how to save the ones in danger.

All other discussion:  window size, fence & siding material, door placement, is bullshit, if these houses are quickly and quietly destroyed.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Let me ask you Springfielder's this, "Now that a homeowner has wantenly (based on the facts present) destroyed an historic home next to his own to benefit him/herself, what will you do to prevent this from happening in the future?"

Based on what I saw and read here, someone used the 'system' to have a house removed.  Who pays for the demolition?  Are there fines to be assessed to the property owner or do they get off Scott free?   I ask you these questions because it appears on the outskirts that someone has figured out the blueprint to remove the historic homes from the area:  Buy some lots with homes on them, do some shoddy/shady demo based on legitimate permits that were pulled on the home to enhance it for the current owner and then have them torn to the ground because the 'repairs' accidentally hurt the home more than helped. 

If I'm a developer or part of a development group, I just learned how to clear an entire block at someone else's (taxpayer's presumably) expense so I can do what I want.