BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

Monday, April 19, 2021

6:00pm @ SPAR Building & via Google Meet

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by President, Tim Hope, at 6:15 pm.

Present:  Board Attendance

Tim Hope (President), Joey Marchy (Vice President), Kelly Lezama (Secretary), Bryant Shumaker, Aaron Leedy, Mallik Singareddy, Pamela Batts-Brown, John Shermetaro (Treasurer), Ben Alcorn, Ryan McFarland (Late), Jennifer Chapman, Christine Lane, Janie Coffey

Absent:  Soner Acar, Michael Montoya

Guests: Bill Hoff, Todd & Hazel Hollinghead

Staff: Kelly Rich

MOTIONS:

1. Motion to accept the Consent Agenda & March Board meeting minutes as presented: APPROVED
2. Motion to appeal both 1043 Walnut St. & E. 11th St. demos as long as we are within the 21 day appeal time frame.  AMENDED MOTION ADD: and volunteers are willing to assist with covering fees on the said appeals: APPROVED
3. Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:47pm. 

Date: 5/6/2021

Location: SPAR Office Virtual Meeting (1321 North Main Street)

Time: 6 pm

Kelly Rich, SPAR Executive Director, welcomed the approximate 25 guests online to the meeting.

Kelly introduced the Perkins & Will Team. They shared their vision for the Park Redevelopment Design Competition underway for the site formerly known as The Landing. 

Kelly discussed the progress of moving back into the SPAR Building at 1321 North Main Street and the Building for the Future Capital Campaign. The campaign has raised approximately $350,000 of the $500,000 goal. Every donation would greatly help SPAR move closer to the goal of covering the costs of the total restoration of the building. She showed before and after pictures of the progress within the building so far, including the layout of the downstairs Community Collaboration Center, outside staircase to the 2nd floor, and the upstairs headquarters for SPAR. Kelly shared a mockup of the Prairie Cross glass etching, which will show appreciation for donors, and will be displayed outside of the Community Collaboration Center.

Kelly gave an update from SAMBA (Springfield Area Merchants and Business Association) and the Springfield Commercial Corridor. She informed attendees that there are currently 76 members of SAMBA, who are represented by the SAMBA Advisory Committee within the Commercial Corridors discussions. SAMBA meetings are free to visit and open to anyone in Springfield or those who want to do business in Springfield. SAMBA membership levels include two tiers for returning members (General at $100 and Executive at $250). New members of SAMBA can join at $50 for the first year with an Introductory membership. SAMBA works to invite quality speakers and include resources beneficial to small businesses.

SAMBA sponsors two grant programs for its membership - the Quarterly Mini-Grant for members’ events and the Facade Grant. The SAMBA Mini-Grant helps offset costs for members’ events and programs. In 2021, SAMBA doubled the budget for the Facade Grant and awarded three businesses (Hof’s Printing, Bishop Classic Motors, and RE/MAX Supreme) with grants so far. Applications for both grant programs are available on the SPAR website.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 6, 2021) –  Springfield Preservation and Revitalization, or SPAR, is excited to announce that Historic Springfield has been chosen as the host site for UF Health Week May 10–14. While much of the public honors health care workers daily, UF Health hosts a special celebration annually, which coincides with National Hospital Week. UF Health is the third largest employer in the city, and SPAR aims to introduce employees to the unique businesses in the Springfield Historic District. 

To show appreciation for UF Health’s role in the community, more than 14 local businesses have partnered with SPAR to offer discounts and incentives to UF Health employees. It is a prime example of the unique opportunities that SPAR looks for to promote Historic Springfield’s commercial corridors. Local business owners feel that UF Health employees who experience the personality of the neighborhood will become regular customers. Seeing more UF Health badges on Main Street and throughout the neighborhood will become an everyday experience. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

Monday, March 22, 2021

6:00pm @ SPAR Building & Google Meet 

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by President, Tim Hope, at 6:14pm.

