LaVilla: The Whetstonian’s Last Days?

[Metro Jacksonville]

LaVilla: The Whetstonian’s Last Days?



This article by Dr. Tim Gilmore of jaxpsychogeo.com highlights what may be the last days of LaVilla's intriguing Whetstonian.

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2017-feb-lavilla-the-whetstonians-last-days-

[JayePorter]

It would be an absolute shame for this place to disappear. I was immediately intrigued by The Whetstonian when I first moved to Jax and I find this man's story to be iconic. Call it folk art, outsider art, or what you will, but he has an entire era of a people's history in there. I know this is private property and his family has the right to do as they will, but I hope they choose to preserve a part of it in some manner to honor Walter's work. I would pay money to see his collection - as it is I'm afraid I'm going to cause an accident some day when I drive by it slowly to try to catch something new I haven't seen yet.

[Adam White]

I'm not fussed about the artwork - but I will be really unhappy if the building is destroyed.

[jaxlore]

I always wondered what the story was over there. Yeah it would be something if they could preserve it somehow.

[copperfiend]

That building is an icon

[Noone]

Visit Jacksonville!

[Jack]

I drive by this magnificent building on my daily drive to work, and am always fascinated. Would hate to see it go.

[Liz]

This site has become an icon of Jacksonville history and a great example of outsider art.  I hope that the rest of the family see's the value in honoring this man's work by preserving it.  There are people that can help if they are willing to spread the word.  Keeping the charm of the collection in a restaurant format could be great if the basic placement of objects is preserved as much as possible.  The biggest challenge for a restaurant or museum situation would be raising the money for restoration of the property.  Neither could happen without a lot of investment.  If Jacksonville loves this property then Jacksonville must help preserve it but the family obviously needs to be on board as well.

[Treadwell]

Well, bless those folks, but it is an eyesore with its current deco. Would be nice if the building itself could remain, though.

[cowford]

An eyesore to who?

[remc86007]

In it's current context, it's understandable that someone driving by could perceive it as an eyesore. Ironically, if the area around it were a thriving urban center, I believe people would appreciate it's character.

If there is value to the collection, I think it should be preserved, but perhaps apart from the building. The building and the land it sits on are valuable in the near term; probably much more so than any value derived from converting it to a museum or restaurant. No one has opened a restaurant in that location for good reason; it lacks a residential base and even lacks foot traffic during the weekday lunch hour due to it's isolation from other businesses.