Another Historic Downtown Demolition In The Works?

[menace1069]

So the issue that I, as a relative newbie to Jax (7 years), see is that people do want the older buildings preserved; but they are not the ones to preserve them. Meaning that the ones that want them preserved do not have the power or the means to revive the older buildings...it's going to take people with the same vision and the means (aka money) to do this. As an example, the old building downtown with "Kartouche" on it that is painted black...I have no idea of what it was, but based on where it is, wouldn't it be a great refurb into a law office? You get some developer to refurb it into offices and then lease it to some attorneys. Bam! One building down, several to go. Same with that Ambassador hotel...law offices or nice lofts.

So, who wants to pony up the cash or talk a local GC/developer into doing it? Let's do it as a co-op.

[sheclown]

Apparently the LUZ committee voted down the landmarking of the Elena Flats building last night.  They didn't think it was salvageable.  Unfortunately, there was no one there from the community to speak on it.

The community came out for the HPC meeting -- the place where this SHOULD have been decided and that decision SHOULD have been respected.  I mean, why do we have the HPC commissioners if we are not going to trust their judgement?  And how many times do the citizens of this town have to marshal their forces to speak?

[thelakelander]

The building may have a future. Jack Meeks wants to purchase and restore it.

Downtown boarding house may be saved from demolition

By David Chapman, Staff Writer

Jack Meeks said he's tired of seeing historic buildings being torn down.
So, when he found out recently about a former Downtown boarding house potentially being next in line for demolition, he asked for the process to slow down a bit.

The Downtown Investment Authority felt the same way and reached out to City Council to hold off on a landmark designation bill committees in past weeks had voted down.

Council complied Tuesday, putting the issue back to committees and at least delaying the possibility the Elena Flats building at 122 E. Duval St. could be torn down.

The owner of the building has applied to the city for a demolition permit, but the Historic Preservation Commission denied it. At the council level, though, the Land Use and Zoning Committee voted down the landmark designation, opening up the possibility of the building being torn down should it have passed Tuesday.

Meeks, a DIA board member, wants to talk to the owner first to see about purchasing the building. If that happens, he said he and his wife would return it to its original use as apartments.

"We're used to dealing with old buildings like that," he said. "Situations like these, they're love projects."

Meeks has undertaken several rehabilitation projects on old homes in Springfield.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=545255

[vicupstate]

Everyone cross there fingers that Meeks can pull it off.  An historic buildings with apartments is a thousand times better than a parking lot.   

[sheclown]

It is the best news for that building.

[JaxUnicorn]

I posted this on another thread as well.

The Landmark status for Elena Flats will once again be up for Public Hearing:

Tuesday, May 12th (TODAY) at the City Council meeting.

Wednesday, May 20th at the LUZ committee meeting.

Please go and speak in favor of saving this structure if that is your position.  Both meetings are held at 5:00 p.m.

City Hall
117 W. Duval St., 1st Floor
Council Chamber

[sheclown]

http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.coj.net%2FCity_Council%2FCouncilVideo1_5-12-15.wmv&h=uAQFjXRt7&enc=AZMU_KVYcrgrBEJ6u-Ve7BN2VpYGXYwYzLS04ifSY-aNTYS1UrgOf4tshO3jkgLOpIBAZioxrszRiUkaeh8_iG8dzA5hoCIfZfis99ek0s1cr3AfSNK5HydyM0GaEBBbk_weJGlrKQbwfZ1qdAccxpgpAghKxaGY9k0LgYXDIkyiYWxmiVUVMY4_49Va9PrYQ1Lg153HPtUZ7M1K6LvIYZh8&s=1

Please watch the video starting at 2:41:30

"please be respectful" 

Kim takes her personal time to go to meetings and is treated badly by the city council members -- again.

[JaxUnicorn]

Here is the direct link in case the Facebook link is giving you a hard time. 
http://media.coj.net/City_Council/CouncilVideo1_5-12-15.wmv

I learn how to better deal with city council members every time I speak in front of them.  Even though some may attempt to belittle me or make me out to be an idiot, I will not stop fighting for preservation.  SAVE THE HOUSES!

[hiddentrack]

Here is the direct link in case the Facebook link is giving you a hard time. 
http://media.coj.net/City_Council/CouncilVideo1_5-12-15.wmv

I learn how to better deal with city council members every time I speak in front of them.  Even though some may attempt to belittle me or make me out to be an idiot, I will not stop fighting for preservation.  SAVE THE HOUSES!

