Riverside YMCA Plans to be Released Friday

[urbaknight]

I suggested to the Y that they open their own smoothies shop inside their facility in order to generate more money of it's own. I'd love a nutritious fruit smoothie after a good workout!

I agree with the idea of putting parking between the Y and a a building on Riverside ave. The Riverside ave building should be a highrise apartment building, not condos but rentals with parking hidden from view.

[Roger904]

I suggested to the Y that they open their own smoothies shop inside their facility in order to generate more money of it's own. I'd love a nutritious fruit smoothie after a good workout!

They used to have exactly what you describe - a smoothie bar with healthy lunches, drinks, etc.  I guess it didn't turn a profit.

[funwithteeth]

Hey, I second smoothies. The Brooks Y has a juice bar, though I believe it's a left-over from when it was still just a Brooks facility.

[aubureck]

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-10-19/story/ymca-announces-21-million-riverside-y-replace-current-building

By Beth Reese Cracey
After years of planning, the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast has kicked off an aggressive plan to fund a $21 million three-story showplace to replace the aging Riverside branch, expand services throughout neighboring areas and help rejuvenate downtown.
The 80,000-square-foot, glass-fronted complex will be built on vacant riverfront property behind the current branch, which is on Riverside Drive near the Acosta Bridge. When construction is complete, the old building will be torn down and replaced with surface parking.
The expanded space will allow the branch to offer literacy, healthy habits, summer learning and leadership programs to 5,000 area children. Also, the Y will partner with the medical community to provide wellness and health-care programs for 25,000 people in the Westside, Eastside and downtown.
The announcement was made at a luncheon Thursday, set up under a large white tent on what will become the construction site.
“I envision the Jaguars 10-0, on Monday Night Football, this dramatic view from the bridges,” said Eric K. Mann, executive director of the First Coast YMCA, to a few laughs. “But at the end of the day, I want this facility to be about people, to make people proud, about putting our stake in the ground.”
The Y’s headquarters staff, currently housed on the Southside, will move to the new Riverside branch.
The Times-Union will be updating this story.
Beth Reese Cravey: (904) 359-4109


Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-10-19/story/ymca-announces-21-million-riverside-y-replace-current-building#ixzz29m9l9pfG

[ben says]

So let me get this straight...surface parking facing the street? 

I mean I'm glad they're moving their Southside location to the Core, but wtf?

[thelakelander]

Lol, Welcome to Jacksonville.  We're still learning the importance of pedestrian scale design.  Hopefully, the layout will be improved once they start working with DDRB or DIA.

[ben says]

Lol, Welcome to Jacksonville.  We're still learning the importance of pedestrian scale design.  Hopefully, the layout will be improved once they start working with DDRB or DIA.

I see you added "hopefully" the layout will be improved.

Let's be serious....do we have a reason to be hopeful? What's the likely outcome? Something tells me when an organization like the Y spends thousands on plans for a $21 million dollar renovation, they're not going to want to spend more $$ to change what they already see as a good design.

[duvaldude08]

Whats funny is, they are bringing it closer to the river, and further away from the street! haha

[thelakelander]

Lol, Welcome to Jacksonville.  We're still learning the importance of pedestrian scale design.  Hopefully, the layout will be improved once they start working with DDRB or DIA.

I see you added "hopefully" the layout will be improved.

Let's be serious....do we have a reason to be hopeful? What's the likely outcome? Something tells me when an organization like the Y spends thousands on plans for a $21 million dollar renovation, they're not going to want to spend more $$ to change what they already see as a good design.

To be honest, I seriously doubt they have a set of construction documents ready to go to permitting.  At best, they probably have some conceptual drawings and pretty renderings to help raise money to construct it.  So there will be a design review process at some point.  It will ultimately be up to the DDRB or DIA to decide if they'll grant approval of a plan that doesn't comply with the area's guidelines.

[cayohueso]

I was a lifeguard at Yates in the early 90's and the facility was pretty well "seasoned" (old) back then. We had a fire about '94 and they subsequently renovated a lot of the downstairs and office area, added a lunch counter etc. and it was somewhat improved. It is a great location and I'm glad to see that they will expand and modernize an already popular downtown/Riverside attraction.

[dougskiles]

This is going to be just like Parador.  DDRB will express disapproval with the poor connection to Riverside Avenue.  Then some drawings will be provided that shows how the parking lot will be replaced someday with a parking structue and street level retail.  Will it happen when the Y reaches 65% membership?

And here is the great irony...  An organization that is promoting healthy lifestyles is buildng a facility that ignores all of the design aspects that would promote healthy access.  I wonder if we can get the Health Planning Council to weigh in on this design?

The one difference is that because the Mayor is not a supporter of the project, Office of Economic Development, will likely not be lobbying DDRB to approve the layout.

[ben says]

The one difference is that because the Mayor is not a supporter of the project, Office of Economic Development, will likely not be lobbying DDRB to approve the layout.

Good point

[thelakelander]

This is going to be just like Parador.  DDRB will express disapproval with the poor connection to Riverside Avenue.  Then some drawings will be provided that shows how the parking lot will be replaced someday with a parking structue and street level retail.  Will it happen when the Y reaches 65% membership?

Maybe it's time to lobby for a change in the make up of the DDRB or for rolling it into the DIA.

[dougskiles]

This is going to be just like Parador.  DDRB will express disapproval with the poor connection to Riverside Avenue.  Then some drawings will be provided that shows how the parking lot will be replaced someday with a parking structue and street level retail.  Will it happen when the Y reaches 65% membership?

Maybe it's time to lobby for a change in the make up of the DDRB or for rolling it into the DIA.

It will be interesting to see how the groups are coordinated.  I'm not sure I like the idea of DDRB operating under the control of DIA.  Ideally DDRB will be isolated from the motivations that will naturally exist within DIA to push a project through.  DDRB should have one purpose - to maintain design quality for Downtown.  The moment they get entangled in the politics of trying to get a project approved, they lose their purpose.

[thelakelander]

Then it would make more sense to attempt to modify the make up of the DDRB with individuals that truly understand the importance of quality design at the pedestrian scale level.  Right now, I'm not sure the DDRB (as a whole) has this understanding.