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Committee pauses consideration of Annie R. Morgan historic designation after neighborhood and school board voice opposition
Summary
A proposal to designate the former Annie R. Morgan school as a local historic landmark drew numerous speakers and objections from the Duval County School Board and a prospective school buyer; the committee agreed to defer further consideration to allow the council member who sponsored the nomination to continue community discussions.
The Land Use & Zoning Committee heard extensive public comment Aug. 19 on a resolution proposing local landmark designation for the former Annie R. Morgan school but did not act on the nomination.
Multiple speakers — including community leaders, long-time residents and representatives of a prospective buyer, Joshua Christian Academy — opposed applying a local historic designation to the property. School board representative Reginald Blunt told the committee the Duval County School Board opposes a designation that would complicate or deter a sale, saying a local landmark listing could impose demands that make the property unattractive to buyers. Blunt said the school board had not been the applicant for the landmark request and characterized an earlier agenda entry that listed the school board as applicant as a mistake that caused constituent confusion.
Past council president Sam Newby and members of Joshua Christian Academy said the buyer has been in the community for nearly 29 years and wants to reopen the property for educational uses. The academy’s executive director, Lisa Harris, said a landmark designation would limit renovations needed to modernize the building for an active school and could leave the property vacant, increasing blight in the neighborhood.
Supporters of the landmark nomination also spoke. Doris Laprell said she met the criteria for local designation and recounted personal and community ties to the historic school; other supporters emphasized the site’s history and community significance.
Staff and the Historic Preservation Commission had previously determined the building met several criteria for local landmark designation. At earlier points staff had flagged concerns related to recent state law changes (Senate Bill 180) that restrict local governments from imposing new burdensome land-use designations on unwilling property owners. Because of that conflict and because the council member sponsor requested time for further conversations with neighbors and other stakeholders, the committee agreed to continue the public hearing.
Committee members and staff discussed a supervisory timeline and agenda notice issues after several attendees raised concerns that the item had been listed as withdrawn and then later re-opened on the agenda. Committee members instructed staff to clarify the notice history and return with a clear timetable; the item will be continued for additional consideration and community engagement. No vote was taken on Aug. 19.
