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Residents, Joshua Christian Academy oppose Annie R. Morgan landmark designation; public hearing continued
Summary
Dozens of residents and representatives of Joshua Christian Academy told the Jacksonville City Council committee they oppose designating the former Annie R. Morgan school as a local historic landmark, arguing the designation would hinder sale and reuse; the council continued the public hearing to Aug. 19, 2025.
Dozens of residents and representatives of Joshua Christian Academy told a Jacksonville City Council committee they oppose making the former Annie R. Morgan school a local historic landmark, and the committee continued the public hearing to Aug. 19, 2025.
Speakers at the public hearing said the designation would make the property harder to sell and would block local reuse by community organizations. "The Duval County School Board is opposed to this," said Sam Newby, who identified himself as a past president and urged the council to reject the designation. Lisa Harris, who identified herself as executive director of Joshua Christian Academy for 29 years, said the academy has contacted the Duval County School Board to express interest in buying the property and that a landmark designation would prevent that purchase.
Community members described the academy and Joshua Christian Faith Center as long‑standing neighborhood institutions that provide education, meals and other services. "Joshua Christian Academy has served the community the last 26 years faithfully," Frederick Pinckney, founder and pastor of Joshua Christian Faith Center and Joshua Christian Academy, told the committee. Several speakers described the school as a local option for students who would otherwise be bused to other schools.
The item was presented to the committee as part of the agenda’s historic‑preservation items. No formal designation occurred at the meeting; the committee chair announced the public hearing would be continued to Aug. 19, 2025, and no vote on the landmark designation was taken that night.
Speakers representing or allied with Joshua Christian Academy included Lisa Harris (executive director), Frederick Pinckney (founder and pastor), Sarmita Durham (Joshua Christian Academy employee and lead chef/nutritionist), Spencer Rutledge (board member) and others who said the academy could reuse the building to serve neighborhood children. Other residents, including Sam Newby and Laurie Lee, described concerns about increased blight if the property cannot be sold and reused. Several people said the Duval County School Board is not the applicant and opposed the landmark designation.
The committee’s continuation means the council will resume the public hearing on Aug. 19, 2025; no action was taken at the meeting recorded in the transcript.
