Demolition By Neglect Task Force Next Steps

Demolition By Neglect Task Force Next Steps — Jan 7, 2026

>> Good afternoon, everyone and low to it after. >> Good afternoon, everyone. >> It I think it was. >> A key border with law of the year here on CNN. I'm here to talk a little bit about kind of the demolition. I'm at LAX fast forward to last year. And we're going to be able to see it here and we have every game. And then all of a sudden I did sort of getting around for a lot of talking a lot of our favorite said. And it was a historical center about the executing. The plan is to be our taking properties are soon to be beautiful and harder than it was finalized and saving and restoring them. And so I want everyone to that on which cities are needed and it kind of years as we get into this thing, we're going to serve years in the U.S.. >> Seasonally clean environment. >> There's a swell spent part of the car, the it was sent. >> And I would listen to the actual intrusion or >> one off with these sort of a concussion. And that's where the? >> No, I'd like to ask. >> It's going to be another one where he goes a little bit. And so, you know, you got. >> And is our leader and the administration here. >> Us and we have a candid manner when you sleep on cots. Alright, so so I want to see a need. They're actually there and we're going to do what you want. And and we also just one of the finest grasses and that sidewalk. >> Thank you. So, you know, whether this task force, Sarah, a? >> Is it for him, including the U.S. is a a a process. And we found traces of the passenger side. It's just a few things here and she's. >> She uses the word closure by cities to prevent or deterred by the glass is the thing that we should actually use year with her is that are all of that. >> This is that every house. >> That's what it does for the other guy. But yeah, just arrived back to the formation of the new to the city department says crews are out of our lives of those. >> Good. So it is with the virus. We talked with a to turn a profit to threaten my to do list and the marketing agent. One other issue that arose mental capabilities such as it leaves the store is they're all they need to be inadequate to address it in one of the list. This is a lovely elsewhere. So we did find a significant portion of the virus that we're legit. It's wrong to just being paid. It was a deterrent for the most are not going to believe us. It is on the mind of the likes of the president's unanimously. It is. It is not a major decision. So it says a lot of undecideds trying to dress and the last time I'm here to target police or didn't want to focus a little bit because it's or districts currently include resign. 2nd quarter, Sri Lanka. >> And in the U.S. of a letter to finaid and a major things that are >> or as rose. >> And just jump in. I mean, that S that is the work of the task force. But only because, yeah, we think we have a lot of the problems is that early on in the longest-serving member has a lot of it is going to ring. There's not lines and Wiens and fines. >> To, you know, pay for a small army, but no one's paying them. They're just sitting there. Meanwhile, they fall apart and then once they fall apart, now there's a there's a new lot that that something can build something new on. And that's and so the intent of what these are decisions to be about. So so the goal of this is to try to find a path that would make sure that we're able to to make sure these properties have a new lease on life. And I'm sorry, Mr. Swan, a jump in. Go ahead. That's pretty much it in terms of the deal on bills or anything you want to kind of jump in with on that. >> Thank you. So there were also a long list of potential recommendations to follow through on that would to address these. >> Various issues. >> But we >> settle on a list of 5 different priority recommendations. So the first was creating and maintaining a list of historic properties with fines or leans on them that are of a related to neglect. The other was to create some kind of the objective right to help determine when a neglected property was actually at the point that it could be in danger of a demolition by neglect. So we thought that could be in some form of ace of base scored. They tricks. The 3rd recommend nation was more or less the meeting to discuss the of properties and what the for them. The 4th was that the city itself would exercise their authority to 4 clothes on certain properties. The city has Ben has stunt to do that. And unfortunately, because many property donors do not respond to a to a financial of penalty. The for the threat of possible for closure can be highly motivating to to these property donors. And then the last was that the city would partner with a non 2 potentially receive some of these properties because the city it's self does not want to take donors ship a model that has worked well in other Varias. It's for the city to partner with a non profit to do that. So just wanted to make sure that everyone is on the same page. There's many, many more conditions as well. These these were the priorities. >> So so what I'm what I'm trying to make sure the city does. And I mean, look, we we had a major victory in the past month in Springfield, the Drew Cottage drew buildings, calling it the Dream mansion, I think. But but the rebuilding in Springfield was was a property that really wasn't risk of falling apart. And obviously it's kind of get with the Springfield neighborhood. Obviously, it's right in the middle of the historic district. So we want to make sure that we protect that building. We were able to visit of means fines on the city was able to do some great work. Thank you, Carly. And we made sure that that now the property when from removal from a donor that can do the work to now sparking a charge of it. And right now they're in the in the very beginning early stages of restoration. So so kind of looking at something like that. Obviously, the expectation is not going