San Marco Publix project still alive

[Captain Zissou]

This about sums it up ...

Another of Jacksonville's historic urban neighborhoods, Avondale, has a track record of fighting commercial development. Most recently, a retail-and-apartment redevelopment of the St. Johns Village project on Fishweir Creek has gone through six months of negotiations with residents, and historic preservation activist Wayne Wood was recently quoted in the Florida Times-Union as describing the project as "monstrous."

Avondale's ire over a Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers at the corner of Ingleside and St. Johns avenues delayed that project by more than a year.

[deathstar]

This is wonderful news. I know across the river, residents have had to travel quite a ways to get  their groceries. Sometimes, the faithful Publix shoppers will go to their favorite stores, even if they're well out of the way. I would greatly consider transferring to this store if the opportunity and timing were right. I really should ask one of the big wigs what they know about a timetable for an opening the next time I see them.

[mtraininjax]

Publix is the Florida grocery store. I would not step foot in a Dirty Dixie if I was starving!

[thelakelander]

I really should ask one of the big wigs what they know about a timetable for an opening the next time I see them.

This article says if everything goes right with the rezoning, it should be completed in late 2015/early 2016.

Carey said he felt the San Marco residents present at Thursday evening's town hall meeting responded "favorably," and that in the coming weeks, he plans to file with the city requests for a land-use change and a change to the planned unit development to accommodate more residential unit than previously planned. The PUD would also cover changes to the original design.

If those changes are approved, Carey said, he'll close in the spring, break ground by fall 2014 and complete the project in late 2015 or early 2016.

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/morning-edition/2013/10/behind-the-scenes-of-san-marco-deal.html?page=2

[ProjectMaximus]

In the past, you've mentioned the idea of a TIF  (Tax Increment Finance) District to help cover the costs of a potential Skyway expansion into San Marco. 

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=18483.0

Do you think that is an idea that this development group could get behind?

They would be fools not to support it because it wouldn't cost them any extra.  JTA really needs to be the driver of the TIF concept because the funds generated would be used mostly to extend the transit line into the neighhorhood.  I don't believe this is on JTA's radar at the moment.

How could we get it on their radar?

[MusicMan]

"In my opinion, a grocery store would seal the deal for me that San Marco is the most desirable neighborhood in Jax."

Simms, have you ever actually lived in San Marco?  It has two BIG problems that will never go away, and which have a direct impact on quality of life. Train crossings running right through several parts of the neighborhood, which can really screw up traffic flow and are completely outside the realm of control, and the flooding. It is bad over there close to the river and I got news for you, it's only going to get worse. There are street in San Marco that flood with a high tide, they don't need a storm to make it happen. I agree it is one of the more desirable places, but Riverside-Avondale will always be a notch or two above. Memorial Park, Five Points, Park and King, The Shoppes of Avondale, FSCJ, The Cummer Museum, the list goes on, and we already have a Publix.

(That being said, I did just invest in a little property over there, and I am happy with my results.)

[tufsu1]

Many of the flooding problems have been minimized with the new drainage installed as part of the rebuilding of San Marco Blvd.

And last time I checked, Riverside-Avondale also has train tracks running alongside the neighborhood

[Tacachale]

^And flooding...

As someone who lives 2 houses from the tracks I don't see them as much of a problem. Especially if you work on the Southside, the traffic is negligible compared to coming from farther away over the bridge. Both neighborhoods have their strengths, I wouldn't regard these as as notable weaknesses.

[acme54321]

Haters gon hate.

[Ocklawaha]

Publix is the Florida grocery store. I would not step foot in a Dirty Dixie if I was starving!

Obviously never stepped foot in the 'Winn Dixie' on S.R. 210 (...and many others around town) their rebuild/remodel program has been excellent. The unit on S.R. 210 includes a cheese shop as big as the Riverside Publix bakery, they buy the cheeses in every form from the four corners of the globe, have tastings, samples, etc... Amazing and GOOD!

[edjax]

Bumping this thread as a discussion on it in the Urban Update thread.  It was noted that public hearing signs have been posted recently. Question if these are the result of it being changed from condos to apartments and therefore a change in the number of units??

[Tacachale]

^Since the previous plan involving condos was a PUD, they need to get the land use and PUD altered to change to the plan (ie, to have apartments, and more units, than the old plan). That will involve public hearings and could take a while, especially if there's opposition. But so far most neighborhood folks have been pretty supportive, so hopefully it will go ahead smoothly.

[Charles Hunter]

If the number of units were the same, would the change from "condo" to "apartment" require amending the PUD, with attendant hearings and such?

[Tacachale]

Yes, I'm pretty sure any change requires amending the PUD.

[acme54321]

As long as there is a Publix in San Marco the neighborhood isn't going to complain unless they drastically change the original plan.