253 east 2nd st: Another "emergency demo". Happening now

[Cheshire Cat]

No excuses.  Cut and paste the addresses.  Type.  Send.  Speak your passion for preservation.  Get to it!

CLAY@coj.net
WBISHOP@coj.net
RCLARK@coj.net
REDMAN@coj.net
LBOYER@coj.net
MATTS@coj.net
GAFFNEY@coj.net
EDLEE@coj.net
WAJONES@coj.net
RBROWN@coj.net
HOLT@coj.net
DOYLEC@coj.net
GULLIFORD@coj.net
JIMLOVE@coj.net
KIMDANIELS@coj.net
JRC@coj.net
JOOST@coj.net
GANDERSON@coj.net
RLUMB@coj.net

Good idea, but what is the lever to get the council to listen?  You will need one beyond simply we love old buildings.  Any suggestion as to what should be in this correspondence? For the record, there is no ill tone meant in my post at all.    It's just long fought battles with similar issues that have me giving some insights as to what works most effectively in dealing with the city and both appointed and elected officials.

[Ernest Street]

Yea, I have been passing by this house almost every morning for the past 4 weeks...then I come down Friday about 4-4:30pm  and only the left half is standing..of course Two JSO cruisers were nearby chatting with each other.(To keep the mad neighbors from interfering?)   

I wonder who was in the backyard holding an umbrella?

Diane, I try to teach the ancient art of Forethought every day!
I usually get blank stares or comments like "Why do you have to over think (over plan?) everything!?"...

[PATSY/AUTUMN]

watched the video Kim made.  Made me want to vomit.  Seriously sick to my stomach.  And tearing up.  The last part as the monster entered into the belly of the building and seeing the home crumble and fall is obscene. 

[JaxUnicorn]

Why is SPAR staying so quiet about all the demos going on?

They're normally the ones behind it.

^^ If they aren't going to do what their mission statement claims, isn't a lawsuit or some kind of official complaint in order? Wells Fargo gives them something like $10,000 a year and has a Historical center set up for Christ's sake. Do they realize they are lending their name to an organization that conducts itself like this?

I posted the following on SPAR's suggestion page yesterday.  Here's a link:  http://www.sparcouncil.org/749/stop_city_demolition_of_our_historic_homes?recruiter_id=749

STOP CITY DEMOLITION OF OUR HISTORIC HOMES

I posted this on the myspringfield forum and thought I'd send it to you this way as well.

To the Members of SPAR's Board of Directors,

According your website, SPAR stands for Springfield Preservation And Revitalization.  I'm not seeing the 'preservation' part at all.  In less than a 30 day time period, the City of Jacksonville's Code Enforcement Division has demolished two historic structures within our historic district.  Where were you???  Why were you not kicking and screaming and pitching a complete hissy fit like some who were there?

The following is on your website:

"It is our pleasure to announce that the Wells Fargo First Coast Community Investment Committee has selected Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR) as a 2013 grant recipient. The support is in the amount of $10,000.00 and will help continue the community development work that SPAR has facilitated for over three decades."

What is SPAR doing with that $10,000 grant?  If you allow the City of Jacksonville to continue to destroy our historic homes, how is that helping "continue the community development work"?

You say you are the representatives of Springfield.  If you truly are, then I challenge you to take a stand and DO SOMETHING TO STOP DEMOLITION!

Kim Pryor

[JaxUnicorn]

watched the video Kim made.  Made me want to vomit.  Seriously sick to my stomach.  And tearing up.  The last part as the monster entered into the belly of the building and seeing the home crumble and fall is obscene.

I agree completely!!!  And another very painful nail into my heart was when, in the very last seconds of the video, one of the demo contractors "celebrated" the old girl's final demise with a "cha-ching" "BOO-YAH" type arm motion.   

[jaxequality]

No excuses.  Cut and paste the addresses.  Type.  Send.  Speak your passion for preservation.  Get to it!

CLAY@coj.net
WBISHOP@coj.net
RCLARK@coj.net
REDMAN@coj.net
LBOYER@coj.net
MATTS@coj.net
GAFFNEY@coj.net
EDLEE@coj.net
WAJONES@coj.net
RBROWN@coj.net
HOLT@coj.net
DOYLEC@coj.net
GULLIFORD@coj.net
JIMLOVE@coj.net
KIMDANIELS@coj.net
JRC@coj.net
JOOST@coj.net
GANDERSON@coj.net
RLUMB@coj.net

Good idea, but what is the lever to get the council to listen?  You will need one beyond simply we love old buildings.  Any suggestion as to what should be in this correspondence? For the record, there is no ill tone meant in my post at all.    It's just long fought battles with similar issues that have me giving some insights as to what works most effectively in dealing with the city and both appointed and elected officials.

Done! Very easily I might add. Thank you.

@ Diane I think we have a very strong complaint and I don't see how the city can ignore this issue.

[Springfielder]

It's not possible for me to attend, but I did send my letter

[m74reeves]

See this new thread to get info on signing a petition to stop city demos in historic n'hoods and review code enforcement's policies & procedures...also some other ideas about how to get involved in n'hood preservation.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,18749.0.html

The petition will take about 30 seconds to sign (and it will automatically be emailed to mayor and council members) and you can add your own thoughts/comments about this issue as well.

http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-alvin-brown-city-council-members-issue-a-moratorium-on-demolitions-in-historic-neighborhoods

[Cheshire Cat]

No excuses.  Cut and paste the addresses.  Type.  Send.  Speak your passion for preservation.  Get to it!

CLAY@coj.net
WBISHOP@coj.net
RCLARK@coj.net
REDMAN@coj.net
LBOYER@coj.net
MATTS@coj.net
GAFFNEY@coj.net
EDLEE@coj.net
WAJONES@coj.net
RBROWN@coj.net
HOLT@coj.net
DOYLEC@coj.net
GULLIFORD@coj.net
JIMLOVE@coj.net
KIMDANIELS@coj.net
JRC@coj.net
JOOST@coj.net
GANDERSON@coj.net
RLUMB@coj.net

Good idea, but what is the lever to get the council to listen?  You will need one beyond simply we love old buildings.  Any suggestion as to what should be in this correspondence? For the record, there is no ill tone meant in my post at all.    It's just long fought battles with similar issues that have me giving some insights as to what works most effectively in dealing with the city and both appointed and elected officials.

Done! Very easily I might add. Thank you.

@ Diane I think we have a very strong complaint and I don't see how the city can ignore this issue.

Then go get em' kiddo!    

[sheclown]

the house next door is gone too btw

[sheclown]

This was going to be Metro North's NSP3 project.  It was funded.

How do we get the paperwork?  Public records request?

[Cheshire Cat]

Yes.  You may also want to make a trip to the Preservation Office for the city and view the files they have on the structure.  It is a very good way to come across information that might otherwise be missed. 

[Carolyn]

I don't have.... I don't know....that was a terrible thing to watch.  What a waste. 

[coredumped]

If the city is so concerned with the safety of its citizens, why don't we get better (or any) bike lanes and sidewalks?

[m74reeves]

Hey, I'm all for them focusing on something else, but that might put some of the code enforcement people out of a job. Oh wait...

i do agree. i watch a person in a motorized wheelchair regularly go down my drive out into traffic on park to avoid my impassable sidewalk.