Homeless Center In the Old Armory Building...Brilliant!

[sheclown]

Classy guy.

[CityLife]

Great question Lake. I think this has opened up some discussion about better uses of the property. Things like a community center, museum, performance venue, etc. Perhaps Miss Fixit could share some thoughts, as I believe she's been floating some ideas on Facebook.

[sheclown]

It has an auditorium

[Bridges]

What is the 9.5 mil number for? Flood damage? Mold?

[strider]

Good for the mayor.  Also, as I noticed it was mentioned that this was to be a 6 month pilot program, so does that mean the initial location will be a temporary one?  I don't remember seeing this in the various recent articles.  Makes it seem a properly zoned, ready to use place is needed, not a place needing lots of renovations for six months of use.  That might be why the Armory was under consideration.

If there is to be a discussion about possible uses for the Armory, can someone get  the report that everyone is quoting the 9.8 mill from?

[BrooklynSouth]

Heh. I just wanted to post one of my favorite acronyms, "BANANA":
Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIMBY#BANANA

[thelakelander]

Good for the mayor.  Also, as I noticed it was mentioned that this was to be a 6 month pilot program, so does that mean the initial location will be a temporary one?  I don't remember seeing this in the various recent articles.  Makes it seem a properly zoned, ready to use place is needed, not a place needing lots of renovations for six months of use.  That might be why the Armory was under consideration.

If there is to be a discussion about possible uses for the Armory, can someone get  the report that everyone is quoting the 9.8 mill from?

Here you go Strider...

The sites being looked at are all in or near the downtown area and range from empty lots to the 80,000-square-foot armory.

All of them have pluses and minuses, DeCamp said, with the negatives including not being city owned, not having parking or needing large amounts of work to be usable.

The Armory may fall into that latter category. A 2011 analysis done when the structure was being considered as a home for the Supervisor of Elections Office estimated the cost of fixing it up at $9.6 million.

“This historic building, in its current physical condition, is in a dire need of a major renovation and will require quality maintenance afterwards,” the report said.

Among the work the repair said needed to be done were removal of asbestos, lead-based paint and mold; the installation of new air conditioning, telephone and fire protection systems; and modifications to make the place accessible for those with disabilities, among other things.

full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-10-17/story/cost-will-be-big-factor-jacksonvilles-selection-homeless-day-center-site

[CityLife]

Given the extremely high cost of rehab and various environmental/health issues that are apparently associated with the building, I think the only real way to preserve the Armory is for the city to either give it away to a non-profit (with some type of clause ensuring results) or a free long term lease to a non-profit (perhaps even with a revenue sharing clause of some sort). I just don't see anyone in the private market taking on the project anytime remotely soon, even if given the building for free. So let local non-profits step up, repair the building, and use it for something beneficial to the community, and perhaps even the entire city.

Rehabbing that building would be ideal for a CDBG grant, which could even occur over multiple years. Springfield groups and residents already do quite a bit of free labor for worthy projects (Make It Happen, Block Captains Cleanups), heck SPAR has recently done a good bit of rehab on its building for little to no cost, with free labor and with a grant. That building was once a major burden for the organization, but is now operating at a profit, and is helping some organizations and businesses get their feet off the ground.

Similarly, a collaboration of local non-profits could truly make the Armory building a gem and a major boost to Springfield/DT. It could be a multi-use facility used for all sorts of things like performing arts, live/work spaces for artists, a live music venue, community meeting space, business incubator, theater, and so on. This isn't just pie in the sky thinking either. It truly could happen. Heck, JoAnn Tredennick practically got the SPAR Building rehabbed by herself (with a little help from others), imagine what a collaborative, community wide effort could accomplish. I do hope that the discussions on the facility will lead to further dialogue with the city on long term solutions for the building, because if a plan isn't put into place soon, the building may have no hope in 5 or 10 years.

[fsujax]

I read a few weeks back in the Business Journal I believe, that the Florida Ballet which is across the street was looking to expand. Perhaps they could be a partner?

[John P]

The city does not seem to want to do anything with the properties they own. They would rather atch them rot or grow tall grass on them. Why would this one be any different?

[duvaldude08]

General questions. As I stated in the other thread, I spoke with someone who moved to Jax from Chicago. When asked about their homeless problem, them seem to logical things. He stated that there is a spot that was known for having homeless camps, so they fenced it off. Not only that, but when they catch the homeless where they dont belong they arrest them, or just pick them up and dropp them off WAYY outside of downtown. It got me to thinking about all this city owned property that is for sale and the homeless usually camp out. Why not fence it off and have the for sale on the outside of the fence? There are alot of attractive fencing options out there. That would also lose in those lots so they cant be viewed, since the city will probably not be cutting them anyways. 

[JaxByDefault]

Several businesses, non-profits, and art groups were approached about the Armory over a year ago. They were told that they would need a minimum of 1.2 million dollars for code compliance, mold remediation, and necessary renovations (including a lack of climate control).   All of the parties who have expressed an interest in the building thus far have found not only starting costs but also continued operating costs too high -- especially in a market where they must be realistic about local fundraising potential.

A multi-use space arts space would be great, but it would need repeat high-dollar angel funders (or city investment) to work. 

[sheclown]

Just put Nicole in there with a case of Red Bull.     (But do it when I am OUT OF TOWN. )

[sheclown]

Southern Rock Hall of Fame.

[Timkin]

Just out of curiosity... Who was the architect for the Armory?