1634 Ionia - owner requested demolition

[JaxUnicorn]

Springfield is once again having to fight for one of our historic structures.  But this time it is not the City of Jacksonville from whom we must save the house, but from the owner himself. 

Mr. Anthony B. Miles purchased the property at 1634 Ionia for $8,000 at a tax deed sale on April 29, 2015 with the intent of demolishing it!  Now, this old gal is not pretty as she sustained some damage in a 2010 fire, but unlike the home that was also damaged immediately to this one's south (the City took that one down), this home was not damaged enough to warrant destruction, and still does not warrant destruction.

HPC staff is unfortunately recommending APPROVAL and this is a shame.  This structure does NOT need to come down.  She is solid!  Remove the rear addition and restore her to her original glory.  If you are unable to attend the HPC meeting this Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at 3:00pm in the Ed Ball Building, please send an email to Joel McEachin <mceachin@coj.net> expressing your concern over this demolition.  The entire HPC packet for this property can be found on Preservation SOS' forum (http://forum.preservationsos.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=119&p=17680#p17680).

[Debbie Thompson]

I call BS.  This house is solid.  It's been like that since the 2010 fire, which was mainly in the rear addition, which can be removed. It needs rehab, but it's not going to collapse.

[sheclown]

from 1985

[sheclown]

PSOS has experience with handing off structures that have suffered from fire damage.  These examples are from nearby and one is currently lived in and the other nearing completion:

436 Walnut Court








http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=15453.0

This Place Matters.

[sheclown]

1536 Clark Street:











Not so scary any more.

[JaxUnicorn]

I've attached some side by side before and after pics of 436 Walnut Court that was restored after a nasty fire.

Exterior before and after



More exterior before



Interior front room before/after



Interior middle room before/after

[mbwright]

Where is his new home that is being built?  How do you have your children playing outside of your new home when I can't find it? Nothing found on the property appraisers db under his name.  I would thing that he's just trying to clear this lot, and then redevelop or flip.  Hard to find any sincerity in this sky is falling letter based on false fear.  Sounds like  a false emergency.  Not too much found on Anthony Miles and AnMar development, partner with Maryam  Amaker.  They seem to have done some redevelopment in Philly.

Google maps from May 2015 doesn't show much, other than a similar condition house at 1638.

[JaxUnicorn]

The property being built is located at 432 E 7th Street.  Permit pulled in September 2014 and the house is nowhere close to being finished.  It is also across the alley from the subject property, so he will not be able to "connect" that land to his.

[NaldoAveKnight]

Maybe there's a silver lining here. 

1.)  The owner wants to put up a sweet house on that location that matches the character of the area and wants a city sanctioned tear down.
2.)  Maybe the layout of the house prevents central air conditioning.  Therefore, any rehab work would kinda defeat the purpose of restoration as it most likely would turn into a cheap rental again with window a/c units.  Good neighborhoods aren't built off of cheap rentals.
3.)  The neighboring landowners are getting jammed right now by having a derelict property next door.  I bet if we knock on the doors of the neighbors and ask what they think of the property it would be pretty clear on how to proceed. 

How to avoid the teardown?

1.)  Purchase the property by offering the owners more money than they paid for it.  They make a profit, the ultimate motive for purchasing a speculative investment, and the new owner can lovingly restore the property to prior glory.
2.)  Start a crowdfunding effort to purchase and restore the home.
3.)  Hold picket signs outside the property that read, "Save the slums!"

Options 1 and 2 make the most sense.  Option 3 would just get you on national news as another wild Florida news story.  Any models out there looking to get noticed?  Option 3 is for you baby! 

[JaxUnicorn]

The owner submitted a letter saying he has no plans for the lot once the historic home is demolished.  There is another option - donate it to Preservation SOS and we will do whatever we can to find it a forever home.  Demolition is simply not an option.  This block of Ionia has been riddled with demolition and this one is not in any danger of collapse.  It is perfect for mothballing.

[acme54321]

Maybe there's a silver lining here. 

1.)  The owner wants to put up a sweet house on that location that matches the character of the area and wants a city sanctioned tear down.
2.)  Maybe the layout of the house prevents central air conditioning.  Therefore, any rehab work would kinda defeat the purpose of restoration as it most likely would turn into a cheap rental again with window a/c units.  Good neighborhoods aren't built off of cheap rentals.
3.)  The neighboring landowners are getting jammed right now by having a derelict property next door.  I bet if we knock on the doors of the neighbors and ask what they think of the property it would be pretty clear on how to proceed. 

Did you read the original post?

[mbwright]

No wonder I could not find the property,  432 E 7th is owned by TWO I S LLC

[AngryChicken]

It's an ugly burned out piece of shit. I vote knock it down.

Ionia st. is a bombed out third world hell-hole of a street that is more pothole than road.

We're better off with an empty lot.

[sheclown]

The COA was deferred.



 The commissioners want the owner to have a more specific engineers report.  The one they have says the house is beyond repair.  Jennifer Mansfield so beautifully stated "If it is beyond repair, how is it that you have an estimate for $225k to fix it?"

[sheclown]

Steve Heykens, resident of Springfiled amd general.contractor, spoke at last nights HPC meeting about the burned out house he recently saved