Urban Core Construction Update - January 2011

[comncense]

Wow, still no talk about the spot between Mark's and the tattoo shop? Is it some deep cover FBI project?

[Captain Zissou]

As for the cut outs on the courthouse.... i don't like them, but they're necessary.  Think of how boring the structure would be otherwise.  It would be 400 feet of uninterrupted plain wall.  You'd think that having to create giant cut outs to prevent the courthouse from looking terrible would be a strong indication that the design was bad.

[urbanlibertarian]

Wow, still no talk about the spot between Mark's and the tattoo shop? Is it some deep cover FBI project?

I've heard the building's owner is doing necessary maintenance to the facade.

[peestandingup]

I love that the biggest downtown project in years (decade?) is a courthouse. That should tell you something right there.

[Jason]

Wolfson's is definitely going vertical, although it appears the holiday and/or weather has stopped construction for today.  I got a good look at it this morning from the garage.

[Overstreet]

Wolfson's is definitely going vertical, although it appears the holiday and/or weather has stopped construction for today.  I got a good look at it this morning from the garage.

..........by around 70 to 80 feet if you count the caissons and red iron in place.

[Fallen Buckeye]

Anyone know when the Friendship Fountain is supposed to be finished?

[ben says]

Am I the only one who looks at the courthouse project as a glass half-full? I'm the first to admit I'm a tad biased, as I work in the legal world and visit the courthouse at least once a day. The old one is a blight that needs to come down. It's ugly, dysfunctional, and ruins the booming vibe that's going down on East Bay Street. I DO agree that the design is crap and we missed a real opportunity to put up a nice edifice downtown. That being said, I like the look of the courthouse from the highway. Also, it's a great opportunity to pull down the old courthouse and enhance East Bay Street with something genuinely nice or needed. Whether the city or developers will actually do something with the space, who knows, but at least it forces the opportunity.

[acme54321]

Fresnius medical center might be the UGLIEST building I've ever seen.

I'm suprised with the limited amount of windows that building has.

What a shame, too, because when the FDOT Overland Bridge project is completed, that intersection will become more prominent.



It is the building opposite (below) the traffic signal symbol.

Doug, where did you get this image?  Looks to be a more recent version than the ones we saw at the public forum a couple of months ago in the school board building.

[Basstacular]

Anyone know when the Friendship Fountain is supposed to be finished?

Spoke to a friend over this past weekend whose company is contracted to put the lighting and fountain system in for Friendship Fountain.  They are local and have also been contracted to do the fountain work on the NY WTC project according to him.  He told me the project was set to finish late Spring of this year.  He also informed me that once complete, it was truly going to be a spectacle and a beacon for the Southbank.  He also said the City desperately wants the project complete well in time for the next football season (assuming there is one and no lockout) in order to be a showcase point for network footage on whatever national game(s) the Jags have, FL/GA and Gator Bowl.

[Jason]

Shots of the Wolfson's Adult Tower construction from about an hour ago from atop the parking garage...

[heights unknown]

As if downtown really needs another sandwich shop and a park. (sigh) what else can you do? What's listed is what's going on and I guess it's better than nothing at all.

HU

[urbaknight]

I heard that the current courthouse and the city hall annex building are both set to come down sometime after the new courthouse opens.

I wonder if there's any possible way the skyway can go down bay st. I looked at bing maps and parts of the sidewalk look too narrow for the support pylons.

But think of it, the location of the city hall annex building would be a perfect place for a skyway station! It's right between the bars and taxis can sit and wait for costumers, they don't have to call and wait as they can just go across the street.

[fsujax]

nice picture of the crane! wish we had more of those Downtown!

[tufsu1]

I heard that the current courthouse and the city hall annex building are both set to come down sometime after the new courthouse opens.

I don't think that has been decided yet