City now owns unfinished LaVilla project, still looking at next move

[thelakelander]

After a decade and nearly $1 million going up in smoke, the shell of a building where Ray Charles got his first gig is back in the city's possession.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-09-29/story/city_now_owns_unfinished_lavilla_project_still_looking_at_next_move

[stjr]

Another boondoggle and squandered opportunity for significant historic preservation and creation of a tourist attraction by the City.

It's simple:  Before funding a project, have a fixed price contract to do it right.  Fund it and make sure you get what you are paying for before you pay the full bill.

I don't see these problems in the private sector and don't understand why they keep happening with the City.  I can't think of one major city project that didn't have significant costs to the City to complete it, was unable to be completed or fully executed as planned, or didn't need premature repairs at the City's cost due to inferior workmanship during construction.  Get ready for the same when the Courthouse.

The City needs to have better contracts (i.e. City lawyers?) and construction management (i.e Public Works department?).

Here is the full Florida T-U article linked above for ease of reference:

City now owns unfinished LaVilla project, still looking at next move
After 10 years and about $900,000, the project is unfinished.

    * By Matt Galnor
    * Story updated at 12:17 AM on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2009

Despite nearly a decade and $900,000 of government money, historic Genovar's Hall remains a brick shell.

Quietly, the windowless, floorless building became city property last month, officially closing the book on an African-American service fraternity's plan to renovate the former jazz hall on the outskirts of downtown Jacksonville.

Now, the question is what the city will do with the unfinished building on the corner of Ashley and Jefferson streets in LaVilla.

The Nu Beta Sigma chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. has given the property back to the city - putting an end to the oft-criticized project that mostly sat vacant, aside from short bursts of activity.

All of the money went into the project, Nu Beta Sigma attorney and former president Reginald Estell said.

The project was hit with cost overruns because the structure was more deteriorated than initially thought, and additional city money never came through, Estell said.

"This fraternity just bit off more than they could chew," said City Councilman Warren Jones, who represents LaVilla.

Fraternity members put more than $50,000 cash into the project, and at least that much in in-kind work, including construction and professional services, Estell said.

The city has been trying to take the property back for almost two years and finally got the deed last month, records show.

Jones had been advocating for extensions. But, as it became clear the work wouldn't be finished, he said the best thing was for the city to take the property back.

The city hasn't decided whether it will put out a request for proposals to work on the building, said Paul Crawford, deputy director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.

Estell said the hall's steel beams have been reinforced and the brick exterior is intact. Completing the exterior, however, still requires finishing the roof and adding windows and doors.

Since 1999, the fraternity received $29,250 from the city, $200,000 from a federal community development block grant and $665,000 from the state, mostly in historic preservation funds.

The state is trying to get about $22,000 back from the fraternity, records show. Estell said he's received different figures from the state at different times and as soon as the exact amount owed is determined, the fraternity will send a check.

Normally, if state preservation dollars are used for a project, the building cannot be torn down.

The city asked in March not to be held by the state preservation covenants if it succeeded in getting the property back from the fraternity. In June, a state preservation official agreed not to enforce them because the historic integrity "has been severely compromised by the abandoned rehabilitation effort."

A contractor estimated two years ago that more than $2.5 million was needed to finish the project. The fraternity had various plans for the building over the years, including operating it as a museum and as a jazz-themed restaurant with other tenants.

Jazz greats Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday played at the old hall, one of the few buildings not torn down as the city tried to redevelop LaVilla in the 1990s. The hall was built in 1895 and has been vacant since the mid-1980s.

Jones helped push for funding for the fraternity in 1998, during his first stint on the council. When Jones was elected again in 2007, he said he couldn't have imagined the project would still be around.

Jones thinks the building could end up as office space once the new Duval County Courthouse is completed in 2012. Crawford said the city wants to make sure if a developer takes over the property that is can be maintained and operated without city subsidy.

Jones said he still holds out hope the fraternity will find an investor to rejuvenate the project, but acknowledges it's not likely.

"They had the dream, they had the vision to try to preserve it, and for that I am grateful," Jones said. "They just couldn't make it work."

[Charles Hunter]

It is my understanding that there are plans for this building, that will involve the Brewster Nurses, a museum, a Shands Clinic, and other services.  A few things remain to done by the City - such as installing a wheelchair ramp, and some other minor things.  I have heard that, once the budget is put bed, the people involved will resume meetings to finalize plans, very soon.

[buckethead]

No jazz club? Really?

Did anyone read the part where Ray Charles landed early and important gigs here?

They're going to turn it into what?

HELLOOO! Is this thing on?

