What's the Goal of Historic Preservation?

[thelakelander]

How does Riverside/Avondale's guidelines differ from other historic districts across the country, such as Chicago's Pullman District? Typically, you just can't do anything you want to in most of them.

http://www.pullmancivic.org/beman/homeownersGuide.pdf

With that said, obviously, what's in place for Riverside/Avondale (in terms of preservation) has been successful.  Could it be better?  Sure, but if one wants to avoid the guidelines, why not do something on the fringe?  Outside of a few areas, such as Riverside/Avondale and Springfield, you can literally do anything you want.  Just look at the crappy Family Dollars that have been plastered all over town or the strip center/outparcel development along Roosevelt in St. Johns Park.  To me, it would seem that one could be a little more creative with their property in a St. Johns Park, Murray Hill, North Riverside, Five Points, Brooklyn, etc. and still have complete access to the neighborhood.  I'd assume this would be similar to the fringe of most historic districts across the country.

[sheclown]

A Springfield project was approved which was quite a departure from the faux historic homes usually built in the districts.  Unfortunately, it was never built.  But approval was given.

Content Design:

http://myspringfield.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=684

Joe and I are hoping to build in Springfield, a design that reflects today, not yesterday.  We have instructed our architect to design them that way. 

Having already built two faux historic homes in Springfield, we realize now that it was a mistake.  People assume they are historic homes which were restored. 

New should be new.  It respects the old that exists.

[sheclown]

Regarding materials whether for new or old replacements, thought has to be given to the 1.) inferior quality of today's wood and 2.) composite materials which may be a better choice.

The commissioners discussed this at the subcommittee meeting last month. I believe we will see more flexibility in the near future. 

[MEGATRON]

I agree that Jacksonville has strange penchant for leveling as much of itself as it can. We're stuck with the vacant lots we have, so why restrict development with such pointless standards.

What is pointless about a form based code?  It would almost be impossible to build a neighborhood like R/A using today's zoning laws.

How so?

[thelakelander]

Today's zoning laws are heavily autocentric oriented and designed to limit the development of higher density and mix of uses within a compact pedestrian scale setting.  Try proposing this building anywhere in Jax, outside of downtown, and see how difficult it would be to get approval:



Better yet, try turning an abandoned gas station to a Mellow Mushroom that doesn't include off-street parking and see if anyone opposes your plan.

[MEGATRON]

Today's zoning laws are heavily autocentric oriented and designed to limit the development of higher density and mix of uses within a compact pedestrian scale setting.  Try proposing this building anywhere in Jax, outside of downtown, and see how difficult it would be to get approval:



Better yet, try turning an abandoned gas station to a Mellow Mushroom that doesn't include off-street parking and see if anyone opposes your plan.

I'd argue that the zoning laws are autocentric because our society is autocentric.

As for the MM reference, even a revised zoning code will not stop people from opposing otherwise good ideas.

[thelakelander]

I'd argue, they tend to be based on what you want your community to become in the future.  Thus, you'll find cities like Miami, that have implemented citywide Form-based codes and others, such as Charleston and Savannah, that favor historic preservation and a few like Portland, that favor sustainability and mass transit accessibility/efficiency. 

In Jax, we still need to decide what we want to be and how our zoning ordinances can promote such a vision.  From this viewpoint, our zoning code is an out-dated, one-size fits all flawed model.  This thought is backed by the increasing addition of neighborhood specific overlay districts and individual requests for PUDs.