Durkeeville 100 year old house in danger of demolition

[thelakelander]

For those looking for the Zora Neale Hurston discussion, I merged those comments into the thread about the Hurston flower shop's demolition, which occurred yesterday in the Eastside:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,18092.msg325346/topicseen.html#new

[sheclown]

A hundred year old house in Durkeville is equal to a hundred year old house in Springfield or in Riverside.  It has seen the same wear from the feet of dozens of families, felt the same seasons, fought through the same elements.  It is made from the same lumber aged and grown through the ages.

No arbitrary boundaries set by us change this fact.

[Kaiser Soze]

So, did this thing get torn down or what?

[sheclown]

Not yet. Sewer line cut though.

[Dog Walker]

I do not understand why people hang on to houses that they cannot keep up and repair.  Just sell it already!

We have one in our neighborhood that has been vacant for over ten years with no upkeep.  Mother died in the house and daughter locked it and walked away and has never been back.  Furniture and clothes are still there.  Taxes are paid every year, but the City has had to board up the broken windows and open door and cut the yard.  Vagrants were living inside and the neighbors were scared.

[sheclown]

In this case the house has been in their family for over 100 years. 

[sheclown]

Something needs to be done about Durkeville.  The old homes need to be protected. 

[iloveionia]

And I would gather you mean that to be "Nationally Recognized Historic or Not."  I agree.
Does Jacksonville have any locally recognized historic areas? 
Long Beach CA is filled with them.  LOCALLY recognized.  Lots of the same rules as National honestly.  Cute historic street signs too. 

[thelakelander]

I don't know their full history but here are two more Durkeeville houses on the demo list:

1481 West 6th Street


^This house is the other home owned by Lynnette Myers.  It was constructed in 1924. That's two decent early 20th century houses owned by the same family.  I wonder what's the story of their family members who lived a century ago?

1533 West 6th Street


^This house was constructed in 1922 and is currently owned by Edward Oates, Jr.

You can find both of these residences on this demo bidding list:

[sheclown]

The two Myers sisters spoke at a recent council meeting.  I believe they were speaking about the house on Myrtle Avenue. 

Two family homes under demolition threat at the same time?

Durkeville has lost a significant amount of historic structures over the years.  It needs to stop.

And the city needs to have a strong reason why it is targeting these structures simultaneously.

[mbwright]

one by one the houses fall, just like dominos.  very sad.  Savannah and Charleston, and many other communites understand the value of a complete neighborhood.  The more houses go down the less the remaining are worth, with regard to dollar value, since the vacant lots are not being used to build new historic style homes.  The integrity is lost.  All of the historic areas need to have protection, and justification.  Demo as a last resort.  If someone can't afford the repairs, adding fines and liens will not help.  There needs to be full, open communication, so there are no surprises to the neighborhood.  Who is really behind all of these?  Why the rush?  What is the true cost of demo (significant damage to the area, no chance of return to glory) such as Florida Ave (A. Phillip Randolph)  You can't revive an area that is totally gone.  Have they not learned from Lavilla?

[MEGATRON]

The two Myers sisters spoke at a recent council meeting.  I believe they were speaking about the house on Myrtle Avenue. 

Two family homes under demolition threat at the same time?

Durkeville has lost a significant amount of historic structures over the years.  It needs to stop.

And the city needs to have a strong reason why it is targeting these structures simultaneously.

The city already cited its reasons for the one structure and it seemed reasonable. The only option I see here is that the City takes title to the houses and auctions them to the highest bidder who agrees to restore them pursuant to defined terms.

[Tacachale]

^Something needs to be done, but I'm not sure we want the city to start playing land owner.

[Cheshire Cat]

^Something needs to be done, but I'm not sure we want the city to start playing land owner.

Well, the City took over most of the homes in LaVilla and we see what happened there. Of the hundreds of homes abutting downtown only five remain standing.  This is going to take a fresh new approach and it begins with showing the community and city leadership the value of Durkeville all over again.

[Kaiser Soze]

^Something needs to be done, but I'm not sure we want the city to start playing land owner.

Agree but these folks obviously cannot afford their homes, much less repair them to historic specifications.