Reinvigorating the Jacksonville Landing

[ricker]

Not to argue senselessly, however I am fairly certain I have these plans tabbed and marked correctly and the escalators are completely in the way, unfortunately.

[ricker]

Is it complete nonsense to think it possible that an over the road open air or enclosed bridge could connect the reworked Landing facade to the yet to be built Parador Partners parking structure?

[jaxjaguar]

I want to attend the meeting tomorrow, but don't know if I'll be able to make it due to work.... I have kind of radical ideas, but I feel like it's what we need to really give the landing the spark it needs.

The spaces between the food court & mavericks / restaurants facing the water could be easily opened with minimal structural change. Opening a space for a massive ferris wheel (green strip).

The front could be opened up (yellow) and set up in a similar fashion to the area in the town center where whiskey river is located. Basically a corridor for block parties, small concerts, fire shows, etc.

There is a need for more "park space" downtown. The landing already has a small wooded area (blue) which could be doubled in size by removing some of the shop space. Some nice art structures / oak trees / putt-putt could be in this area to give people a place to picnic and relax.

More shops could be removed (pink) to make space for a public parking garage. The pink and black represents the current parking which would still be available.

Finally... the injection of life (red). This would be the apartments / condos to feed the landing a consistent customer base (through residents, friends, family, etc)


Am I crazy? Do you guys like my ideas? lol

[ricker]

WHOA
I actually LOVE where You are going with this!
This may seem crazy to many but it could work.

[ricker]

^
Yes.
This.
These thoughts compute to survival and good fiscal sense/cents.

The location would benefit with the addition of a pharmacy wrapped in a general goods store like a CVS or Walgreens, coffee shop w/ bakery, dry cleaners, pet food & care store, small hardware store, and great dining atop, casual dining around the downstairs courtyard as has been numerously suggested.  All smart improvements.

Looking at the existing exterior layout of the grounds in plan view layered with the interior dating back to 1988 at a time when my uncle had a kiosk (before the external elevator was added near what is now Fionn MacCools),
It appears as though a removal of a slice of the horseshoe would require relocation of the escalators, or permanent removal. I do not see the sense in permanently removing the escalators in favor of installing new elevator systems.  That said, couldn't the bones of the removed wedge and roof remain? New walls could provide airlock vestibule doorways and entrance to each remaining half of the Landing,  This way the escalators could remain and stay out of the weather.

Thoughts? please.

ALSO_
Looks like a CVS/Walgreens customers could enjoy their drive-thru service if the new store were located on the east side and patrons could use the loading dock service drive for entry and Coastline Dr for exit out and around to Newnan...?

What d o you all think?
(I may be obsessing.)

[Noone]

To save them from posting, I provide the Landing Solutions by some of our favorite posters*:
Noone - kayak rental and launch sites instead of all those power-boats
Ocklawaha - run a train through it (but no PCTs)
stephendare - rebuild some ramshackle docks

All said in fun, I enjoy reading all of your posts, and you are each certainly more than the one dimension presented here. 

Charles, We need to kayak Downtown. I'm serious.
As for the Landing I still might have my "It's about Time" t shirt somewhere around. I don't know if I'll be going tonight but going forward way back when at a Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting an issue about economic opportunity from the Waterway came up and it had to do with the Landing. The result of that concern was resolved by then city councilwoman Lynette Self and then JWC Commission member Jim Bailey. That leadership resulted in 2007-451. Public, Private, Partnership. I hope that whatever develops that they will retain that economic opportunity for everyone.

[Overstreet]

.....................

The spaces between the food court & mavericks / restaurants facing the water could be easily opened with minimal structural change. Opening a space for a massive ferris wheel (green strip).

............................
Am I crazy? Do you guys like my ideas? lol

the foundations of the ferris wheel would conflict with the 54" force main.....and the utility easement.

crazy? .....no....impractical yes.

[Overstreet]

Its a mall...thats all it is..a shopping mall...

No.....it was never intended to be a "shopping" mall. It is a "place to be" mall. Shopping is secondary. Yes there was retail, but the prices would tell you it isn't for shopping.  It is a place to eat and have events.  Since there isn't a reason to be downtown if there isn't an event the place becomes a lunch spot. The lunch crowd reflects the downtown office building vacancy rate.

