Reinvigorating the Jacksonville Landing

[dougskiles]

Some things I took away from the meeting:

1.  Great to see so many people at the meeting sharing opinions.  You never see that many people at a public meeting unless they are opposing something.  This was the reverse.  All showed up to support something.

2.  The plan needs more residential.  And the density should be as high as practical, and it should be "workforce" product.  I couldn't tell if there is any residential in phase 1 or not.

3.  I would like to see more of the parking in the form of angled onstreet parking and less in the form of large surface lots.  One thing all of the successful urban retail districts in Jacksonville have in common is the presence of onstreet parking.

[thelakelander]

Phase I appeared to be the demo and replacement of the mall part with smaller spaces for restaurants. The residential appeared to be a later phase.

[I-10east]

With that 'hole through the middle' revitalization to the Landing, they would be tearing down one the most vital parts of the Landing, the escalators. I most certainly realize that current dead retail space within the inner stores, but in a way removing them escalators is counter-productive in a sense; They would now have to install a dual escalator on BOTH sides of each half, for the sake of a riverview.

Now maybe after everything is done, I'll be like "Oh s**t, the Landing looks very nice after the 'Laura down the hole' renovation!!!" but as of now, there are too many unanswered questions with it; Right now, it's not so much as me being against that measure, but moreso of me not having a full understanding of it, other than a 'sightseeing' hole down the middle of a festival marketplace.   

[river4340]

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

Sleiman hasn't said, but he's made it clear that he wouldn't do any of it without city money.

[fieldafm]

With that 'hole through the middle' revitalization to the Landing, they would be tearing down one the most vital parts of the Landing, the escalators. I most certainly realize that current dead retail space within the inner stores, but in a way removing that escalator is counter-productive in a sense; They would now have to made TWO dual elevators on both sides of each half, for the sake of a riverview.

The current indoor retail spaces and upstairs food court would all be wiped out with this proposal, so escalators really aren't an issue. 

[I-10east]

The current indoor retail spaces and upstairs food court would all be wiped out with this proposal, so escalators really aren't an issue.

So basically it will be just be a dramatically reduced Landing with a Laura street riverview? With that proposal, quite a few interior existing businesses will be in no man's land. 

[fieldafm]

Phase 1 of this proposal envisions the Landing as a restaurant and entertainment center and no longer a mall.  Most of the retail would be gone. 

[vicupstate]

Phase 1 of this proposal envisions the Landing as a restaurant and entertainment center and no longer a mall.  Most of the retail would be gone. 

Isn't that's pretty much all is it now, in terms of tenants.

 

[fieldafm]

The food court is just shy of 50 percent occupancy.  Most of the downstairs retail spaces are full, in fact the downstairs portion has the highes occupancy rates in north of a decade.

Although I can't say that I would miss an outdated indoor mall hallway downtown. 

[I-10east]

Phase 1 of this proposal envisions the Landing as a restaurant and entertainment center and no longer a mall.  Most of the retail would be gone. 

Hopefully a possible in the future 'phase two' would be very exciting other than just housing, because that phase one is just downright sad IMO. One of the good things about the interior space (specifically upstairs, and downstairs near the escalator core) is shelter from the elements.

[Lunican]

Well I'm glad we waited 10 years for this plan. I wonder if tearing down a mall to expand its parking lot has ever been done before?

[fieldafm]

One of the good things about the interior space (specifically upstairs, and downstairs near the escalator core) is shelter from the elements.

Frankly those two spaces are the worst parts of the Landing.

[I-10east]

^^^There are many other 'vibrant urban indoor places' around the country that looks very similar space wise to those spaces, but I'm supposed to be forcefed to believe that 'everything urban and indoors' is the "outdated 80's" okay....
I respect your opinion though, thanks for the info. I actually hate this 'parting the Red Sea' proposal even more... 

[fieldafm]

Empty food courts on the second floor of a dead mall with no visibility from the street isn't exactly the hottest retail space going these days.

[fieldafm]

Mayor Brown mentioned his dream of bringing Macy's, Nordstroms, etc. to downtown in the opening remarks

The implosion of Macy's in Downtown Houston