439 East 1st - Code Enforcement's Sneaky "Emergency" Demolition

[JaxUnicorn]

A sincere, heartfelt THANK YOU to the Historic Preservation Commission tonight for doing what they are charged to do:  SAVE THE HOUSES!

[CCMjax]

Nice work Kim and everyone else involved!  Thank you Stephen for the entertaining play-by-play commentary.

[strider]

I just got a call from Sheclown and the city is taking THE ENTIRE HOUSE DOWN as we speak. Apparently the City itself does not have to abide by the decisions of the HPC (which gave permission to take only the addition, NOT the entire contributing house).  The City, by allowing the MCCD to walk all over the Historic Designation, is rendering Historic Preservation meaningless in Jacksonville.

[strider]

Just a little while ago, a member of the HPC told us that there had been an appeal of the HPC decision, but now a member of Staff has informed us that there was no appeal ever filed. Typical Jacksonville BS. Meanwhile, Historic Preservation is slowly but surely being rendered meaningless.

[UNFurbanist]

Why do we have to keep being our own worst enemy?! Is there at least going to be something built here or is it going to stay an empty lot?

[vicupstate]

Why do we have to keep being our own worst enemy?! Is there at least going to be something built here or is it going to stay an empty lot?

Reading thru the thread, it seems there will be tens of thousands of dollars in liens, so in all likelihood, no.

The only thing that is going to stop this nonsense is a lawsuit. Need to find someone with standing to sue. 

[sheclown]

Action News was there today.

Kim Pryor is on camera talking about this house.

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/neighbors-upset-after-home-built-in-1900s-came-down/151188684

[Kay]

My understanding is that the City appealed the JHPC decision to only demolish the back and Council approved the appeal???

[Bill Hoff]

COJ's statement is:

"A city and private engineer evaluated the structure for safety and stability. After removing the rear addition, it was determined that the remaining structure was too unstable/unsafe to remain and was therefore also removed."

[Houseboat Mike]

Jesus.

I give up. It doesn't matter.

visit Baltimore...Jacksonville...whatever.

Lets destroy LaVilla. Lets neglect Hogans and McCoy creek.

because you know...progress.

Jesus.

[Kay]

COJ's statement is:

"A city and private engineer evaluated the structure for safety and stability. After removing the rear addition, it was determined that the remaining structure was too unstable/unsafe to remain and was therefore also removed."

Interesting how they did what they wanted to anyway.  Sometimes I hate this city.

[mbwright]

yet again, no accountability.  Very sad.

[sheclown]

My understanding is that the City appealed the JHPC decision to only demolish the back and Council approved the appeal???

At this point in time, we do not believe so; however, our attorney would be very happy, no actually ecstatic, were that true because no one was properly notified.

[sheclown]

COJ's statement is:

"A city and private engineer evaluated the structure for safety and stability. After removing the rear addition, it was determined that the remaining structure was too unstable/unsafe to remain and was therefore also removed."

When we asked the supervisor on site for the name of the engineer, we were told "I don't remember."  Hopefully, there is a detailed engineer's report on file to back this up.

We, as preservationists in this city, need to have DETAILED engineering reports to examine.  Not merely letters of opinion, but rather detailed explanations of why a structure is unsafe, with actual calculations and photos.  Why do we have to accept anything less?  Detailed engineering reports gives the public the information needed to feel satisfied with the decisions made regarding historic properties.

When asked why the entire structure had to be demolished, the supervisor said "the floor was wavy".  Meanwhile, the excavator is sitting on the floor system waiting to finish the job.

Oh, and the floor system is holding it. 

[02roadking]

COJ's statement is:

"A city and private engineer evaluated the structure for safety and stability. After removing the rear addition, it was determined that the remaining structure was too unstable/unsafe to remain and was therefore also removed."

Interesting how they did what they wanted to anyway.  Sometimes I hate this city.

  That is because there are no repercussions for what happens in Springfield. It is the way it is. We can make a stink about it, get a little air time on the local news and a few days/weeks later....back to biz as usual.
  The only way to curtail this stuff is for everybody, I do mean everybody(not just 20 people) in the neighborhood to come together as one entity and get their shit together. Change laws. There has to be a landbank/nonprofit/preservation entity that all it does is buy/mothball/sell and fight for historic structures. We have to keep structures out of the hands of people who just don't care one way or another.
  I fear we're too fragmented though, except on FF's
  At least I got a couple dozen bricks out of this....