Khan interested in developing shipyards

[Gamblor]

^ I disagree.  Street vibrancy is best done with mid-rise buildings.  Plus I wouldn't want the shadows cast by towers on Bay Street

I don't know that height and the number of floors is as important as people, things going on, and how the buildings/assets interact for creating vibrancy. I know some pretty huge, famous towers that have amazing street vibrancy. That said mid-rise all the way. It's what I think the market can justify now and it saves views for potential buildings built behind down the road. Also if things work and lets say it is a massive catalyst for downtown, then having some exclusivity due to the number of units in a landmark area can have pluses. I know people with large expendable incomes who look/care about that sort of thing, who if put downtown in that area would add to the dynamic of the core.

[I-10east]

Directly from Khan's mouth VIA Actionnews; Expect an announcement on the shipyards in less than 30 days. The covered practice field is definitely coming. He didn't get into any revealing details other than that. Part 1, Martineau and Khan talks Jags, and Part 2 is when they talk about the shipyards. The video link is at the bottom.   

From the JaxDailyRecord-

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan's plans for the Shipyards could be known in the next several weeks.
"I'd say less than 30 days," Khan told WJAX TV-47, according to a video posted on its website.

Khan provided the interview to Action News during Super Bowl festivities in Arizona, where he and other team personnel went to take in the game.

Team President Mark Lamping also was on the trip and unavailable for comment.

Khan told the station that for a Downtown to work, it needed people who are living there, have jobs there, spend money there and enjoy their life there. But, he said, "that's not happening right now" in Jacksonville.

Khan in June 2013 first went public with his interest in developing the 40-acre riverfront site that sits adjacent to EverBank Field. In July, he said his proposal could be ready in weeks before the start of the NFL season, but that was pushed back.

The plan likely will be privately funded and feature mixed-use residential and retail, but Khan did tell the station that an indoor practice facility would be "the coolest covered practice field you've ever seen."

"It'll blow your mind," he said.

The city owns the land and has been determining what environmental remediation is needed for the property.

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/videos/news/action-sports-shad-khan-interview-at-the-super/vDDHJg/

[heights unknown]

^ I disagree.  Street vibrancy is best done with mid-rise buildings.  Plus I wouldn't want the shadows cast by towers on Bay Street

I would. We're a major U.S. City, not a small or mid-sized town. Jax was the first Florida City to go tall; so let's keep the legacy intact.

[heights unknown]

Doubt there's a market to plop skyscrapers all over the place. Khan didn't get to be a billionaire by investing millions in things that aren't profitable. With that said, it will be interesting to finally see what he proposals and what the real details for the acquisition of the property are.

Lake; I know there's not a market; but we can hope, and dream. Come on...you know as well as I do that we all would love for Jax to have some more 600, 700, or even 800 footers soaring into the heavens; just a pipe dream. I too will be glad when the proposal(s) are done and publicized. Will be interesting. I honestly believe that we're in for a surprise...something that we never expected (judging from the way Mr. Khan was talking in the interview).

[heights unknown]

To me, by him saying, "It'll blow your mind," in the interview, indicates that we're in for a pleasant and unexpected surprise; something that is off key, and totally out of the norm for Jacksonville. Watch and see.

[Tacachale]

Let's hope so, because it sounds like we may be paying a pretty penny for it.

[tufsu1]

^ I disagree.  Street vibrancy is best done with mid-rise buildings.  Plus I wouldn't want the shadows cast by towers on Bay Street

I would. We're a major U.S. City, not a small or mid-sized town. Jax was the first Florida City to go tall; so let's keep the legacy intact.

Philadelphia did just fine in being a major city...all while keeping buildings at less than 25 stories until the late 1980s

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

.... something that is off key, and totally out of the norm for Jacksonville. Watch and see.

Something that is actually brought to fruition in the same generation?

[I-10east]

Philadelphia did just fine in being a major city...all while keeping buildings at less than 25 stories until the late 1980s

1818 Market was built in 1974; it stands 518 ft at 37 floors. The same age, and floor count as our Wells Fargo Center(535 ft). Philly has tons of other buildings that were built in the early 80's all the way to the Roaring 20's over 25 stories. I get the gist of what you're saying though. Washington and Baltimore are currently notable for not having very tall buildings.

[thelakelander]

Right on about DC but Baltimore has some height.

[I-10east]

^^^Nice shot of Baltimore. Yeah, I was emphasizing on 'very tall' like 700-800 footers that Heights was talking about. The tallest there by far is One HSBC Center at 529 ft, shorter than our second tallest the Wells Fargo Center. I believe that they have some kind of height restriction there, ala Jax Beach. 

[Marle Brando]

I'd like to see a few midrises in the plan. As much as I love skyscrapers, I don't know if there's that much of a demand to justify the huge investment. Apartment towers maybe? Either way just give me max connectivity and max vibrancy..something more easily accomplished in our market with low to midrises. Even if towers are indeed built, if they activate the ground floors and garage bases everythings all good.

[Captain Zissou]

I'm frustrated that the city is giving up riverfront property for the prActice facility. Why not put it on one of the massive surface lots around the stadium? It could go over the Pepsi fun zone or whatever it's called. They could buy the property from Tailgaters bar and grill and put it there. Unless this thing is going to get constantly used and is open to the public, we're wasting a few acres of the riverfront. Plus, how does it even make sense for the jags to put it there? It will be over 400 yards from their outdoor practice fields and almost a half mile from the locker room. They'll have to bus players over or duplicate a number of facilities and functions.

I'd rather see the fields on the parking lot, a 3-4 story garage on one of the remaining lots, and lot J turned into grass covered event space. This is Jacksonville though, even our football team needs to have a sprawling campus.

[Tacachale]

I'm frustrated that the city is giving up riverfront property for the prActice facility. Why not put it on one of the massive surface lots around the stadium? It could go over the Pepsi fun zone or whatever it's called. They could buy the property from Tailgaters bar and grill and put it there. Unless this thing is going to get constantly used and is open to the public, we're wasting a few acres of the riverfront. Plus, how does it even make sense for the jags to put it there? It will be over 400 yards from their outdoor practice fields and almost a half mile from the locker room. They'll have to bus players over or duplicate a number of facilities and functions.

I'd rather see the fields on the parking lot, a 3-4 story garage on one of the remaining lots, and lot J turned into grass covered event space. This is Jacksonville though, even our football team needs to have a sprawling campus.

Just wait till you see the bill for all this.

[pierre]

Well. We are the city with a school board building on the river.