We Love Avondale Attempts to Ruin Christmas Event

[MEGATRON]

MEGATRON - I'd like to know your source on the fact that MM was denied an opportunity to speak at a RAP board meeting, and that WLA was invited to speak. If you'd rather PM me, that's fine.

I ask this because as most people know, I'm on the RAP board, as well as the MJ board. For obvious reasons, I've kept out of the discussion on this subject. Further, I'm certainly not speaking here as part of the RAP board, but as a private citizen.

If you'd like to discuss further, please don't hesitate to write back or PM me.

Steve, did you look into this?  If I am wrong, I would like to know. 

[buckethead]

Interesting reading. I love when Diane chimes in. So bright.

I do have one little analogy to make, which is in contradiction to the notion that MM should have abstained from hosting the event as a PR move.

She (MM and event patronage) wore a short skirt. (Hosted an event which might be misconstrued as "showing them who's boss")

This does not give the twisted, perverted sexual predator (WLA) the right to rape (Call in ATF and jackbooted stormtroopers) her.

[Intuition Ale Works]

There is an awful lot of conjecture in this thread which has been accepted as fact by many, if not most, of us. We'd probably do well to take a step back and tone down the rhetoric a bit. I think I agree with that part of Diane's point. And I think it applies to my own posts as much as anyone else's.

meh.

one side has already been overly civil, told the truth, given room for the other side to have input.  However, as the actions of the past week (to be continued at a public meeting this saturday that is already been heavily phone treed and ratcheted up by the cretins at WLA) make evident, the five or six hearties that drive WLA arent going to be going all civil within the forseeable future.

And while the discussion on metrojacksonville has been spicier than our normal debate, it certainly has not risen to the level where tempers have flared or unforgiveable words have been spoken. 

We remain (as always) a civil, though at times provocative discussion.

What meeting?

[Gators312]

There is an awful lot of conjecture in this thread which has been accepted as fact by many, if not most, of us. We'd probably do well to take a step back and tone down the rhetoric a bit. I think I agree with that part of Diane's point. And I think it applies to my own posts as much as anyone else's.

And while the discussion on metrojacksonville has been spicier than our normal debate, it certainly has not risen to the level where tempers have flared or unforgiveable words have been spoken. 

We remain (as always) a civil, though at times provocative discussion.

I dont' think anyone in this discussion truly want to see the Shoppes fail or suffer, even though some have called for "Dongs & Bongs Warehouse" or a homeless center.   I think the point of the comments is to point out that WLA needs to realize that they can't dictate what goes there and they need to be careful what they wish for.

The "spice" as Stephen calls it is a direct response to the truly vile actions that are coming from only one side of this issue.

Should WLA and RAP and the community as a whole have input on this project?  Most definitely, but they shouldn't hold Valentino to standards that other merchants don't have to abide by, and they shouldn't bully/terrorize the planning department or any other agency employees into getting their way. 

[Adam W]

btw adam.  Are you still in London?  Thinking of visiting the city in late January.

Yes! Drop me a line if you want to meet up.

[ben says]

btw adam.  Are you still in London?  Thinking of visiting the city in late January.

Yes! Drop me a line if you want to meet up.

Cool city--what area do you live in?

[Cheshire Cat]

Stephen, do you have a list of the principals in WLA and can you tell me how and if this group is interfaced with the Avondale Merchants Org or RAP?  I believe the current head of the merchants organization is working for Ashley's is that correct, also named Diane?  Thanks much.




Diane M.

[Gators312]

Stephen, do you have a list of the principals in WLA and can you tell me how and if this group is interfaced with the Avondale Merchants Org or RAP?  I believe the current head of the merchants organization is working for Ashley's is that correct, also named Diane?  Thanks much.




Diane M.

A quick search of the Florida Department of State website for We Love Avondale LLC will give you the information you are looking for.

http://www.sunbiz.org/corinam.html

[Cheshire Cat]

Thank you Gators.

Has anyone been able to identify who it was who called and made the false report on the MM people during the Christmas event? 

This is the public information online:


Registered Agent Name & Address
DILLOW, EMILY K
DONAHOO & MCMENAMY PA
245 RIVERSIDE AVE - STE 450
JACKSONVILLE FL 32202 US
Manager/Member Detail
Name & Address
Title MGRM
DONAHOO, THOMAS M JR
245 RIVERSIDE AVE - STE 450
JACKSONVILLE FL 32202 US
Title MGRM
ANDERSON, MARK
245 RIVERSIDE AVE - STE 450
JACKSONVILLE FL 32202 US
Title MGRM
GRANT, ALICIA
245 RIVERSIDE AVE - STE 450
JACKSONVILLE FL 32202



Diane M.

