Flournoy proposes 330 apartments next to St. Vincent’s Southside

[thelakelander]

More apartments planned for the Southside!

By Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor

Flournoy Development Co. proposes a 330-unit multifamily apartment project on a high-profile site next to St. Vincent's Medical Center Southside off Butler Boulevard.
Flournoy, based in Columbus, Ga., wants the city to rezone 16.34 acres along Gate Parkway West for the project, shown on a preliminary site plan as eight apartment buildings with an amenity building, pool area, dog park and grill and picnic areas. Plans also show six detached garages.

The buildings would comprise 30 to 60 units a building.

Flournoy wants to rezone the property, on the south side of Gate Parkway West, immediately next to St. Vincent's, from commercial office to planned unit development.

England-Thims & Miller Inc. is the planner and engineering. Geheber Lewis Associates is the architect.

Lawyer T.R. Hainline with Rogers Towers is the agent.

Flournoy has developed about 125 communities comprising more than 26,000 units. It comprises three companies — Flournoy Properties, Flournoy Construction and Flournoy Development.

The property is owned by St. Luke's-St. Vincent's Healthcare Inc.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=543498

[tufsu1]

Lakelander is obviously excited by this since he used an exclamation point!

[Charles Hunter]

Lakelander is obviously excited by this since he used an exclamation point!

Naw, it's a factorial, the apartments just keep growing and growing.

[thelakelander]

Lakelander is obviously excited by this since he used an exclamation point!

No excitement. Kind of depressed after seeing what's currently going up all over Center City Philly and almost every neighborhood in DC.  Spent some time exploring Anacostia, of all places, today.  It was once a place you wouldn't want to get caught in. Now, if you have some money and want to invest in real estate, it's seriously worth considering.  I really wish we could get to the point where we can say the same thing about Jax's long ignored urban districts.

[tufsu1]

^ It will be a long time (if ever) before Jacksonville can compete with the economy of the DC region

[jcjohnpaint]

I don't see how the two mentioned cites can be compared to Jax.  Philly has always been used to the (urban/ and high density).  The political will was in Philly to begin with/ not to mention much of the city is a hell hole/ I grew up there.  We have a lot of powerful small projects taking place throughout Jacksonville.  I really think it is going to have to be a continuation of all grassroots effort in Jacksonville to turn the tides.  That can take a while, but it is starting to take place in small doses.  I don't think we will ever have political will in this city until small businesses/ individual neighborhoods change the landscape alone; then, all the officials will be lining up to take the credit, but at least the eggs will all be in the basket. 

[IrvAdams]

I don't see how the two mentioned cites can be compared to Jax.  Philly has always been used to the (urban/ and high density).  The political will was in Philly to begin with/ not to mention much of the city is a hell hole/ I grew up there.  We have a lot of powerful small projects taking place throughout Jacksonville.  I really think it is going to have to be a continuation of all grassroots effort in Jacksonville to turn the tides.  That can take a while, but it is starting to take place in small doses.  I don't think we will ever have political will in this city until small businesses/ individual neighborhoods change the landscape alone; then, all the officials will be lining up to take the credit, but at least the eggs will all be in the basket. 

I agree with you there. In fact, I'll bet that most all turnaround efforts in any city start and get nurtured as grass root projects. It's rare that a city or other government takes an aggressive role to change the status quo. Normally it's the residents saying "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this any more", much as we do on this forum.

Another factor that has also been mentioned on MJ is that many residents simply may not realize there's a better way so they tacitly accept someone else's logic on the matter. Ignorance can be an unwanted type of bliss in this instance.

[thelakelander]

^Not that I disagree with the last two posts but all I basically said that what's going on in Jax doesn't impress me and that I hope things will get better. I mentioned Philly and DC, simply because that's where I've been the last week. However, to be honest, I can substitute those places with the likes of Wilmington, Nashville, Milwaukee, Kansas City, etc. The same sentiment still applies, in my viewpoint.  This normally happens when I leave town.  I tend to realize just how far we continue to fall behind and that the things we get super excited about here are the norm in many places our size and smaller.  I hope that one day, things will change and our core neighborhoods like Brentwood, New Springfield, Eastside, etc. can enjoy some type of true renaissance as well.

