The BP at 8th & Liberty . . . . "Rooms for Rent"

[fsu813]

Has about 100 small "rooms for rent" fliers on the counter where you pay. We don't want to support that in the neighborhood. My understanding is that the owner is generally supportive of revitalization, so someone needs to talk to him about that. Or next time i'll just snag them all.

[downtownparks]

Im starting to get the feeling his is paying lip service to that idea. He took down the pipes he had displayed, but still had rolling papers and razor blades prominently displayed by the register. But I also have to wonder how the neighborhood looks from his eyes. I bet not very good. He sees the crummiest of the crummy in that place. E. 8th has some significant issues with loiterers and assorted characters..

[fatcat]

"room for rent" is legit business but not in Springfield according historical guidelines. Maybe his clients do need to rent rooms which is much better than homeless shelter. Why not collect information from landlords outside the historical area and provide  listing service for rooms available outside the historical Springfield? Would that be a win-win solution?

[AlexS]

Does anyone know where the rooms are located which are advertised for rent on these fliers ?

[strider]

 In fact, while these are not our flyers, rooms for rent by a residing owner or leaseholder is not illegal in Springfield nor anywhere in Jacksonville.  There are density limits that eventually come into play, but within those limits, there is no issue with it.  Say an owner of a house lost their high paying job and needs  a couple of roommates to keep their house from ending up on the foreclosure list.  Nothing wrong with them renting out a couple of rooms.  I strongly suggest that if any one of you has an issue the flyers, get one, call the number and find out the real info before you make those complaints to the city. It is simply the neighborly thing to do.  Then, if someone is running an illegal rooming house, you can call in the complaint.,  If not, wish the owner luck.

[fsu813]

Ummm.....right. I'm sure the guy just lost his job and he's taking random people from a gas station into his home. Get real.

[strider]

Actually, fsu813, in todays economic enviroment, you are the one who needs a reality check.  Many people who wouldn't have dreamed they would take in rommmates are now doing it because they are at risk of losing their homes. Not saying that is the case here, but everyone needs to start realizing that is the world we live in today.

Look to see much, much more of this and even more structured transitional housing all over Jacksonville, including Springfield.  For that matter, what is 3rd and Main but basically transitional housing. If Shands backs down on putting patients there, who do you think they will rent to?

[jason_contentdg]

I agree with you on the most part, strider, but I can guarantee that 3rd and main won't be trying to aim for the same market that those fliers at bp are aiming for.  Something tells me the deposits required to move in will be quite a bit different, for one.

[fsu813]

Any sane person would look else where (craiglist, etc) to advertise rooms in their home for rent. Not a gas station that is frequented by all kinds of crazies ....though I do stop by on some occasions I don't consider myself a 'crazy' =)

[Johnny]

I think fsu813 is pointing out that this gas station is not a place where you look for room mates. The people that may be interested are not likely to be of high moral character. Most likely an addict or drunk that is probably about to be booted from his previous residence or already has been.

[strider]

And part of my point was, how do you know?  Has anyone concerned bothered to call and find out if it is a flop house in the making or legit?  You are just assuming that everyone that uses that gas station is up to no good? It is too easy to just assume the worst and not bother to find out.  And 3rd and Main will do whatever they have to do to pay for that 6.2 million dollar building. HUD or a new program that may be coming down the road - whatever needed - if the Shands thing doesn't work out.  And from the last SPAR Council board meeting, I'd say that is a possibility. 

[thelakelander]

What happened during the last board meeting that gave you the impression that the Shands thing might not work out?

[fsu813]

1) refering to the gas station, call it an educated guess on what kind of clientele those fliers may attract

2) refering to 3rd & Main, if the apartments are not overpriced most will be filled by Proton patients (not Shands per say)

[fatcat]

I buy gas all the time, does not make me "up to no good" because I frequent a gas station? OK. I am twisting it a bit. The fact is that the gas station is a very good place to advertise because it is volume of people go through. Just think about the last 10 times you stop to get gas, you could have entered the store to pay for the gas, to buy a pack of cig, to get a bottle of water, get coffee in the morning, pick up a pack of soda or water, get windshield wiper fluid, ask for direction (ok) or use the bathroom.......
gas station is not just for people who "hang out" at the gas station. Even for people who just hang out at the gas station, they are not necessarily "bad" people.

[Johnny]

wow