Khan interested in developing shipyards

[CityLife]

I posted this in another thread about The Shipyards, but probably deserves a repost given how this conversation is going.

This is how NYC redeveloped Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is pretty awesome btw. This is how you create an awesome mixed-use project and utilize valuable riverfront property for public park space.

http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/pages/project-development

http://brooklynbridgepark.s3.amazonaws.com/s/518/2006%20General%20Project%20Plan.pdf

I'm going to hold my commentary until Khan releases his plans, but this^ is the proper way to dispose of public land.

[Tacachale]

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!

The answer is that the city has made little no effort to do anything with the property in the time that Alvin Brown has been mayor. They should have gotten it together and put out an RFP years ago. There's clearly interest in the property as there have been several attempts to do something with it in the past.

[thelakelander]

Same goes for the courthouse site. We've only know for something like 15 years that the courthouse would be moving. We still have no plan.

[KenFSU]

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!

Redeveloping the Shipyards will easily be one of single most expensive projects in city history. It will take someone with very, very deep pockets to execute the project properly, and I'm sure the city is a little gun shy after the last $1 billion redevelopment attempt ended with the developer going bankrupt after the city had already pumped $20 million into the project ($13 million was recovered in bankruptcy court – funds which will be used to clean up the site).

Why has it taken so long to get the ball rolling on remediation? Because Jacksonville.

If not for Khan expressing interest, I have a feeling the property would sit as is for another decade to come. By talking openly about his interest in the Shipyards, I think Khan helped get the ball rolling in regards to the city issuing an RFP for remediation. Based on everything that I've read and heard about the site, I think a two-year remediation is best case scenario. The contract itself is for potentially up to five years (three year base, with the option of two one-year extensions).

When Khan reveals his vision for the site the week after next, both city and state law dictate that Jacksonville will have to advertise the site and put out an RFP. The City Council, with input from the DIA, will ultimately make the final decision. The DIA's master plan calls for a "large-scale, mixed-use development centered around sports, entertainment and tourism," so I think they'll be on board.
It will be really interesting to see what, if any, interest the site attracts from other developers when an RFP is issued.

It's a big risk, and Jacksonville isn't exactly a hot market right now:
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2015/02/05/emerging-trends-jacksonville-ranks-fair-behind.html

[thelakelander]

The act of waiting for a sugar daddy to rain billions upon this site as a single developer is why it's taken so long to do anything with this property.

An alternative strategy, which has been proven to be quite successful in peer communities with similar parcels, would be to develop a community vision/master plan for the site, and then carve individual parcels and a street grid into it.

At that point, you invest in the public space you want and RFP smaller parcels of land to multiple players.

[downtownbrown]

http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/82999976_zpid/days_sort/30.324251,-81.650727,30.322285,-81.65357_rect/18_zm/1_fr/?view=map

What do you suppose happens to the value of this place once Khan's Shipyards plans look like they are for real? (the hole on Liberty Street notwithstanding).

[CityLife]

^Hard to say without seeing price points of residential at Shipyards and Healthy Town (if they come to fruition).

[I-10east]

No! No!! NO!!! Please no ferris wheel!! We already are talking about two potential 'monkey see monkey do' unoriginal attractions (the USS Adams and an aquarium) now add another one, a ferris wheel, sigh... At this rate, we would be caught up with Shelbyville in no time!!! To be honest, the only one I'm okay with is the USS Adams; The other two, I question the feasibility. Bold cities create unique attractions, not building a facsimile of every US city.

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/morning-edition/2015/02/jaguars-to-reveal-details-of-shipyards-plans.html

[Bridges]

^ Pretty sure that was just "one artist's rendition" and nothing serious. 

This is a pretty funny line, and by funny I mean completely detached from reality:

"From our perspective, we are eager to reactive the site, but we want to respect the process," Mayor Alvin Brown's spokesperson David DeCamp told the Times-Union.

[downtownbrown]

^Hard to say without seeing price points of residential at Shipyards and Healthy Town (if they come to fruition).

Yes, very hard to say without comps, but I do like the fact pattern.  Waterfront in the core, 1,000 new workers moving downtown, and a lot of buzz and excitement headed this way.  I'm not sure I could find a similar urban townhouse in an major city in America at that price. 

[jaxjags]

Someone made a comment on another thread that made me think about a cool practice field concept. How about 1. A fitness club with a full size elevated running track around outside (dimmable glass for private Jags practice sessions) 2. Ice skating rink at one end with sports bar overlooking it (or a stacked configuration with field?) 3. Outdoor adventure area at other end (river end) with an Intuition Ale Bier Garden. Just takes money and time.

[MusicMan]

I like the USS Adams idea. Seems to make sense since this is The Shipyards. Would also love a WW II Era display/attraction like an actual Liberty Ship, or a PT Bat that took folks for a ride around the downtown area. Add an IMAX Theater plus a Kraft Foods Pavilion and Tour plus Jacksonville Brewers Ultimate Taproom Kiosk (For Intuiton, Bold City, Green Room, Aardwolf.....) and you have a great start at a reasonable price.

We def need Berkman II to be finished as a hotel, it's a solid fit to the area and will be Sold Out for NFL weekend s plus other similar events featured down there ( FL/GA game etc....). 

[Ralph W]

Mr. Khan just needs a dedicated private boat slip to park his yacht when he's in town. Maybe he'll rent some space for the Adams

[Noone]

Mr. Khan just needs a dedicated private boat slip to park his yacht when he's in town. Maybe he'll rent some space for the Adams

Shipyards III
The irony.
Shipyards I - A 150 slip marina and not ONE slip for the PUBLIC
Shipyards II- A 150 slip marina and not ONE slip for the PUBLIC
Shipyards III - I can see that 680' former Promised pier 2010-604 and docked on the one side is our Navy ship guarding Khan's yacht as we interpret economic opportunity and freedom in our NEW according to a CRA consultant 4.8 miles rivers edge zone and this restricted boundary is from the Fuller Warren Bridge to the Mathews Bridge. Active legislation 2014-560.

[Gamblor]

We def need Berkman II to be finished as a hotel, it's a solid fit to the area and will be Sold Out for NFL weekend s plus other similar events featured down there ( FL/GA game etc....).

No we need the hotel at the Trio.