Khan interested in developing shipyards

[benfranklinbof]

I like Jacksonville a lot though! I lived in downtown Miami and it wasn't that nice to me. I love the old city in jax! The oak trees, rivers and architecture is just amazing to me.

Anyways Mr. Shad better build something soon, I want to check it out.

[heights unknown]

Hey Heights Unknown,
That's funny, I consider everything North of Orlando to be South Georgia......lol.  I lived in JAX for many years, JAX has sooo much potential, but the elected officials, elected by the MAJORITY of the JAX population keep this city stuck in the dark ages.....which makes this city a bad bet on investment.........JAX has a great forum board with a great following of innovative thinking people.........unfortunately the innovative thinkers are out voted at every election...........

Now THAT I do agree with tspot. You are right. But give us a great big "T" for trying, and NOT GIVING UP. We will get there.

[RattlerGator]

We're not going to get there, heights unknown, as long as you and others continue with this bizarre "everything north of Orlando is redneck" foolishness.

Frankly, that's idiotic. And, what the hell is wrong with South Georgia? Millions of Americans who travel and spend tourist dollars much prefer it to Miami any day.

Two things y'all need to figure out. [1] There's nothing wrong with Southerners. [2] If you insist on this type of "everything north of Orlando is South Georgia" construct, then the real deal is that South Georgia is really North Florida -- not vice-versa. They come to us to shop, they watch our media, etc., from Tallahassee to Jacksonville. But that's not REALLY important. What is important to me, is this casual trashing of an entire region of folks. And it being casually accepted as if it carries some real truth with it.

Miami is not the standard we should be looking to because it is a completely abnormal city (truly the capital of the Americas) that turns off many (I happen to like it), and -- truth be told -- Jacksonville compares favorably with Tampa or Orlando if you remove prejudice against Southerners from the equation.

We need to focus far more on accepting Jacksonville as a southern city, and proud of that heritage, black / white/ otherwise *and* accepting Jacksonville as a Florida city, and proud of that heritage, black / white/ otherwise.

We've got something really special; too many who live in Jax don't seem to quite comprehend that fact.

[benfranklinbof]

Agreed⤴  Atlanta shows their southern heritage, and I like it.
I never got a country vibe from living in jax, but then again I only go to the old city, downtown,Southside, mandarin and the beaches.
Each area in jax has its own culture which is really weird LOL

[jcjohnpaint]

Being from the northeast, I have really come to love Jacksonville.  There is something down here that is historically different from the history of the north, but that is what I like.  I don't feel like I would like Jacksonville to be Philly because it is not and never will be.  I also don't feel we don't have an identity.  I feel that our leaders just keep doing the same wrong things year after year.  Until something changes in our leadership, then we will not be competitive with our peer cities. 

[Marle Brando]

Agreed⤴  Atlanta shows their southern heritage, and I like it.
I never got a country vibe from living in jax, but then again I only go to the old city, downtown,Southside, mandarin and the beaches.
Each area in jax has its own culture which is really weird LOL

So true! Every side of Jax has its own little subculture. I personally love the vibe going on near King st, Riverside, 5points, and slowly creeping  into downtown. Cross into San marco and it's totally different than over the bridge.

[heights unknown]

We're not going to get there, heights unknown, as long as you and others continue with this bizarre "everything north of Orlando is redneck" foolishness.

Frankly, that's idiotic. And, what the hell is wrong with South Georgia? Millions of Americans who travel and spend tourist dollars much prefer it to Miami any day.

Two things y'all need to figure out. [1] There's nothing wrong with Southerners. [2] If you insist on this type of "everything north of Orlando is South Georgia" construct, then the real deal is that South Georgia is really North Florida -- not vice-versa. They come to us to shop, they watch our media, etc., from Tallahassee to Jacksonville. But that's not REALLY important. What is important to me, is this casual trashing of an entire region of folks. And it being casually accepted as if it carries some real truth with it.

