Ruins of Jacksonville: The Ambassador Hotel

[Dog Walker]

If you look at the cost of building a new building of the same size, in the same place, a bill of 8-10 million is cheap!

The greenest building of all is one you don't have to build from scratch.  It is also the least expensive.

[Paradox]

Okay y'all, so Lakelander, Stephendare, and I, didn't sneak in here and do this photo shoot, so I have to know, did any of the elevators have the classic folding gates on them? Are the cars still in the shafts? BTW, does ANYBODY know of a building left downtown with the classic elevators, polished brass folding gates, etc?
We used to have so many, they would sometimes have a seat for the operators... Yeah, PAID motormen and women, that would take you to your floor, help with a bag, the child, hold the car if you called... good old days.
OCKLAWAHA

Here is my flickr link with all the photos of this in it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/43379180@N04/sets/72157622544797826/ There is not that type of elevator in this place but yes I have pictures of the elevator cars from below and one with a broken door so you could look inside. Unfortunately I can't afford a premium flickr so as I upload more pictures the old ones get removed by them

I hope it is a diamond in the rough and hope it can be renovated, however, judging from those pics more work needs to be done than meets the eye, and, the deterioration inside much more than I thought; looks like this will be much more than an 8 or 12 million dollar renovation/rehab/reconstruction job. The Owner or whomever will have their work cut out for them.
Great, classic photos Paradox...well done!  Question though...how the hell did you get in?  Did you break in?
Heights Unknown

Nope I did not break in. I don't think it would cost that much to rehab... they already included the costs of a complete stripping of the interior in the plans so none of that matters. The concrete and brick shell is solid and that is what they need.

[heights unknown]

Thanks Paradox.  That's good to know; so we may have a new development of some sort there in the not too distant future.

Heights Unknown

[sumoo]

I've always wondered about this place.  Thanks.

[GENTRY]

Up front I must tell you I had the mis-pleasure of checking into the Ambassador Hotel in 1990, then immediately checking out after viewing my room. Back then it wasn't suitable for human inhabitants. This building was condemned for countless reasons and absolutely needs to be demolished. It cannot be renovated enough to be a safe structure for modern living. Not to mention the current codes that could never be met considering it's antiquated infrastructure. What may be next for this parcel of land should be decided between the city and any interested parties. But one thing's for sure. This building needs to go. It's not a historical building but in the minds of old men holding onto the past.

[thelakelander]

Are you serious?  The Carling was in worse shape than the Ambassador and look at it now.  I also had the pleasure of seeing two history hotels in DT Lakeland that had been long vacant and in worse condition then this building, get renovated in the late 1990s/early 200s.  Also long as its structurally sound, renovation is feasible.  If it were not, the development group working to bring it back would not be spending money to do that.

Lakeland Terrace Hotel

This place used to be a major homeless magnet.  Now its one of the nicest hotels in the city with a nice upscale restaurant at street level.



Regency Hotel

Many thought this one would fall in on itself.  However, its now a nice apartment building.

[Dan B]

Up front I must tell you I had the mis-pleasure of checking into the Ambassador Hotel in 1990, then immediately checking out after viewing my room. Back then it wasn't suitable for human inhabitants. This building was condemned for countless reasons and absolutely needs to be demolished. It cannot be renovated enough to be a safe structure for modern living. Not to mention the current codes that could never be met considering it's antiquated infrastructure. What may be next for this parcel of land should be decided between the city and any interested parties. But one thing's for sure. This building needs to go. It's not a historical building but in the minds of old men holding onto the past.

Thank you for pointing out the mindset of how Jacksonville got to be where it is now.

[Lucasjj]

Lake, Do you have any pictures of the Carling before rennovation?

[JeffreyS]

Am I old I didn't realize.

