Exploring The Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant

[Metro Jacksonville]

Exploring The Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant



In an effort to promote the preservation of Jacksonville's historic Ford Motor Company assembly plant by Hill Street, LLC., DOCOMOMO US/Florida, AIA Jacksonville, and Old Arlington, Inc., the property was open on Saturday, Oct. 8 for public tours.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-oct-exploring-the-ford-motor-company-assembly-plant

[Noone]

Great information. I love that building. I hope they are successful in a sustainable existance in using our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative.

[dougskiles]

Magnificent building.  The weather on Saturday added to the mystique - sheets of rain and wind howling through the empty building.  Great to see so many out photographing the building and treading through our history.  I had a chance to talk to Bill Bishop there and asked him his vision for the space - cruise terminal, but for ships that can clear the Dames Point.  He thinks there is a market for the smaller ships that we should pursue.  I hope it works out.

[thelakelander]

I spoke with Bill Bishop as well.  We both question the financial feasibility of restoring a building of such grand scale that has been allowed to rot for decades.

[vicupstate]

It would be great to get pictures of the Richmond CA project.

[thelakelander]

Here are a few.  It's about four or five times the size of our Ford plant.  We ran a story on it a year ago:








http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-ford-assembly-plant-comes-back-to-life

[Overstreet]

Go ahead and build your vision. But be wary of deals with the city. They do not honor their agreements.

[ben says]

Cool building. Now let's preserve it and/or turn it into something really cool.

[TheProfessor]

Great space and location.  It could house so many things!!

[Timkin]

It goes without saying that I would completely be for seeing the Old building spared and transformed into something useful, and that I hope , obviously a reuse and sources to fund renovation can be identified.

I feel, as everyone knows, just as strongly that the Annie Lytle School deserves the same break and to me at least it is equally as important.

Where to get the funding, the investors?   What to do with the space is pretty easy, in both instances.. It is getting persons with the deep pockets to see that vision, and want to invest.

As Overstreet has posted...and this goes without saying . Our city does not honor their agreements..  There is no money for this or that.  There are positions being cut right and left, but SOMEHOW , SOMEWAY, Monies miraculously appear when it comes to getting the wrecking ball out.  When it is decided that a building is condemned and to be demolished, it seems that gets accomplished with lightning speed.  I personally think some historic houses and buildings get a little help to speed the process ( citing the "accidental" fire that sealed the demise of the historic Jewish Center and the various homes in Springfield that have been set on fire).

When I look at the pictures of days gone by and the staggering numbers of beautiful buildings that, without any consideration for a reuse , were just leveled, and dirt lots or slabs replace them, and now look around to see what remains , and is endangered, coupled with our economic times and the mindset of some...In another decade or so, there will be NOTHING AT ALL left that was ever beautiful or historic.   I do not understand why this is the mindset of many in this city and I certainly hope it changes.

I have always been of the opinion that where there is a will , there is a way... and I think there is  SOME will , but not enough... Otherwise, projects like Annie Lytle and the Ford Assembly plant would now be destinations , instead of endangered , horribly neglected buildings.   If there is anyway I can help , it goes without saying I would love to ...

[Timkin]

I spoke with Bill Bishop as well.  We both question the financial feasibility of restoring a building of such grand scale that has been allowed to rot for decades.

And I am curious, Lake,  what was your conclusion?

[dougskiles]

The office part of the building is most likely beyond restoration.  The larger warehouse part looked fine to me structurally.  In fact, it looks no different than any other large warehouse building under construction.  It would just need to be finished.

[thelakelander]

I spoke with Bill Bishop as well.  We both question the financial feasibility of restoring a building of such grand scale that has been allowed to rot for decades.

And I am curious, Lake,  what was your conclusion?

To make something work with that space will most likely require someone with a great heart to put up the cash for the love of saving the building, over it being an investment opportunity (sort of like Beaver Street Fisheries' support of the farmer's market).  The other way around that is for the city to pour in a ton of cash. In the meantime, it should be properly mothballed.  Right now, the interior is just left open to the elements.

As for uses, I believe the Richmond, CA project provides the answer.  The most viable option is probably a mix of uses.  Other than the actual structure itself, the there's really nothing left on the interior to save.  So, subdividing the space shouldn't be an issue.

[dougskiles]

I agree - mixed use is the answer.  And it would likely only happen if it were community-owned.

Time to start 'Friends of Ford Plant'.

[Timkin]

Is the building /property for sale? How much ?