Urban Jacksonville

Joey, Joey, Joey… Jesus man!

Obviously you don’t agree. Again I would ask if you don’t agree, please tell me what you would have said.

So Joey
Which are you here for?????

I came in 98 because I could get the most house for my money. Today I couldn’t afford to buy my house so I wouldn’t me down here for that.

Unfortunately that is how Springfield is viewed by most of Jacksonville. I know I have no reason for going into springfield. Maybe, I’m just ignorant to what Springfield has to offer me.

Damn….well one of the reasons could have been to immerse oneself into the fabric of the historic homes, not for real estate purposes.

I’m assuming you’re looking to sell your home and get out of this awful neighborhood, soon…because you’re going out of your way to not paint a pretty picture.

I heard Councilman Alvarez once say “even if you put lipstick on a pig, its still a pig.” I think the crazy quote is relevant here…yeah theres the great historic homes, architectural integrity of the area, and evolving culture, however, there IS a drug problem any way you look at it. It is what it is. It’s not going anywhere by avoiding it and disseminating that information to those who may not otherwise learn of the problem, could only help in lending more voices to solving the problem in the long term.

In sum, I think your points were dead on Joey…the Springfield drug problem is what it is.

Damn Joey.

I think the question was “Why WOULD people come to Springfield?”, not “Why are people people driving through Springfield?”

Why WOULD people come to springfield is a pretty open kind of question.

People have been coming out to Springfield for a variety of reasons, many of them fairly noble. The least noble of which is real estate speculation.

Like:
Rescuing a great lady from demolition.

Restoring part of the historical heritage of the city.

Reclaiming a beautiful district that has been blighted for years.

Investing in a home that will still be standing for their children and grandchildren when the stapled together structures of baymeadows have collapsed from mildew and dry rot.

To be within walking distance of all the cultural activities downtown.

To participate in a black/white/gay/little old lady/30 something yuppies from the 80s and 90s mixed neighborhood that throws block parties where old crackers, gay men and little african american kids all do the electric slide in the streets while its raining.

I think the answer was kind of glib, and clearly you should get out in your neighborhood and actually meet your neighbors.

They are really very interesting people, most of them, and you’ll find very few of them are the Quick Buck Bisette or Craig Van Speculator variety.

The reason John and I moved to Springfield certainly was neither for crack or real estate speculation, and I suspect that we werent in the minority.

Love ya, Joey, but the answer was silly.

Stephen Dare.

Well this is why I go to Springfield, some 400 miles from my home…

Yes, The real estate investment is the reason for many of my visits. I have more money tied up in Sprindfield than I do my own residence.

But I have also made trips to eat at Boomtown, when it was there. I also made special trips to Henrietta’s, when it was open. Haven’t had a chance to check out NOSh yet, but intend to.

I also have made trips to see the progress, albeit slow, in improving Kluto Park, thanks in no small measure to the efforts of posters here. I gave a significant contribution to the Klutho fountain, years ago, and intend to finally see it completed on my next visit.

I have made special trips to eat breakfast at the Main Street Bakery too.

In fact, I go out of my way to patronize the areas businesses, because it does my heart good to see that in this disgusting throw-away society that we live in, there are still some parts of the world where people believe there is a better way, a smarter way, a more wholesome alternative.

Places where some people actually see potential where most only see problems. Places where people don’t spend their life’s savngs just to avoid the less wealth members of their community.

I have meet many wonderful people that are associated with Springfield, people who care, who want to change things for the better.

That is the best reason to visit Springfield. I wonder if that attraction will be presented to the readers of Folio….., or just confirmation that they really do need to hit the gas when driving north on Main Street, before they get hit in a crossfire of drug warfare.

My answer Joey would be on many levels.

The people

The history

the idea of being a part of reviving a grand old neighborhood

The parks

The heritage

the diversity

There are so many directions to go.

Springfield is the oldest suburb of downtown. Its history goes back to the late 1800s, and includes Governors, war heroes, bankers, doctors, farmers, crooks, athletes, and more than a few families.

Almost weekly someone will walk up to me and tell me about when their grandparents lived in Springfield. Or when they were a little kid, they remember running through the rose arbor in confederate park, or swimming in the pool in Springfield park….

