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Historic Preservation not only makes good economic sense but is also a very sustainable practice.
In October 2007, the City helped fund the first Restore Jacksonville event. This three day program provided valuable information for homeowners, preservation enthusiasts, investors and contractors, from researching the history of one’s home to navigating the City’s review processes. Five years later, the timing is perfect for holding a second Restore Jacksonville conference. This time taking it one step further to show how an old house can also be a green home.
Barnett Bank Building image courtesy of Nomeus.
In April 2011, the City of Jacksonville applied for a State of Florida Preserve America Grant to host a local historic preservation and sustainability conference. The basic goals and focus areas of the conference include:
1. Showcase how old buildings are inherently green
2. Showcase the best practices for making old buildings more energy efficient
3. Provide a training for contractors and other professionals working on historic buildings
4. Educate owners of older buildings on how to properly maintain and restore their structures
5. Inspire students/unemployed to pursue specialized building trades and increase the restoration workforce
6. Provide a better understanding of the Historic District Design Regulations and Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) review process
7. Educate the public on historic preservation and the economic benefits of historic preservation as outlined as an objective of Jacksonville’s Comprehensive Plan
During the first week of May 2012, homeowners and building professionals will have an excellent opportunity to learn more about how preserving older buildings was one of the first green concepts, how to make an old house more efficient, and how sustainability begins with preservation. Why stop with recycling plastic and aluminum when you can reuse an entire building, capitalizing on its unique character, original green design, old growth wood, existing infrastructure, urban setting and embodied energy?
This five day conference is filled with educational and entertaining sessions with nationally known speakers and local experts. The intense two-day training on Wednesday and Thursday will cover historic preservation and energy efficiency topics that enable contractors and other building professionals to become better experts for their clients and avoid costly mistakes. The general public sessions on Saturday will help homeowners make wiser choices for their older home, while learning more about Jacksonville’s architectural heritage. The Restoration Resource Expo Hall will introduce attendees to products and services that help restore, repair and “green” old buildings. Sunday’s events will provide interesting site visits to see first hand how “old” and “green” work together. Friday’s speaker on downtown revitalization and the economic benefits and sustainable practices of historic preservation are not to be missed. Lastly, special events include the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission’s Annual Preservation Awards on Thursday evening.
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mtraininjax
April 25, 2012, 07:04:10 AMAre the 2 reasons I would not attend. They are fanatical with regard to the horse-hockey laws for certificates of appropriateness. I live in the historic district and rebuilt one property with a COA and two without. Needless to say the one with the COA was a complete and total wear you down, do it our way, no matter if the contractor has a better way to make the house longer, piss poor attitude. You cannot work with the Preservation group, so you go around them.
Lisa is so fanatical, that if you have a 6 over 6 window, you have to have the SAME windows as the period in the historic district, no matter the fact that you can get 6 over 6 options in all sorts of varieties, for less money, and windows are not inexpensive, nope, must be the same as what you tore out.
Needless to say, people go around COAs as the rediculousness of the City Hall Planning is on full display, daily!
Dog Walker
April 25, 2012, 07:37:16 AMAnd it is people with this attitude towards historic buildings that makes the Historic Preservation Commission and the COA process so necessary. Thank you Lisa and Joel for doing your job.
tufsu1
April 25, 2012, 07:58:57 AM+1000
cline
April 25, 2012, 08:35:04 AMI hear there are some good deals to be had over in the Fleming Island area as well as NW St. Johns County. Maybe you should check it out. Probably even have new energy efficient windows.
Tacachale
April 25, 2012, 08:37:29 AMJumpinjack
April 25, 2012, 09:33:43 AMI hope that no one will let their grudges keep them away from a great conference perfectly timed for Jacksonville. By the way did you notice that this isn't about historic homes only but about restoring old buildings and homes in Jacksonville. And there's plenty of them all over Jacksonville that deserve preservation instead of demolition.
The speakers are covering some good topics. I'm planning on going on Friday to hear Mr. Rypkema on the economics of restoration and preservation in neighborhoods and commercial. Also, the second speaker on repairing sprawl should be required attendance for planners and consultants.