Present:  Board Attendance

Tim Hope (President), Joey Marchy (Vice President), Kelly Lezama (Secretary), Bryant Shumaker, Aaron Leedy, Mallik Singareddy, Pamela Batts-Brown, John Shermetaro (Treasurer), Ben Alcorn, Ryan McFarland (Late), Jennifer Chapman, Michael Montoya, Soner Acar, Christine Lane

Absent:  Janie Coffey

Guests: Evan Metz, Jack Shad, & Brian with Alberi, Bill Hoff, Todd Hollinghead, Hazel Hollinghead 

Staff: Kelly Rich

MOTIONS:

1. Motion to accept the Consent Agenda & February Board meeting minutes as presented: APPROVED
2. Motion to write a letter against demolition of East 11th St. - APPROVED
3. Motion to write a letter against the demolition of 1043 Walnut St. - APPROVED
4. Motion to write a general letter of support for the spirit of Alberi but not for particular PUDs or Variances - APPROVED
5. Motion to adopt the Resolution regarding Preservation of Historic Alleyways - Amend document to remove “...as a public right of ways, of not only the currently passable alleyways, but all alleyways that have not been legally blocked or legally closed through city ordinance...” - APPROVED (one NAY vote)
6. Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:29 pm. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

Monday, February 15, 2021

6:00pm via Google Meet 

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by President, Tim Hope, at 6:03 pm.

Present:  Board Attendance

Tim Hope (President), Joey Marchy (Vice President), Kelly Lezama (Secretary), Bryant Shumaker, Aaron Leedy, Mallik Singareddy, Pamela Batts-Brown, John Shermetaro (Treasurer), Ben Alcorn, Janie Coffey, Ryan McFarland, Jennifer Chapman, Michael Montoya, Soner Acar

Absent:  Christine Lane (E)

Guests: Bill Hoff, Todd Hollinghead, Hazel Hollinghead

Staff: Kelly Rich

MOTIONS:

1. Motion to accept the Consent Agenda & January Board meeting minutes as presented: APPROVED
2. Confirm Email Vote for Joyce Holbrook Award & Todd Hollinghead as the 1st recipient: APPROVED
3. Motion to approve dissolution of Block Captains Committee and absorb items into other committees: APPROVED
4. Motion to approve up to $100 annually for cloud backup for office computer: APPROVED
5. Motion to approve up to $4,000 for legal representation for secondary insurance claim: APPROVED
6. Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 pm. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

Monday, January 18, 2021

6:00pm via Google Meet 

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by President, Tim Hope, at 6:08 pm.

Present:  Board Attendance

Tim Hope (President), Joey Marchy (Vice President), Christine Lane, Kelly Lezama (Secretary), Bryant Shumaker, Aaron Leedy, Mallik Singareddy, Pamela Batts-Brown, John Shermetaro (Treasurer), Jennifer Chapman, Ben Alcorn, Soner Acar, Janie Coffey, Ryan McFarland

Absent:  Michael Montoya

Guests: Diane Grease, Todd Hollinghead, Hazel Hollinghead, Bill Hoff, Daniel Ashworth

Staff: Kelly Rich

MOTIONS:

1. Motion to accept the Consent Agenda, December Board meeting minutes, & Emergency board meeting from 1/14/21 minutes as presented: APPROVED
2. Motion to approve up to $3500 for a Commercial Christmas Tree for the Holiday Society to purchase: APPROVED
3. Motion to send a letter to HPC to regarding the preservation of Springfield Historic district fabric: APPROVED
4. Motion to issue a statement in support of the spirit of the proposed PUD with the understanding that SPAR does not and never supports the closing of alleys as they are an integral part of the Historic Fabric of Historic Springfield.  Amended Motion - Motion to issue a statement in support of the spirit of the proposed PUD (Ord 2020-747) with the understanding that SPAR does not support the alley closure referenced in the PUD nor any other instance as they are an integral part of the Historic Fabric of Historic Springfield: APPROVED
5. Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:13pm.

Date: 2/4/2021

Location: SPAR Office Virtual Meeting (1334-1 Walnut Street)

Time: 5:30 pm

Kelly Rich, SPAR Executive Director, welcomed the approximate 25 guests online to the meeting.

Kelly introduced Kristin Keen, Executive Director of Rethreaded, who will soon be moving to Historic Springfield at 9th and Ionia Streets. Rethreaded is a nonprofit whose mission is to renews hope, reignites dreams and releases potential for survivors of human trafficking locally and globally through business. They do this by providing survivors with long-term employment coupled with mental health care and care management. Rethreaded has been in the Railyard District for the past 9 years in a location with only 2600 square feet, and they employ 27 people. The retail, production, and administration branches for their organization have all been within that space with no room for them to grow.

