Building Constructed in 1916 at 5 West Forsyth Condemned. Next for Destruction?!

[jeh1980]

I hope that they don't have to tear that building down. It does have great potential. BUT, if they do, they can at least put a new skyscraper to replace it. I think we have about enough pocket parks in downtown already. 

[heights unknown]

I hope that they don't have to tear that building down. It does have great potential. BUT, if they do, they can at least put a new skyscraper to replace it. I think we have about enough pocket parks in downtown already. 

I don't think that (a new skyscraper) is going to happen anytime soon with the economy still lack luster, and, have you seen the office vacancy rates downtown and around Jacksonville lately?

Heights Unknown

[hanjin1]

what they will put in is a brand new surface parking lot. the city won't have money to put in another homeless park

[jason_contentdg]

Oh, if it comes down, I'm sure it will be replaced in less than 18 months by something contributing like the Southern Rock Museum and Venue....

[jbroadglide]

The reason this building  was cited is that the north wall was bulging and there are cracks all down the wall from top to bottom. Major cracks. A contractor has put up some steel support girders against the wall to brace it, but it appears that entire wall is going to have to be re-built. Now this building is a long,long,long,long way from being demolished. Look at the Parkview Inn. Its been condemended for how many years now, and its still standing. So before everyone gets themselves all up in arms, give the property owners some time.

[jason_contentdg]

The reason this building  was cited is that the north wall was bulging and there are cracks all down the wall from top to bottom. Major cracks. A contractor has put up some steel support girders against the wall to brace it, but it appears that entire wall is going to have to be re-built. Now this building is a long,long,long,long way from being demolished. Look at the Parkview Inn. Its been condemended for how many years now, and its still standing. So before everyone gets themselves all up in arms, give the property owners some time.

118 Main was demolished in less than 3 weeks after the condemned sticker went on.

[jbroadglide]

Sorry Jason but thats incorrect. The building was cited on March 16 and on May 11 it was demolished by the OWNER. That building had major, major structural damage inside and out. Ceilings were collapsing. Interior walls had given way..5 West Forsyth is not in near that bad a shape.

[stjr]

The reason this building was cited is that the north wall was bulging and there are cracks all down the wall from top to bottom. Major cracks. A contractor has put up some steel support girders against the wall to brace it, but it appears that entire wall is going to have to be rebuilt. Now this building is a long,long,long,long way from being demolished. Look at the Parkview Inn. Its been condemned for how many years now, and its still standing. So before everyone gets themselves all up in arms, give the property owners some time.

Assuming the north wall was in fair shape when the buildings were renovated and occupied extensively in the 1980's and that the building has been standing without apparent issues for over 90 years, one has to wonder if someone negligently did something on adjacent property, in the street, or to this building in recent times to cause the wall to move so much.

Maybe, as added protection for historic buildings, the City building and inspection department should get extra assurances area or building improvements don't provoke issues like this.

[jason_contentdg]

Okay,

Sorry Jason but thats incorrect. The building was cited on March 16 and on May 11 it was demolished by the OWNER. That building had major, major structural damage inside and out. Ceilings were collapsing. Interior walls had given way..5 West Forsyth is not in near that bad a shape.

Ok, so it was cited on March 16th, but the sticker didn't go up until after April 23rd?  We photographed it on the 23rd and there was no sticker or signage at all.  Joey over at Urban Jax posted the image of the sticker on April 30th.


118 Main came down on on the 15th and 16th of May at the earliest.

118 Main was not far gone enough for it to be completely demolished...

[hanjin1]

Who wants to put an over/under on when this place will be torn down?

[jbroadglide]

Okay,

Sorry Jason but thats incorrect. The building was cited on March 16 and on May 11 it was demolished by the OWNER. That building had major, major structural damage inside and out. Ceilings were collapsing. Interior walls had given way..5 West Forsyth is not in near that bad a shape.

Ok, so it was cited on March 16th, but the sticker didn't go up until after April 23rd?  We photographed it on the 23rd and there was no sticker or signage at all.  Joey over at Urban Jax posted the image of the sticker on April 30th.


118 Main came down on on the 15th and 16th of May at the earliest.

118 Main was not far gone enough for it to be completely demolished...

Well I have seen a picture that shows the Condemned sign placed on 3/16/2009, along with a Do Not Enter sign..And my mistake the building was actually torn down May 5, not May 11. I have seen that picture also. And yes it was that far gone. It was even declared an Emergency Demolition.

[stjr]

Anyone have an update on the status of 5 W. Forsyth's condemnation?

[stjr]

Drove by this building Friday and it appears the "condemned" status is still in place.  Not a pretty sight.  Anyone have more to report?  With the Historic Preservation Commission likely preoccupied with preserving itself during City budget discussions, is anyone watching?

[stjr]

Well, looks like this story, for once, may have a happy ending!  Pick up the story with the thread below:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,6197.0.html

[stjr]

Kudos to Perdue for making this move!

A catalyst for Downtown revival


Perdue Office Interiors President Vince McCormack and the company’s new headquarters at 5 W. Forsyth St.

by Max Marbut
Staff Writer

Two events that occurred Downtown in 1916 had no connection at the time, but now 93 years later history is at a point of intersection. One of the notable events was the founding of Perdue’s Office Furniture on Bay Street, the other was the opening of Woolworth’s “dime store” on the corner of Main and Forsyth streets. Woolworth’s closed many years ago and Perdue’s moved away from Downtown to Baymeadows about 25 years ago.

The “intersection” will be realized in about a month when Perdue Office Interiors opens its new showroom in the former Woolworth’s Building, a relocation decision that Vince McCormack, president of Perdue Office Interiors, said is best for the growth of his company.

“We looked at more than 20 properties all over town,” he said. “We decided Downtown is where we want to be for the long-term.”

McCormack went to work for Perdue soon after the company moved to Baymeadows and purchased it several years ago. His connection to Downtown goes back much farther.

“I was born in Jacksonville and raised in Ortega. My father was a banker so he spent his entire career Downtown and I used to visit him at his office,” said McCormack.

As he stood at his new front door and surveyed the Downtown skyline Thursday morning, McCormack noted that the company was moving into the middle of the highest density of prospective clients for office interiors anywhere in Duval County.

“Think about how many tenants there are just in the Bank of America Building and they’ll be able to walk to our showroom,” he said.

The motives behind the relocation went beyond the benefits for the business. McCormack is active with the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and its Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership.

“We have to have a thriving Downtown with an active business community. We were able for find a building with a great location and image and our being here will bring people Downtown who might otherwise not come here,” he said.

Perdue Office Interiors entered into a long-term lease with Petra Management, which represents a landlord with what is likely the most extensive portfolio of commercial space in the urban core.

Broker Rich Trendel commented, “There are companies that will look at Downtown. It just takes landlords that will work with businesses to make the numbers make sense. Downtown has to meet a business’s needs and their wants. That’s how we can get the ball rolling to revitalize Downtown.”

Trendel also pointed out the opening of Perdue’s showroom by the first of November will coincide with another opening a few blocks away. A new nightclub and lounge is under construction in the former Florida Ballet Building on Forsyth Street facing the Florida Theatre.

“That means there will be two new retailers opening Downtown in buildings that have been vacant for years,” he said.

In a statement released Wednesday, Mayor John Peyton said, “I am pleased that Perdue has chosen to relocate its offices to one of our most historic Downtown buildings and I hope its move serves as a catalyst for other companies to follow suit.”

See: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php