Parking garage.........whether you like it or not it was a broken promise by the city. Since downtown is a ghost town after dark without the suburbanites driving in it seems a parking lot would have helped. But as I've said before to get there I pass too many resturants I like.  I'm not going that far.

Opening the horseshoe to the street............reduce your square footage in favor of some driver likely too distracted driving and too lazy to park and explore. Amazing idea. It will be amusing if they do it.

[mtraininjax]

Ferris wheel belongs down at the Shipyards, more room for it and it would be a fun playground for adults on their way to Everbank field!

[ricker]

Ferris wheel belongs down at the Shipyards, more room for it and it would be a fun playground for adults on their way to Everbank field!

Could we also throw in at least one really fantastico roller coaster!?!? pLEeeeeeas?

[CityLife]

Laveranues Coles is considering putting a bowling alley in the Landing. Anyone know if that is a possibility design wise?

Coles said his next venture might be at the Landing, which is anticipating renovations.

Coles said he was waiting to see what happens with the riverfront marketplace.

"I want to put something in the Landing as soon as they give direction," he said, indicating he might know more in February.

One possibility he mentioned was a bowling entertainment venue.

Landing owner Toney Sleiman said Friday morning he was not directly working with Coles, who likely is speaking with other Landing representatives, but said a bowling center would be of interest.

"If it fits in, absolutely I would talk to him about it," Sleiman said.

"That might be something we will look at seriously."

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=541245

[thelakelander]

Sure. All you have to do is demolish non-structural walls to combine multiple storefronts, creating a single larger space. However, since the interior storefronts don't have much depth, you may need consider killing a portion of the interior mall or adding on.

[CityLife]

The idea of opening the Courtyard to Laura is a no brainer imo and one that pretty much everybody seems to be on board with. After that, I'd like to see The Landing become better integrated with the Times Union Center to the west and the Hyatt to the east. I imagine that a portion of Hogan is needed for deliveries, but I'd like to see as much of that area become green space as possible. Possibly even turn the little pavilion on the river into a small band shell for live performances. There is actually more room there for performances than what the Landing Courtyard currently has.

We've got more than enough surface lots in Downtown and its ridiculous that there is one between the Landing and The Hyatt. I'd like to see the Riverwalk facing portion of the surface lot just east of the Main Street Bridge turned into restaurants with courtyard seating facing the river, possibly even with 2nd floor balconies facing the river. You could do some really cool things with string lighting and landscaping to make it more of an upscale dining area, which is something The Landing doesn't really offer. You could also utilize the northern portion of this property for things like a movie theater and/or bowling alley....This is already one of the more heavily traveled parts of the Riverwalk DT and would also help connect The Landing to the entertainment district and Florida Theater. At minimum, this space needs to be better utilized. Perhaps something like a night market with food trucks, live music, vendors, etc. Basically a night version of RAM with more partying. To properly utilize this space may require some tinkering with the ramps and roadways, but I think its at least worth exploring.

Both the above areas are either city owned or Landing owned, so they could be included in Landing renovation plans...I also like Lakes idea for turning the building inside out and reconfiguring the entire layout. I've got tons of ideas for the space and I'm sure everyone else does too, but its hard to really make recommendations for what to do with the site without knowing what Sleiman's goals are and how much he's willing to invest.

[thelakelander]

Sleiman's comments from yesterday's FTU story:

Sleiman said he's open to the opinions that come out of Monday's meeting, but there are several constants in his vision of the Landing's future:

■ It needs to be physically changed to open it up and provide a view from Laura Street straight to the river.

■ Residences need to be added, whether it's apartments, condominiums or even a hotel.

■ City money is vital, and the city's leadership is far more open to working with him than it once was.

http://members.jacksonville.com/business/2013-12-08/story/what-should-landing-be-owners-vision-includes-direct-river-view-and

[jaxjaguar]

.....................

The spaces between the food court & mavericks / restaurants facing the water could be easily opened with minimal structural change. Opening a space for a massive ferris wheel (green strip).

............................
Am I crazy? Do you guys like my ideas? lol

the foundations of the ferris wheel would conflict with the 54" force main.....and the utility easement.

crazy? .....no....impractical yes.

Would it be possible to do it down the middle if the center of the landing was taken out? Or a observation tower in the center? I'm not familiar with what a force main / utility easement are....