Inside the Drew Mansion

[catcamp1644]

I can't read it Gloria. The print is too small.

[Gloria]

There have been rolling fines placed on this home since early 2010 of $250 per day. There is a mortgage on it of approx $150k and it is still in the owner's name but heading to foreclosure. She is in a nursing home and her legal-aide lawyer is our only contact.

How badly does the community want to save this structure?

At this point, the only way to keep it is to mothball it. Too many legal issues need to be resolved. Once the bank owns it, it will be gone.

Does the neighborhood want to save this badly enough to volunteer to mothball it for her? Pay for materials and donate labor? It is too large a task for PSOS to handle by itself at this point b/c of our other projects. This would require total community support.

If we can agree, as a community, to do this, we could take this to her lawyer and see what the lawyer says.

Thoughts?

[Gloria]

If you can't zoom, it came out easier to read on MJ:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/ ... icseen#new

[catcamp1644]

What would it take to do that, exactly?

[fsu813]

What would it take to do that, exactly?

During a Neighborhood Clean Up a few months ago, several windows were boarded. Since then, transients have opened at least 2 new windows.

From what i've seen, it would just take plywood (count the bottom windows), a ladder, wood & cement screws, and a drill. Gloria, what would you estimate the cost for plywood?

Also, somewhat related, the red brick apartment at 136 Phelps Street next to the Scottish Rite building had it's plywood broken into through the front door. Looks like people have been camping in there now. There's also a window open. Both are new. I called it in and will follow up.

[Gloria]

1/2 inch plywood 4 x 8 sheet at Carolina is $17. It usuallly takes a full sheet per window

If we are serious, we could meet with Lisa Sheppard at the property to find out what hpc would require to grant it mothballing status.

Of course this requires the owners approval. We could definitely act as the owners agent for this

[Gloria]

We would want to pull a building permit to make some. Minor repairs. My time is freely donated but the permit could be 100 say a couple hundred for materials. A couple hundred for battery powered security lighting. Trash bags I'd adds up but not outrageously

[catcamp1644]

This one is NOT on the formal track, right?

[iloveionia]

NOT on formal track.
Still be wary.
Code is not to be trusted and is not a friend of historic districts.
Note the letter said "abatement process"

[jbm32206]

the first thing to be done is get the owners permission