[Cheshire Cat]

So, it appears as if WLA is a group of four principals two of whom are attorneys with Donahoo & McMenany PA way up on Riverside, outside of Avondale.  Interestingly only two of the four individuals in the founding group appear to actually live in Avondale.  According to property records Ms. Dillow lives way on the other side of the river and not in or near Avondale as does Ms. Grant who also lives no where near Avondale.  I find this particularly interesting.  Mr. Donahoo Jr., whose daddy owns the law practice  lives near the proposed MM site with Mr. Anderson at the other end of the shops both of them one house or so off the strip of shops, their interest is understandable.  I decided to check out the traffic flow and parking in the case of the two who live in Avondale and found both streets open, free of traffic with no one parked on or near these properties.  Of those who "love Avondale" only two apparently live anywhere near Avondale with the Agent of this group appearing to simply be an associate attorney of the law group.  I find this quite interesting actually and have to wonder at the interest on the parts of the two ladies in this effort.  It's one thing to want to impact what happens in an area when you actually live and own property there. It also follows that persons invested in the growth and planning of Avondale, as well as groups who follow this sort of development like Metro Jacksonville would show interest as they are all about forward thinking and growth.  It's quite another thing to present yourself via a LLC giving it the name "We Love Avondale" opposing a development here when two of the four individuals founding it are not from this area and apparently take a negative view of a planned restaurant.   Frankly as a resident and property owner in Avondale, I don't quite cotton to folks positioning themselves as protectors or spokespersons of Avondale at their own whim without the complete consensus of all the residents. Perhaps there was a meeting of concerned residents held.  If so, how were these residents notified?  I know of no one personally who knew anything about this group until they announced themselves.  Can anyone shed some light on this for me?  In any case I will be looking further into this situation. 

Perhaps these individuals will read this thread and take a moment to share with everyone their interests in Avondale and connections to the area as well as how they fear the opening of MM will impact them.  I would especially like to hear from those who don't live here. Ms. Dillon, Ms. Grace, do you own businesses here?  I hope you will all share you interest and concerns.


(Note: the above property information was taken from the COJ Property Appraisers site.  That is the basis of the info shared above.  If it is inaccurate in anyway, perhaps the principals will kindly correct any errors with updated info)



Diane M.

[tufsu1]

From Support the Shroom Facebook page

I just received word that Councilman Jim Love pulled together a formal "compromise meeting" at city hall tomorrow night. It will include the Mellow team (including a very small group of supporters) and each of the groups that filed an appeal (with a very small group of their supporters). Only about 30 people in total will be there hopefully coming to an agreement to END THIS!! I WANT A GOOD / SCRUPULOUS FAMILY RESTAURANT IN THE SHOPPES THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL GRIMY!!! Please express your support to John and team... I'll keep you posted with updates as they come in.

[Cheshire Cat]

Good, perhaps Mr. Love has been reading along, if so Mr. Love I want you to know that many of the residents of Avondale are not at all pleased with how this entire situation has been handled and as a result how our community has been portrayed.  Keep in mind that one group does not represent all of the business owners and residents and a resolution to this issue is long overdue.   Tufsu, do you know if this meeting was noticed and how the participants were chosen?


Diane Melendez

[JeffreyS]

I just hope the compromise is in the middle of the the parties original positions and not starting from MM's already compromised position.

[Pinky]

Perhaps these individuals will read this thread and take a moment to share with everyone their interests in Avondale and connections to the area as well as how they fear the opening of MM will impact them.  I would especially like to hear from those who don't live here. Ms. Dillon, Ms. Grace, do you own businesses here?  I hope you will all share you interest and concerns.

Who are Dillon and Grace?

[Cheshire Cat]

Pinky, their names appear on Florida Corporation public documents for the We Love Avondale LLC.  It's all online and I copied it in the post above.

On another note, I am glad a meeting has been called tomorrow.  I hope that Mr. Love made sure proper notifications of the meeting were made according to what is required by ordinance.  I am unsure how it is he was able to call a meeting on the issue that can exclude other members of the public.  I think the meeting in the form he called it is a good idea.  I only hope that he dotted his i's and crossed the t's so that no more problems arise.



Diane M.