Reinvigorating the Jacksonville Landing

[Redbaron616]

The common factor in all this is government. Private enterprise knows how to make money. Government typically has no clue because government never has to make a profit to stay in business. When I read about government investment, I want to laugh out loud. Government has never done anything cheaper or better than the private sector.

[finehoe]

The common factor in all this is government. Private enterprise knows how to make money. Government typically has no clue because government never has to make a profit to stay in business. When I read about government investment, I want to laugh out loud. Government has never done anything cheaper or better than the private sector.

Really?  What government agency constructed the Landing?  Which government body runs it now? 
Pure teabagger nonsense.

[Stephen]

Those Tea Baggers lie and expect everyone will go along with their lies...Not everyone is as stupid as they are..I wonder if people who want to live in a redone Landing...You'd not have much privacy and it could be very noisy.

[tufsu1]

The common factor in all this is government. Private enterprise knows how to make money.

And in this case, that comes with a request for money from the government.

Thanks for your advice!

[fieldafm]

Technically, a substantial portion of the Landing construction came from a Community Development Block Grant... part of the political wrangling that went on after the Prime Osborn was selected as the convention center site (instead of a more central urban location-as the downtown merchants wanted).  And COJ is a 'landlord' of sorts, as the public does own the land that the Landing sits on.

[thelakelander]

I stopped by the workshop tonight. The proposal right now is to demolish everything (the mall portion) except the waterfront buildings containing Hooters and  Fionn MacCool's. Two smaller, two story buildings would then be built around an opening between the courtyard and Laura Street. Surface parking lots would be constructed between the smaller Landing and Independent Drive. Vehicle access points to the parking lot could be off Hogan, the Laura roundabout, and the existing east lot access points.  Public restrooms would be built along the riverwalk, under the Main Street Bridge.

At some point in the future, two mid-to-high rise buildings (residential or hotel) would replace the surface parking lots and another building featuring waterfront restaurants would be constructed along the riverwalk between the bridge and Hyatt.

[edjax]

Hmm. So basically we would always have the surface lots as the high rises are pipe dreams.  I sure hope the city woukd,not provide any assistance for this at all. Would only consider if the mid or high rises were built. 

[Tacachale]

Well... that's certainly different.

[Bridges]

I stopped by the workshop tonight. The proposal right now is to demolish everything (the mall portion) except the waterfront buildings containing Hooters and  Fionn MacCool's. Two smaller, two story buildings would then be built around an opening between the courtyard and Laura Street. Surface parking lots would be constructed between the smaller Landing and Independent Drive. Vehicle access points to the parking lot could be off Hogan, the Laura roundabout, and the existing east lot access points.  Public restrooms would be built along the riverwalk, under the Main Street Bridge.

At some point in the future, two mid-to-high rise buildings (residential or hotel) would replace the surface parking lots and another building featuring waterfront restaurants would be constructed along the riverwalk between the bridge and Hyatt.

You're kidding.  Right?

[thelakelander]

Nope.

[edjax]

Sounds like he will finally get his suburban strip center downtown with parking right up front!!! Yay Toney.  I guess we should not be surprised at his 'vision' for downtown as this type of crap is all he has ever done.  No to one cent of city incentives. 

[Tacachale]

Dare I ask what kind of incentives he wants for this?

[thelakelander]

The long term sketch was okay but it's hard to stomach the realistic one from a pedestrian scale standpoint. I'll try and get a hold of the conceptual site plans in the next day or so.



The two smaller new buildings are shown in this sketch. They'd be filled with restaurants. The Laura Street roundabout would be the main entrance to the new surface parking lots.  It would be designed where they could close it off for special events.

[thelakelander]

Dare I ask what kind of incentives he wants for this?

Cost, square footage, incentives, etc. were not discussed. Mayor Brown mentioned his dream of bringing Macy's, Nordstroms, etc. to downtown in the opening remarks, Dan Davis, Toney Sleiman and Aundra Wallace followed with brief presentations before the conceptual plan was unveiled. The public was then allowed to speak for two minutes each.

One of the coolest things to me was the amount of diversity in the room.  You could tell that the Landing is viewed as a critical piece of the downtown puzzle to the community.

[edjax]

Good to see the Mayor is still thinking realistically.   Nordstrom downtown and an NBA team.  Just wow.