After watching the video, I don't think you should worry about being made out to be an idiot, the council looks to be earning that label for themselves. Your patience is admirable.

[NaldoAveKnight]

Yes, it is a nice building, etc., but it is not YOUR building. The building does NOT belong to the neighborhood, it belongs to the owner. The owner, not the neighborhood, pays taxes on that building. Thankfully, you folks weren't around 100 years ago because no new buildings would have been allowed because you never want to let one be torn down. You complain about suburban sprawl, but you insist on putting your spin on what property owners can do with their own property.  A rooming house. Be still my heart. Stop being socialists and projecting your demands on what other people own. This is nothing but destruction of property owners' rights in the name of "preservation."

+1  Thank you for being a voice of reason.  It's mind blowing how the preservation folks either want other people (city and tax payers) to pay for their renovations through facade grants or want an area to remain ghetto so they can limp along with their crummy properties and pay low taxes while collecting high rents.  Follow the money...

[vicupstate]

Yes, it is a nice building, etc., but it is not YOUR building. The building does NOT belong to the neighborhood, it belongs to the owner. The owner, not the neighborhood, pays taxes on that building. Thankfully, you folks weren't around 100 years ago because no new buildings would have been allowed because you never want to let one be torn down. You complain about suburban sprawl, but you insist on putting your spin on what property owners can do with their own property.  A rooming house. Be still my heart. Stop being socialists and projecting your demands on what other people own. This is nothing but destruction of property owners' rights in the name of "preservation."

+1  Thank you for being a voice of reason.  It's mind blowing how the preservation folks either want other people (city and tax payers) to pay for their renovations through facade grants or want an area to remain ghetto so they can limp along with their crummy properties and pay low taxes while collecting high rents.  Follow the money...

Actually, preserving historic structures and allowing them to be rehabbed has frequently reversed the 'ghetto' conditions.  Tearing down buildings over a vast area for nothing more than empty lots and surface parking certainly has not. JAX being the prime example of that not working.   

[ProjectMaximus]

+1  Thank you for being a voice of reason.  It's mind blowing how the preservation folks either want other people (city and tax payers) to pay for their renovations through facade grants or want an area to remain ghetto so they can limp along with their crummy properties and pay low taxes while collecting high rents.  Follow the money...

Follow the money?? The money is definitely not with preservationists...

[NaldoAveKnight]

Yes, it is a nice building, etc., but it is not YOUR building. The building does NOT belong to the neighborhood, it belongs to the owner. The owner, not the neighborhood, pays taxes on that building. Thankfully, you folks weren't around 100 years ago because no new buildings would have been allowed because you never want to let one be torn down. You complain about suburban sprawl, but you insist on putting your spin on what property owners can do with their own property.  A rooming house. Be still my heart. Stop being socialists and projecting your demands on what other people own. This is nothing but destruction of property owners' rights in the name of "preservation."

+1  Thank you for being a voice of reason.  It's mind blowing how the preservation folks either want other people (city and tax payers) to pay for their renovations through facade grants or want an area to remain ghetto so they can limp along with their crummy properties and pay low taxes while collecting high rents.  Follow the money...

Actually, preserving historic structures and allowing them to be rehabbed has frequently reversed the 'ghetto' conditions.  Tearing down buildings over a vast area for nothing more than empty lots and surface parking certainly has not. JAX being the prime example of that not working.

Nobody is stopping anyone from maintaining or rehabbing a property.  In fact everyone wins when a property owner is responsible and maintains the property.  Unfortunately, large areas of Jacksonville are owned by slum lords that do not care.  These slum lords push their agenda on message boards such as this one and they hide behind politicians that they fund. 

Take responsibility for your property or sell.  It's not that complicated.

[sheclown]

Here is the direct link in case the Facebook link is giving you a hard time. 
http://media.coj.net/City_Council/CouncilVideo1_5-12-15.wmv

I learn how to better deal with city council members every time I speak in front of them.  Even though some may attempt to belittle me or make me out to be an idiot, I will not stop fighting for preservation.  SAVE THE HOUSES!

After watching the video, I don't think you should worry about being made out to be an idiot, the council looks to be earning that label for themselves. Your patience is admirable.

agreed.

[aubureck]

The landmarking of Elena Flats will be heard by the LUZ Committee on Wednesday, May 20th starting at 5p in the City Council Champers in City Hall.

We need to come out and support the landmarking of this building!