by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission has its eye on seven Downtown properties for potential landmark status. That’s good and bad news for the City, which owns several of the properties.
It’s good news, because a landmarked property is eligible for state and federal grants and tax breaks for help with redevelopment. It’s bad news because landmark status dictates what owners can — and can’t — do with those properties.
The JHPC has tabbed the City-owned old Federal Courthouse and post office and the Haverty’s Building, both on West Duval Street, and a pair of fire stations as properties deserving of landmark consideration.
JHPC Chairman Buck Pittman emphasized that the properties are only being considered for the designation. The commission hasn’t even formally recommended that the properties be evaluated as possible landmarks, although Pittman said that could happen at the commission’s April meeting.
Once the recommendation has been made, developers are barred from razing the buildings or making significant changes until the properties’ status is settled. Pittman said the City’s buildings, along with the Guaranty Trust & Savings Bank building on Bay Street, the Mount Mariah A.M.E Church on Oak Street and the Seminole Club on North Hogan Street, are worthy of consideration due to their historic and architectural significance and their uncertain status.
Many of the buildings have new owners or are for sale. The JHPC wants appropriate buildings landmarked before new owners decide to tear them down.
Landmarked buildings are eligible for state and federal incentives aimed at encouraging historic redevelopment, but some developers regard the label as a hindrance.
Developer Lynn Fournier had to get City Council approval for her demolition plans for the landmarked Annie Lytle School building in the Brooklyn area just north of the Fuller Warren expressway. Fournier’s demolition plans were denied by the JHPC even though the building was condemned by the City. Fournier said it was too expensive to redevelop the building in keeping with historic guidelines.
It’s unclear how a landmark designation would affect the City’s plans for the Federal Courthouse and the Haverty’s Building. The former courthouse is part of the City’s plans for a criminal courthouse complex. The City wants to renovate the Haverty’s Building to house government offices. The designs for both are still in the planning stage.
The development guidelines that accompany a landmark designation typically focus on a building’s exterior, although significant interior architecture is also protected.
Pittman said he wants to be proactive in identifying buildings that should be landmarked. He wants to avoid what happened in LaVilla, he said.
“That entire neighborhood was basically torn down,” said Pittman.
He expects the City will receive his efforts with mixed feelings.
“They will probably look at it as somewhat limiting, but they might also like that the buildings become eligible for increased federal assistance with the redevelopment,” he said.
But one of the private owners of the properties on the JHPC’s list said plainly that the landmark label wasn’t wanted or necessary. Jim Bailey, the owner of Bailey Publishing and part owner of the Seminole Club, said the building was gutted and renovated more than 20 years ago.
“Some historical events have happened at the Seminole Club over the years — Teddy Roosevelt did speak on the steps one time,” said Bailey, “but from a historical preservation standpoint, I’m not sure the building warrants that status.”