"The Library"

[thelakelander]

Burrito Gallery owner and Main Branch LLC partner Tony Allegretti said he expects the demolition permits for the old main library any day. When asked when the renovations to the mixed-use project will be done, Allegretti said his on-the-record response is, “before the courthouse is done.”

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=49454

[fpj]

Burrito Gallery owner and Main Branch LLC partner Tony Allegretti said he expects the demolition permits for the old main library any day. When asked when the renovations to the mixed-use project will be done, Allegretti said his on-the-record response is, “before the courthouse is done.”

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=49454

Mixed use?  I thought I heard/read/oujia'ed that they were just doing the commercial/retail spaces and postponing the living spaces "until market conditions improve."

[Lucasjj]

Anyone know the status on this? The same signs have been up in there during the Art Walk for months now, but nothing has seemed to change.

[blizz01]

The bidding just closed about a month ago - I'm not sure what contactor has been awarded the job, however.  The details provided by Auld & White were as follows: Renovate existing four-story Hayden Burns Library for mixed use development. Work Includes site utilities and lift station, selective demolition, substantial plumbing, mechanical and electrical upgrades, tenant demising walls and various finish improvements.

[Jason]

Any activity yet?

[thelakelander]

Nope.

[RiversideGator]

Credit crunch.

[RiversideGator]

BTW, it looks like Jerry Moran may have been prophetic on this topic.

[jeh1980]

I have heard during the latest Art Walk that they will start the renovation within a couple of months from now. I can't wait!

[mtraininjax]

The Main Branch folks are lovely people.  I just hate to see their time and efforts tied up in something that is probably not going to happen.  Ditto for the City.  Atkins and Vestcor had the right idea for the real estate.

Jerry for Mayor!!!!!

Main Branch peeps are nice, but living in fantasyland. Downtown is dead for residential, and commercial is the next shoe to follow - We are going to see more businesses, if there are any left, continue to fail, unless people spend like they do at every art walk, every day downtown. The market they needed was 2 years ago. The City is cutting more and more costs as it is, every department was told last week to look for 10% savings, and it will get worse as this economy drags on.

They have a nice art deco shell that will sit dormant/empty for at least 2-3 years, unless you can prove to me that they will have enough sales every day, to keep tenants in the building. It's darn hard for the bridge to stay alive as it is.