Kristin announced that Rethreaded has officially closed on the building at 9th and Ionia streets and are officially moving to Springfield. The campus and it’s included buildings are about 36,000 square feet. Rethreaded will be using 20,000 square feet of the campus and renting out the additional space. This nearly quadruples Rethreaded’s capacity to hire and serve more survivors of human trafficking.Renovations are currently taking place with a soft move-in date of April 2021. Rethreaded plans to build out an industrial kitchen, running a third party logistics company, and expand their sewing production. The retail space will be expanded to 2800 square feet with business hours from 9 am to 5 pm.

Kristin expressed that when the Rethreaded team came to Springfield for the initial tour of the space, they were impressed by the welcome they received from the neighborhood with representatives of SPAR and members of the neighborhood in attendance. They still have funds to raise for the property and are creating a prayer and meditation garden for survivors. Members of the community can purchase a personalized brick to be added to this space for $125. The community can literally pave the way for Rethreaded to help more survivors of human trafficking to reclaim their lives. Rethreaded can’t wait to help change more lives with the Springfield community and bring restoration and hope to continue to rethread.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

Monday, December 21, 2020

6:00pm via Google Meet 

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by President, Tim Hope, at 6:10 pm.

Present:  Board Attendance

Tim Hope (President), Joey Marchy (Vice President), Christine Lane, Kelly Lezama (Secretary), Bryant Shumaker, Todd Hollinghead, Aaron Leedy, Mallik Singareddy, Pamela Batts-Brown, John Shermetaro (Treasurer), Jennifer Chapman, Ben Alcorn, Janie Coffey, Soner Acar

Absent:  Michael Montoya

Guests: None

Staff: Kelly Rich

MOTIONS:

1. Motion to accept the Consent Agenda & November Board meeting minutes as presented: APPROVED
2. Motion to approve working with Conventus on a trial basis for up to 6 months and using up to $6,000 in funds: 10 - AYE; 4 - OPPOSED (Ryan, Soner, Aaron, Bryant) : APPROVED
3. Motion to change wording in Financial Policies & Procedures to: The organization’s Executive Director will assist in preparation of an operating budget to the Finance Committee for approval by the  Board of Directors no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of the new fiscal year.” - APPROVED
4. Move to reinstate the current 2020 Executive Committee (Tim Hope - President, Joey Marchy - VP, John Shermetaro - Treasure, Kelly Lezama - Secretary) for another year term in 2021.  - APPROVED
5. Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 pm.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

Monday, November 16, 2020

6:00pm @ Brick and Beam w/virtual option 

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by President, Tim Hope, at 6:16 pm.

Present:  Board Attendance

Tim Hope (President), Joey Marchy (Vice President), Christine Lane (virtual), Kelly Lezama (Secretary), Bryant Shumaker, Todd Hollinghead, Aaron Leedy, Mallik Singareddy, Janie Coffey, Pamela Batts-Brown, Michael Montoya, Sonar Acar, John Shermetaro (Treasurer)

Absent: Jennifer Chapman (Excused), Michael Montoya

Guests: Bill Hoff, Ben Alcorn

Staff: Kelly Rich

MOTIONS:

1. Motion to accept the Consent Agenda & October Board meeting minutes as presented: APPROVED
2. Motion to approve the 2021 proposed budget as presented: APPROVED
3. Motion to select the alley beautification as first choice and Holiday society as second choice for the COJ matching grant proposal. Amended motion to make the Holiday society decorations as first choice: APPROVED, 1 Nay  Secondary Amended motion to make the holiday society decorations as first choice and sidewalk bulb out as second choice: APPROVED
4. Motion to approve the proposed slate of directors for election/reelection as presented: APPROVED
5. Motion to approve the Bylaw wording change in Article 8, Section 2 as presented below:  APPROVED
6. Motion to write a letter of support for the Boys & Girls club: APPROVED
7. Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:52 pm.

On Wednesday, January 6th, SPAR and the City of Jacksonville held a joint public meeting to discuss plans for the implementation of more bike infrastructure in Historic Springfield. This meeting focused on the future resurfacing of two streets: (1) 1st St from Main St to Palmetto St and (2) Boulevard St from 8th St to 19th St. The overall goal is a change in striping to add bicycle facilities and motorized safety improvements.

For more information on this upcoming 2021 project, please refer to the links below:

For Files presented at the meeting: view this page (this link expires 7 days from 1/7/2021)

To download the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, sign-up for quarterly newsletter updates, or request a bike rack see: https://www.coj.net/pedbike

For the Northeast Florida Regional Trails Master Plan, see here: North Florida TPO Regional Trails Report

If there are any other questions or comments, please reach out to Karissa Moffett, the COJ Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator, via email or phone (904) 255-7830. For PDFs of the full renderings, please email [email protected] .

