The most notable of four structures saved from demolition during the “River City Renaissance” in LaVilla is again being considered for redevelopment.
This time, there’s a proposal to transform Genovar’s Hall, a historic former nightclub during the 1940s, and three “shotgun” houses, into workforce housing.
City Council members Bill Gulliford and Warren Jones met Tuesday with representatives from the Downtown Investment Authority, the city Housing and Community Development Division and a developer who specializes in converting distressed residential properties into sustainable housing to begin discussion of the project.
“Genovar’s Hall has been an eyesore and a blight on the community for decades,” said Jones.
The two-story, 8,000-square-foot hall was built in 1895. One of the few structures that survived the Great Fire of 1901, it was at one time an entertainment venue where Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Billie Holiday performed. It is described in one historical account from the era as “across the street from Jacksonville’s finest brothel.”
After being preserved from demolition and then sitting idle for years, Jones in 1998 sponsored legislation that transferred Genovar’s Hall to the NU Beta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. The members planned to raise money to restore the building to its former glory, including a museum and office space.
The group was unable to secure funds beyond a $1 million state historic preservation grant. The bottom floor was gutted and the structure stabilized. But that’s where the money – and the project – stopped and the city subsequently took back ownership of the property.
Colin Bingham, CEO of Community Development Coalition Corp., said Genovar’s Hall and the shotgun houses could be renovated to become six apartments or condominiums and three single-family homes.
Ample parking space is available on the property and there also is an area of the block that could become a park or playground. He envisions a security fence with gated access around the entire block to enclose the hall and the houses.
The coalition is a nonprofit that specializes in renovating distressed properties and converting them into affordable, sustainable housing.
Bingham said this would be a good time to take on Genovar’s Hall, since the organization is closing out 17 projects. The corporation’s flagship project is its office at 1501 N. Main St., a former commercial building converted into office space for Bingham’s business and Neighborhood Champions Inc., the Melbourne-based company that administers the city’s Vacant Property Registry.
Bingham said if the city would donate the LaVilla property, his organization likely could secure private funding for the project and get the properties on the market directly to homebuyers or in lease-to-own arrangements.
Jones said it’s the first time residential use has been considered for the structures.
“I think it’s a huge opportunity,” said Elaine Spencer, chief of Housing and Community Development.
Bingham has not inspected the interiors of the structures, but is confident Genovar’s Hall and the three houses could be renovated at a cost of about $130,000 per unit. He estimated the four-building project could be completed within six months after work began.
Gulliford would support a program to convert older buildings in the city’s inventory into housing priced to appeal to working people and families.
“We’ve got to substantially increase the amount of affordable housing Downtown,” he said. “Development would spark more interest.”
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