COJ: You owe the urban core neighborhoods $4.5 million -- more or less.

[sheclown]

COJ has demolished 181 structures in the urban core area using NSP funding.  We have the addresses, we have the documentation. 

In our conversations with HUD and through our research, Preservation SOS has discovered that a city cannot use these funds to demolish a building THAT IT DOES NOT OWN. 

Stabilizing a neighborhood through NSP funding is intended to stabilize by purchasing from the owner or the bank blighted and foreclosed properties.  If demolition is necessary, it is part of a larger project and there is an end game – an end purpose to the demolition – rebuilding on a vacant piece of land.

https://www.onecpd.info/resources/documents/DemolitionProcess.pdf

This did not happen in Jacksonville.

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program was used to demolish private property, often against the owner's wishes.  Then the city placed a lien, poisoning the title,  it let it weed out only to receive a periodic yellow sticker telling the owner that it is a blighted piece of property.

We propose that the city purchase these 181 properties, WHICH IT SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE, for the appraised value (when there was a house there).  Using $25,000 as a fair estimate of the value of the lot plus a structure (many times more, sometimes less) gives us 181 X $25,000 = $4.5 million dollars. 

Those people who have lost their property could use that money, I'm sure.

Then the city should build something on that piece of property.  The neighborhood would then be stabilized.

Anything short of that seems like a law suit.

[avs]

I would think mis-use of FEDERAL money is a crime??  Are there criminal charges???  What can be done to make sure Jax does NOT get more FEDERAL money since they have abused the TAX money they were given??

[JaxUnicorn]

We're working on that avs.  But I think it is not a good idea to strip Jacksonville of all Federal funding.  Some of the funding is used properly.  In my opinion, I think we need to CLEAN HOUSE!  The people who work for the city should no longer have their current jobs - they should be either fired or moved to a position that does not require oversight of the way federal funds are spent - bring in folks who CARE how the money is spent....folks who will use it for the betterment of Jacksonville.

Just one more reason (among many) the appointment of Kimberly Scott to Director over Regulatory Compliance should NOT be approved!!

[Ocklawaha]

More then enough money to match a grant from the FTA to construct streetcar from 8th and Main to Orange to Newnan to Water Street and probably from Newnan to Lee on Water Street.  That's build AND equip a heritage type streetcar. Such a car line would reinvigorate the neighborhoods and send your property values up.

[Kay]

Have you tried to get the T-U to cover this like they did the FSCJ story?  Can I help get you before the T-U Editorial board?

[sheclown]

Jax unicorn has the list  she has done extensive research. 

These 181 homes are spread throughout the urban core.

[sheclown]

We will put a link to PSOS forum which lists the property addresses soon. 

Our list has over 170 addresses -- we are waiting for the rest -- this is a list of federally funded properties demolished in the urban core area.  The demolitions in Springfield are certainly a part of that, NSP 1 took out 8 of them

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=19675.0

and NSP 3 took out two of them (on east 2nd street)

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-jun-losing-springfield

But this is much larger than Springfield.  This includes properties throughout the urban core.

Look at it this way.  The city screwed up on every level using the NSP funds:

1.) they did very few environmental reviews that we can find (including the section 106 reviews) -- demolition of properties older than 50 years will have to be repaid to the federal program & furthermore, they disregarded asbestos regulations to do so.

2.) they demolished properties (historic or not) without owning the properties.  As per their information, 181 properties were demolished THAT THEY DID NOT OWN.  You cannot do this with NSP money.

http://www.coj.net/departments/neighborhoods/docs/housing-and-community-development/community-development/2011-12-action-plan-7-15-11-%281%29.aspx

page 11 reads:

"through code enforcement, the NSP has removed over 181 blighted structures"

[spuwho]

Rut Roh. Someone has some serious splaining to do.

[Noone]

We're working on that avs.  But I think it is not a good idea to strip Jacksonville of all Federal funding.  Some of the funding is used properly.  In my opinion, I think we need to CLEAN HOUSE!  The people who work for the city should no longer have their current jobs - they should be either fired or moved to a position that does not require oversight of the way federal funds are spent - bring in folks who CARE how the money is spent....folks who will use it for the betterment of Jacksonville.

Just one more reason (among many) the appointment of Kimberly Scott to Director over Regulatory Compliance should NOT be approved!!

+1

[Noone]

Have you tried to get the T-U to cover this like they did the FSCJ story?  Can I help get you before the T-U Editorial board?

+1

[mtraininjax]

Nice going Mayor Brown.

Where are all those I'm with Alvin supporters?

[tufsu1]

they were with the Mayor at the Unity Plaza celebration tonight

[JaxUnicorn]

My apologies for taking so long to get this out here.  You asked for the list of properties demolished....

Please follow the below link to be taken to Preservation SOS's forum where you can download the list.

http://forum.preservationsos.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1609

[InnerCityPressure]

Hats off to the civilians that have put in the work to follow up on this malfeasance.  Our city is better because of you.

[JaxUnicorn]

Please see my post above for the link to the list of properties demolished using NSP1 funds.

The report I received a few weeks ago from Bryan Mosier with Municipal Code Compliance Division was a result of a Public Records Request. My request was for a list of all demolitions carried out using NSP1, NSP3 and CDBG funds, as well as copies of procurement bids, name of contractor, any change orders, draws, checks, vouchers, checks and/or requisition orders (including HUD draws) related to payment to the demolition contractors.

The 178 properties listed on the report appear to have been paid for by using NSP1 funding (per the accounting info at the top). That means there could be many more yet to come.

GENERAL ACCOUNTING INFO

NSP1 Accounting Info:
Index: HNH1A3HPDC
Project: NSP006 Sub-object: 09995
Grant: PDC023 Grant Detail: 09

NSP3 Accounting Info:
Index: HNH1A3HPDC
Project: NSP304 Sub-object: 09995
Grant: PDC023 Grant Detail: 11

CDBG Accounting Info (changed):
Index: ERCD1A1
Sub-Object: 08301
Project: 004797
Grant: PDC001 Grant Detail: 13