to give it to spar. We're going to get to wrap and make sure, you know, we don't want to burden them with some massive their properties like that, but maybe a home or 2 to start a single-family home that that that's you could could get done and restored within within a year or two's time and not not be super overly burdensome. If the city could be a part of the process to take those properties away, if we're seeing no a major movement on these these liens or fines and be able to wipe those lanes and fines and hand it over to him, the nonprofit can do the work, which is why on plus is here. And Allen, I don't know if if you kind of had a few thoughts on that as well. I think you and I talked about other counties and other municipalities that might have done stuff like this, you know, Saint Pete, Tampa, that kind of thing. This is there anything like that that other people other entities do throughout the state of Florida? Maybe we could take a page from? >> No 2 cities are exactly alike on this. And Jacksonville is particularly distinctive because of the sheer scope and scale and size. And because it has pockets of historic development that all have different characteristics. They kind of enter this phase of being historic at different points because their age difference. But I think the Jacksonville is a place that's appropriate to try to develop and deploy a model that's particularly approach is particularly suited to this city. I'd like to echo what councilmember pollution said, by the way, about the work of the Historic Preservation Commission and its special task force on demolition by neglect. This is on the glamorous work. It is frankly, a gritty and and full of detail and time consuming and Bill Hoff and his committee war, stoic and patient and determined. And I really admire the work they did. This is something that I mean, this has been a long time incubating and and delivering the report is really kind of the beginning. Anyway, my hats off. I really salute them for this for recognizing a problem that in its broad scope speaks to the economic development all over Jacksonville, historic preservation, his economic development and the neglect of properties. And they're deterioration represents the the degradation property values. It's a negative influence on the quality of life. And if allowed to unfold long enough, it starts to involved questions of public safety. So this is about a lot more than just sort of a sentiment in favor of preserving old buildings. There are 2 different dimensions to historic preservation. One is just a straightforward presentation of something because it's old and has historic significance and there's an appetite to save it. Then there is an advocacy for adaptive reuse of historic buildings. And the predicate of that is that there is an economically sustainable purpose to convert a historic building, too. We tend to advocate with my organization, the Jacksonville History Center for both. But we emphasize adaptive reuse. How come because it makes more economically sustainable model and it's more it's more realistic to be able to attract and command the necessary capital resources to do it right. And man, oh, man, to say that historic preservation requires capital resources is probably one of the understatement of the century. It takes a lot of money. >> So one of the for one thing for for those statements, I'm so grateful this work was done because you're right. It's very unsexy work. And and my my concern, I think like things that we've seen in the city is great work was done, report was submitted and then it just sits on the shelf. So so, you know, with my 5 year in some change left in office, I want to make sure that we're that we're doing something productive when it comes to the board that was done. And I summers, the administration are here and actually says Kim and something just reminded me, I have we determined, especially if the sale of the armory is done for the dollars from that sale. Go just go right to the general fund as work like that and brought up. And I really just don't know. I'm curious. >> But he struck a crowd. I'm nervous that my I think my hands off name and address for the record, the city. >> For the college is not so much. Is it like so? >> I think that purpose there. There is a hey, there's a thought process for those dollars that I think would benefit multiple districts across the city. Understood. So there's no there's no plan. And I went to the Dodgers. Want to hear that? That would be a misinterpretation, OK? I understood. I mean, one of the things. And >> first off, you know what? One of the recommendations I was on here or or thoughts is having the community land trust, take some of these properties, which I I I don't think that's a great decision from the perspective of the Persian. The land trust is not it's not yet ready to take on more properties that are already has because a bunch and I don't want to I think it's only develop a lot of so I want to hand it off to folks like that. So it's why kind of spoke to Allen about what maybe what could be done, you know, got some community benefit dollars, but it has to be used only in district 7, which is my understanding so has to be used within my district are in district 7 only which admittedly has the majority of the historic districts, right? So there's kind of some benefit but behind that, but had have there been something with with the Armory and maybe on the Trump administration about that to sprinkle a few dollars into as possible program where we can partner with the Historical Center Historic Centre History Center. >> Write History Center History Center and her sister center. Is that, you know, is that something that if there could be a match, if there are city dollars and then there were private dollars and then? >> You know, we could we could also to property or 2 over to you guys what that means and the fines and then have you guys we develop that property and sell it and whatever dollars