Mayor Becker Calls for Restoration Program!
Mayor Paul Becker has called for the creation of a program to save Jacksonville’s historic core buildings. Citing the need to address the deterioration/degradation of landmark buildings in the historic core, Mayor Paul Becker wants to create an inspection and restoration program that would be funded by grants.
Becker and City Administrator Jeff Alvis came up with the concept while taking a tour of the historic district in Oakland, Oregon.
Mayor Paul Becker
The to-be-established program would involve working with members of the Planning Department and HARC (Historic, Architectural Review Commission), the Oregon Historic Preservation Office and other interested agencies.
The Mayor’s plan will include working with building owners to pinpoint the top five most important measures to preserve and enhance structural and aesthetic integrity, identifying brick and mortar safety and integrity issues, plumbing and electrical safety issues and needed fire sprinkler installation and seismic retrofitting. Once set up, the program will include a variety of public workshops on the scope of the program.