Captain Zissou
April 25, 2012, 09:54:14 AMWowwww. I think you just proved mtrain's point. He was trying to say that he restored 3 properties (how many have you restored?), but going through 'the appropriate channels' was more of a hindrance than a resource. I have heard the same exact thing from a number of people.
I have told this story often, but it bears repeating: My sister lives on Belvedere in Avondale next door to a small brick bungalow that was owned by a lady in her 50s. The lady was trying to redo her porch, so she removed the old windows that were in place and tried to install windows that would replicate the look of the old windows, but provided better insulation. RAP said no way and did not allow her to put new ones in. The lady tried a different window, but received the same reaction from RAP. This went on for 3 years, all the while, the porch sat there with no windows. Well, throughout this whole process, the lady was battling cancer. Last year she lost the battle with cancer and has gone home to be with the Lord, but her porch still sits there windowless.
RAP should be a resource to people trying to beautify the neighborhood and preserve its history, not the window police.
thelakelander
April 25, 2012, 10:01:03 AMBtw, Metro Jacksonville will also be speaking at the conference on Saturday, May 5. Our 50-minute, graphic heavy session will focus on the importance of historic preservation in preserving Jacksonville's local legacy, identity and heritage. Using one of the Reclaiming Jacksonville sites as a starting point, we'll use that building's architectural characteristics and history as a door into Jacksonville's past, diving into forgotten stories exposing the city's musical heritage, rebuilding efforts after the Great Fire of 1901, role in the women's sufferance movement, and growth into a progressive multicultural urban center.
Kaiser Soze
April 25, 2012, 11:01:36 AMDog Walker
April 25, 2012, 11:11:13 AMWhat everyone loves about Riverside and Avondale is still here only because RAP started the whole historic preservation movement here in Jacksonville.
RAP has no enforcement powers and is a great resource for anyone trying to rehabilitate and old structure. Joel and Lisa actually have samples of historically appropriate, modern, insulated windows in their offices.
The lady on Belvedere should have talked to them instead of the window salesmen.
fsquid
April 25, 2012, 11:17:53 AMIf RAP has no enforcement power, why didn't the woman just say, "screw you" and install the windows?
Kaiser Soze
April 25, 2012, 11:18:43 AMKaiser Soze
April 25, 2012, 11:19:11 AMTacachale
April 25, 2012, 12:21:28 PMcline
April 25, 2012, 12:56:33 PMThe City issues the COAs, not RAP. And there are many, many folks that have restored homes and have gone through the process.
But at any rate, I plan on trying to attend on Saturday. Sounds like some good stuff.
strider
April 25, 2012, 02:49:03 PMmtraininjax and Kaiser Soze, your comments typify why Historic Departments and Historic Organizations sometimes forget they are here to help and feel they need to be very tough to get anything done right. If the truth were to be told, you purposely set out to make the process hard on them, who in turn, make it hard on you. You, after all, in you own little worlds, are obviously above those codes.
Having worked on many houses "restored" by those who feel the Historic Codes are not for them to follow, I feel bad for anyone who bought those houses after you "restored " them.
Often, owners and contractors do not really understand the relationship that exists between the Historic Guidelines, the Building Codes and reality. Even sometimes those charged with the enforcement of the codes need some help understanding it. It is also a evolving process, one that changes often if not even case by case. Trying to ignore those codes is not the answer unless of course you care little of the future of these structures. Neither is belittling those charged enforcing the historic codes. Working within the historic codes is the right way and surprisingly easier than ignoring them if you know what you are doing.
Both of you need to go to this conference. Who knows, you might even get a clue.
fsquid
April 25, 2012, 02:50:48 PMGotcha and I guess they take recommendations from RAP?
Bill Hoff
April 25, 2012, 03:05:50 PMRAP & SPAR act as advisors to COJ regarding these issues, more or less, through Design & Review committees.
