The Pearl DARTed by COJ / JSO

[JaxByDefault]

I too am often disappointed with SPAR, Sparhater, but --to be fair-- they were not the only complainant here.

Part of their self-stated mission is to make sure historic properties in the district use the COA and permitting process. There was more than one complaint made about the Pearl that triggered code inspections (and an ill-advised DART raid), including at least one CARE request/report that was not filed by SPAR or its leadership. 

Any neighborhood organization would be wise to contact business owners directly before taking their laundry list of neighborhood complaints downtown. SPAR would benefit from more direct and pleasant relations with local business owners--and perhaps correct their growing negative reputation with potential investors. A neighborhood organization should call a business owner and say "I notice you're building something...can we help you with the permit process.…" If that fails, "I'm sorry, but we have some concerns about the property that we feel we need to raise with the city. We'll email you a draft of our complaint in advance so that you can correct any of our misstatements and we can add your objections." If SPAR did that in reference to the Pearl, then I applaud them. If they did not, they should change their protocol.

I will say that as a neighborhood resident, I did not appreciate them circulating with their weekly SPAR update a letter from a city official that (1) said that the Pearl was a targeted because of competent evidence of drug activity, (2) contained missing information about the number and nature of the arrests made, and (3) did not provide an update on the status of the Pearl. It seemed a bit lazy and disingenuous with the facts, but probably not maliciously so.

[sparhater]

Does anyone remember the Springfield Farmers Market? Lots of complaints....lots of rumors about that one too. Again there are a couple of people making decisions for the whole neighborhood and a LOT of people are not happy about it. The neighborhood vision should not be about a couple of neighbors dreams, it should be for the whole neighborhood, and this is where SAPR fails, miserably.

[jbm32206]

I agree, that the vision seems to be rather impaired to say the least...and that it's all about a particular few.

[mingustrane]

Don't know if drugs were being consumed at the Pearl or not but I did see coke being snorted in the bathroom of The Art Bar (one of owner's previous business endeavors).  Glad to see her out of our neighborhood!    Love to see her leave Jax and never return!

[stephendare]

Don't know if drugs were being consumed at the Pearl or not but I did see coke being snorted in the bathroom of The Art Bar (one of owner's previous business endeavors).  Glad to see her out of our neighborhood!    Love to see her leave Jax and never return!

Really, I usually see coke being snorted in all of the homes out there, when its not being sold on the street all up and down park.

What an assholy post.

[32206livedraps]

I agree, that the vision seems to be rather impaired to say the least...and that it's all about a particular few.

oh come on now, if you are a proctologist you too can share their vision. 

[Ernest Street]

Yea, that was obviously 10 years ago at the fart bar...

[deathstar]

My younger brother works there doing security, and I was glad to hear nothing serious happened. I'm glad to hear it re-opened so quickly, yet I hope that other clubs in Jax take notes and get everything up to code before they're targeted next! Over some extension cords!!!

[jbm32206]

The raid and closure was more than just extension cords