Public School Number 4 Is On Fire

[ricker]

Rumblefish, there have been many, many old schools re-purposed for other uses all over the country and here in Jacksonville too.

The least expensive and most logical use for Annie Lytle would be as a school again.  Any of the private school entities in this town have the money to rehab the building and make it back into a school.  Previous owner was actually blocked from this by the provision of the purchase from the School Board many years ago.  That is no longer operative, but the previous owner was completely unimaginative about new uses and never really marketed the property.

If a charter school can afford to remodel a dog track into a charter school, they could afford to update a school to be a school again.

perhaps some students and parents with RPDS, ST.MARKS, ST.MATTHEWS, ST.PAULS would support a private technical school?
a concept that wouldn't compete with but would complement Bolles.
Friends of Annie should gather and brainstorm to develop the outreach.

[Timkin]

Rumblefish, there have been many, many old schools re-purposed for other uses all over the country and here in Jacksonville too.

The least expensive and most logical use for Annie Lytle would be as a school again.  Any of the private school entities in this town have the money to rehab the building and make it back into a school.  Previous owner was actually blocked from this by the provision of the purchase from the School Board many years ago.  That is no longer operative, but the previous owner was completely unimaginative about new uses and never really marketed the property.

If a charter school can afford to remodel a dog track into a charter school, they could afford to update a school to be a school again.

perhaps some students and parents with RPDS, ST.MARKS, ST.MATTHEWS, ST.PAULS would support a private technical school?
a concept that wouldn't compete with but would complement Bolles.
Friends of Annie should gather and brainstorm to develop the outreach.

+1  ..I'm on board.

[Timkin]

+1  that is well-put.

It also about the generation (NOW) that has no regard.. It is about the majority of a city that has NO regard.  A Mayor with no regard.. An owner for 40 plus years with no regard..  A current owner who does business by ...?  No answering of phones, no response to letter... so  no regard.

Not enough people care.

For what would you suggest the building be used???  Past owners have attempted condos and apartments but there is no market.  I don't expect any owner to throw money down a hole.  And I don't want the City throwing that money down the hole either.

The least expensive and best reuse of the School would be to turn it back into a School.    The mentality of reuse for it has mostly been centered around residential.  I would be the first to say that will not work.  Looks like the owner since 1980 also would have realized this despite at least 3 attempts I have read about.  When one avenue does not work, you try another.  But that owner NEVER   ( N   E    V    E   R )  tried  another avenue.. Instead  he ties the property up with a snarkish developer from St Augustine ,who from day one , wanted to tear the building down and put .....wait for the drum roll..... a retirement facility in its place.  a building that might last 50 years to replace a close to century old building .   Supposedly dumped tons of money and time into finding a way to save the building. Even put a price tag on the renovation.

Talk is cheap.   When you run into a brick wall its time to try another avenue.   I PERSONALLY sent at least two interested parties to the owner... but they were turned away .why?  because a developer had an option on the property.. Next... the idea was to convert the building , adding a 3 story addition to the back of it for a 55 and up facility.   Residential Residential Residential  Residential..  Hello? 

Ocklawaha , who posts here had a wonderful idea for the School, with the proposal of a TOD station  with a mixed-use facility .    No one would listen who could be the hero.

THERE IS a way to re purpose the building.  If  I did not firmly believe that , I too would join the masses and say , it is a lost cause.   But I know it is not.    There are many examples in this country where expressways and streets run right up against a structure.. I am so tired of hearing that the Interstate is the problem.  Its not.  It is lack of vision and a closely knit group who, plain and simply not only do not want to see the School Spared ,but will go to any length to see to it , that it is not.  And that is a very sad revelation in a city I have called home most of my adult life.  That is an ever growing plain and simple FACT.   People with that mindset need to find another place to live and let us with a vision , retain our historic fabric, since you are so hell-bent on destroying it.

[nomeus]

Latest report from the field as of a few minutes ago....

"Just went there in the rain. Cops all over it but I went in and only the auditorium was burnt. (it already had most of its roof gone) The rest of the school is just as it was before... minus someone has cleaned up the hallways of debris O.o...... The bad news is that they have a concrete truck there and they are filling in the holes into the basement and the doorways. There is also a few city citations posted and they have a new fence being put up."

[Timkin]

The owners plan is in place as it has been for a long time.  And the City is playing right along.  Nice.

[deathstar]

Rants & Raves on Jacksonville.com...

Please let our beloved Annie Lytle School No. 4 die a quick death. It has been defaced and has suffered enough,

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-01-19/story/rants-amp-raves-let-annie-lytle-go

Who wrote it? Not sure.. pretty fumed about it though.

[Dog Walker]

Don't EVER pay attention to the comments section of the T-U, either in the paper or online.