generated from that goes back in a revolving loan fund. >> So given some thought to this and it's for its 100% mission appropriate, what we do for a couple reasons. We advocate for this, we maintain cure rate and renew every year, a list of buildings that are particularly sensitive to this. Our mission, our service area is all of Jacksonville, all of Duval County. So it crosses the boundaries of the various neighborhoods. It's in our space. It probably is most did not have an explore this with counsel yet with legal counsel yet, but it's probably going to be appropriate to create a separate corporate identity just so that there can be some sort of liability firewall. At some point, the title of property is going to change unrest in the custody and stewardship of this nonprofit entity. There will have to be some professional gate keeping an screening of the candidate properties. There'll have to be some professional administration of the funds. And then there's going to have some stake if there's going to be public money and depending on the source of the other money foundation gift and that sort of thing, there's going to have to have to be some reporting and accounting. In other words, in order to do this right, can inspire public confidence, Senate and attract sufficient capital and really do it effectively and make a difference. It has to be a professional operation. So we're prepared to address that can come up with a model for and frankly, we're understaffed to execute that the way we're constituted right now. I'm trying to hire a professional collections manager and we have other. We have other needs. But as I say, this is 100% in our wheelhouse and mission appropriate. So we have an appetite to be at the table and try to come up with a executed strategy. >> 1, 1, of the things that I've been, you know, looking at looking at the the problem we have in front of us, it would mainly be single-family homes, right? I'm like I don't want us to do some some, you know, enormous commercial property or whatever else like it needs to be unattainable goal, I think and one where we could, you know, do work on a home and then sell it. And then the moneys that come in can go on to doing another 2 homes. >> Well, that brings up a question. Do you see this as a K a housing initiative as well as historic preservation question? Absolutely. It is to cut to the point you made earlier about historic preservation is economic development. There's a role here where this is also providing housing, let standard pretty much closes the door on anything that amounts to preservation. Just for the sake of this of preservation. I hit it real. And it really it adds another layer to the economic development to mention if we're going to put we're going to put housing into the equation, then not saying there's anything wrong with that. It certainly helps address a number of needs and it may make this Bor sustainable in terms of attracting capital. It does tend to beat her opportunities to preserve property for which there's no very obvious housing play in sight as economic news. >> I mean, but commercial buildings, for example, churches we well, right now we have the rehab grant that could help commercial. >> Properties and churches that are local in nature is like the grant program exists. I understand there's probably more funding. I I I certainly would disagree with that, but that that already exist in the rehab Graham model. But as we have grant dollars cannot go to housing. So as we look at some of these, these homes are falling apart to be able to fix them and then be able to create a revolving fund using the sale, those properties, the means to do so really kind of make sure that this whatever new entity or corporation get stood up, that it could have a sustainable, a revenue stream in order to keep it going. And that to me kind of made, you know, so basically a city of some seed money for some gets old, hopefully can bring in an extra 80 or 100 K and they keep that county. >> I think that's the the the existing community land trust a model that you're referring to, right. In other words, state the gateway for properties that are candidates for that fund are not necessarily historic, but they do appear to offer a pathway to safe secure. >> It's my it's my understanding most of clt work is to try to build new homes, to build new new constructions like that. And their mission is so much larger and theirs is solely and only for affordable housing. This would be to restore homes and to put them back on the market in order to make sure that we have and for one homes not being demolished based on demolition by neglect, but also allows for these neighborhoods kind of get the revitalization that we continuing to pursue over the past 40 years. >> One of the deterrence to historic preservation, as I've said, is capital and sense of his sense. A project of historic preservation tends to consume a lot of capital. The resulting project once the renovation restoration is finished, tends to make it a difficult proposition for somebody to say I'm going to make this into let's not even focus on affordable housing. Let's just say, make this into housing that some family or or owner can justify putting into service for housing even if it's just free market rent. The reason why most developers build new instead of preserving old is because it's cheaper. Sure. So if you store it preservation is the principal objective for let's just say it's one of the 2 objectives, the other being housing at some point, a project of preserving a house single-family home that has some kind of historic significance. Number one, it's at least 50 years old or older, right? Number 2, it passes at least some of the criteria that the historic preservation planning section applies to these. If that's the gateway, if that's the path for a property to get into this, then at some point, once we put back into service as an economically viable housing has said there's going to have