Retail-less Parador Parking Garage Up For DDRB Appoval

[Jdog]

And they're based in Jacksonville?

Sad, very sad, commentary. 

[Ocklawaha]

"Make no little plans - they have no magic to stir mens hearts!"

About this plan:

It will become a gathering place for empty automobiles.

At 10 am, 2 pm or 4 am, you'll be able to hear your own heart beating while standing in the middle of this thing.

Parador hasn't discovered 'paint'.

The building isn't neo-classical, not art deco, not ultra modern, in fact it's not anything at all.

They think they've tossed us a bone to call off the guards? 

Hardly, but this will test the will and resolve of our city's officialdom, or will it be another case of 'officialdumb?'

[JaxArchitect]

This design is horrific!  It is completely unimaginative and sophomoric and needs to be rejected......and don't even get me started about the "future retail."  We all know that this is a euphemism for "retail that will never happen."  We don't need to limit our possibilities to the typical precast concrete facade, although I understand its merits in terms of cost.  There are countless examples of well designed cost-effective parking garages we could all cite. A site such as this deserves better!

[Tacachale]

I won't be able to make it, but will there be an opportunity for comment? If so, would anyone be willing to read a brief letter for me?

[dougskiles]

Yes and I am happy to read the letter.  Send me a PM - but do it quick because I am walking out the door shortly.

[Debbie Thompson]

I can't get off work to go to the meeting.  Anything with taxpayer money needs to satisfy the obligation to the Landing that was promised when it was built, or that will come up again and again.  It needs retail now, agree it won't be built later.  Who do they think they are kidding?

[urbaknight]

What's with the storm water vault? Can they at least recycle the water collected and use it to water the lawns in the dead space? And will they actually cut the grass once in a while? LOL

[JaxNative68]

its not surprising.  afterall it is Haskell, who is in bed with the city of jax and has no real designers working for them.  could this be anymore wallet driven by them?  bland design by Haskell, cheaply constructed by Haskell, and big profits from the city for Haskell.

[Rocshaboc]

Here's my 2 cents. Aw-ful. Prime location downtown gets that?

[fsujax]

Any update on what happend at the meeting today?

[Ocklawaha]

Yeah they voted to keep the plan as-is and dedicate the entire ground floor to a streetcar barn / museum complex...

Yeah Right! @!%@$#^%!$!%#%!

Really? Anyone heard anything?

Whats say if this is approved, one of you run for the tar bucket and I'll start a low fire... Who's in charge of feathers?

[I-10east]

I must admit, I'm definitely not a parking garage aficionado, so hopefully that's some solace from my first comment. It does look better than the original proposal, can I atleast get that much? Let me stop while I'm ahead. *Angry mob with pitchforks and torches continue to march down Independent Drive* LOL 

[thelakelander]

I think the main issues are its a bad use for the site (which is out of the DDRB's control) and that its horrible at street level because it permanently cements a large pedestrian dead zone in the heart of downtown (the DDRB does have control over this).

[vicupstate]

I must admit, I'm definitely not a parking garage aficionado, so hopefully that's some solace from my first comment. It does look better than the original proposal, can I atleast get that much? Let me stop while I'm ahead. *Angry mob with pitchforks and torches continue to march down Independent Drive* LOL 

The fact of the matter is, as much room for improvement as there is, which is a lot, if built, it WOULD be nicer than any garage in Jacksonville today. 

Frankly, I don't think a garage even with retail should go there.  The site is just too important.  Is the city in any way REQUIRED to spend this $3.5mm on a garage for this building?  If not, it should spend it on the Laura Trio or some other project, and just wait for the market to build something better on this site.  Without the subsidy, I doubt the numbers would work to build a garage without office space included. 

[edjax]

Any updates?  I mean it is over 4 hours after meeting started. I would think that a site dedicated to the issues of downtown would have an update by now on an issue of such importance. Guess not