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*** UPDATE: The original meeting on June 15th was DEFERRED until July 20th, so YOUR support to save these buildings for renovation will still be needed on July 20th! ***1043 Walnut Street and 348 East 11th Street have both been approved for demolition by the City of Jacksonville's Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). SPAR, with support from the community, has decided to appeal both demo decisions to the City Council Land Use & Zoning (LUZ) committee in hopes of saving them for renovation. These properties have been identified as historic structures contributing to the unique character and history of our neighborhood, and both have alternatives to permanent demolition. Like so many other properties that were once derelict, they can be renovated back to life, sold to someone interested in renovating, and enjoyed for another 100+ years.
Per COJ Historic District Guidelines, demolition should be the "last resort" for historic properties such as these, only after all alternatives have been explored. The alternatives have NOT been explored, and we'd like YOUR support ensuring our historic properties aren't demolished prematurely.
Attend the City Council Land Use & Zoning Committee (LUZ) on Tuesday, July 20th at 5pm**, at City Hall (117 West Duval Street) to speak about why these properties should be renovated, not demolished, and are important to the historic fabric of our neighborhood. We feel HPC made several errors while deciding to approve demolition, but the most obvious are:
>>> They determined that it is not "economically viable" to renovate these properties. We feel it very much is. Real estate in our neighborhood is scorching hot and ROI is very likely.
>>> Per COJ's own Historic District Guidelines, demolition is a last resort only after all other alternatives have been explored, and specifically mentions the option of selling the property to others more willing to renovate. These properties have not been offered for sale to others, and all alternatives have not been explored.
Find our full demo appeal applications with further justifications posted in this event page.
**5pm is the start time of the meeting not the exact time the appeals will be heard. As of now, the appeals will likely, but not definitely, be heard early the meeting, shortly after 5pm.
If you can't attend, please express your opinion to the City Council LUZ and staff through email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Emails should refer to: 2021-0300 (348 East 11th Street) and 2021-0299 (1043 Walnut Street).
Emails are helpful, but showing up in-person is *MUCH* more significant!
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Why do we care? Historic Preservation is important to our neighborhood perhaps more than any other in Jacksonville. If not for our Historic District designations, both local and federal, our community may have been destroyed, similar to LaVilla. The Block by Block Study, commissioned by the Jessie B duPont Fund, found an extraordinary difference in community health, property values, and investment within the boundaries of our Historic District, compared to just outside the boundary. We love that our success is moving across boundaries to other areas now, but our unique collection of architecture and history is a finite resource which cannot be replenished once gone, and which has sustained the neighborhood through the decades.
Block by Block Study:
https://assets-global.website-files.com/5ddd33dadff6242f0f84f23a/5e87bca5cce5fbb3d4a57ef5_BLOCK-BY-BLOCK-report.pdf
More info on the ROI of Historic Preservation:
https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/reuse-and-revitalization-in-jacksonville/
Past news story about demo in Springfield:
https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20160322/NEWS/801245315
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
City Hall Council Chambers, 117 W Duval St, Jacksonville, FL 32202, United States