Laura Street Trio to be Marriott Flagged Boutique Hotel

[acme54321]

Without that mistake would the union terminal still be standing?

[Tacachale]

^No, and there's the rub. At least putting the center out there saved the building.

[fsujax]

The propsoed hotel would have been on the vacant lot next to the Jefferson Skyway station, a hard or inside connection was proposed to the Skyway. The one think we can be thankful for is putting the convention center where it is today saved the historic Jacksonville Terminal. Not the best location, but at least we preserved that building. The time has come to of course move the convention center and return Jacksonville Terminal to a transportation facility.

[Cheshire Cat]

Just wondering as the excitement builds up over the potential redo of the trio, has anyone heard if a financial deal has been put together to fund this project.  We know about the $3 million and that Khan was responsible for at least a million of that to buy the property, but what of the $40million plus to pull the project off.  Anyone heard anything on that?

[Charles Hunter]

I thought the hotel was going to be across Lee Street from the CC, and office or some other use was going by the Jefferson Station.  (And, as I recall, "Jefferson" Station was really supposed to be where the Convention Center and Southbank lines come together - the guideway even splits to allow it.  But, because of the Clarkson project, was moved west.)

[thelakelander]

Just wondering as the excitement builds up over the potential redo of the trio, has anyone heard if a financial deal has been put together to fund this project.  We know about the $3 million and that Khan was responsible for at least a million of that to buy the property, but what of the $40million plus to pull the project off.  Anyone heard anything on that?

I'm not sure but I'm pretty positive it will come from multiple public and private sources.

[Cheshire Cat]

Thanks Ennis.  I would imagine you are right and I bet part of those public funds were supposed to be at least some of the $9million pulled by council.

[thelakelander]

That and probably some of the city's historic preservation funds as well.

[Cheshire Cat]

That and probably some of the city's historic preservation funds as well.

Shhhhh.  lol  Tell you what, they are going to have to share some of those funds with Brewster (to complete it and fix the entry stairs and create the back entrance for the disabled) and to restore the Shotgun Houses in LaVilla.  Every cent should not be thrown into one pot or behind one preservation effort no matter how big especially considering that the restoration of the shotguns and completion of Brewster would be less than $250K.  I think creating activity in LaVilla will enhance what is going on downtown.

[Ocklawaha]

Without that mistake would the union terminal still be standing?

Not if the railroads had their way, 'A station gone is a passenger train that WON'T happen.'

[John P]

Give me a break! The Laura street trio is worth 50 renovated Brewster buildings and rinky dink shotgun houses. If they need to spend all the historic preservation funds on those 3 buildings to make the deal work it would be well worth it. Where does the citys preservation money come from anyways and what have they used it for recently?

[Cheshire Cat]

So JP you are commenting on what buildings and efforts deserve preservation funding yet have no earthly idea where the funding comes from and the criterion under which it can be spent or even where it was spent?  Alrighty then.  Nothing like an informed observation.  lol

[John P]

I read your whole rant about how the DIA has no clue what they are doing and you know better. I dont think you have problem with uniformed opinions but just those you don't agree with.

[Cheshire Cat]

I read your whole rant about how the DIA has no clue what they are doing and you know better. I dont think you have problem with uniformed opinions but just those you don't agree with.

That was no rant John P. but in fact an expression of real concern backed with documentation and links to that documentation.  That takes the discussion beyond simple opinion into the reality that the DIA either knowingly hired a person who has misused tax dollars via his own non profit to funnel them to a pop star named P. Diddy or they didn't check into his background which any thinking employer would do before handing someone a contract with a salary of over $178K. The information exposed by the Miami Herald regarding Mr. Wallace is alarming.  Now if you are okay with the city hiring folks with this kind of baggage, that is your choice.  I however am not okay with it nor am I okay with corruption.  That may be the difference between us.  I am frankly fine with that.   On another note, your opinion about preservation funds was "uniformed" and that is a fact expressed through your own query and not simply an opinion.

[Cheshire Cat]

I read your whole rant about how the DIA has no clue what they are doing and you know better. I dont think you have problem with uniformed opinions but just those you don't agree with.

That was no rant John P. but in fact an expression of real concern backed with documentation and links to that documentation.  That takes the discussion beyond simple opinion into the reality that the DIA either knowing hired a person who has misused tax dollars via his own non profit to funnel them to a pop star named P. Diddy and that doesn't even touch on all the other concerns exposed by the Miami Herald.  Now if you are okay with the city hiring folks with this kind of baggage, that is your choice.  I however am not okay with it nor am I okay with corruption.  That may be the difference between us.  I am frankly fine with that.   On another note, your opinion about preservation funds was "uniformed" and that is a fact expressed through your own query and not simply an opinion.

Bill I think that Diane is entitled to her opinion, same as yourself.

Thank you Stephen.  The thing is I went beyond opinion and included verifiable facts and documents with links.  Guess J.P. didn't read those.  lol  You are correct in that my opinion after having discovered all that is attached to Mr. Wallace in the way of scandal is that it is really unthinkable to me that the DIA went ahead went  with his hire knowing these facts, especially that he has used a non-profit he created to fund tens of thousands of tax dollars meant to improve the community to a pop star.  I frankly don't think the individuals on DIA did the research and knew of these things.  The "hire" in my opinion is a very big mistake.