Miami is not the standard we should be looking to because it is a completely abnormal city (truly the capital of the Americas) that turns off many (I happen to like it), and -- truth be told -- Jacksonville compares favorably with Tampa or Orlando if you remove prejudice against Southerners from the equation.

We need to focus far more on accepting Jacksonville as a southern city, and proud of that heritage, black / white/ otherwise *and* accepting Jacksonville as a Florida city, and proud of that heritage, black / white/ otherwise.

We've got something really special; too many who live in Jax don't seem to quite comprehend that fact.

Settle down Rattler; don't bite me anymore or I'll have to bite back. I am entitled to my opinion; and heck, I am just telling what I think. I AM FROM NORTH FLORIDA, BORN IN JACKSONVILLE IN 1956...so I think I might know a little about all of that, especially me being a black red neck and hillbilly. So just settle down. I love Jacksonville, but we really need to change our vision, focus, and mentality on a lot of things before we even attempt to move forward. And.......a man like Shad Khan doesn't come along much too often; especially in the path of a major U.S. City that has a backwoods mentality; just stating my opinion and how I see it Rattler; so just settle down Bro.

[KenFSU]

Agreed⤴  Atlanta shows their southern heritage, and I like it.
I never got a country vibe from living in jax, but then again I only go to the old city, downtown,Southside, mandarin and the beaches.
Each area in jax has its own culture which is really weird LOL

The above, though obviously hyperbolic, underscores the importance of the Jaguars to Jacksonville. Without unifying causes/common rallying points, we're nothing but a bunch of a disparate sub-cities who just so happen to all be contributing to the same tax base. Also kind of underscores how badly we need a killer mass-transit system to open up and truly connect the city.

[downtownbrown]

^that is awesome!!

[thelakelander]

The week of February 16th appears to be the date of the Shipyards announcement.

The Jaguars and owner Shad Khan have been working for months on plans to develop The Shipyards, a vacant tract of city-owned land along the St. Johns River in downtown, not far from EverBank Field.

Team spokesman Dan Edwards said the Jaguars would provide more details at the State of the Franchise address, which will take place the week of Feb. 16.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-02-05/story/jaguars-unveil-details-teams-vision-shipyards-project-state-franchise#cxrecs_s

[RattlerGator]

Settle down Rattler; don't bite me anymore or I'll have to bite back. I am entitled to my opinion; and heck, I am just telling what I think. I AM FROM NORTH FLORIDA, BORN IN JACKSONVILLE IN 1956...so I think I might know a little about all of that, especially me being a black red neck and hillbilly. So just settle down. I love Jacksonville, but we really need to change our vision, focus, and mentality on a lot of things before we even attempt to move forward. And.......a man like Shad Khan doesn't come along much too often; especially in the path of a major U.S. City that has a backwoods mentality; just stating my opinion and how I see it Rattler; so just settle down Bro.

Very good; I'm just smoking you out, bruh, and giving strong opinion to meet a strong opinion. Especially when it *appears* to be talking down a city that gets casually talked down in ridiculous ways all too often (there you go with that "backwoods mentality" thing). But I absolutely agree with you 100% about Shad Khan.

The week of February 16th soon comes. I'm prepared to be somewhat disappointed but still somewhat satisfied, that seems to be the course of things in Big Duval. But, I'm seriously hoping that Shad and his partners blow us all away.

[fieldafm]

Where is it stated that the city is PAYING Khan to develop the property?

It has not been made public what the City's deal is yet (that will happen in two weeks), but they initially asked the city to pay for remediation (reasonable), pay for a Riverwalk extension (reasonable) and give them the land for free (not reasonable). In addition to COJ paying for site cleanup and public access (aka, the Riverwalk), we the taxpayers are still paying interest on bond debt related to the Shipyards property from previous failed redevelopment efforts (there have been three so far).

