Fire downtown at Forsyth and Jefferson

[thelakelander]

historic buildings holding development in downtown Jax hostage? Hmm, that's a new one to me...

[whyisjohngalt]

How many vacant buildings, like this one, have "historic" designation downtown?

There isn't another NFL city with a downtown as depressed as Jacksonville's - primarily due to furniture warehouses and the like being considered "historic" instead of promoting development without historic committee oversight.

It takes courage to put an old dog to sleep and downtown desperately needs a strong leader with vision beyond a daily or week long event(s).

[thelakelander]

DT Jax does not have any special designation protecting old furniture warehouses and buildings. That would be places with revitalized downtowns like Savannah, St. Augustine, Charleston and Fernandina Beach.

[Know Growth]

Aw Shucks,that property could have been saved!.....


Interesting that the FTU noted property ownership; Jacksonville Historic Properties,Inc.

Neptune Beach, FL    Marry C. Sorrell      et al

How interesting it would be to have discourse with the owners on a forum like this.

[spuwho]

I noticed that the upstairs windows have been open for months (even in the attached photos) last week and thought it was going to be a problem if homeless got in and started a get warm fire.

Not sounding the conspiracy alarm here, but I think the city foreclosing on the Bostwick Building is going to make a lot of owners of old structures reconsider their situation.

Collecting fire insurance and selling the lot is going to make more dough for a property squatter.  Rather this than face either a city court or a historical commission trying to save it.

Just my 2 cents.

[whyisjohngalt]

"Save" what exactly?  Saving from change?  Saving from eventual destruction anyways?  Saving from free market?

Outside of Axe Handle Saturday, Jacksonville's history is essentially military,fires  and failures:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Jacksonville,_Florida

Should they even be allowed to rename Hemming Plaza to Hemming Park considering it's actual historical relevance?

The save downtown echo chamber does more harm than good.

[thelakelander]

Should they even be allowed to rename Hemming Plaza to Hemming Park considering it's actual historical relevance?

Hemming Park is the historical name.  It was renamed Plaza when the park was paved over in the mid-1980s.

[whyisjohngalt]

Moderators that address questions with virulent hyperbole as a welcome.

Is this why MetroJacksonville has become a virtual "good ol' boy" network?  Was this forum/board started to bully newcomers or to facilitate discussion and host viewpoints that are different than the moderator?  I was under the impression that this wasn't Fox News.

Whatever.  Just seems foolish to discredit the fireworks display as the cause of this fire of this building of questionable "historical value".

[thelakelander]

Umm.... ok?

We do facilitate discussion but our version of facilitation is open to debate from multiple viewpoints.  Although in this exact situation, I'm not sure what's being debated. Happy holidays buddy!

[Timkin]

I am sad to see another century-old building lost by fire.     

[Noone]

Interesting that the FTU noted property ownership; Jacksonville Historic Properties,Inc.

Neptune Beach, FL    Marry C. Sorrell      et al

How interesting it would be to have discourse with the owners on a forum like this.

The TU mention of Jacksonville Historic Properties Inc. is positive. Appears they have a lot of property.

Drove by and the building hasn't been bulldozed. So who thinks it was arson? The evidence is still there. The building was for sale. Anyone know what they were asking?

[Timkin]

I don't know about the cause.  In any case we have another beautiful (sarcasm) vacant lot.  Probably will have a few more this year.