STAY in our Historic District

Established in 1869, and located north of Downtown Jacksonville, Springfield is the oldest neighborhood in Jacksonville. Once home to the city’s wealthiest residents and famous silent firm stars (Jacksonville used to be the winter film capital of the world!), our historic neighborhood is now filled with restored mansions (and bungalows), hip restaurants, locally owned shops, murals, some of the city's oldest parks, craft breweries and tons of southern charm with majestic oaks providing protective shade and a beautiful visual along its residential streets. Popular festivals like PorchFest and the Springfield Tour of Homes attract thousands of visitors each year.

There are plenty of options for travellers to stay in Historic Springfield during their visit to Northeast Florida. Consider Jax Brickhouse, which opened in 2016, the building holds five apartments with three available for vacation rentals in a beautifully renovated historic property. Silver Street Management is another great choice with multiple affordable rentals throughout the neighborhood for both small and larger groups.

SHOP with our Local Businesses

You’ll find a variety of fantastic and award winning dining options in Springfield, including 1748 Bakehouse, 1 Foxy Lady Café & Catering, Crispy’s Springfield Gallery, Hola Mexican Restaurant, Junkanoo Shack, Icecapade Frozen Treats, Silkie's Chicken & Champagne Bar, Uptown Kitchen & Bar, The Cookbook Restaurant, and Wafaa N Mike’s Café . For those on the Ale Trail, don’t miss Strings Sports Brewery. If beer is not your style, you should definitely check out Springfield's newest wine bar, The District, or pick up a Camp Kit from Camp Craft Cocktails. Planning to host an event? Historic Springfield is home to Brick and Beam, a 2300 square foot venue, which housed The Pearl nightclub in years past and is the perfect spot for your next personal or corporate event. 

Springfield has seen a steady influx of small retail shops popping up over the last few years. Simply Ke’say Boutique specializes in the latest fashions for elegant, classy, and sophisticated women. Beauty needs can be met by stopping Makeup Craze Beauty or Kindred Springfield. For those who love skateboarding, The Block Skate Supply is a must stop for you with its fully customized skate shop and park. If you run into any home and hardware needs, check out family-run, An Olde Tyme Hardware, which has been in the Springfield area for over 70 years! Plantaja is Historic Springfield's BRAND NEW one-stop plant shop. And for some fun, Sweet Christi's offers fantastic bath and body products in the shapes of some of your favorite sweets. Owner Christianna Alexander is only 15 years old, making her the youngest of Springfield's entrepreneurs! 

ENJOY Art, Nature, History, Sports

Historic Springfield offers a plethora of amenities for all interests. Henry J. Klutho Park offers Jacksonville's first StoryWalk, a baseball field, tennis courts, and is home to the Springfield Disc Golf Course. For the art and museum lovers, Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum sits near the southeast corner of Klutho Park and is always ready for visitors to peruse its current manuscript or regional art collection. Don't forget to cruise around the neighborhood to see the collection of public art on display with our curated Art Tour. 

If you want a personal and unique guided tour of the neighborhood, be sure to check out Explore JAX Core, Go Tuk'n, or Pedal Pub. They each have several tours to choose from with themes such as breweries, art, and history all in the beautiful Springfield neighborhood.

According to WalkScore.com, Springfield is the most bikeable neighborhood in Jacksonville’s urban core. You’ll find bicycle repair stations in Henry J. Klutho Park (intersection of Pearl and 3rd St) and behind the SPAR building at 1321 N Main Street. Visitors can enjoy a ride on the S-Line Urban Greenway or easily ride to many of Jacksonville’s other attractions. Whether it's to the Riverside Arts Market, Jacksonville Farmers Market, or the Stadium Area, Springfield continues to be one of the most connected and easily bike-able neighborhoods in the Urban Core. Want to experience it yourself? SPAR organizes bike socials throughout the year, free and open to all ages and skill levels. In the meantime, you can Explore the Core yourself using these suggested routes and activities.

Date: 12/3/2020

Location: Uptown Kitchen & Bar (1303 N Main Street)

Time: 5:30 pm

Tim Hope, SPAR Board President, welcomed the approximate 50 guests, both in-person and online, to the meeting. He shared with attendees that there are a lot of ways to get involved with Springfield and SPAR: you can volunteer at an event, join a SPAR committee, donate to a SPAR program, and, also, share the positive changes that are occurring in the neighborhood with friends and family.  

