City Crews Clean up Brewster Hospital

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- City crews cleaned up a historical site today -- right after a First Coast News story about its poor condition aired.

The grass at Brewster Hospital in downtown Jacksonville was overgrown, but Tuesday afternoon, city crews mowed it.They also picked up trash -- just one day after a story about how Brewster is being renovated but not necessarily taken care of.

The spruce-up comes after the city put $1.6 million in renovations into the historic building.

"These historic assets can't be replaced, and Brewster was one of them. It is our responsibility to preserve these things. We've done that; now it's time to go to next step," says Ron Barton of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.

The big question now is, what's next for the building in Lavilla.

Barton says the new courthouse may play a role. "Some of the ideas we are looking at are, with the coming of the courthouse, a lot of functions are going to shift to Lavilla. This is a great building, great office space."

Brewster is not being sold, but the city will lease it and those paying the rent will be responsible for the upkeep.

A museum documenting Brewster's history as the first African-American hospital and a medical clinic are among the possibilities for the building.

Barton says he could have a plan in place for the building in the next month.

For a list and photos of other historical properties in Jacksonville and Duval County, CLICK HERE.

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