COJ has yet to put an RFP out nationally for the site

The city is and has been relieved of the bond debt since 2005 when Landmar agreed to take over the bond payments the city incurred from the failed Trilegacy deal. LandMar made 20mil in improvements to the land and paid 13.8mil towards the city bond debt. In 2009 LandMar declared bankruptcy and subsequently the land valued at 20mil in 09' was reverted back to the city. You see, LandMar was responsible for the bond debt after the deal was signed, not COJ. After bankruptcy court and five years worth of legal wrangling, the debt was settled and the city received an award of 13.4 million for its investment in the failed development. Why was this 13.4 million not used towards a bond payment of any sort when awarded and put into a special account? Because no bond is owed. That issue was dissolved along with other obligations during LandMar's bankruptcy.
And LOL at RFP. Really RFP?? Good luck WANTING for a sweeter deal, free of city required incentives. In 2001 the city approved 37mil in incentives to Trilegacy, and approved another 3mil towards public improvements when it signed the deal with LandMar. So let's SELL the land to a new developer, PAY for cleanup, AND THEN be on tap for more incentives I'm sure the new developer will in turn ask for. THAT would require another bond backed debt on the city's books. So what exactly is the gain in waiting for someone to buy the property, losing tax dollars that would be generated in the meantime, only to turn around and pay out incentives to another unknown entity. Khan has a proven track record of getting things done. IF in the event Khan fails to lay a single brick on site, the city would have lost nothing. We have everything to gain by doing the smart deal and signing over the land.

You are misinformed. The City was not 'relieved of the bond debt'. The previous developer was in fact paying the City (a municipal government cannot transfer bond debt to a private entity) until they filed for bankruptcy. COJ's claim (aka, their debt) towards LandMar was settled in the bankruptcy hearing when they were awarded $13mm and took back ownership of the land. When City officials talk of 'making themselves whole' through the process, they are refering to the fact that COJ gained back an asset (the land) through the bankruptcy proceedings. That didnt retire the bond debt. COJ stilll holds that, and the $13mm wasnt used to satisfy this debt... it went back into the general fund.


As far as your comment 'And LOL at RFP. Really RFP??'... well, thats actually legally required.


Said it many times here. Developers across the country aren't taking Sunday drives around Jacksonville looking for 30 acres of waterfront land to develop. You actually have to market a property for sale, in order to set a market for the property.

[Noone]

2014-560 The CRA/DIA in the USA is ready for council.

Old Buildings, New Buildings, We Don't care.
We are the DIA.
And you will DO what we say.

Should the Jacksonville city council defer action to send this back to Waterways on 2/11/15 given the Boyer amendment that was offered at Finance that has a Waterways component?

I'd say YES!
Restore the Public Trust.
Especially as it relates to our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a FEDERAL Initiative in our Super Duper restricted according to a CRA consultant 4.8 mile rivers edge zone whose boundary is from the Fuller Warren Bridge to the Mathews Bridge.

Does anyone else feel sorry for the Baltimore guys 2014-412?
Will the new water taxi contract (non contract) be on the 2/11/15 Waterways agenda?

Tides are looking good for a RICO loop.

Visit Jacksonville!

I am Downtown and why you aren't.

Who's next?

[copperfiend]

The week of February 16th appears to be the date of the Shipyards announcement.

The Jaguars and owner Shad Khan have been working for months on plans to develop The Shipyards, a vacant tract of city-owned land along the St. Johns River in downtown, not far from EverBank Field.

Team spokesman Dan Edwards said the Jaguars would provide more details at the State of the Franchise address, which will take place the week of Feb. 16.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-02-05/story/jaguars-unveil-details-teams-vision-shipyards-project-state-franchise#cxrecs_s

Definitely will be interesting to see what is presented.

[GatorShane]

After reading the article in the TU this morning I have a couple of questions. The first would be is it just part of the process to not have already submitted a request for proposals. Do they actually wait until someone submits a proposal until they send out requests for more. How long do they give other developers who might be interested time to submit something. My second question is why has the city not cleaned up the Shipyards property before now. We have been trying to get this property developed for years now so why hasn't it been done already. I mean cmon!! That would cut a year or two off of the process. Having said all of that it is great to see that the plans might be revealed at the State of the Jags press conference!