[Know Growth]

Hmmm...a 'rezone' from where...to where?

E T  & Miller well established- I recall Clay County (et al) Brannon Chaffee ( 'Beltway') way back when. Three inch file.Some years ago.That's back when files grew by letter recived,maybe a fax,and concerted copy.Three inches in fact rather 'norbal'. now price-less

TR Hainline- Thousand Friends Florid maybe??? Used to hob-knob with him.The mutterings about Brannon/Chaffee less than legal aspects/Federal must have been,well....mutterings. Good file though.

"Things'must be 'Good' for develop[ment community right about now- race to Get Vesting Done Before Something Happens.

Duval County Special Zone rank: "Coming To America"  Duval as "Special Zone Sink"

[Know Growth]

Double Post Or Blocked- Apology

[jcjohnpaint]

At least our peer cities had to start somewhere.  I think Philly had to sustain their urban fabric (Avoid becoming Detroit).  I have a friend from Austin, who said the city was pretty stubborn years back (very similar to Jacksonville), but the residents had enough and did something about it.  I have only been here for about 5 years and I came down from Pittsburgh.  I have to say there is a different air down here now than 5 years ago.  It is like (all of a sudden) people are demanding it to change and are doing it on their own.  There is not the politicians running to support this; they just don't exist here yet.

Personally I think our mayor sucks, but unfortunately he might be the best we can get at the time.  We have a Republican running against him and saying nothing.  People are supporting him because he says he is conservative.  That is pathetic.  WTF does that mean?  I think waiting for the right politician- we will be waiting forever.  We need to create the right environment to breed good politicians.  Interesting projects wouldn't take the risk on us.  We need to show the world we are into this kind of living.  I think our small businesses are doing this.   

I also wanted to note that this has been the first time my students don't want to leave for another city.  Many seem to want to sick around.  That says something. 

For the interesting urban projects to work- the risk has to be worth it.  Nashville, Oklahoma City, etc are on the other side of the risk.  They proved they support this.  Let the politics catch up later.   

[IrvAdams]

At least our peer cities had to start somewhere.  I think Philly had to sustain their urban fabric (Avoid becoming Detroit).  I have a friend from Austin, who said the city was pretty stubborn years back (very similar to Jacksonville), but the residents had enough and did something about it.  I have only been here for about 5 years and I came down from Pittsburgh.  I have to say there is a different air down here now than 5 years ago.  It is like (all of a sudden) people are demanding it to change and are doing it on their own.  There is not the politicians running to support this; they just don't exist here yet.

Personally I think our mayor sucks, but unfortunately he might be the best we can get at the time.  We have a Republican running against him and saying nothing.  People are supporting him because he says he is conservative.  That is pathetic.  WTF does that mean?  I think waiting for the right politician- we will be waiting forever.  We need to create the right environment to breed good politicians.  Interesting projects wouldn't take the risk on us.  We need to show the world we are into this kind of living.  I think our small businesses are doing this.   

I also wanted to note that this has been the first time my students don't want to leave for another city.  Many seem to want to sick around.  That says something. 

For the interesting urban projects to work- the risk has to be worth it.  Nashville, Oklahoma City, etc are on the other side of the risk.  They proved they support this.  Let the politics catch up later.   

Good points! I think some of the impetus is coming from the next generation coming-of-age. I think they are going to fuel major changes in transit, and the look of cities of the future (including ours). I think this may be what you've noticed over the last five years. I have the privilege to work (and network) with some smart and progressive young people and they are steadfast on transit and metro issues - they say flatly that things will change. And soon.

[thelakelander]

Eating a crab cake sandwich in Baltimore's Inner Harbor right now. The vibrancy of this place is a great example of what the future of our downtown could one day become.

[tufsu1]

^ that was the dream of every city that built a festival marketplace.  the Key (pun intended) in Baltimore is clustering.  Stuff emanates from the Inner Harbor in all direction

[thelakelander]

Yes it does. BTW, the festival marketplace has finally received a long deserved makeover. New tenants, flooring, signage, etc. Hopefully, the Jax Landing is the next former Rouse development to get cleaned up.