Tearing Down Worman's Deli - via Jax Daily Record

[Debbie Thompson]

   Remembering Worman's Deli.  Bulldozing Jacksonville's history, one building at a time.  Remember going in there and choosing your own wonderful dill pickle from their big pickle barrel?  The pastries?  The corned beef sandwiches? 

[Timkin]

Jacksonville's City management has to have something to be proud of.  I guess continuing the on-going race to level everything makes them happy.


Makes me sick

[Ocklawaha]

Several negative minded posters have expressed the view that 'MJ is NOTHING but a bunch of disgruntled, down on Jacksonville uglies. NOT SO. We ARE the only positive voice in the urban core and our publishing, complaining and lobbying efforts are aimed at ending this sort of senseless destruction.

Recently in the library archives Stephendare, Lakelander and myself found a description of downtown... bordered by MYRTLE - STATE - The river and FLORIDA AVENUE (today's A.P. Randolph). We are at about 1/3 of that size today, grounds for much constructive criticism.

NO MORE HISTORIC BUILDING DEMOLITIONS! Damn it Jacksonville, pull your head out!

[BackinJax05]

Jacksonville's City management has to have something to be proud of.  I guess continuing the on-going race to level everything makes them happy.


Makes me sick
[/quote


Not only downtown, but in the 'burbs as well.

A few years ago there was a Wendy's on Roosevelt next to the Target near NAS. The other day I drove by. The Wendy's was gone, but the foundation remained. Reminded me of downtown.

Now I realize this Wendy's had no historic significance, but its the principle of it all. The building, like Worman's (or countless other buildings demolished in the name of progress) could have been remodeled into something else. Im sure it was structually sound. Hell, I remember watching it being built only a few years ago.

Back to the Worman's discussion. Now there are 2 new vacant lots to park on. One downtown, one near NAS.

[mtraininjax]

NO MORE HISTORIC BUILDING DEMOLITIONS!

What really qualifies as "Historic" these days? Something made of brick? Something 5 years old? Get ready for another "historic" or "old" item coming down soon, in Avondale.....

[Dapperdan]

I don't understand how this is the City's problem, other than the fact it took too long to get the Courthouse up and running. This was privately held land, and the landowners were the ones who OK'd the demo. Yes, they had to get city permits, I am sure, but if a building is beyond repair foundationally, this is unfortunately the only option.

[vicupstate]

I don't understand how this is the City's problem, other than the fact it took too long to get the Courthouse up and running. This was privately held land, and the landowners were the ones who OK'd the demo. Yes, they had to get city permits, I am sure, but if a building is beyond repair foundationally, this is unfortunately the only option.

Whether it is 'beyond repair' is a matter of opinion, and the city has showed a pronounced biase FOR demolition even under the weakest of justifications.  It has also proactively encouraged and even required it.  I have personal experience on this.

Unless this building was hit by an 18 wheeler at considerable speed, I have a hard time believing the damage could not be economically repaired.

Now for something to go on that site (besides weeds), new construction must occur which will not be economically justified unless it is a major office building.  Given the economy, that is unlikely.  So the opportunity for a lower-cost start-up in the now-demolished building is gone, and the site will likely be empty for some time.       

[mbwright]

The current facade did not look historic, but it looked like the right corner that was damaged from the accident showed a distinctive and decorative column.  Are there not enough empty lots in downtown?  Looks like nothing was salvaged.

[thelakelander]

It was covered in stucco, so I'm sure the old facade was under there. Btw, I agree with vicupstate.  Most of those lots around the courthouse will sit that way for a while because it simply doesn't make economic sense to build a major project on them.  There's something to be said about keeping and reusing older building stock.  Just look at CoRK in Riverside.  80,000 square feet of active art studios, galleries and a brewery all clustered together in the type of buildings that would have been torn down 30 years ago if they were in downtown.  A good chunk of the tenants there originally wanted to open in downtown but couldn't find a viable space (they keep getting torn down).

[Dapperdan]

I would imagine some buildings will sprout up with some lunch spots and attorneys offices, I would imagine. Might take a bit of time.

[strider]

The reason this building got demolished by it's owners is that MCCD started doing their thing and made it much easier and seem much cheaper to demolish it rather than fix it.  It is the reckless polices of the city that makes the loss of a potentially useful building for yet another empty lot the cities fault in the end.  The policies and those that set them need to be changed.

[fsujax]

just drove past, it is a pile of rubble. sad.

[Ocklawaha]

I would imagine some buildings will sprout up with some lunch spots and attorneys offices, I would imagine. Might take a bit of time.

Oh thats just great, we'll get another suburban style Mickey D's with a 45 car parking lot... Why? Because the people that run this city and those of us who grew up here, can't even spell urbin, uh, urbun, um, urben, Oh what the hell, you know what I mean!

[BackinJax05]

^^ and the drive through at that Mickey D's will be backed up cuz the people are too lazy to get out of their cars & go inside.

Worman's didnt have a drive thru. Maybe thats why they went out of business

[mtraininjax]

The best Worman's location, to me, was the one they had in San Marco, where European Street is now located.