Live blogging DDRB Review of Parador Garage

[fieldafm]

Getting started here.  Unless I speak (for the third time),doesnt look like anyone from the public will oppose. 

Talking right now about the overland pedestrian bridge at the Courthouse... this has been discussed for close to two years now.

Goes to show you how out of whack priorities are around here.  Retail-less, tax subsidized parking garage will probably be greenlighted... while a pedestrian bridge gets drawn out with no end in site

[fieldafm]

As was not the case at the previous meeting, all board members are here today.

$750k savings based on modified design of pedesttrian bridge at Courthouse.  Will use precast concrete.  It looks Jacksonville-rific!

[fieldafm]

Parador has an increased presence here from previous meetings.

[fieldafm]

I wore an even nicer blue shirt today than at the Context Sensitive Streets subcommittee yesterday... unfortunately, there are no women here to impress.  My cold blooded bravado has been wasted on this sausage fest.

[fieldafm]

Pedestrian bridge presentations (of which I have now seen 6) are about as thrilling as watching paint dry.  You almost wish Kim Daniels was here to spell up some demons on this meeting.

Roland Undanze asking questions about treatment of windows on pedestrian bridge.... complete with sketch of what he means doodled on his notes.

jonathan=  "looks like subway car"

Chris Flagg= 'are we rendered useless, we already had a final decision months ago?'  JAson Teal says they do have to come back to board, they are looking for more guidance b/c they have been through so many revisions.  State historic preservation office also needs to sign off.

This is high stakes, drama.

[fieldafm]

Parador guys look upbeat and happy, they should be... about to get half their construction costs as a gift from taxpayers.

[Tacachale]

No one's going to speak against this? Get it done, Mike!

[fsujax]

what a waste. If I were Flagg I would just resign. Cant wait till they spend an hour talking about the purple Aetna sign.

[fieldafm]

A rash of yawns have started infecting the room.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Blue shirt?  Isn't there some plaid that you could wear?   

[fieldafm]

And we're off, here comes the parking saviors!

NRW, its blue plaid

[fieldafm]

Design has not changed in any signifigance from last meeeting.  Looks like they put up some faux window boxes and increased the width of the sidewalks somewhat.

[fieldafm]

BTW Simms.... you will MOST definately see this beauty from the river.

[fieldafm]

Chris Holmes, the project's architect, mainly designs buildings and garages in suburban office parks... as an FYI

[fieldafm]

"There has been a VAST array of changes from the original proposal"