Kaiser Soze
April 25, 2012, 03:55:26 PMAs for belittling those charged with enforcing the codes, that I am not doing. I am belittling RAP, an organization that is supposed to be advisory in nature.
strider
April 25, 2012, 04:32:12 PMYou put yourself in the same "bucket" as mtraininjax with your comments, so I guess I inferred that you felt the same way he obviously does. I still suspect I'm right. Also, the key word in your post above is "variance". There are things that both RAP and the Historic Department can not waive - or give a variance for. Without knowing what you were asking for, I can't say on your particular case. However, keep in mind that the idea of a variance is to allow you to do something that is normally outside of the codes. Sometimes variances can be considered a right by exception if you meet certain criteria, but often they are just a way to get something you want that would normally not be allowed. And getting a clue in this case may have been going to the design and review board meeting before the actual HPC meeting so you were not blindsided by their opposition and stood a chance of presenting a solid case for yourself. The other things is, did the Historic Department recommend it for approval or did they tell you when you got the COA that it might be a tough fight? Lots of unknowns here.
In the FWIW column, RAP's Design and Review is typically OK, the members normally seem to have a clue and will work with you as long as they believe you are willing to work with them. But knowing the codes and the issue very well yourself is important. I have never been to a SPAR Design and Review meeting (nor will I be attending one) and still have gotten what I needed at HPC.
Kaiser Soze
April 25, 2012, 04:50:35 PMI would have attended the design and review board committee if I had known about it. Unfortunately they did not care to hear me or my plans for the house. They simply did not bother to call me back.
Dog Walker
April 25, 2012, 06:33:54 PMUntil very recently RAP had exactly ONE paid staff member. It is all volunteers otherwise. With the success of RAM, there are now THREE paid staff members. WOW, huge organization! That they are all grossly overworked and have one or two night meeting every week is a given.
I've restored three buildings in the district, two of them condemned and about to be bulldozed. Both RAP and the Historic Preservation Committee staff were of enormous help in navigating the COA, Permitting, and Variance processes. But, I went to them both seeking help, not all bowed-up and bristly from having to ask permission to do something with MY property. Everything went very smoothly on a difficult project. Cop and attitude and you might just get attitude back. Human nature.
This Restore Jacksonville conference is going to be full of information for contractors and homeowners. It is a project of the City of Jacksonville Historic Preservation Committee. If you are going to work on old houses this is a fantastic opportunity to learn the techniques and requirements.
Remember, the greenest building is one that already exists and they can be made energy efficient without destroying the historic character too. That is what this conference is all about. Good stuff!
Kaiser Soze
April 26, 2012, 09:09:31 AMfieldafm
April 26, 2012, 09:19:21 AM+1
Timkin
April 26, 2012, 05:51:39 PM++1
Dog Walker
April 30, 2012, 05:19:01 PMDon't forget the Restore Jacksonville Conference at the library later this week. There are lots of MetroJacksonville people involved.
Ennis and Nomeous will be there with their book too!
stephendare
April 30, 2012, 05:49:58 PMThanks DogWalker. Ennis and I will both be presenting for metrojacksonville as part of the program as well!
grimss
May 03, 2012, 12:32:02 PMJust got an email from RAP that details a number of Saturday's sessions (including Stephen and Ennis's) and includes a $5 discount off walk-up admission. I'm impressed by the variety of talks. http://mim.io/14c292?fe=1&pact=9057926095
Dog Walker
May 03, 2012, 01:18:15 PMThat Windows 101 seminar on Saturday morning is going to be well worth the price of admission by itself if it can teach me how to weatherstrip my drafty old windows. The people giving it are supposed to be experienced experts in the repair and upgrading of historic windows.
stephendare
May 05, 2012, 11:07:26 AMEnnis and I are getting prepped to go onstage now!
grimss
May 05, 2012, 09:11:34 PMHow did it go? Really sorry to have missed it, but I was schlepping kids to soccer down in Gainesville. Hope it was a good turnout. I went to the Friday sessions with Donovan Rypkema and Steve Mouzon, and these guys were TOP NOTCH. National-caliber speakers with tremendous perspective. Both Rypkema and Mouzon took time out of their schedules to meet with Park & King/Avondale/RAP representatives at Whiteway at lunch to discuss issues of growth and parking, and what's worked elsewhere. High class.
nomeus
May 05, 2012, 09:37:45 PMsurely youre wearing your signature shorts and sneakers right??
stephendare
May 05, 2012, 09:41:35 PMonly when i have to go outside. nomeus
nomeus
May 05, 2012, 10:56:16 PMi probably wouldnt recognize you in pants or long sleeves