Abandoned Jacksonville: Florida Machine & Foundry

[Metro Jacksonville]

Abandoned Jacksonville: Florida Machine & Foundry



A look inside the remains of a downtown Jacksonville steel foundry that dates back to 1924: The Florida Machine & Foundry

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-feb-abandoned-jacksonville-florida-machine-foundry

[urbanlibertarian]

For those who are curious like me, this is located at 1375 W Church St 32204 which is west of Myrtle Ave and south of Beaver St.

[Tacachale]

Nice article. What are the plans for this area?

[Ajax]

Great pictures and info - thanks for sharing this!

[choosing2disappear]

Hardwick & Lee (Taylor Hardwick) did the offices of Florida Machine and Foundry, twice. The first office building was done in the mid/late 50's, then around the time when the Haydon Burns was going up, they build a twin (but more modern looking) building beside it and then connected the pair together with a curiously shaped concrete entranceway.

Was quite well preserved in '08 when I was there. Instantly recognizable as a T.H. project.  I have pics, somewhere..........

[thelakelander]

Thanks.  I was wondering who did the design of the office building.  Last time I went by, it appeared that it was being renovated.

[choosing2disappear]

Sure, but Jax's primary renovation tool continues to be a wrecking ball, right?

[thelakelander]

^Of course.  The majority of the foundry has already been demolished.  However, the new owners do appear to be reusing the office, the steel fab plant, and machine shop buildings....or at least the backhoe hasn't hit their walls yet.

[Rumblefish]

Sure, but Jax's primary renovation tool continues to be a wrecking ball, right?

It should be.  I am all for rehabbing but that place is an industrial dump.

[wnettles]

Wonder just how much more of Jacksonville's history will get the wrecking ball renovation treatment?   It's a shame to see such useful structures being demolished, but, what can one do?    I restore antique tractors and have an appreciation for the technology of the age.    The simpler machines seem to be much more reliable and efficient than today's grotesquely overly complicated and cheaply made replacements. 

[choosing2disappear]

Sure, but Jax's primary renovation tool continues to be a wrecking ball, right?

It should be.  I am all for rehabbing but that place is an industrial dump.

Clueless.  Nothing changes. 100 years in the future Jville will still be the city that did the least, with the most.  See ya.

[Kaiser Soze]

Sure, but Jax's primary renovation tool continues to be a wrecking ball, right?

It should be.  I am all for rehabbing but that place is an industrial dump.

Clueless.  Nothing changes. 100 years in the future Jville will still be the city that did the least, with the most.  See ya.

In 100 years, my grandchildren will be terribly upset when that industrial dumpsite is on EPA's national priorities list.

[choosing2disappear]

perhaps.

[thelakelander]

A new life for the remaining foundry buildings (1924 brick machine shop, offices, and steel fabrication plant).  The property is serving as a steel recycling yard for Main Metal Recycling.

[thelakelander]

Came across this while looking for another site in the Florida State Archives collection.

African American men at the Florida Landclearing plant holding sign for Dakar Africa in 1949.