The Jacksonville Zoo started in our parks. Major League baseball exhibition games have also been played in our parks.

Klutho lived here, as did Oliver Hardy… Springfield was where the movie industry was born!!!

Its the place where everyone ran while the city burned.

I have been stopped by multiple people telling me about they used to know the lady who lived in my house for 60 years, or how they grew up on Silver St… They come just to see the houses, not to invest or buy crack.

If you want to get past the past, lets talk about now.

Springfield is the only place I have ever lived that I could get into a two hour conversation just walking down the street. A neighborhood that harkens back to the days when you could get wrapped into a conversation of the topics of the day with people sitting on their porch.

People like you, Joey, who are cool and fun and interesting. Meeting people who are passionate about everything from environmental clean up, to building a replica of a grand old fountain, to trying to find homes for all of the homeless animals on our streets. Its a passionate neighborhood.

Do we have a crime problem? yup. We have a lot of people working on that problem too. However, to say its as bad now as its ever been is either shortsighted or ignorant of the history of the area. I don’t ignore the crime, I just recognize that its on its way out.

I think Downtownparks, Stephen and Vicupstate all have better answers than mine. I agree with what they say and I feel much the same way. It’s humbling to be called out by people I respect (DTParks and Stephen). Maybe I am just young and stupid, but I LOVE Springfield and would protect her honor against any naysayer.

I don’t think my loyalty or dedication to Springfield can be questioned. I’m not looking to cash out on my house and leave the neighborhood like Jason says. I will stay in Springfield as long as I can convince my wife not to move us to the suburbs for better schools or a bigger yard.

I won’t defend what I said anymore except to say I see drug transactions in my backyard, entire swaths of 8th and Main Street bought up and sqautted on by developers and I know the drug trade only escalates after I go to sleep. Am I complaining about it? No. I’m just painting the picture how I see it. Whether it is nice or not. It’s my opinion.

One thing I will say is I do regret not using this opportunity to score one for Springfield in the uphill PR battle the neighborhood faces, as DTParks pointed out to me in an IM conversation. I will just have to take this as a learning experience.

Remember, all points of view are welcome so keep em coming.

Very few people COME to Springfield to buy crack. Are there crack dealers? Yep. Do some easily recognizable folks in Springfield use crack? You bet. Do folks come to Springfield to buy crack? Not many.

Disagree? Well, then you are basing your position on the assumption that there is some diminished supply of crack outside of the Historic District (thus bringing in people to buy). A little bit of reasoning and a quick drive to countless other areas of town eliminates this assumption.

Here is a real life example of how this perception takes hold:

I’m on my wrap around porch the other day after taking a beach (where I moved from to live in Springfield) friend on the grand tour. Here’s the conversation:

Friend: “I love your leaded glass windows, four fireplaces, the grand staircase, the 12 foot ceilings and original woodworking and gas light fixtures!”

Me: “Thanks! I love my house!”

Friend (Looking out on the street and is a hushed whisper): “So how many of these houses around you are crack houses??”

Me (with a perplexed look): “Uh, none of them”

Friend (not sure of my answer, points across the street): “What about THAT house?”

Me: “Uh, that’s a brand new $450K house being built.”

Friend: “Oh! Do any of your neighbors actually own their home?”

Me: “Uh, yeah. All of my neighbors own their homes…”

The point here is that my friend’s preconceived notions of Springfield led to totally absurd conclusions. Their appreciation of the grand things was diminished because their bias clouded their judgment.

Is there crack in Springfield (and every other part of town)? Yes. Is every black person you see driving or walking by looking for or selling crack. No.

I will concede that real estate is the most notable aspect of present day Springfield. However, I moved to Springfield because I wanted to be part of something bigger. Something that sends a message about how our city grows and evolves.

It’s not just an investment, it’s about walking the walk instead of just talking the talk. I am impressed daily with the volume of folks in this neighborhood I know or meet who share the same values. In my mind, that’s why someone would come to Springfield. Even if it’s to share in the experience via an activity like the Tour of Homes, etc.