Let us introduce you to our 2020 Candidates for the SPAR Board of Directors! The Board of Directors is presenting Benjamin Alcorn as a new candidate who would bring valuable skills, passion, and knowledge to our organization. In addition, Kelly Lezama (current Secretary of SPAR), Soner Acar, Janie Coffey, and Michael Montoya are all seeking reelection to the Board for a second and final term. 

Please learn more about the candidates by reading their bios below. If you have any questions for them prior to voting at the annual meeting, please submit them before December 3rd to [email protected] and the candidates will provide their answers at the Annual Meeting.

SPAR members will be able to vote on candidates at our Annual Meeting this coming Thursday, December 3rd at Uptown Kitchen & Bar. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Aside from voting, SPAR members will receive updates about on-going projects and have the opportunity to tour the SPAR office building right next door in the midst of renovations. 

Are you in the middle of your holiday shopping? Not quite sure what will make that certain family member's day or need to stick to a little closer to a budget? Don't you worry because our local SAMBA (Springfield Area Merchants and Business Association) members have plenty to offer with gift ideas that will show how much you care. You can find all the gifts below in Historic Springfield for under $50. 

Strawberry Cheesecake Pound Cake baked by 1FoxyLadyCafe // $45

1FoxyLadyCafe, 1837 N. Pearl Street

Strawberry Pound Cake infused with fresh strawberries with a cheesecake center. This scrumptious cake is topped with cream cheese icing, graham cracker crumbs, strawberry glaze, and fresh strawberries.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – July, 9, 2020 – Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR) is pleased to welcome the merger of the Historic Springfield Holiday Society (HSHS) as of July 2020.

HSHS was established in 2017 by neighbors wanting to enhance the holiday experience in Springfield. SPAR and HSHS have shared a mission of improving Historic Springfield’s quality of life, raising spirits, and fostering fellowship between all neighbors. To provide the best possible community engagement moving forward, HSHS is being incorporated into SPAR, including the seasonal events, popular traditions, and boundless energy for which HSHS has been consistently recognized. Activities have included celebrations for Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, and especially the Winter Holidays, where lighted wreaths and trees decorate Main Street.

SPAR looks forward to continuing traditions, and starting some anew, to benefit the entire community.

To learn more about our holiday activities, visit https://www.sparcouncil.org/holiday_society

###

Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR) is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Springfield Historic District since 1974. To learn more, visit https://www.sparcouncil.org

Contact:

Kelly Rich

[email protected]

904.353.7727

Like the rest of you, SPAR Staff and Board have been monitoring the rapidly evolving situation with Coronavirus. With information changing so quickly, we wanted to make sure that we provide the most up-to-date and current information in regards to our local Historic Springfield businesses, as well as encourage social distancing measures for everyone's overall safety. 

Small businesses within our historic neighborhood will be heavily affected by the precautions taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you have the means, the suggestions in the above graphic are a great way to continue to support the small businesses that we know and love. 

Additionally, we are proud to see our local Springfield businesses adapting to this new status quo and coming up with innovative ideas to continue to serve the community. Take a look at our list below of what businesses all around our neighborhood are doing to uplift all of us through these challenging times. 

Our 2026 Signature Events

• February 7, SPARdi Gras in Sesquicentennial Park
• March 13, St. Patrick's Day Alleyway Activation
• April 25-26, Historic Springfield Tour of Homes & Gardens
• June 27, Bike & Baseball Social to the Jumbo Shrimp Game
• July 4, Fourth of July Throwback Baseball Game in Klutho Park
• September 18, 3rd Annual Bold City Ball
• October 23, Bike-A-Boo! Bike Social in Sesquicentennial Park
• November 7, Jacksonville PorchFest
• December 5, Holiday Tree Lighting & Market in Sesquicentennial Park
• December 8, Holiday Ride Bike Social in Sesquicentennial Park

Our 2026 Quarterly Community Meetings

• February 4: 6:00 PM, location TBD
• May 6: 6:00 PM, location TBD
• September 9: 6:00 PM, location TBD
• December 9: 6:00 PM, location TBD

Our 2026 Historic Preservation Summer Series

All hosted at the SPAR Building unless otherwise noted: 1321 N Main St. Topics to come!

• May 20
• June 24
• July 15
• August 19

Our 2026 Community Cleanups

• We host at least 1 community cleanup per month to beautify our neighborhood
• See our 2026 Community Cleanup Calendar for more information