to be a right off of some of the capital one into an otherwise the cost runner sell it is going to exceed the market value. I'm not saying this isn't possible. I'm just sort of outlining, you know what the what the fundamental economic >> considerations are going to be here. So as I you know, try to piece together what what this might even look like. I would envision that the HPC kind of give a suggestion of one or 2 or 3 properties based the market conditions with the the likely cost of rehabilitating on. Obviously they would work with whatever the corporation isn't that something that we want to pursue like we wouldn't go forward and go for that. Drew mentioned a one night to college. We wouldn't go for that Drew Property Day one. We would find, you know, properties that are little bit more easy to to to redeveloping a nice one story. Perhaps some nice bungalow, some something easier to fix. That won't be a 2 million dollar tax. Hopefully 354,500 1000 and then sell it for around that same price. But like this revolving fund, I don't think would be like flush with cash all the time. It's it's clearly going to be a moving target in terms of where the market is and what can sell for. But I just think that the purpose of rehabilitation and preservation to do something is better than to do nothing right now. >> Just if I may so remaining his stark. >> It is relatively expensive compared to renovating a property. That's him. That is not. >> However, I can definitely confirm that there are his stark renovations going on and they do sell for more than the capital that was put in to them. And the owners are making a profit. Otherwise they would not do them so it can be done. I think that selection of the properties would be very him in. If I recall, I believe another municipality out of state that has kind of the same model does take into consideration the viability of resale after this kind of action. So there are renovations being done now. They do make bunny and the viability of the sets sail after the division. I think the you know, could be a key, a crate. >> I mean, if they win a spot to plenty of and telling us what we are prospective has been on. If you didn't start, we have before us the Oir gen up to the podium. I mean, you showed up. And so I figured I'd I I 3 up here. You can just kind of tell us like what for one name name address for the record. You say my filed but are under some record. >> Chandler here at also also the properties, the renovated a few homes throughout the very center of the district over the years. Also the new home construction. We do a little bit. Yeah, I mean, I a lot of questions for right now. I'm still confused as to some of the public Silver says that all that in regards to identify properties and the historic district. I mean, does it also they you are selling for I know the of it. I'm just trying to connect the dots on one of the unifying the properties to certify the city requires. It's like a developer. Would this be something that we would take on help? But but, you know, in the end, once we have done it in ways to go there to be. And so we sell it was the money goes to our hearts seeing pockets. So the question? >> Well, I want to see what you know with the cost to rehab. Some of these properties has been like for for someone who knows a probably better than most. Like, is it as most people, you know, losing their shirts on some of these rehabs? Are they able to kind of make money back? Is the assumption would be that that this new corporation, potentially that the history center might might establish or maybe something else that the money that was made off the sale, it would be a revolving fund. Those dollars will go back into the fund to then rehab, more properties like the goal would be. Let's make sure that we're rebuilding his properties and maybe even grander grander in scale. I guess the question is like our most homes exam, how much should did 3.20, East? 4th? I know you probably can side directly like what a house like this today, the $700,000 to Rihanna, you know, would be that way too much for for a nonprofit to do or what do you think? >> I mean, it depends. I mean, you look at the water's great reset by the operator said that my sense of it. I felt like it was a bit beyond reach Riyadh that because the cost of the habit we exceeded. So there it is just a cost we have is why substantial section story it it correctly, which is on for that. Are we doing this exactly the way it was done? It says that's not enough time. It is the right to it. Work is not she and a friend who are sick. You go. It was it is essential cost. The word is much easier to build a new our mission is to to react if we can. There's a point where it can't there is. >> I think it does to a degree. I mean, I you know, I know I'm putting on the spot here, but it really was just, you know, the mission, I think of this demolition by neglect task force is let's make sure that we're fixing up these properties of keeping him upright. And I know not maybe maybe every single one, you know, on the list of those that have major fines and liens, maybe we can save them all. But but to be able to have something that could and if we could have the city be a part of that solution that way, it's not all that on the backs of nonprofits or anyone else I think could be huge trying to figure that out. >> If the city of Juarez across the city with these foreclosed property. >> Please Miss Lipper a shell, Michelle. >> It's fair. So so for closures not acquiring the property per se, right? So if we have a lien on a property, we have the option for clothes at the discretion of the administration. But that foreclosure is a forced sale of the property for the amount owed so anybody can bid on it. What UC often happen when the liens, the lien amount exceeds the value of the property to someone looking to invest is no one bids. Then we end up with the property in Louisville getting payment for the amount owed set. So the city