Sorry, gotta agree with Joey here. I’ve been in Springfield my entire life and while there might be a few little blocks that have some kind of frankenstein-utopia about them, it’s just not fun elsewhere. I’m here because it’s the best neighborhood for me. I couldn’t stomach living in a subdivision and I really don’t care for the parts of town where I could actually afford to live if I sold this place. My ultimate goal is to leave the state but that’s something different entirely.

To quote my man Yoda, “Old houses, a great neighborhood doesn’t make.” and it’s true. There are some fantastic people in the area and there are some beautiful houses but you know what I see? Outside my window right now are three room-rental houses, two of them house drug dealers. As we approach the corner, there about 5 drunk/high guys sitting on the sidewalk on milk-crates trying to beg for their next fix. We have a little store on the corner which has vendors that supply what I’d call the Springfield Happymeal, which consists of a can of King Cobra and some crack, the day laborers all form a little line in the afternoon. I can walk past someone toasting their little rocks, I can go by some guy getting a bj from some infested skank and not bat an eye and I think a lot of others in the area are used to it as well. When people ask me about springfield, I always say “It’s not so bad!” and mean it whole-heartedly but as soon as they come over they all pretty much tell me the same thing “Not so bad? You live in a hellhole!”, and telling them about our parks or the history or how pretty some of the places are won’t do much to sway their opinion. I’m lucky in that my block has never had a real crime problem, other than some new coats of paint and a couple of new faces, it’s the same as it’s ever been. I guess I might have a different perspective if I lived in one of the areas that has truly changed but I can only base my opinions on my own experiences, not those of others.

Gosh Joey.

Didnt mean to call you out, and the respect is completely mutual.

We definitely agree that the Speculators need to find their proper place in the not too distant future (which I assume is a terribly upscale suburb on the outskirts of Atlanta) and fill the neighborhood with citizens rather than sales agents.

I personally think that the speculators have held the neighborhood back in some ways, by demanding inflated sales rates and not backing off of them for five years, creating permanent vacancies in their properties.

Your a true blue springfielder Joey, but the neighborhood isnt all LOLAS and crackheads.

seriously.

Walk around and meet some people…..some of the most interesting people in the city. I prefer them any day of the week to the Riversiders.

I have never lived in Springfield, but I have lived in a neighborhood that had spots with drug activity, that gave the entire neighborhood a perception of crime that exceeded the reality of the situation.

So what exactly do you Springfielders do when you see this illegal activity? Do you report it? Every time?

I get the feeling from some of these posts that you just shrug your shoulders and accept it. I may be reading too much into the comments though.

If that is what is happening, that is exactly what the criminals are hoping for. That they will wait you out and wear you down. NO ONE, I don’t care where they live, should have to tolerate open criminal activity in broad daylight on a continual basis. Peyton is hiring a bunch of cops, I would be doing whatever is neccessary to see that more than a couple of them are added to the Springfield beat.

Joey, it just seems every answer that you have given so far seems like it was given as an outsider… not someone that has spent time living in Springfield. I’m just not sure how the two things that comes to mind when someone asks you “Why would someone come to Springfield?” would be real estate and drugs.

Someone from Ponte Vedra or Ortega could have just as easily came up with that answer with only their preconceived notions of Springfield.

Joey – Got to admit…I was pretty pissed off when I first read your comment. It flies in the face of everything we have been doing to make Springfield even better than it was. Everyone pretty much summed up how the question could have been answered “better” (I believe “glib” was the best word).

My answer: a cool old house, a home that I could live in for 10+ years similar to my childhood home, an ecclectic neighborhood, close to downtown, an area where I avoided rush hour traffic, a neighborhood where strangers greet each other and wave, an area that was not a flood zone, good schools (R.L Brown, Stanton)…all I found in Springfield.

And when I see crime I report it. Every single time.

And I wouldn’t trade any of it for a sterile subdivision in Eagle Harbor.

Phil

Just saw the Folio story, Joey.

Its fine.

Not really negative sounding at all.

And Ryan Rummell (the person they interviewed for downtown, and the owner of TSI) listed a homeless person as the most interesting person downtown as well.

Whew. Total anarchy, disaster and springfield armageddon narrowly averted.

Stephen Dare.

I still agree with Joey, James is an enigma… I think that was his strongest pick!

