First Baptist applies to demolish a building in the Hobson Block

[thelakelander]

If anyone opposes, you have a good month to lobby for a different outcome.

First Baptist Church applied to the city Building Inspection Division to demolish its six-story Singles Building at 125 W. Church St. as part of the plan to consolidate its campus into one city block.

If demolished, the building would make way for the church's new welcome center and connector building.

City property records show the structure was built in 1927. It also is a contributing structure to the National Register Historic Places Downtown Historic District.

Demolition will require approval from the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission.

It's possible the Historic Preservation Commission could deny the application and move to designate the structure as a local landmark, according to an email Dec. 19 from Historic Preservation City Planner Supervisor Christian Popoli to Jerry Trainor, principal at Charleston-based Novus Architects and First Baptist's architect on the project.

"I would not operate under the assumption it can be torn down," Popoli wrote.

The Historic Preservation Commission is scheduled to meet Feb. 26.

The goal of the demolition is to create "a grand welcoming and event space adjacent to the Hobson sanctuary that wants to be a grand atrium kind of space," Trainor wrote to Popoli and Historic Preservation City Planner Lisa Sheppard.

"The existing buildings that surround the Hobson will not accommodate this need."

Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/first-baptist-applies-to-demolish-a-building-in-the-hobson-block

[MusicMan]

"Singles Building"

What does that mean?  It's a good looking building and perhaps it could be adapted into more residential.....

[Peter Griffin]

Yeah, seriously curious about what it's used for now. "Singles building" sounds like it's singles (1-bed of studio apartments) inwhich case that'd be a cool set of apartments... if the church wasn't your landlord.

It'll be an odd stalemate if the city says they can't tear it down but the church has no plan to renovate it for anything else

[Wacca Pilatka]

Wasn't this building at some point (pre-1960) a HQ for Independent Life?

[thelakelander]

It was used by Gulf Life Insurance for a while. Singles likely refers to the church's singles ministry. I'd prefer the church selling all of its DT holdings and moving to Nocatee.

[77danj7]

"Singles Building"

What does that mean?  It's a good looking building and perhaps it could be adapted into more residential.....

I think it's the building for their singles ministry - so similar to their kids church ministry etc. 

[JPalmer]

How cute, did they teach women how to cook and land a man in this singles ministry? 

[heights unknown]

In the late 70's it didn't belong to FBC. Don't know who it belonged to, but I used to visit a night club in that building.

[jaxlongtimer]

Is any pre-WW II building safe in the urban core?  We had such a rich stock of interesting and historic buildings coming into the 1950's and 60's and what percentage is left?  Almost nothing.

Even if downtown gets all the "new" construction people are beating the drum for, it looks like it will mostly be soulless - just variations on a theme of repetitious renditions of boxy, square and/or rectangular details built from reflective glass and faux stucco or steel -  whatever generates the lowest square foot construction costs.*  No extra frills that might add character or build long term vibrancy and community.  What will be unique or iconic enough in the urban core to draw in future residents and visitations by non-residents?  When one takes a picture on a Downtown street or our skyline, what will say "This is must be in Jacksonville, FL" and nowhere else?

Unfortunately, the destruction of our past reflects Jacksonville's ongoing shortsightedness and recurring desire for inexpensive (mirroring our low tax mantra - no matter our need to invest in our future), conservative, behind-the-curve, low risk, quick fixes - nothing too progressive or challenging to the status quo - and not planning beyond the present and long into our future.

*Although I would not have laid out JTA's "inter modal" center the same way JTA did, I might take a small exception to the east-facing side of JTA's curved new HQ's as being distinctive against the background of the rest of Downtown.

[Des]

It's a historic contributing structure. It will have a hearing with the HPC, they'll more than likely say no, and that will be the end of it.

Worst case scenario Popoli will try to landmark the building and more than likely Joel McEachin will put it together. He's incredibly knowledgable and has a good chance of success.

[Charles Hunter]

What 'stick' does the City have if First Baptist is denied permission by the HPC, but says, "God told us to tear it down," and tears it down?  Can the City deny building permits for anything else on the site? Levy significant fines? Send them a sternly worded letter? (Applies to any building owner, and any excuse, not just the deity).

[thelakelander]

It's a historic contributing structure. It will have a hearing with the HPC, they'll more than likely say no, and that will be the end of it.

Worst case scenario Popoli will try to landmark the building and more than likely Joel McEachin will put it together. He's incredibly knowledgable and has a good chance of success.

It should be landmarked. In fact, there should be a proactive push to either designate the area as a local historic district or start individually landmarking buildings that are left.

This particular building was constructed at the height of the Florida Land Boom, is one of a handful of Renaissance Revival-style buildings left from that era and was the corporate headquarters of Gulf Life Insurance, once the city's largest insurance company (during an era Jax was known as the Hartford of the South) from 1938 until it constructed Riverplace Tower in the late 60s. The company is affiliated with Terry Parker (Gulf Life's Secretary on the Board of Directors). Parker started buying land across the river around 1943 and eventually went on to develop Arlington.

[thelakelander]

What 'stick' does the City have if First Baptist is denied permission by the HPC, but says, "God told us to tear it down," and tears it down?  Can the City deny building permits for anything else on the site? Levy significant fines? Send them a sternly worded letter? (Applies to any building owner, and any excuse, not just the deity).

It's a six-story building right next to city hall. Hopefully, COJ won't be that asleep at the wheel to let them demolish without a permit.

[vicupstate]

It's a historic contributing structure. It will have a hearing with the HPC, they'll more than likely say no, and that will be the end of it.

Worst case scenario Popoli will try to landmark the building and more than likely Joel McEachin will put it together. He's incredibly knowledgable and has a good chance of success.

I wish I could share your optimism. FBC is still a powerful force and they will probably get what they want, I would love to be wrong though. 

[acme54321]

Does it help if people contact the HPC and let them know how they feel?  Is there an email listing somewhere?