[heights unknown]

Up front I must tell you I had the mis-pleasure of checking into the Ambassador Hotel in 1990, then immediately checking out after viewing my room. Back then it wasn't suitable for human inhabitants. This building was condemned for countless reasons and absolutely needs to be demolished. It cannot be renovated enough to be a safe structure for modern living. Not to mention the current codes that could never be met considering it's antiquated infrastructure. What may be next for this parcel of land should be decided between the city and any interested parties. But one thing's for sure. This building needs to go. It's not a historical building but in the minds of old men holding onto the past.

Gentry; respect your thoughts and opinions but I disagree.

And thanks Lake for laying out the justification for renovation of this Jax jewel so eloquently and succinctly. I need not say more.

Heights Unknown

[thelakelander]

Lake, Do you have any pictures of the Carling before rennovation?

Not in my personal collection but there are some in the library's special collections department.

[ac]

I would challenge Gentry to cite one example of an historic (or even simply "old") building being razed and replaced with something better and more useful than a vacant lot over the last 15 years (River City Renaissance and BJP eras).

That strategy clearly isn't working any better than leaving the buildings to stand empty.

[GENTRY]

Are you serious?  The Carling was in worse shape than the Ambassador and look at it now.  I also had the pleasure of seeing two history hotels in DT Lakeland that had been long vacant and in worse condition then this building, get renovated in the late 1990s/early 200s.  Also long as its structurally sound, renovation is feasible.  If it were not, the development group working to bring it back would not be spending money to do that.

Lakeland Terrace Hotel

This place used to be a major homeless magnet.  Now its one of the nicest hotels in the city with a nice upscale restaurant at street level.


 
Regency Hotel

Many thought this one would fall in on itself.  However, its now a nice apartment building.

I'm absolutely serious. Lakeland a "major homeless magnet?" Wake up. Posting images from a city who has a downtown a tenth the size of Jacksonville with 90% less crime and homelessness is one thing. Realizing the two cities and the numerous buildings don't compare, that's reality.

Let me tell you the difference between buildings that are in bad condition and buildings that are condemned. Not all buildings in bad shape have been condemned. Hence the Carling, 11 East, etc. They were simply abandoned and or neglected by the owners. I know the people who owned 11 East. They sold it because they couldn't find the proper contractor to renovate it and they didn't want to pay $700,000 in property taxes every year on an empty run down building (not condemned). Such would be the case with the Carling and many other buildings downtown if one was to dig up city files.

On the other hand you have the Ambassador Hotel. Not only did it become rundown, dilapidated, abandoned and unsafe. It is now condemned. The fact that it has not been demolished is only because the city is backlogged in red tape and hasn't determined how to deconstruct or implode it. Just because it's standing doesn't mean it's structurally sound. Despite any rumors of contractors renovating the Ambassador Hotel, it will never happen. It is against the law. Unless the law is circumvented. There are many salvageable buildings downtown but unfortunately this is not one. Sorry.

[GENTRY]

Up front I must tell you I had the mis-pleasure of checking into the Ambassador Hotel in 1990, then immediately checking out after viewing my room. Back then it wasn't suitable for human inhabitants. This building was condemned for countless reasons and absolutely needs to be demolished. It cannot be renovated enough to be a safe structure for modern living. Not to mention the current codes that could never be met considering it's antiquated infrastructure. What may be next for this parcel of land should be decided between the city and any interested parties. But one thing's for sure. This building needs to go. It's not a historical building but in the minds of old men holding onto the past.

Thank you for pointing out the mindset of how Jacksonville got to be where it is now.

Sorry you misinterpreted my observation but the reality is this. A condemned building cannot be renovated. It can be demolished then replaced only.

However. There are many buildings in downtown Jacksonville that are "not" condemned and "are" capable of being renovated. Look at my other explanation and you will catch my drift. It's not my mindset it's reality. I've lived downtown for the last 13 plus years. How about you?

[GENTRY]

Am I old I didn't realize.

Maybe you're not old but have you any knowledge of the current condition of the building? You have to remove the emotion when the reality is that certain buildings cannot be saved.