Starbucks, Joe? Seriosuly, if you are gonna leave Springfield, at least cross the river and go to uncommon grounds! :-) Remember, Uncommon grounds donated coffee and muffins to the Springfield median clean up from a few months ago!

If I had my pick I would go to Uncommon. I love to support local business. I always go to Uncommon when I am at work in San Marco, even though there is a $tarbuck$ right across the street.

I am pretty sure the article asked what is the closest place to Springfield to get a cup of coffee, not where would I choose to drink my coffee. :)

Joey,

Regarding crime in Springfield, you know not that of which you speak. I am one of the “old-timers” in the neighborhood. I originally moved to Springfield in 1989, left in 1991 and returned in 1995 to stay. You do the math. I have SEEN the incredible changes in the neighborhood first hand. I remember a time when it was commonplace to hear gunshots, close by, almost every night and people shrugged and didn’t bother calling the police because it was normal. Now the gunshots are rare and EVERYONE calls them in. I remember when there were more whores and thugs walking the street than decent folks. Now the balance has shifted. I’m far more likely to see moms with strollers and joggers with their dogs than hoodlums and prostitutes. Springfield has come MILES from where it was when I first came to it. Do we still have a long way to go? Absolutely but don’t knock the progress that has already been made. I remember a time when I was afraid to come out of my front gate. I’m not afraid any more. And it wasn’t people like Travis, who seems to turn a blind eye to the problems around him, who helped turn things around. It was people like me, people like Downtownparks, PCollins. People with vision who fell in love with the area and the houses and collectively drew a line in the sand. People who, still today, stand shoulder to shoulder and say NO. No to the drug dealers, No to the whores, No to the petty thieves, No to the slum lords who don’t care who they rent to, No to more halfway houses and drug treatment centers. I stand with them. We’re not through saying NO. We may never stop. I love my house. I love my neighborhood. I love my neighbors and I will NEVER stop trying to make this a better place to live.

That’s a beautiful comment Cathy. Thanks for sharing that with everyone. I feel exactly the same way.

Joey, man, some of these folks need to get off your back. The whining…oooooo, you’re too negative…..oooooo, how can you say that about Springfield and crack…. I thought what you said was well put and very funny. Sure, the positive qualities- the historical homes, growing sense of community, all that is true, too. But the question was “Why would someone come to Springfield?” not, “Why do they stay”. And I am betting that more folks are cruising through for the crack than the architecture at this point in time.

In a fashion so typical of Jacksonville, any negative comment is met with defensiveness and denial. Your comments have (re)opened a dialog that can only help make Springfield a better neighborhood and Jacksonville a better city.

I came to Jacksonville from Ocala/Orlando in 1998 for a job with Special Council…I am a paralegal…when the project began over 300 people from all over the U.S. were transitioned into Jacksonville life (if my scanner were here I would include photos of the early years 1998-2000). We were told the yes and no of where to live as a group exposure to the city.

For obvious reasons in 1998 Springfield was a no. Now that I have lived here in Springfield since 2002, I would have a different opinion of the question.

I moved here for the economics.

Kimberly

The last opinion writer, Kimberly Malajati stole $2300 from me. She defrauded me on ebay – I sent her the money, she cashed the check, then dissappeared and never sent the item. She apparently has moved and cannot be found. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is looking for her, but she has managed to elude them so far. If you have any information about her whereabouts, or how to contact her, please contact me at shafer@hawaii.edu or 941-232-9952. The Detective assigned to this case is JE Gray. Police Report Number 561796. Her office number is 904-630-2782. Please help me if you can. Kimberly is a terrible person and has caused me great distress over this loss. Thanks.

PS – she moved to Springfield for the economics? You mean of committing fraud and stealing?

as an update, the police caught kimberly malajati and threw her in jail, where she belongs. thank you to all who helped me with information about her.

latest update: kimberly b. malajati has been charged with felony grand theft and has her day in court september 15. funny enough, she plead ‘not guilty’ to doing it – even though i have all the proof in the world – including her signature on the cancelled check that was deposited into her bank account. so, i guess she doesn’t even have the integrity to admit to what she did. if you ever cross paths with this sociopath, i recommend you steer clear – and definitely don’t offer her a job. check out her criminal record at the coj.com website – clerk of court records – search by her name.