Code Enforcement Demolitions are set to begin (Blight initiative)

[Dovewings]

Anyone wearing rose colored glasses regarding the progress of Springfield needs to talk to Jacksonville natives on how many failed attempts there's been over the decades on trying to revamp Springfield into a viable neighborhood.  The usual cycle for Springfield is a bunch of young people, dreamers, and out of state investors roll in every 10 years and try to make a go of it.  I know because I was involved in the failed attempt circa 2002-2005.  Back then the mayor and city commission promised us infrastructure improvements and zoning overlays for mixed use development.  Nothing crazy like Five Points and Riverside, just normal city stuff.  Meanwhile folks like Dusty Simmons were burning down renovated houses and freaking out the folks that had their life savings tied up in these 'historic' money pits.  Suffice it to say everyone that could bail out did and cut their losses.  Now there's a new generation of dreamers and Dusty Simmons is sitting behind bars.  Lets support these folks in any way possible so Springfield can turn the corner and leave it's checkered past behind.  If some asbestos laden, crumbling, termite ridden, mold filled house needs to be torn down so a nice house can be built with air conditioning and proper wiring then so be it.  I love how folks out on boats talk for gritty urban pioneers trying to build a neighborhood.

There was no direct evidence that tied Dusty to the arsons (which continued after she went to jail for them)
Only the unsubstantiated accusation on the part of Louise DeSpain.
Otherwise, your post seems a little bananas.

So Dusty Simmons is innocent?  All three arson arrests were bogus?  I was living in Springfield at the time.  There was open war between the drug dealers and hookers with the doe-eyed newcomers.  The newcomers were using the police and the drug dealers and hookers were using knifes, guns, and fire bombing houses that weren't up to the 'neighborhood standard'.  I was chased on several occasions by random groups of thugs late at night.  I saw one guy get stabbed in broad daylight.  I witnessed a drive-by shooting with guys leaning out a car window with AK-47s blazing on a known drug house, probably rivals fighting over turf.  That was real, circa 2002-2004.

Yes, Dusty Simmons is innocent.  I joined a flower planting group at the time, and I and probably 50 other ladies--Dusty Simmons being one of them, bless her heart--planted beautiful flowers all over Springfield.  The police said that crime went down by 25%, so we were on our way.  I believe you are making up the part about AK-47s blazing on a known drug house, as well as making up hookers using knifes and guns.  If that is the way you want to remember it, fine, but it likely your own fervent imagination playing tricks on you.  Either that or you are exaggerating.  Springfield was about to turn the corner, still is.  What it needs is the city to invest in restoration.  That and a wonderful group of realtors like they had 2002-2005.

[Dovewings]

Stephen,

We're you involved in Springfield during that era (2002-2005)?  Naldo, with his references to AK-47s and hookers pulling knives, makes it sound like urban Detroit.  That wasn't the case was it?  He must be exaggerating to get a rise out of the members on this board.

Dovewings

[Gunnar]

Dusty has been in jail for years because Louise DeSpain accused her of arson.

Dusty was actually the person who called the fire department about the fire at Louise's house.  Under Louis's direction the police charged her and claimed that she had a "flame accelerant"  -----a small bottle of whiskey on her person.

Louise literally claimed that Dusty was so angry at all the rich folks moving in and taking away her slum that she tried to burn the neighborhood down in order to stop gentrification.

So off to the P Farm went Dusty.

The arsons continues for another 8 years after Louise bravely imprisoned the poor woman and tagged her with the "Springfield Arsonist" label.

What was presented as proof in court ? Just curious...

[Bill Hoff]

Naldo, with his references to AK-47s and hookers pulling knives, makes it sound like urban Detroit.  That wasn't the case was it?  He must be exaggerating to get a rise out of the members on this board.

Dovewings

SPR was crazy much of the 80's & 90's, started to calm down in the early 2000's. Today, there's certain blocks or parts of blocks with sketchy activity, but nothing of severity. The days of renovators or new home buyers "fighting" with gangs of dealers or arsonists are long, long over.

Check out nicely renovated or new construction home per sq foot, it tells the story.

[strider]

Having lived in Springfield from 1999 to 2004 and having worked there almost every day from 2000 to today, I can tell you that the 2000's were quite calm compared to the previous three decades. Most of Springfield was calm by 2002 except for some small pockets that seemed to be still fought over.  Main Street, where Stephen first opened Boomtown was certainly one of them.  However, by 2003 ish, you could walk pretty much anywhere from Market to Silver at 2 in the morning and feel as safe as anywhere else in the city.  Part of that was Stephen's work with Boomtown as when regular people starting walking around at night, things will improve. Sort of use it to improve it.

[sheclown]

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,13103.msg407494.html#msg407494

American Motors Export Co on demo hit list.  See info above.

[sheclown]

 

Thanks to Nicole Lopez, these notifications will be going out to all homes on the demolition list.

(We know from previous demolitions, owners are not always properly notified.)

[UNFurbanist]

This is what Jacksonville needs to do with these abandoned homes and buildings! Very inspirational TED talk about how to actually revive neighborhoods using these places the city only sees as a detriment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9ry1M7JlyE&spfreload=10

[sheclown]

This is what Jacksonville needs to do with these abandoned homes and buildings! Very inspirational TED talk about how to actually revive neighborhoods using these places the city only sees as a detriment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9ry1M7JlyE&spfreload=10

Thanks!!!

http://www.youtube.com/v/S9ry1M7JlyE?rel=0"%20frameborder=

[sheclown]

from research that Nicole did on this list, she has determined the following:

Of the list I was provided:

77 letters mailed
24/77 to LLC owners
3/77 to bank owners
6/77 to Estate owners
44/77 to people owners

50 addresses on the list named the house and mailing address the same (did not send letter)
2 addresses on the list show the parcel as already vacant (did not send letter)
1 address was not found on coj
2 addresses had 0 as the address (no letters sent)

Banks = Chase, Fannie Mae, some foreclosure Attorney
Estates = 4 in Jax, 2 out of state
People = 30 in local Jax, 8 in Fl, 4 out of state
LLc = 6 in FL, 8 in local Jax, 10 out of state
Of the LLCs, 4 had multiple properties. (2 had 2, 2 had 3 properties)

Interesting to note that the data shows local Jax owners are the issue.
Not LLCs. Not out of state owners.
At least in this batch of addresses