[Timkin]

Don't EVER pay attention to the comments section of the T-U, either in the paper or online.

Actually one of the comments was pretty nice.  Mine was not so nice but then, im sick of negligent owners and a City Management that does not care.

[wsansewjs]

Don't EVER pay attention to the comments section of the T-U, either in the paper or online.

Because those sections are full of GARBAGE.

-Josh

[ricker]

back in town from a rather late night out with family and close friends.

not much specific to share here  yet but great possibilities on the near horizon.

why has Mr.Milne not attempted a mini mall here before?

imho, rehabbing the solid exterior and rebuilding the interior for use as as a private shcool may be the least costly approach.
such would certainly be a smaller financial hurdle versus any residential use.

but i still would like feedback on  some pros and cons associated with turning the space into a tax paying entity like a collection of shops, gallery space, eateries,  and live music/arts venue [a la Freebird meets Karpeles meets RAM meets ARTWALK ]

[Timkin]

back in town from a rather late night out with family and close friends.

not much specific to share here  yet but great possibilities on the near horizon.

why has Mr.Milne not attempted a mini mall here before?

imho, rehabbing the solid exterior and rebuilding the interior for use as as a private shcool may be the least costly approach.
such would certainly be a smaller financial hurdle versus any residential use.

but i still would like feedback on  some pros and cons associated with turning the space into a tax paying entity like a collection of shops, gallery space, eateries,  and live music/arts venue [a la Freebird meets Karpeles meets RAM meets ARTWALK ]

Ricker... impecible idea.. I had a similar proposal.. a mixed-use facility with a variety of eating establishments, gym, Theatre/Comedy/ Music Venue in the Auditorium. 

Again.. Mr Milne controls the situation by owning the surrounding land. Any development, especially something of that nature, requires parking  . 

Now that I have cooled off some, I doubt Milne wants anything to do with me and that is fine, but surely he has to be approaching the place where he would want to be free of this.  I know If I owned a property like that for that long and the majority of it never generated a dime , Id offload it.  I don't know what makes him tick. 

TARPON is another hold up .

I was told to come up with a PLAN and investors to make this building viable..a plan that will DEFINITELY work, and it can be made to happen.  That was pretty much verbatim. I will not state the source.

I was concerned at first about concrete being placed in the entrances. It may turn out to be the best deterrent for the conventional ways people have accessed the School. Certainly a better approach than plywood.

IF someone wants in bad enough , they will get in.  Sad but true.


Ricker... I love your Idea.  I also love and feel that probably the best, easiest, least expensive way to re purpose the facility is to make it a private School or College.

I long to see windows, lights , floors , ceilings , and positive energy gracing our beloved Annie Lytle School.

And for whatever it is worth, I sincerely regret my obvious anger through my postings.  I just could not help it.  Its like getting a gash in my heart and filling it with salt.  I love the place.  I will always love School Four.

[Victor711]

  I know some of you have probably gone over this, but I'm going to say it anyway. I find it hard to believe 90% of Annie is damaged. When I was there Monday morning, just about 8 hours after the fire and being informed about it, I was in the auditorium with news reporters. Despite me being overwhelmed with the devastation present, I could see the damage up close, and easily spot that the only spots of damage were the rafters and stage (Which were indeed, made of wood). In my perspective, I say 90% of that school is still intact. Majority of that school is brick and concrete, she's survived countless storms and hurricanes and fires, I don't think she's going anywhere soon.. that is unless Demolition comes in which I pray DOES NOT Happen.

     Prior to this event, I've heard several kids at my high school (Nathan Bedford Forrest) talk about going to the school that weekend following the fire. I'm currently working to see if I can find possible suspects. But as for now, Tim and I have attained this photo of two kids in the auditorium before the fire. We don't know if they are the ones responsible for the fire, that is still a mystery. But either way, they are trespassing.

[Timkin]

http://instagr.am/p/iOvuZ

actually.. the picture in its entirety....

[Jaxson]

Perhaps with a public-private partnership (The buzzwords of the Alvin Brown camp), we could restore the Annie Lytle school building to serve some sort of function for the school district.  They have quite a few regional offices and other sundry functions that might be able to find a home there...

[Timkin]

Perhaps with a public-private partnership (The buzzwords of the Alvin Brown camp), we could restore the Annie Lytle school building to serve some sort of function for the school district.  They have quite a few regional offices and other sundry functions that might be able to find a home there...

DCSB has office space /print center off of Bullsbay Hwy in a very high-rent district.  Also.. the have as everyone knows, a building on the riverfront.  Would it be the end of the world, for them to buy the School back and put offices there?  40k+ square feet plus the Auditorium.   The interstate in front should be a non-issue for that adaptive reuse.

It probably wont happen, but its another great idea.