Is Riverside/Avondale Ready For Mellow Mushroom?

[JeffreyS]

We ate at the brick for the forth of July and without having to circle the block or look around did what most people do. We parked in one of the open spaces directly in front and walked the 14 steps into the door.

[JeffreyS]

What's the problem again?

[RMHoward]

Forget Mellow Mush-shrune, what hoidy toidy Avondale needs are a few Dollar Generals, a Tractor Supply, an Aarons rental, and a buy-here/ pay-here car lot at the corner of Dancy and Park.  Maybe the flea market currently located on Blanding, by the ole drive-in could find a new Avondale location.  How bout moving Shep's from Normandy to Avondale?  Bring some real character to the place.

[goldy21]

We ate at the brick for the forth of July and without having to circle the block or look around did what most people do. We parked in one of the open spaces directly in front and walked the 14 steps into the door.

It was the Fourth of July. Avondale was empty because most people were at backyard barbeques.

[WmNussbaum]

To RMHoward: Your post indicates you have little idea what Avondale is. Yes, we have our multi-million dollar riverfront homes, but they are within a block of some 4-unit apartments (one with a limerock parking area in front), rental duplexes, and bungalows in the 5 figure range. It is what some of the gurus on this site would have to agree is eclectic. I can assure you that many of the not-so-hoity-toity are opposed to further nocturnal intrusion of inconsiderate parkers, whereas the riverfront owners probably don't care as much because they are further away.

No, we don't want crap businesses in the shopping area - places with the "character" you seem to think appropriate. The ambiance is fine like it is.

Once again, I see an example of someone who probably isn't directly affected by an issue telling those who are how to behave. Run or ruin your own neighborhood, but not mine, please and thank you.

[mtraininjax]

Run or ruin your own neighborhood, but not mine, please and thank you.

Amen, if you don't live in Avondale, you really have no dog in this fight, thanks for your 2 cents, but we as neighbors can come up with our own solutions.

[mtraininjax]

It was the Fourth of July. Avondale was empty because most people were at backyard barbeques.

Not entirely true as you can find places to park all around the shopping areas, if you look. Patience is the key word here, no this is not St. Johns Town Center, but one day someone will realize that valet is not a bad word and setup an operation for people. Perhaps that is coming soon?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

If there's one thing that I've started to realize from the arguments on this site is that no one wins. 

That being said, this is for you Avondale Parking Nazis (the rest of us already get it and don't need it explained at a 3rd grade level)

From the dairy case at the Roosevelt Publix to Zaxbys - a walk that many, many people make without even thinking about it, is the same as parking on Herschel to hit up the Shoppes.

Think about that for just a second....  The distance you walk if you park your car in an average spot at Target, go to Zaxby's for lunch, go shopping at Target and then get back in your car, you can park near Herschel and Van Wert, stroll through the park to the shoppes, not have the headache of 'circling the block' and you might not feel so GD guilty and order yourself a piece of pie after dinner.

What's the hurry anyhow?  West Wing has been off the air since '06/'07.... Isn't that what Netflix is for?

[JeffreyS]

We ate at the brick for the forth of July and without having to circle the block or look around did what most people do. We parked in one of the open spaces directly in front and walked the 14 steps into the door.

It was the Fourth of July. Avondale was empty because most people were at backyard barbeques.

Ate at Kickbacks last nigh at 7 parked across the street near walkers. About a one minute stroll to the front door. Drove by the brick about 8:45 several open parking spots. No this wasn't a busy time being a Monday night but imo all but a few hours on Friday and Saturday night aren't busy times. So why do anything to negatively impact the area because for a small amount of time during the week you might have to circle the block once to park and walk a few steps?

[cline]

Think about that for just a second....  The distance you walk if you park your car in an average spot at Target, go to Zaxby's for lunch, go shopping at Target and then get back in your car, you can park near Herschel and Van Wert, stroll through the park to the shoppes, not have the headache of 'circling the block' and you might not feel so GD guilty and order yourself a piece of pie after dinner.

Not only that but if you're walking from Target to Zaxby's you're walking through a hot parking lot.  Park at Herschel and Van Wert and you can have a tree shaded walk to the Shoppes almost the entire time.

[Tacachale]

Think about that for just a second....  The distance you walk if you park your car in an average spot at Target, go to Zaxby's for lunch, go shopping at Target and then get back in your car, you can park near Herschel and Van Wert, stroll through the park to the shoppes, not have the headache of 'circling the block' and you might not feel so GD guilty and order yourself a piece of pie after dinner.

Not only that but if you're walking from Target to Zaxby's you're walking through a hot parking lot.  Park at Herschel and Van Wert and you can have a tree shaded walk to the Shoppes almost the entire time.

Until the knock out a building to put in parking, that is.

[TPC]

Wow, 33 pages and still going.

OK, I live in Avondale so I guess I have a dog in this fight. To me this isn't a parking issue, it's a density issue. Some people in and around the area are not used to a lot of on street parking and walking a few blocks to grab a bite to eat. I don't have an issue at all with Mellow coming into the neighborhood, i'm actually looking forward to it. if it ads to on street parking, big whoop, it's totally legal.

[mtraininjax]

If there's one thing that I've started to realize from the arguments on this site is that no one wins. 

Actually, we will win one way or another, John has purchased the gas station, so it is in his best interest to do something more with it, than letting it sit and rot, which was the other plan from the previous owner, who originally wanted 4 million for it.

TPC - I live over here next to Grace Church, we get parking issues every Sunday and when the Grace'rs lease out the building for other use. Somehow we survive the crush of parking on the street. 

[tayana42]

Quote from someone earlier:
TILTs (Tax Increment Local Transfers) are a theoretical way that NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) homeowners can be bought off so that they stop blocking development via strict zoning, HOAs, lobbying city council, etc

I added the bold print to point out that this author is simply uninformed:  Riverside Avondale is THE MOST LENIENT neighborhood in the city for new development, with 50% of the parking requirements needed in other areas of Jacksonville.   

Yes, we are opposed to developers who want even further reductions in parking.  But please stop this whining about how we are blocking growth.  Obey the law and we're okay, thank you.

[strider]

Quote from someone earlier:
TILTs (Tax Increment Local Transfers) are a theoretical way that NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) homeowners can be bought off so that they stop blocking development via strict zoning, HOAs, lobbying city council, etc

I added the bold print to point out that this author is simply uninformed:  Riverside Avondale is THE MOST LENIENT neighborhood in the city for new development, with 50% of the parking requirements needed in other areas of Jacksonville.   

Yes, we are opposed to developers who want even further reductions in parking.  But please stop this whining about how we are blocking growth.  Obey the law and we're okay, thank you.

The issue here is that under the original overlay (law), Mellow Mushroom was not reducing the amount of parking.  That is why a new law was written increasing parking requirements to specifically block the type of growth Mellow Mushroom represented.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,15403.0.html

The best way to handle this is to post the facts. Unfortunately, the facts support the idea that the current leadership in Riverside is indeed against new growth they deem unworthy or that they fear.