Good San Marco news

[SunKing]

So Sunking, Hurricane wings is too far away from the square to include in the list, but you are considering the Roosevelt square mall in your definition of Riverside/Avondale? That seems fair.

Um I don't recall mentioning Roosevelt Mall.  Its not something I would have even brought to the conversation.  Like Panera and Hurricanes.

[Tacachale]

So Sunking, Hurricane wings is too far away from the square to include in the list, but you are considering the Roosevelt square mall in your definition of Riverside/Avondale? That seems fair.

Um I don't recall mentioning Roosevelt Mall.  Its not something I would have even brought to the conversation.  Like Panera and Hurricanes.

What specifically has been done right?  Even in our part of town, we tend to prefer our chain restaurants in our two Publix shopping centers.

[SunKing]

Perhaps i was too subtle in my sarcasm.  Next time i will reserve it for folks who understand the difference between a Hurricane Wings and say a Salty Fig.

[thelakelander]

Quick name a new restaurant or bar in San Marco?

^New? Aardwolf, Maple Street Biscuit Company, Mezze Bar & Grill, Hurricane Grill is currently expanding and a new Panera is under construction....

I was the one who mentioned Hurricane Grill in response to SunKing's request to quickly name a new restaurant or bar in San Marco.  I wasn't aware that certain restrictions applied in the definition of what a new restaurant or bar actually is. 

So Salty Fig is a restaurant and Hurricane Grill isn't?  Do you consider Aardwolf's tap room a type of bar?

[Bridges]

Quick name a new restaurant or bar in San Marco?

^New? Aardwolf, Maple Street Biscuit Company, Mezze Bar & Grill, Hurricane Grill is currently expanding and a new Panera is under construction....

I was the one who mentioned Hurricane Grill in response to SunKing's request to quickly name a new restaurant or bar in San Marco.  I wasn't aware that certain restrictions applied in the definition of what a new restaurant or bar actually is. 

So Salty Fig is a restaurant and Hurricane Grill isn't?  Do you consider Aardwolf's tap room a type of bar?

Sunking has defined their own rules about what makes an area more successful than another area.  Of course,  the same rules don't apply to the areas.  Hurricanes can be dismissed cause it's a "chain".  R/A can apparently stretch the whole area, Five points to Park and King, but you can't count Aardwolf in San Marco, despite the fact that it is the same distance from the square as Intuition is from Pele's.  In fact, Hurricanes is just barely further from the square than Kickbacks is from Pele's.  And Grape and Grain and Parlour can only count as 1 bar, Indochine taking over Square One probably doesn't count since the 2 locations make it a "chain". 

After reviewing these rules, I can see why Sunking thinks R/A is way more successful than San Marco.

[Tacachale]

^Yes, it does seem the scope of the discussion changes with every post. But none of it seems to take away from Captain Zissou's original point that San Marco has seen a lot of positive growth in part due to effective leadership, and a number of businesses have had negative experiences trying to open up in Riverside-Avondale.

[Dog Walker]

But San Marco doesn't have a street named after the sister of a famous astronomer either.   

[Captain Zissou]

In an attempt to steer this towards the original post.... 1st Place Sports is moving into the old Edward's space that is adjacent to their current location. The move will give them an additional 1,000 square feet, or a 50% increase in square footage. The build out is going on now, with the move date set for some time in august.

[Debbie Thompson]

Stephen, maybe I'm missing something, but logistically I don't see much difference between San Marco "Square" and Five Points.  Roads coming together at funny angles, mostly local retail on both sides, somewhat limited but mostly adequate parking, and the only difference I can really see is the median is wider in San Marco, making a "square" that Five Points doesn't have.  I like both of them, don't get me wrong.  But I don't see a ton of difference in them logistically, honestly.    As someone who has lived in Jacksonville since 1966, I've seen both areas go through good and bad times, but I somehow missed "the San Marco Fountain bubble" thankfully. 

[tufsu1]

It is important to note that Riverside-Avondale is a national historic district...San Marco is not

I think its also important to note that several streets in Riverside are named after presidents.  Yet this is not true in San Marco.  .....Coincidence?

And dude, if you really think about it, there has to be some significance behind the fact that San Marco has a 'square' and Riverside has a five points.  Marinate in those differences.

humor me...check out the requirements and regulations of the two historic districts

[dougskiles]

The infamous San Marco Fountain Bubble:



From the May 1994 issue of San Marco Times:

In 1964, the fountain became part of an unusual experiment that created a bit of controversy at the time.  The fountain would be shut down frequently due to "wind blow" where spray from the fountain would be blown over pedestrians and parked cars, creating a nuisance for shoppers and store owners.  A bill sponsored by Southside Councilman Lavern Reynolds granted $4800 to reactivate the water flow, add neon lights and put a plexiglass "bubble" over the fountain to stop the wind blow spray.  The bubble also kept trash from clogging the water pipes.  At the time, Reynolds said "Upon completion, we have hopes it will be something all of the Southside will be proud of."

However, condensation fogged the plexiglass bubble, obscuring the beauty of the fountain.  Disapproving merchants, who hoped the fountain would draw shoppers, viewed the fountain as "an accumulation of war surplus parts," "a monstrosity" and "something ready to take off into outer space."  The experiment failed and the bubble was removed.

[MEGATRON]

It is important to note that Riverside-Avondale is a national historic district...San Marco is not

I think its also important to note that several streets in Riverside are named after presidents.  Yet this is not true in San Marco.  .....Coincidence?

And dude, if you really think about it, there has to be some significance behind the fact that San Marco has a 'square' and Riverside has a five points.  Marinate in those differences.

humor me...check out the requirements and regulations of the two historic districts

Would you agree that those requirements within Riverside-Avondale are implemented by the city and not RAP?

[tufsu1]

I would agree that the rules are governed by the City (and relate to local and national preservation status)....but the City does seek guidance from RAP on many of the compatibility issues

[Dog Walker]

Actually the R/A zoning overlay was the result of three years of neighborhood meetings, planning sessions, professional input from planners all coordinated by RAP and the Planning Dept.  Lots and lots of different input from a wide variety of people (stakeholders in modern speak) both residents and businesses and merchant's associations.

Lots of discussion, argument and compromise.  It's probably a really good model of how zoning should be developed.

[SunKing]

Good news for SM. went up there with family this week for dinner and a movie. My only point remains that with all of the growth in RA i do struggle to find a lesson to be learned from SM recent revival however.
particularly Hurricanes.