Khan interested in developing shipyards

[MusicMan]

This City could support two (more) if a few pieces fall into place. One with a Marina/Sports/Entertainment Complex nearby and one with a Historic flair serving the downtown business interest.

[thelakelander]

^There's another hotel proposed in Brooklyn adjacent to 220 Riverside.

[MusicMan]

Not surprised. Unless I'm missing something there is not one hotel or motel serving downtown from the CSX building all the way to Orange Park.  Certainly nothing serving Riverside-Avondale-Ortega.

[urbanlibertarian]

Are any of the current DT hotels profitable?

[IrvAdams]

With all these great ideas, and the available land, and the weather, the river, etc. what amazes me is that investors aren't tripping all over themselves with interest. What's not to love?

[benfranklinbof]

Not enough people going downtown. They only go there for special occasions. I like to walk around downtown a lot.

[Josh]

With all these great ideas, and the available land, and the weather, the river, etc. what amazes me is that investors aren't tripping all over themselves with interest. What's not to love?

The local government.

[Tacachale]

They don't know about it because there hasn't been a formal RFP.

[RattlerGator]

They don't know about it because there hasn't been a formal RFP.

No one in this country who has the capability -- well, at least 95% of 'em -- needs an RFP to know where the opportunities are, and those that *do* need an RFP aren't going to do a damn thing in Jax. That's the kind of sit-back-and-wait-while-we-draw-up-this-pie-in-the-sky-RPF foolishness that leads to disrespecting what Shad Khan is doing for us, and is attempting to do for us.

[tufsu1]

Once Khan makes his plans public, the City will then be "on the clock" to put the RFP out.

[I-10east]

It's been absolutely horrendous timing concerning the upcoming shipyards announcement and that Liberty Street collapse.

[thelakelander]

With all these great ideas, and the available land, and the weather, the river, etc. what amazes me is that investors aren't tripping all over themselves with interest. What's not to love?

It's nothing special in the grand scheme of things. we're a mobile society. Development can be done all across the globe. So it there are situations created that hampers private investment from efficiently happening in certain areas, there's nothing stopping investment to moving to more development friendly locations with proven examples of positive ROI.

[Marle Brando]

I'm dying to see the so far out of the know, deep pocket investors who come running out cash in hand ready to submit proposals after an official RFP is sent. Boy I can't wait. . .   .    . After all the press Khan has given the city when it comes to the Shipyards I find it very hard to believe no one in the know, and with the means, has not heard about this golden property available in Jacksonville, Fl. Sure you may get a few Killashee Investments types that will propose a 1,000ft tower etc., but where are the means? Everything after the announcement is just a formality, due process sort of deal but I believe this to be a done deal on the hush hush side. If there was anyone out there willing and ready to go all out on the shipyards then why the hell let Khan get all the shine now? I'd be in front of the papers just as the Jaguars are. I'd be announcing plans at press conferences the same as Khan. Wouldn't you? Why isn't this happening?...where are they now?

[thelakelander]

I don't believe you can just give the land away. So issuing an RFP is just a typical part of the process.

[MusicMan]

Pretty sure ay least one RFP  has been issued on this parcel in the past, but nothing real ever came from it.

It's also telling that even with the previous plans to develop the site (cant remember the company who was supposed to develop it around 2006, LandMar??) that the site is still environmentally dirty.