I’ve never understood the mania for keeping every building in Jacksonville.

If we did what some people seem to want, the city would look like it did in 1910, after rebuilding from the Great Fire of 1901.

The latest ode to the old comes from my old friend City Council Member Matt Carlucci, in a Facebook post waxing poetically about the Laura Street Trio.

This is a group of three old buildings at Laura and Forsyth streets that developers have been trying to revamp and reuse for about 20 years.

Now, Carlucci says, there is a new owner and perhaps a new day.

“The Trio now has a new owner, Muhamed Becovic and the Becovic Companies, an experienced developer with the resources, business acumen and team to finally restore these historic Jacksonville landmarks. Many of us believe that Muhamed will be the right person, in the right place, at the right time to bring these treasured buildings back to life,” Carlucci said.

“And I believe they will make it happen.”

Carlucci said he was among those dedicated to “preserving what many consider Jacksonville’s most extraordinary corner.”

To my ear, that sounds like he is calling this project a “catalyst” for downtown.

I’ve been hearing that for more than 60 years now. Friendship Fountain, the Jacksonville Landing, Independent Life, Metropolitan Park, the new City Hall and I don’t know how many additions have been called the catalyst that would propel Jacksonville into the stratosphere where Great Cities reside.

During that whole time, there has been hand wringing about how much the downtown needs a catalyst because nothing ever happens there.

Meanwhile, the entire downtown has been rebuilt with gleaming new buildings and public facilities. At the same time, billions have been spent outside the core in places such as St. Johns Town Center – valued at $340 million on the tax roll — which has more shops and restaurants than downtown ever could hope to have.

Planners have said for years that the “catalyst” will come when residential property downtown reaches a certain tipping point. It was reached long ago.

Carlucci follows the script.

“Too often, downtown has resembled a doughnut, with investment and activity around the edges but an empty center still waiting to be filled,” he said.

“With the restoration of the Trio, I believe that doughnut hole will finally begin to fill in, bringing people to live, dine, stay and gather in the very heart of our city and helping to solidify the vibrancy of downtown Jacksonville.”

“Look around downtown today. Historic buildings are being restored. New construction is underway. Cranes are in the sky. Concrete is being poured. New riverfront parks are taking shape. Jacksonville’s downtown is finally coming together.”

The problem with Carlucci’s call to action is that such calls usually precede a scheme in which local taxpayers will be called upon to help fund whatever project is the current “catalyst” in waiting.

I wish the new owner well and hope he can do something useful and productive with his three buildings, but I doubt that many taxpayers would be willing to invest their own money in the project.

Unfortunately, politicians can “invest” taxpayers’ money for them.

For years, my father had an office in the old Graham Building, on the southwest corner of the same intersection as the Laura Street trio. It would be very nostalgic for me if someone had preserved that old building instead of tearing it down.

As long as I didn’t have to pay for it.