Via the Daily Record! Latitude 30 downtown? Letter of Intent Signed!

[Captain Zissou]

DVI and the likes should immediately start talking to garage owners to work out an agreement for the valet service.  If parking is a concern, the city needs to alleviate that.

[ronchamblin]

This would definitely be a plus for the city core.  It would be a big draw for downtown, and would be just one more attraction to potential residents and businesses on deciding to move into the city core.  I just hope that the cost to get the building to code, and usable for their purpose, isn't going to push them away.

About a month ago, a real estate/banking individual naively thought I should look at the building to determine if it would be feasible for me to do a swap/cash deal to acquire the building by way of a trade, using my two smaller buildings near Hemming park, with the idea of expanding my book business, along with a larger café/coffee shop.  Initially, I held off, not wanting to entertain the idea, but finally decided to at least look at the building.

Me, he, and  Bill Cesery toured the entire building, looking at the basic structure, the assets and liabilities, talking of possibilities. Bill seemed quite enthused about the building. 

Structurally it’s basically good.  The roof is good.  It has a nice outside patio on an upper level on the south side.  The a/c will be expensive to get up to par.  The building has huge old style control room instruments related to a/c, power etc.  I expect that a new fire sprinkler system will have to be installed.  But the good thing is that the sprinklers could be installed exposed, making installation much cheaper.   

There is a huge open space between the lower and the second floor, which is sort of a waste of space, but could offer a nice ambiance with the right plan.

At the time, I understood that the building could be bought for about 1.5 million, there being a loan due of about 3.5 million, the bank taking a loss I presume.  The property taxes due, I think, was from two to three million.  I haven’t checked the Internet records of the city.

The cost to “do” the first floor would be close to a million, that is, if one is to have a/c and completely to code.  We walked the stairs.  I cannot remember if the elevators work.  I think so.  I think he said they would require some work however.   To “do” all four levels, which includes a basement, would take about $3 million or so.  So the cost of 1.5 million doesn’t really seem such a bargain.

In any case, about 15 minutes into the 45 minute tour, I realized that it was much too big a project for me unless a good amount of cash would come to me on the trade, along with some kind of assistance from the city. 

I do need more space for my bookstore/café operation.  However, given my limited resources, I’ll have to make do with what I have.  And too, I have come to like my little building on Laura, and the small, recently purchased, three-story building next door.  This winter, we will begin renovations on the building next door, making a total of six apartments on the 2nd and 3rd levels.  The architect is currently making the as-built drawings for the building so that we can determine the new layout. 

And too, I like being close to my friends at Hemming Park, both the beautiful trees and the people who make it interesting.  And I simply couldn’t survive being away from “Bitchin Jerry” at La Cena.

[fsujax]

Ron you are a great guy and I am so happy you opened up a store downtown. Great to hear that you need more space! I was just there Wednesday and bought two books!

[Debbie Thompson]

LOL, Ron.  Jerry does tend to see the clouds instead of the silver linings, doesn't he? 

I don't think $4.5 million total is so very much for an entertainment venue and corporate headquarters in one place. 

I never got to see the Klutho courthouse that this building replaced.  When I first saw the building when we moved here in the 1960's, I thought it looked cool and modern.  The tile mosaic was new and not missing the tiles that now look like missing teeth, and the fins were not dirty and gray, they were bright white.  It looked like a cool mid-century modern building.  If it's properly restored, I think it would be such a great venue for a great hang out like Latitude 30.  And I think it would encourage/complement a riverfront convention center nearby such as they are discussing, as well as other retail in the area.  It would give a real boost to the east end of the CBD.

[acme54321]

Wow, great news.  With this, the movement around the trio, and the mixed use going up in Brooklyn downtown should have some sizable construction action in 2013.  Hopefully it flies south and east San Marco gets going again!  That publix would be so nice to walk or bike to.

[JeffreyS]

Will be great with that big globe on top. The city needs to help make this happen.

[jcjohnpaint]

Ron I really love the space your in.  Great location and always a stop for me when I'm in downtown. 

Great news about this too!  Almost can't believe it.  I guess if the structure is good, it wouldn't be much more than building another site from the ground up. 

[BackinJax05]

Will be great with that big globe on top. The city needs to help make this happen.

Aww, Man! I wanted to see this building demolished like everything else downtown.

Now before you all get mad, Im only kidding.  This almost sounds too good to be true, especially the number of jobs that will be created. I hope to God this works.

Bless you, Latitude 30!

[ben says]

Hallelujah !!

[blizz01]

If they light that place up with relative neon like they used on the Southside location (+ the globe), I swear you'll see it from space!  Maybe.  Well, probably not.  But I do know that this will be HUGE HUGE HUGE.

[dougskiles]

I heard that Latitude 30 is working on (or already has) some kind of a deal with the NFL.  If that is the case, I could see them turning into the ESPN Zone of the late 90's.  Remember the buzz surrounding the Zone?

The globe on the roof would be AWESOME!  Need to start working on DDRB now to show strong community support for it.

Just imagine the primetime game aerial shots.

[Bill Hoff]

This is pretty darn awesome. Big, big, big. Fingers crossed it comes through!

[duvaldude08]

I heard that Latitude 30 is working on (or already has) some kind of a deal with the NFL.  If that is the case, I could see them turning into the ESPN Zone of the late 90's.  Remember the buzz surrounding the Zone?

The globe on the roof would be AWESOME!  Need to start working on DDRB now to show strong community support for it.

Just imagine the primetime game aerial shots.

I was just thinking the same thing. It is in very close proximity to the stadium. People already crowd the one on the southside on sunday. Imagine having one up the street and around the corner from the stadium. Man, I hate to get all Kim Daniels on everyone, but I am praying about this. This really needs to happen. LOL

[tufsu1]

I was just thinking the same thing. It is in very close proximity to the stadium. People already crowd the one on the southside on sunday. Imagine having one up the street and around the corner from the stadium.

I guess that's true...if you consider over a mile just up the street / around the corner

[Rynjny]

I was just thinking the same thing. It is in very close proximity to the stadium. People already crowd the one on the southside on sunday. Imagine having one up the street and around the corner from the stadium.

I guess that's true...if you consider over a mile just up the street / around the corner

Would be nice to have the skyway extended to the stadium..so excited about this!