Ripe for Restoration
Strict Standards Wanted Prior to any Demolition
Make it Happen for Mr Foster
Section 106 Review Stories
Springfield slows down but could be coming back — yet again Photos
March 31st 2012 – Washington Post / AP News Wire
Springfield Preservationist: City Municipal Code Restricts Owners
Historic Structures to be Mothballed in Jacksonville
Jacksonville’s City Council approved “mothballing” legislation Tuesday that lets property owners temporarily preserve decaying buildings at risk of being bulldozed in historic districts.
The bill (2011-408) allows owners to apply for a three-year reprieve from city code-enforcement efforts if they make a building structurally stable and watertight, then make the building’s exterior presentable and keep up the yard around it.
Historic preservationists told the council that too many buildings were being torn down because owners couldn’t afford a complete restoration and couldn’t find people to buy their property.
“This is very important to my constituents,” sad Councilman Johnny Gaffney, whose district includes Springfield. He said the measure is a practical way to handle buildings that could otherwise decay further.
“Mothballing” of crumbling houses could save Jacksonville homeowners
Preservation SOS: Organization Rehabs Home For Springfield Man
Neighborhood Places Their Hears on Patterson Apartments
Historic preservation awards Thursday at Jacksonville Main Library
Good News: Volunteers join forces to preserve Springfield homes
Springfield residents have been working together to beautify the Jacksonville neighborhood one house at a time.The volunteers for “Make It Happen Days” include an animal group, a preservation group, a garden club and neighborhood residents. In addition, residents’ friends see what’s happening and come over to volunteer their time.
It is fitting that my first blog should be about an amazing weekend. One of Springfield’s many good neighbors, Nicole Lopez, discovered that one of our residents had been getting notices from the city about the maintenance of her home.
Nicole decided to do something about it. Using word of mouth and social media, she got the word out and planned the first Make It Happen Day in Springfield.
So last Saturday morning more than 50 neighbors turned out for our own version of Extreme Makeover. The home had to be scraped, then primed, and then painted (and trimmed out).
Preservation SOS 