What's going on with Baymeadows?

[second_pancake]

From Wikipedia.com...

Baymeadows
Baymeadows is a relatively affluent neighborhood centered around Baymeadows Road. It is situated south of Arlington (specifically, south of J. Turner Butler Boulevard) and east of Mandarin. A center for white-collar employment, it is home to many corporate office parks, upscale apartment complexes and residential developments, two private golf courses, several shopping centers and a large shopping mall.

Now, I don't know when that description was written and I've lived in Jax long enough to know there was some truth to that at one time, but what's happened to the area lately?

When the 9A connector was completed at the East end of Baymeadows, that area filled-up with national chain restaurants, high-end condos and upper-class housing subdivisions, leaving the west end of Baymeadows to slowly disenegrate.  Of course, there is also the opening of SJTC which diverted shoppers from The Avenues, further up Southside, and the uncertainty surrounding the Baymeadows Golf Course certainly plays a role.

If you drive down Baymeadows between Phillips Highway and Southside Blvd., you will see an area that appears to be falling apart.  The road is a mess (though the city recently came in and filled up a few potholes), there is no shoulder or bike lane at all, there are empty lots and vacant restaurants that have been that way for years. 

The long-term hotels that were once used by golf enthusiasts and business-men, are now home to very low-income families, some of which are up to no-good.  I've noticed the empty parking lots of the old golf club being used as drug-transaction stops and there is now a police officer working that area quite frequently.  There are places along the old golf path through the course, where I used to jog and ride my bike with the family, that I would really think twice about travelling now, and would NEVER be there after dark.

So, why do you think the city and businesses have overlooked this area of town?  Why hasn't more been done to fix the road along that area?  It seems to me that the prices are low enough to attract business, but the road just doesn't allow easy access.  How can the road be so great east of Southside and west of Phillips, but so completely crappy in the middle?

[Driven1]

there are 3 Baymeadows Rds really...

one is from I-95 to Southside Blvd.  it is close to as you describe. 

the 2nd is from Baymeadows Rd west to San Jose - new Adamec Harley, includes Baymeadows office complexes, decent restaurants, office parks (some bad strip malls though - it is Jax afterall), new Sleiman projects of BJs, Lowes, Al's Pizza, new center that houses Terra Nova, Chicago Pizza, La Nap, etc... and then mostly residential as you head to Goodbys Creek at San Jose.

the 3rd is from Southside EAST...that is all the new condos, gated communities, and Hamptons Glen residential...along with the relatively new Grade A elementary school...

i see the first one that you describe in transition - it is coming back definitely.  slowly but surely.  it does need a bike lane though...there in the 1st part.

[Jason]

The only problem with the section of Baymeadows you've described is that its not the "new thing" anymore.

[thelakelander]

Bingo.  The problem is outside of being "new" at one time, there is nothing special about the I-95 area of Baymeadows.  What has gone on with Baymeadows is no different then the situation with Emerson, University, Arlington Road or Norwood Avenue.  When the newness wears off, there's nothing of substance left to fall back on.  As the city continues to expand, today's new areas will also have to overcome what Baymeadows faces today.

However, there are some things going for Baymeadows that other areas don't have.  Its a high traffic corridor and large employment center sandwiched between established neighborhoods and Deerwood.  The chances for redevelopment are great (and its happening right now to some degree), but to fully comeback, the quality and style of what is being constructed will have to change from what made Baymeadows popular back in the 1980s.

[Beloki]

Exactly, its called the locust strategy: once a place is "used up" its cheaper to move to something new than to restore or improve. Especially here in Northeast Florida where there is so much surrounding space and low landvalue.

[Joe]

Never underestimate the negative impact of old sprawl. A lot of these buildings were constructed relatively cheaply. Once they pass their 30 year lifespan, things can go to hell really fast.

The West end of Baymeadows started to decline once all the apartment complexes became outdated. But its proximity to wealthy areas has tempered the decline, and prompted quick rehabs. 

Another big problem is just "next door" over on Sunbeam Road. There are 3 or 4 apartment complexes that are now 25-35 years old. They've become outdated, rents got lower, and a criminal element has started to move in. So now you're starting to see some robberies - and even shootings - that would have never happened in Mandarin 5 years ago. It's a slow process, but it's definitely happening.

[Driven1]

Never underestimate the negative impact of old sprawl. A lot of these buildings were constructed relatively cheaply. Once they pass their 30 year lifespan, things can go to hell really fast.

The West end of Baymeadows started to decline once all the apartment complexes became outdated. But its proximity to wealthy areas has tempered the decline, and prompted quick rehabs. 

Another big problem is just "next door" over on Sunbeam Road. There are 3 or 4 apartment complexes that are now 25-35 years old. They've become outdated, rents got lower, and a criminal element has started to move in. So now you're starting to see some robberies - and even shootings - that would have never happened in Mandarin 5 years ago. It's a slow process, but it's definitely happening.

that was insightful Joe...you are right on.  Sunbeam is where a majority of the criminal element in Mandarin is starting to come from.  there and the complex(es?) behind Office Depot...i believe that is Hartley.  you are also right that just FIVE years ago you would not have used the terms "criminal element" and "Mandarin" in the same sentence.

[Joe]

^ And the real estate boom was a big savior for the west end of Baymeadows. Two of the more run down apartment complexes were either renovated or converted to condos. Plus you have those two luxury condo developments that at least started construction.

But for Sunbeam, the old apartments will keep declining through the down market. Hopefully, someone will be interested in renovating or doing a condo conversion once the market improves. We just have to hope that the neighborhood still has a tolerable reputation once the market does come back.

[Driven1]

pulling up Sunbeam will be that golf course going on the landfill...i agree though, still too many negatives for that area right now for it to turn.

[CS Foltz]

Bay Meadows Golf course was bought by DR Horton to build upon....homes,townhomes and apartment and all high dollar. For DR Horton that is. The local area banded together and managed to put that on hold,current economy has a part also. Front nine is tentatively programed to be controled by the Lutheran High School and may become a Golf Teach Academy pending being bought by the School or BayMeadows Community Council...that is still pending but a possibility. Traffic access is biggest obstacle for anything being done since there is not any. No room to widen Bay Meadows currently and FDOT has no vision for something viable other than plans to really bollix the area north of 95 to 9A....time will tell for sure.