In downtown areas, when a building is destroyed it is often referred to as a "missing tooth". This is because in downtowns, the majority of buildings do not stand alone, but are generally part of a continuous wall of buildings fronting on the street. The missing tooth analogy is appropriate, given the unsightliness of a missing tooth and its overall impact on appearances. Such impacts are especially dramatic when the location of the missing building(s) is at a street corner, where the absence of the building is noticeable from four directions.

Unlike suburban areas, where buildings have little relationship to the street, downtown areas depend upon buildings to help create the "room" of the street. It is the presence of a continuous wall of buildings that creates a sense of place, as well as pedestrian comfort and interest along the sidewalk.

At one point in time, the Northbank was just as "big city" and dense as many Northern and Midwestern cities. It was as historic as walkable places such as Charleston and Savannah.  However, short-sightedness has robbed our core of its building fabric and has turned its smile into something quite horrible to look at (see aerial immediately below).

This recent aerial shows the location of the structurally sound church building KBJ wishes to demolish for a parking lot. The aerial also illustrates how much of the core has been torn apart for surface parking, including almost the entire block that KBJ sits on. Despite being only a block away from Hemming Plaza and the Skyway, as well as being directly served by the downtown trolley, they insist that they need more parking.  When is enough... enough?

The old First Christian Church was purchased by KBJ in 1981, which has let the building fall into disrepair over the 26 year period.  Now, instead of renovating the structure, which KBJ's William Morris estimates could cost up to $400,000 (which is pretty cheap, considering today's construction costs), KBJ intends to tear the brick building down in hopes of constructing a surface parking lot.

While KBJ's request was denied by the city's Historic Preservation Commission, the firm has successfully appealed that decision by going with the argument that the building is not historically significant, which is highly debatable.  However, what isn't debatable is the firm's blatant neglect of the building for the past 26 years and the fact that an additional surface parking lot in the urban core is a negative on the surrounding context. It also flies in the face of what city leaders and urban pioneers have been working so hard to do... Revitalize the core in order to create a vibrant atmosphere centered around people, instead of cars.  From this perspective, maintaining buildings on the street edge is just as important as someone from Mandarin having a personal parking space for their gas guzzling SUV.

The city's Historic Preservation Commission believes that the building should be saved instead of converted into a surface parking lot because it is a "significant reminder" of the city's heritage by being a "mother church" for numerous congregations scattered throughout the county.

It was designed by W. Keynon Drake, the architect who's best known surviving building is the Florida Yacht Club; It's recognized for it's quality architecture, which is a contemporary interpretation of Colonial Revival Style design; last, but not least, it's suitable for preservation and restoration, despite the firm's inaction and resulting demolition by neglect.

However, what was never mentioned, at least not publicly, is that the intended use of the property is of the worst kind considering the surrounding neighborhood and the intent of the downtown master plan. If there is something that downtown has too much of, it's surface parking. If KBJ has no desire to use this structure, then they should seriously consider selling it to an urban minded entity who does.

While they may find no worthy adaptive re-use of the structure, it's perfect for other uses, such as condos, apartments, live/work lofts, artist studios, cultural destinations, dining or even offices.  With the courthouse site, Citi Place and Metropolitan Lofts all being a block away from the building, it is a highly developable site. The idea that this site is better suited for surface parking is absurd to say the least.

Some claim that it is perfectly fine to let the building go for a surface lot because it would be lushly landscaped. In Argyle, this act could be acceptable, but this is the heart of the urban core we're talking about.  No matter how many shrubs and palm trees you throw on that site, at the end of the day, it is still a parking lot and an additional missing tooth of activity in the heart of the downtown environment.  There has to be a better way and an Architectural firm like KBJ should be able to come up with something that incorporates the building.

In an effort to help KBJ's architects do their job, the photo above shows a structure that is actually a parking lot on the inside, but from the street it appears to be a building because the facade was preserved.  While we certainly do not endorse KBJ's desire for a parking lot, at the very least, they should be forced to preserve the building's facade along Church and Julia Streets.  That would be much more impressive than any type of plant the landscape architect could recommend.

Everything you need to know about KBJ's desire to construct a parking lot in the heart of downtown, despite there literally being more available parking spaces than people in the immediate area.

Bill Type and Number: Ordinance 2007-399

Bill Summary:

The bill upholds the decision of the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission to deny the application for a permit by KBJ Architects to demolish a building owned by the firm at 504 North Julia Street at the corner of West Church Street formerly known as First Christian Church. The bill also declares the structure to be a local landmark and landmark site and directs the Council Secretary and Property Appraiser to record the historic designation in the public record.
NOTE: After the bill’s introduction it was determined by the General Counsel’s Office that this action is quasi-judicial in nature; therefore the bill will be substituted in committee to use more generic language adopting findings and a ruling on the KBJ appeal, which ruling will be determined after the public hearing process and consideration of the evidence by the appropriate committees.

What's needed to send KBJ, back to the drawing board:

Somebody needs to stand up to this raping and pillaging of the downtown landscape by what many consider to be an upstanding, yet on this issue a misguided architectural firm.  If you believe that alternative options should be explored and that downtown has enough cavities created by close minded and selfish decisions such as this, then take the time to let our city council know how you feel.

City Council members: