Ruins of Jacksonville: The Florida Life Building

[stephendare]

That's probably laughable to the Swiss or most of Western Europe for that matter when considering that our "historical" structures mostly fall within the last 2-3 centuries & that wasn't even at the 100 year mark at the time.

Well there is sometimes a difference between 'historic' and 'antique'.  The building of Skyscrapers was something that it never occurred to the swiss to do for a few thousand years, after all.

I believe this might have been amongst the first skyscrapers built in Florida.

[thelakelander]

For a few months it was Florida's tallest.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-mar-a-century-of-floridas-tallest-skyscrapers

[Wacca Pilatka]

This is my favorite building in the world.  Not much depresses me more than not being able to save it.

Stephen, I'm fascinated to learn this information about Corim because Bob Broward's Klutho book put the blame for the cornice destruction squarely on Bank of America.  Was BoA actually involved to any meaningful degree?

[stephendare]

If I remember correctly it had to do with their financing of a project being dependent on the insurance company, who wouldnt cover it with the cornices intact.

That may be incorrect, but that is my memory of the issue. 

However, we were all pissed with Corim because ultimately they made the decision.

[Overstreet]

From all the vegtables growing out of the joints and the stains I'd say that most everything up top has water intrusion problems. A lot of that would have to be removed and new support structure and ties installed. An "open" building can have a lot of hidden damage.

[stephendare]

alot of that will be air ferns and the kinds of plants that grow out of mortar.  It might not be as bad as all that.

Crossed fingers.

[coredumped]

Man this site is depressing sometimes:(

The change to fix that building up was during the boom, now I fear it may be lost, mother nature is claiming it again!

[thekillingwax]

I'm all for trying to save things that can be saved but would you ever really be able to bring this one back? I don't even want to try and imagine the costs of having the cornices replaced, if it's even possible. Some places have been so irreparably disgraced and disfigured that I think it'd be better to just try and move on. Seeing it in its current state is almost nauseating, especially when you examine the details.

[stephendare]

The original cornispeices were glazed terracotta, of the type that adorn the St. James Building.  I cant imagine that it would be any more expensive than demolition and starting over from scratch again.

Nor any more difficult.

[thekillingwax]

Yeah, I wasn't sure if it would be cost effective considering what other issues the building may have, no way to know unless someone's able to get into the building, especially the upper floors and properly survey what needs to be done. I'm usually an optimist but this place just looks bad.

[fonz]

I have toured the trio within the last year and all the buildings have been gutted down to the "bones", which appeared sound.  I think the best use for the buildings would be some combination of restaurant/boutique hotel/retail but therein lies the real problem for investors.  Not enough available parking.  It's more the cost of constructing yet another garage that makes the project financially unappealing than the rehab.  Unfortunately the existing garages nearby do not have enough vacant space.

These are about the coolest buildings I have toured in Jacksonville.  A lot of the architectural detail inside the bank building has been lost but much of it remains.  The bank vault in the huge basement the bank building and the Florida Life building share is pretty neat.  Hopefully someone smarter than me can figure out a way to make something work.

[vicupstate]

^^ 
Regarding the parking, wouldn't a NEW building have the same issue?  A parking garage next to a new building, doesn't cost any more than the same garage next to an old one. 

Is the difference that a new building could be larger, and thus could spread the cost of the garage over more rentable square footage?

This building can be restored, but it may require a public investment to justify what market economics can't.  Personally, I'd rather spend $2mm of public money to give to an investor to make this deal work, than spend it on a surburban-style Seafood restaurant in LaVilla that was doomed from the start.

The thing is, given the current economy, even if the plan made sense on paper, the banks likely won't lend the money.  That may change eventually, but will the buildings continue to deteriorate?  Are they in 'stop-loss' condition currently?  I seriously doubt it.       

[thelakelander]

Other than the Marble Bank, they are not properly enclosed to slow down the rate of deterioration.

[choosing2disappear]

the skinny klutho was used in 2001-02 in a military exercise involving soldiers repelling off a helicopter and kicking in windows during their "maneuver". (the Rhodes building and the Roosevelt also had synchronized assaults).


how do i attach a photo to a post??

[Wacca Pilatka]

The original cornispeices were glazed terracotta, of the type that adorn the St. James Building.  I cant imagine that it would be any more expensive than demolition and starting over from scratch again.

Nor any more difficult.

And even without the cornice, which is a terrible loss, there is plenty of fantastic detail in the facade, especially around the main entrance.