Florence Court Apartments: The Power of Paint

[patfaulk]

I'm sorry you feel that way - but we took a vote with the tenants and this is what we came up with - I manage the property and feel we do a good job for the tenants and the community. We are a small company in Jacksonville and I have managed it for 9+ years now and have some of the best tenants anyone can ask for.

[Deuce]

I live in the community. If you've got as many tenants in that building as people are claiming on this forum, then I don't think you are doing anything good for the community. But hey, that's just my opinion.

[Sigma]

that would be like putting whip cream on shit.

I'm laughing so hard I'm crying!

This place looks like a nuclear bunker.

[Sigma]

I live in the community. If you've got as many tenants in that building as people are claiming on this forum, then I don't think you are doing anything good for the community. But hey, that's just my opinion.

Dress it up.  On that corner - retail would be ideal.  Tenants above are fine - no complaints. Just do something on the ground level!

[cline]

If you've got as many tenants in that building as people are claiming on this forum, then I don't think you are doing anything good for the community. But hey, that's just my opinion.

Well, if the tenants are happy and this is what they wanted then the management is doing something good for the community that lives in the building.   

[patfaulk]

We have 49 units in the building (you don't have to count the meters) and if you don't think we are doing anything to help the community - think again - the tenants are on the Moderate Rehab program through Jax Housing - they are people with disabilities, mentally challenged, homeless and looking to keep their independence and / or some their families want nothing to do with them - we give them a safe, clean environment to live in. The building is inspected by housing at least twice a year and the fire marshal and our insurance company - also, the city keeps an eye on us to make sure every thing fine. This building does not generate a lot of money - but we did spend $28,000 to paint it, $15,000 for a new fence and gates, we also spent $5,000 to re-pave the alley behind the building (which is city owned) because of the potholes, for our tenants who are handicapped and in wheelchairs or those scooters, and next week the parking lot will be re-paved. Ask the tenants if we are slum landlords and I think you will be surprised at the answers you get. We treat everyone fairly, there are no drugs or prostitutes in our building. I've managed the apartments for 9+ years and am proud of the building and the tenants. We are located in Jacksonville and I am only 3 minutes away if there are any problems. Also, as for making the building back into 8 apartments - what would happen to the people that call this building home? As for putting in stores - it is not an option - most of the businesses that come in are gone within a couple years. As for looking like crap or a prison - look at some of the other apartments in the area - look at all the boarded up buildings - we have a whole row of them on the other side of our parking lot - that looks like crap. All the apartments are occupied and I have a waiting list of people who want to move there. As for Klutho - the current owner is an architect and kept many of Klutho's designs - inside the lobby my boss had all the tiles on the walls put in one at time by hand in the Klutho's pattern, the wooden staircase inside the lobby is still intact and so on. As for the fountain - we had to fill that in last year and we made it a planter (it did work up until then) because the street people would (believe it or not) wash their clothes in it or take a bath in it - we had the only fountain with a bathtub ring and it was constant maintenance. As for urban artists - we get enough graffiti without you giving anyone anymore ideas and again this is constant maintenance - I agree if you want to donate funds for the maintenance of the building we will gladly accept. Please feel free to contact me - I will answer your questions - and let you know how proud I am of working for a company who will help people who are down and out and no place else to go. We have had a lot of success stories of people going back to school - start working part-time and then going full time and eventually making more money so that they can move on with their lives and not be stagnant like some other people are. We are not a handout to them - they pay rent and Housing makes up the difference. Our rent is controlled by Housing - they tell us how much the tenant pays and how much they will pay - so now you know we are not taking advantage of the tenants. I very proudly and honestly love my job and the difference we make in some people's lives. I work downtown and see quite a homeless people that are there by choice - my tenant's are not walking the streets aimlessly - they have a quest in life.

[thelakelander]

patfaulk, welcome to the forum and thanks for the insight.

[BridgeTroll]

Welcome to the forum Pat...   Thank you for the post... I learned alot that I was not aware of.  Do not be surprised if you hear from some of the folks on this site.  There is historical interest in the building and there are many people who take a personal interest in the area...

I very proudly and honestly love my job and the difference we make in some people's lives.

Thanks Pat!

[Ocklawaha]

Hello Pat, nice post and welcome. Since I'm the one that doused this with sarcasm in the first place, I should now speak to the subject.

I'm very happy that y'all are working with people that need a hand up rather then a hand out. It's good to know that Housing is involved and that they have a caring manager.

My argument won't change, but thanks to your post, I will redirect it, at both the city and the owner. In my book you and your tenants deserve better housing then 40+ units in a building built for 8 apartments. I would gladly tax myself a bit more to provide for those with a real need, in a clean, modern, climate controlled building in a nice secure area of town. I think that City Hall and the building owners, as well as any other like buildings in Springfield, do the City a disservice. By "City" I'm talking about you, me and anyone else that lives in Jacksonville.

Again, I ask, why must we take a property with significant history, one that should be fully restored and make a special home out of it? Why don't we take care of our treasures, which in this case include you and your tenants, and one of the handful of Klutho Buildings that haven't been razed. I just don't get the attitude of maintaining the status quot.

OCKLAWAHA

[fsu813]

Not good enough. It still looks bad.

Now it's a 5 instead of 10 on the horrible-o-meter, that's all.

And i seriosuly, seriously, seriously, doubt that you can speak to the moral character and personal lives of those 40+ people.

[patfaulk]

I beg to differ - I can tell you all you want to know about my tenants - I can name them all - tell you their casemanagers if they have one - know their families - the ones that have family - we have monthly meetings and I am there on a daily basis and on call 24/7 - don't tell me what I know about my tenants - you need to take responsibility for what you say - ask any of my tenants and they will tell you they can call on me anytime to talk. This is not just some fly by night company - we take our responsibility very seriously - since we are local (3 minutes away) we can get to know our people not like some apartment complexes that don't know your first name or even if you live there. Take a good hard look at Springfield - look at all the abandoned buildings - look at the other apartments in the area - they are not full and do not have waiting lists - if you can prove I don't know what I'm talking about - DO IT! I spend a lot of my personal time with my tenants and at the property because I care - do you care about the disabled, elderly, mentally challanged, homeless - I don't see your name in lights helping people.

[patfaulk]

This is for Oklawaha, these apartments are the same as any average size apartment - living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom - they are one bedrooms because under our contract with housing they are for single adults only - it's not like that person who wrote that his closet is bigger than their apartments - people don't realize how big that building really is inside. The tenants are comfortable - we take care of all their maintenance needs - keep the building in good shape and sometime we take care of their emotional needs. And sorry - I do not live in Jacksonville - but even so I take responsibility for my tenants and the company and other homeless people who need a hand to get back on their feet.

[patfaulk]

What do I do with the tenants - throw them out?

[patfaulk]

As I said - we are a small company - the cost to restore that building would be astronomical - and what of the tenants? They deserve a roof over their heads also, their are not enough shelters or places for them to go especially with all the cutbacks. I will challenge anyone that what we are doing is good for community - whoever differs then you have never walked in their shoes - I have.

[patfaulk]

Have you ever been down and out with no place to go? They appreciate a safe and clean place to call home.
What are you doing for people who are down and out - are you giving them a helping hand to get back on their feet - take them into your home? feed them? clothe them? We have done these things - these people have been to my house - we have clothing drives - we lend them money - do you?