City Files Foreclosure Suit on Bostwick Building

[Noone]

Who were the recipients of 2013-377? Then why the legislation?

[strider]

Who were the recipients of 2013-377? Then why the legislation?

That was the bill that basically, As I understand it, "moved" money from one special fund to make it a more general fund and to set it as the funding source for certain abatement activities by MCC.  The funding comes from nuisance liens, demolitions and such being repaid.  What we need to look at is the fact that if any of the original funding for the abatement activity was from federal sources, once it is repaid, it needs to go back to the federal source rather become part of the city general fund. That particular bill had nothing to do with the Bostwich except perhaps if the property is foreclosed upon then sold, the repayment of any actual nuisance liens would be put into the account that this bill addressed. The rolling fines, if ever really paid, would go elsewhere I believe.

[sheclown]

Bill Type and Number:   Ordinance 2013-377

Sponsor: Council President at the request of the Mayor:

Date of Introduction: June 11, 2013

Committee(s) of Reference: PHS; F; RCD

Date of Analysis: June 14, 2013

Type of Action: Appropriation

Bill Summary: The ordinance appropriates, pursuant to Ordinance 2007-286-E, $539,244.81 ($377,243.19 from Nuisance Abatement Liens, $63,940.39 from Interest Sanitary Assessment, $23,528.86 from Demolition Assessment, and $74,532.37 from Code Violation Fines) to the Nuisance Abatement Lien special Revenue Fund to provide funding for nuisance abatement contracting to remove property code violations city-wide in compliance with Chapter 518, Ordinance Code, as initiated by B.T. 13-071; provides for carryover of funds to Fiscal Year 2013-2014.

Background Information: The City of Jacksonville encourages property owners to correct outstanding code violations.  Some owners fail to ensure compliance, often due to neglect.  Common privately-owned property safety and maintenance code violations include nuisance overgrowth, accumulation of garbage, trash, rubbish and/or debris; failure to maintain residential and commercial minimum building standards; unsafe structures which require condemnation, and abandoned/junk vehicles.   The purpose of the appropriation in this ordinance is to provide funding for nuisance abatement contracting to remove property code violations city-wide.  The Nuisance Abatement Lien Special Revenue Fund, which previously supplemented general revenue funding for nuisance abatement contractual services, now serves as the primary funding source to support contractual services.

Policy Impact: Neighborhood Department/Municipal Code Compliance Division

Fiscal Impact: The ordinance appropriates $539,244.81.

Analyst: Jackson

[sheclown]

This brings up very interesting questions.  Thanks Noone

[Noone]

Thank you sheclown for all that you do. On another side note 2013-673 was withdrawn. it was to persue grants related to Brownfield property. Is this the new game? Park View? Isn't that tied up in some contamination law suit now being initiated by the city?

City takes over Bostwick property. What becomes of pending lawsuit?
Environmental Ethics- Vince Seibold

[sheclown]

Apparently the pending law suit will be withdrawn if the property gets renovated. That is really all the neighboring property wants

[Tacachale]

^That's good to hear. Hopefully they'll come to a compromise, as it's unlikely the city will be able to undertake the restoration if they get it, but clearly they want to get it to someone who will.

[JaxUnicorn]

This hearing has been re-scheduled for this Friday, March 7, 2014 at 10:30.  The document did not state what room, so I'm assuming it's the same as the previously scheduled hearing, Room 705.  Should be interesting as this is the FIRST TIME in the history of Jacksonville's Code Enforcement 'rolling fines' a foreclosure action has been started.

[IrvAdams]

So if the city takes ownership do they perform any maintenance or mothballing to prevent further deterioration? The place has immediate needs, doesn't it?

[thelakelander]

Court rules in favor of City in Bostwick Building foreclosure

full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=542414

[IrvAdams]

That sounds like a good move. So I assume now that the rolling files will stop (the City will not fine itself) and the property will be put up for sale (or auction)? It would be so nice to see something positive happen to this beautiful structure. It sits on what is currently the primo location on Bay St.

[Tacachale]

^The foreclosure is based on the fines. The building will be ordered sold and that will be the payment of the fines (plus whatever legal fees are decided on). If the next owner just gets it up to code there won't be any more fines.

[strider]

Yes, while everyone is excited that this is happening because we were told the city did not want to foreclose unless there is a buyer waiting in the wings, it is unfortunate that the owners did not get a deal worked out on their own.  The rolling fines hurt much more than they ever help and having MCCD and Mr Teal being able to cite the Bostwich as a reason rolling fines "work" is very unfortunate.

Even then, once this is done, the city becomes the owner and that has worked out so well for other buildings like the one at 9th and Main.  We must hope that the city does the right thing here, but to be honest, I'm not holding my breath.

[MusicMan]

Has it really worked out well for the building at Ninth and Main? I hope you are being sarcastic. There is currently a little yellow paper on Ninth and Main, citing the owner for not keeping the brush trimmed. Too funny.

[strider]

Has it really worked out well for the building at Ninth and Main? I hope you are being sarcastic. There is currently a little yellow paper on Ninth and Main, citing the owner for not keeping the brush trimmed. Too funny.

Yep, I was...