EverBank Coming Downtown, Now What?

[fsujax]

you know, i read some where when this deal was announced, that the employees would be getting free parking. Everbank must be covering their employees parking. I really do not understand that thinking.

[thelakelander]

^If such a deal was offered, as a downtown office worker I'd take advantage of it if my company didn't cover my parking costs.

[fsujax]

I am sure many would Lake.

[cline]

I have no clue how these contracts work, but assuming the commercial rate is about $50/month in a garage

I don't know how the deals work but everyone in my office pays $90.95/month to park in the garage at Forsyth & Julia Streets.

Does your company offset those costs at all?  I know some do.

[thelakelander]

My company covers the costs 100%.

[BrooklynSouth]

The parking will be provided by EverBank for free because the relocated employees have free parking at their current locations in office parks. It would be like a pay cut to make employees start paying for parking. It makes sense for the present where employees are being surprised with the move.

The best way for everyone to handle this in the future would be if EverBank added a "parking subsidy" to their employees paychecks and then let them find their own parking. Then EverBank would be released from having long-term contracts with garages and employees could ride their bikes or buses to work and pocket the subsidies. But there might better security if these are designated as EverBank-only garages.

[tufsu1]

you know, i read some where when this deal was announced, that the employees would be getting free parking. Everbank must be covering their employees parking. I really do not understand that thinking.

When my company was looking to move to the downtown area, throwing parking into the lease deal was a must.

But here's a better idea....give all employees say $100 a month extra in their paychecks...then let them choose to spend it on parking, transit, or pocket the money and bike/walk to work.

Companies in most big cities do this....and I even know of a few in downtown Jax!

[fieldafm]

Some good reads:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employer_transportation_benefits_in_the_United_States

http://www.bestworkplaces.org/pdf/taxbenes_07.pdf

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p15b/ar02.html#en_US_publink1000193740

http://www.wmata.com/business/employer_fare_program/tax_advantages.cfm

[Gravity]

4 malls in downtown? Do that have stores in them?

[JeffreyS]

4 malls in downtown? Do that have stores in them?

They are in the BOA building(Gift shop, news store, Urban Grind and Bank ground floor restaurant closed but they do have the skyline cafe) Omni (a shop or two plus Juliette's) Everbank( stores shown in article and a large restaurant space with lots and lots of tables that can be reopened) and Wells Fargo (the best one, shops, restaurant, Barber, jeweler, Bank and occasionally a lobby bazaar) I guess you could count the are on the south side of hemming (jewelers, banks,  Kinkos, Scotty's, restaurants, shoes, and more). 

The malls in the builds particularly Wells Fargo are set up like Malls and have lots of space to rent if they can get the people in the doors.

[JeffreyS]

I forgot the Landing. How bad is that?

[John P]

Now What? I do not think the adminstration or council will puruse something as obtuse as better visibility. It is too subjective and the benefits of the time needed to promote it are not clear enough. The next step should be to strategize a plan for downtown revitalization instead of a mismash of whatever sticks. Dvi and Coj may already have a plan and if so the next step would be to follow through. I suspect the adminsitration or council will pursue things like the Laura street trio or drawing another large company into downtown which are both fine projects but large stand alone successes will not revitalize downtown. A plan needs to be followed. My suggestions would be formulate some sort of financial incentives for both large and small businesses, widen the alcohol exception area, and put together a top 10 list of goals with target dates and money needed. The approach needs to be systematic and I dont see anything at this time to make me think it will be. JEDC or its new equivilant will be needed push this.

[simonsays]

Probably worth pointing out there are other smart, exciting developments happening downtown. This thread motivated me to post about the 220 Riverside project (with which I am peripherally involved). The project is in Brooklyn (described elsewhere on this site as Downtown's last frontier”) and the vision is for an integrated development with housing, retail, and an entertainment venue, set in an urban park. 220 Riverside will bring much needed new amenities to Brooklyn and will increase downtown residency by 15 percent. I hope it spurs further downtown revitalization and breathes life into the corridor connecting downtown with Riverside//Avondale. The TU wrote an informative editorial about it:

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2012-04-08/story/park-development-urban-dream

metrojax piece on it:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-jan-220-riverside-coming-to-brooklyn

[fieldafm]

Probably worth pointing out there are other smart, exciting developments happening downtown. This thread motivated me to post about the 220 Riverside project (with which I am peripherally involved). The project is in Brooklyn (described elsewhere on this site as Downtown's last frontier”) and the vision is for an integrated development with housing, retail, and an entertainment venue, set in an urban park. 220 Riverside will bring much needed new amenities to Brooklyn and will increase downtown residency by 15 percent. I hope it spurs further downtown revitalization and breathes life into the corridor connecting downtown with Riverside//Avondale. The TU wrote an informative editorial about it:

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2012-04-08/story/park-development-urban-dream

metrojax piece on it:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-jan-220-riverside-coming-to-brooklyn

Simon makes a great point.  In my line of work, we are seeing unmistakable evidence of a move back to the core in most cities.  There is evident demand for people wanting to live in a mid-town type area.  Brooklyn fits that 'mid-town' definition.  I truly believe there is a large pent-up demand for this type of living in Jacksonville(look at the demand in low-rise residential near Five Points which is a more transitional area/in town neighborhood), the problem is that housing option just isn't available in Jacksonville. 

I think this project in particular (as it's a true form of integrated urban living, unlike the product being developed next door IE Pope and Land) will show that the demand is there for others to follow.  You see outside developers building similar types of faux-urban living at the Town Center b/c they feel it's more low risk being that it's across from the mall.  But with 220's success, I believe interest will pick up in the Brooklyn and East San Marco areas(both areas RIPE for TOD). 

Now, once a streetcar is put in place in that area, you'll send TREMENDOUS growth. 

[simonsays]

I would not disagree. For interest, here is the latest rendering for 220 Riverside: