Metro Jacksonville Rail Plan Already Spurring Development?

[thelakelander]

This area is NO Charlotte and it's NO Austin.

Btw, the Austin image is of the Satillo Lofts project.  That particular area of Austin is no panacea.  The city is taking advantage of the new rail metrorail line to renovate this blighted industrial area into a transit oriented development district centered around a new rail stop.

All is quiet on a Sunday morning on the 11 acres of trash-strewn open space formerly called the rail yard, now more elegantly dubbed the Saltillo District. Not even the squawking of chickens in surrounding back yards disrupts the solitude, though one can always hear the whoosh of speeding cars on nearby I-35. Trailers are lined up north to south; aside from the tracks that still poke through both the paved streets and the brush, most of the signs that this was once a railroad corridor are long gone. On one block, a stack of broken wood lies with plastic soda bottles and other litter near the street. To the south of the next block is a junkyard with piles of discarded fans and metal furniture. The paint of a nearby graffiti mural depicting two cartoonish boys slowly chips away with age.

full article: Here Comes the Neighborhood - www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:165619

[southwood]

In essence, that's all we're saying. Close River Oaks at the RR tracks.

Develop Phillips in a smart way, and funnel the traffic down streets that are wide enough to handle it: Phillips, Atlantic, Emerson, St. Augustine. Shifting all of the traffic burden of this onto the small neighboring streets isn't safe and isn't smart.

[southwood]

This area is NO Charlotte and it's NO Austin.

Btw, the Austin image is of the Satillo Lofts project.  That particular area of Austin is no panacea.  The city is taking advantage of the new rail metrorail line to renovate this blighted industrial area into a transit oriented development district centered around a new rail stop.

full article: Here Comes the Neighborhood - www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:165619

VERY interesting piece....thanks for sharing.

Ya know what stood out in my read of it...how the city of Austin involved the community in the planning of this revitalization. The article's author used the word "partnership" to describe the relationship between the residents, city and developers. 

Sadly for us, there's one of the major differences between Austin and Jax.  At this point, Jackson Sq. at San Marco looks to be a prime example of a major neighborhood redevelopment initiative that has been created and, as we're learning, almost executed without any direct community involvement.

If this is the first phase in a major city-sponsored revitalization of Phillips Hwy, it would make sense for the city to approach it that way and get neighbors/taxpayers engaged and involved. But that doesn't appear to be the case here. 

Another thing that's interesting to many of us is how this hasn't even received a whiff of interest from the T-U or Folio. Someone is buying up/taking over homes on Mitchell Avenue and closing that street now, they are demo'ing the Jerry Hamm property and have put up a big, pretty sign (with a scene of the San Marco gazebo and fountain) with a website for info (www.jacksonsquareatsanmarco.com).

Yet no media have even wondered what's going on there, who's being affected, what the city's role in this is, what the taxpayer impact will be...there's a JEA pumping station in that area, there's a railroad crossing that will need to be upgraded or closed, there are traffic lights and street realignment (with property that will need to be bought by the city or the developer for the road realignment) -- who pays for all of this?

Will they only get interested when it's on the city council's agenda?  Just curious.

[thelakelander]

Great points.  It is pretty amazing and unfortunate that the TU or Folio hasn't picked up on what seems like it will be a major development.

[JeffreyS]

I wish the city and the developer would go ahead and publicly solicit and address concerns like Southwood's.

[ProjectMaximus]

I wish the city and the developer would go ahead and publicly solicit and address concerns like Southwood's.

Agreed. I'm all for development but the concerns of the residents in the area should be of high consideration.

[Charles Hunter]

Ugh.  Hope their website improves.  Construction with "Ks"?
I notice their map doesn't highlight the new signal they propose at their entrance off Philips.
And I still say the chances of a Skyway extension to Jackson Square (what a lame name - this isn't New Orleans) are somewhere between "nil" and "never".  Also, the BRT coming I-95 to Philips, diverting into this development, then back onto Philips is a dumb idea, too.  Maybe if the BRT used the FEC corridor from Kings Avenue station to this development, then went out onto Philips, that would make sense.  If the BRT is along Philips at that point, the stop will be along Philips, not in the back.  If you were riding to/from The Avenues or Mandarin on the BRT, would you want to waste time going several blocks off the route for this one stop?

I think I agree with the concerns above - close the RR crossing at River Oaks as a condition of this development.  And am concerned about making White Avenue a major corridor, with a new light on Atlantic.

[southwood]

Update on timing (from Councilman Shad's office today):

2008-563 will be introduced at Council on Tuesday, 7/22/08, not 8/12/08.  This does not affect any of the other dates.

Anyone who's been through this before able to explain what to expect at the introduction?

[Steve]

The City Council Section on COJ.net will be more exact, but here is a bried synopsis:

When a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee (this one should be assigned to Land Use and Zoning, referred to as LUZ).  The committee meets during the working day, but really is your best opportinity to get your voice heard.  Once it gets out of committee (Assuming it is approved, think of it like a train going 60 miles an hour and you are a car about a mile and a half ahead sitting on the tracks), it will probably get through the full council.  Only once have I seen a land use bill get passed by LUZ and voted down by the full committee (I'm sure it happens, but it is rare)

This is a quick synopsis, but this should help.

[southwood]

Great info, thanks.

So, based on the schedule we've gotten -- public hearings at Council on 8/26, at Planning Commission on 8/28 and at the Land Use & Zoning (LUZ) Committee on 9/3 -- we shoot for all three?

[Steve]

Great info, thanks.

So, based on the schedule we've gotten -- public hearings at Council on 8/26, at Planning Commission on 8/28 and at the Land Use & Zoning (LUZ) Committee on 9/3 -- we shoot for all three?

It depends - what is your goal?

[southwood]

I guess it's three-tiered:
1. Get facts about what actually is going in the multi-use facility
2. Learn more about the city's plans with transit associated with the development (BRT?)
3. Voice concern about the traffic impact on the small neighborhood streets that surround the development.

[thelakelander]

I'd recommend shooting for all three. Each board has different members.

[thelakelander]

First reported here, back in early March 2008, the TU will have a story on this development in tomorrow's paper.

New mixed-use development in works along Philips Highway
Posted: Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 2:37 pm
By LIZ FLAISIG
The Times-Union

A new mixed-use development has been proposed for 18 acres along Philips Highway near its intersection with Atlantic Boulevard.

Jackson Square at San Marco is being designed by Basham & Lucas Design Group as a transit-oriented development that would connect residents and pedestrians with buses and other modes of transportation.

FirstStar Development’s plans for the community include 900 multifamily rental units, retail and office space.

See jacksonville.com, for updates and Friday’s Times-Union.

http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2008/07/31/new-mixed-use-development-in-works-along-philips-highway/

[Jason]

The story was covered on First Coast News a night or two ago.