Park View Inn To be Demolished,

[thelakelander]

“The garage was deemed stable,” according to Robert Vergnolle Jr., project manager of the Park View Inn project. “It served as the foundation for the rest of the hotel.”

The parking that will be kept includes two stories above ground, plus an underground level.

“The building was built to support cars,” said Brenda Boydston, executive director of the Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council. “It could support an entertainment venue and housing.”

But according to Vergnolle, the most likely scenario is a combination of parking with retail stores along the Main Street facade.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-07-06/story/downtown-park-view-inn-coming-down-redevelopment-next

[Timkin]

I don't champion demolition.  Ever.  The Park View Inn in its heyday was quite lovely.  I love looking at the pictures and postcards.  The rooftop pool and garden was beautiful.  It's unfortunate it was not protected from the elements and restored into a hotel, condos, something.  It is what it is.  I went by to "grab something" (i.e. a block) but they were still working at 8:30 p.m. 

Having observed a 2-story residential demoliton from beginning to end take place on Ionia, it is a long and slow process. 

Personally, I won't attend any kind of celebratory party that has been mentioned on other blogs.  Rather I will quitely say good-bye to a building abandoned and forgotten and terribly hated. 

The postcard pictures I have seen of it when it was the Heart of Jacksonville Hotel depict a really beautiful chapter for the building. It is unfortunate that it was not preserved over the years, and followed suit of most of the other Hotels in downtown.

[iMarvin]

What are they going to build there?

Drug store and other retail and the parking garage will stay.

Thanks. Does anyone have renderings?

[duvaldude08]

Here it is

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-dec-the-park-view-pavilion-coming-soon

[fsujax]

i hope they follow through on their revelopment plans and not just leave it as an empty parking garage. The place has been a terrible eyesore for far too long.

[iMarvin]

Here it is

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-dec-the-park-view-pavilion-coming-soon

Looks nice

[Dapperdan]

Has there been any news of any retail or is it all awaiting the parking garage to be finished before any reatil makes commitments?

[duvaldude08]

I was told in a thread a few weeks ago that it will include a CVS.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

To me it will always and forever be the "Heart of Jacksonville" Hotel and Lounge; had some fiery, steamy nights in that thing for 2 decades or more!

"HU"

Funny you call it that.  My family owned and operated a Heart of Charleston Motel during the mid-late 60's thru the early 80's near Market St. 

It was really cool as a kid, hanging out in g'mas penthouse, using the pool, sitting in the card room watching the old guys do thier old guy thing and generally running amock in a bit of history that I would really like to have for myself today.  Knowing what I do today of my family's history, I can only imagine the Cosa Nostra types that were hanging around - very Goodfellas'ish.  I believe that one was demo'd in the late 80's / early '90's

[RWNeal]

I found it so hard to believe that no one tried to refurbish the property for the Super Bowl. They could have made most of their money back on gouging people for rooms and parties that week.

[thelakelander]

They did.  Around 2004, a client of mine, looked at demolishing the property and building a highrise apartment tower on the site, which would have included a Walgreens on the corner.  He ended up walking after getting concerned about ground contamination.

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

I don't champion demolition.  Ever.  The Park View Inn in its heyday was quite lovely.  I love looking at the pictures and postcards.  The rooftop pool and garden was beautiful.  It's unfortunate it was not protected from the elements and restored into a hotel, condos, something.  It is what it is.  I went by to "grab something" (i.e. a block) but they were still working at 8:30 p.m. 

Having observed a 2-story residential demoliton from beginning to end take place on Ionia, it is a long and slow process. 

Personally, I won't attend any kind of celebratory party that has been mentioned on other blogs.  Rather I will quitely say good-bye to a building abandoned and forgotten and terribly hated. 

+quite a large number.  thank you.  i'll miss it, and i'm sad that i never managed to get into it (well, not since it closed, anyway).

[Tacachale]

Has there been any news of any retail or is it all awaiting the parking garage to be finished before any reatil makes commitments?

According the the FTU, the project manager just said "the most likely scenario is a combination of parking with retail stores along the Main Street facade." Doesn't sound like a firm commitment on retail to me.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-07-06/story/downtown-jacksonvilles-park-view-inn-coming-down-redevelopment-next#ixzz1RSFF01Yo

[Coolyfett]

To me it will always and forever be the "Heart of Jacksonville" Hotel and Lounge; had some fiery, steamy nights in that thing for 2 decades or more!

"HU"

thats........um nevermind

[duvaldude08]

^^ I have friend who has had some experiences as well LOL He told me a few stories tonight LMAO But I think the park view closing also had a positive effect on confederate park. The park was known for prostitution (women and transsexuals). They would pick their men up at the park and take them back to the hotel. I Noticed since the park view has closed, the prostitution seems non existent. (or they just relocated) On my way to the pearl one night I actually seen a cop parked across the street from the park. its good to see this area get cleaned up.