Khan interested in developing shipyards

[pierre]

Well with the mayoral election coming up and a huge change over in the city council coming. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I don't think that is a coincidence.

[BoldCityRealist]

BTW..does anyone know why AquaJax was not included into the fold. Where they left out and deemed to be unfeasible? I think their design would visually blend with the architecture of the shipyards.

I'm pretty sure AquaJax moved their site *outside* of the Shipyards footprint. Or at least, more in the fold of MP than the Shipyards. http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-12-23/story/vision-downtown-aquarium-within-sight

[thelakelander]

Are you all sure you don't want this instead? 

[KenFSU]

I had such high hopes for this announcement that I didn't think my expectations could possibly be met. Shouldn't have doubted Khan, as this far exceeds my best-case scenario for the property. Unlike so many other "leaders" in Jacksonville, it is blatantly clear that these guys truly get it. I mean, really get it. In the same way that they have a vision for the Jaguars, they have a vision for a better Jacksonville. I love everything about their vision for the Shipyards. I love the integration of the river. I love the branding. I love the focus on mixed-use. I love the pedestrian bridge, amphitheater, and world class park. It's an amazing vision, and one that will instantly make real estate between the north bank and the Shipyards very, very desirable.

Now, it's time for Jacksonville to sh*t or get off the pot. Khan is a businessman, and he's obviously going to want concessions from the city in return for bankrolling the development of this property. To me, whatever concessions we provide upfront will be well worth it in the long run. Strategically, this ties the Jaguars to Jacksonville beyond the life of their lease. This results in one of the wealthiest men on the planet being heavily invested in the success of our downtown. This keeps the Jaguars in the sports district long-term, rather than seeking a suburban stadium down the line. Opportunities like this come around but once or twice in a lifetime. It's far too important to screw up.

As a city, we need to move heaven and earth to make this happen.

[peestandingup]

BTW..does anyone know why AquaJax was not included into the fold. Where they left out and deemed to be unfeasible? I think their design would visually blend with the architecture of the shipyards.

I'm pretty sure AquaJax moved their site *outside* of the Shipyards footprint. Or at least, more in the fold of MP than the Shipyards. http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-12-23/story/vision-downtown-aquarium-within-sight

Sounded like AquaJax was originally in talks with Khan to include the aquarium inside the Shipyards plan, but Khan obviously went another way. With the amenities of the Shipyards plan, I wouldn't mind if an aquarium just took over most of Met Park at this point. Aside from some concerts here & there, its mostly underutilized.

Hopefully they figure out this & the Landing redesign & they all compliment each other in purpose/layout. Then you'll actually have an awesome downtown district to write home about.

[thelakelander]

^KenFSU, does this accurately describe your reaction to first seeing this proposal today?

[edjax]

I had such high hopes for this announcement that I didn't think my expectations could possibly be met. Shouldn't have doubted Khan, as this far exceeds my best-case scenario for the property. Unlike so many other "leaders" in Jacksonville, it is blatantly clear that these guys truly get it. I mean, really get it. In the same way that they have a vision for the Jaguars, they have a vision for a better Jacksonville. I love everything about their vision for the Shipyards. I love the integration of the river. I love the branding. I love the focus on mixed-use. I love the pedestrian bridge, amphitheater, and world class park. It's an amazing vision, and one that will instantly make real estate between the north bank and the Shipyards very, very desirable.

Now, it's time for Jacksonville to sh*t or get off the pot. Khan is a businessman, and he's obviously going to want concessions from the city in return for bankrolling the development of this property. To me, whatever concessions we provide upfront will be well worth it in the long run. Strategically, this ties the Jaguars to Jacksonville beyond the life of their lease. This results in one of the wealthiest men on the planet being heavily invested in the success of our downtown. This keeps the Jaguars in the sports district long-term, rather than seeking a suburban stadium down the line. Opportunities like this come around but once or twice in a lifetime. It's far too important to screw up.

As a city, we need to move heaven and earth to make this happen.

+100000000000

[edjax]

Are you all sure you don't want this instead? 

I am sure we know of one person who most likely does.

[KenFSU]

^KenFSU, does this accurately describe your reaction to first seeing this proposal today?

Yes, Ennis.

I would definitely call that a fair representation

[vicupstate]

I wish I could share in this excitement, but all we have is some fantasy architecture at his point.  Yes, it looks nice but so did all the other plans (TriLegacy, Landmar, etc.) before them. Okay, maybe this one is better than any of those, but what is going to get this off the drawing board and into reality?  What is he bring to the table and what is he expecting others to bring? What is going to come first, and will the market dictate what if anything actually gets built?

As a municipal election is about to happen, what is he asking for, so we can see who is willing to support it?  It all just seems like pie in the sky at this point.  Help me believe different. 

[Westside Guy]

I had such high hopes for this announcement that I didn't think my expectations could possibly be met. Shouldn't have doubted Khan, as this far exceeds my best-case scenario for the property. Unlike so many other "leaders" in Jacksonville, it is blatantly clear that these guys truly get it. I mean, really get it. In the same way that they have a vision for the Jaguars, they have a vision for a better Jacksonville. I love everything about their vision for the Shipyards. I love the integration of the river. I love the branding. I love the focus on mixed-use. I love the pedestrian bridge, amphitheater, and world class park. It's an amazing vision, and one that will instantly make real estate between the north bank and the Shipyards very, very desirable.

Now, it's time for Jacksonville to sh*t or get off the pot. Khan is a businessman, and he's obviously going to want concessions from the city in return for bankrolling the development of this property. To me, whatever concessions we provide upfront will be well worth it in the long run. Strategically, this ties the Jaguars to Jacksonville beyond the life of their lease. This results in one of the wealthiest men on the planet being heavily invested in the success of our downtown. This keeps the Jaguars in the sports district long-term, rather than seeking a suburban stadium down the line. Opportunities like this come around but once or twice in a lifetime. It's far too important to screw up.

As a city, we need to move heaven and earth to make this happen.

+100000000000

I totally agree.  I was blown away by the proposal.  Khan's plan for the Shipyards has the potential to be Jacksonville's Inner Harbor or Bricktown.

[downtownbrown]

BTW..does anyone know why AquaJax was not included into the fold. Where they left out and deemed to be unfeasible? I think their design would visually blend with the architecture of the shipyards.

I'm pretty sure AquaJax moved their site *outside* of the Shipyards footprint. Or at least, more in the fold of MP than the Shipyards. http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-12-23/story/vision-downtown-aquarium-within-sight

Sounded like AquaJax was originally in talks with Khan to include the aquarium inside the Shipyards plan, but Khan obviously went another way. With the amenities of the Shipyards plan, I wouldn't mind if an aquarium just took over most of Met Park at this point. Aside from some concerts here & there, its mostly underutilized.

Hopefully they figure out this & the Landing redesign & they all compliment each other in purpose/layout. Then you'll actually have an awesome downtown district to write home about.

Give the courthouse parking lot  to Aqua jax!

[JeffreyS]

Wow we have to do this.

[JeffreyS]

Can't tell if this would make it all the way to the S Line Urban Greenway.

[thelakelander]

No. 8th Street is the north boundary. The S-Line is just north of 12th. However, Boulevard is wide enough to retrofit with paint to form a connection, assuming JTA doesn't modify it for BRT.