[Ocklawaha]

Anyone got a photo? I'm thinking I know the building... Red brick, and sort of missing a lower floor. I'm just not sure that's the one.

Great visioning Jacksonville, good job, lets turn a historic R&B mecca into a free clinic! Is this REALLY the best we can do? Imagine New Orleans, or Memphis, without their "birthplace" historic music districts. We can't even pull off a single building reconstruction? Bravo to the Frat Boys who were brave enough to try what might have been. I say they've given their money, blood, sweat and tears, let's haul them back with funds to complete the job.

Damn shame we can't interest a large restaurant/club ownership group to turn this into "The River City Jazz Club," or perhaps a large tourism effort for a club called "Ray's." A company such as Darden Restaurants or Hard Rock could make some real hay out of such a venue. Jazz and New Age/Jazz is my favorite music, hell I'd even bring my pillow and an air mattress.

VISION JACKSONVILLE, VISION!

OCKLAWAHA

[Lunican]

[Captain Zissou]

Owchhh.  Hard to believe that is the result of 1M of work.  If they could turn this into something like Mojo Kitchen, that would be awesome.  Anyone know the address?  I have a feeling it's in the middle of nowhere.

[Ocklawaha]

Thanks Lunican, yep, that's the building I was thinking about.

Captain Zissou, the building, not unlike the infamous Sax Seafood project, is on the North - South JTA BRT corridor. Certainly this Jefferson(?) street and nearby Broad St. carry heavy traffic being a straight shot from the Acosta Bridge to Shand's. You couldn't want a much better location, both of these project buildings also have easy freeway access.

OCKLAWAHA

[strider]

Actually, it seems that the poster who said

"It is my understanding that there are plans for this building, that will involve the Brewster Nurses, a museum, a Shands Clinic, and other services."

got this building confused with the Brewster Hospital.  The old hospital is mostly finished.  This old bulding barely has been started.

Years ago, we were asked about doing a tin ceiling in this building for the jazz club.  Now, I would think that if the city doesn't tear it down, it will be/ take a miracle!

Normally, if state preservation dollars are used for a project, the building cannot be torn down.

The city asked in March not to be held by the state preservation covenants if it succeeded in getting the property back from the fraternity. In June, a state preservation official agreed not to enforce them because the historic integrity "has been severely compromised by the abandoned rehabilitation effort."

Sounds like the city has already paved the way to demo it.

[Captain Zissou]

 I also thought they got it confused with the Brewster Hospital, just didn't have info to back it up.  I agree that the article makes it sound like this thing is headed for the wrecking ball.  If it is on main roads like Ock says, seems like it could and should be salvaged and put to better use.

[jbroadglide]

Owchhh.  Hard to believe that is the result of 1M of work.  If they could turn this into something like Mojo Kitchen, that would be awesome.  Anyone know the address?  I have a feeling it's in the middle of nowhere.

644 WEST ASHLEY ST, corner of Ashley and Jefferson across from Lavilla School for the Arts

[904Scars]

I drive by this building everday on my way back into Riverside, it's a total shame to see a building with such meaning just sit. Somebody should seriously slap the hell out of our city's developers. I was thinking the same as most of you, either a nice Jazz venue or Jazz influenced restaurant. It's right next to Jacksonville's Middle School for the ARTS! HELLO! Sometimes (most of the time actually) our city's decisions makes me want to bash my head against a wall.

[mtraininjax]

Why tear it down? Donate it to the people who have turned that block around, donate it to Jacoby Pittman and the Clara White Mission. They do such good things there, she can get the donations to get fix the building and use it to benefit the area. She is one of the best people in Jax with what she has been able to do in that area of town.

[heights unknown]

I drive by this building everday on my way back into Riverside, it's a total shame to see a building with such meaning just sit. Somebody should seriously slap the hell out of our city's developers. I was thinking the same as most of you, either a nice Jazz venue or Jazz influenced restaurant. It's right next to Jacksonville's Middle School for the ARTS! HELLO! Sometimes (most of the time actually) our city's decisions makes me want to bash my head against a wall.

Go ahead and bash your head against the wall cause the City's negligence and laziness will not stop and will continue. It won't change until sound, professional, responsible, and vision oriented leadership takes over.

Heights Unknown

[braeburn]

Another building that's spitting distance from the courthouse.

And yet another building that's owned by "the city."  I'm really wondering what exactly comes to mind when other people hear those two words: "the city."

How many buildings can "the city" own and will they capitalize on them now that "the city" and the powers-that-be have given the go-ahead for the new courthouse?

A big part of me thinks that this courthouse thing is great, and the businesses around it that are or will be springing up are also great. But another part of me feels like the powers-that-be in "the city" are circle jerking each other under the table.