Developer's proposal for Berkman II may include apartments and retail

[thelakelander]

Berkman II may not sit empty forever....

By Max Marbut, Staff Writer

"They have a great plan if we can pull it off. We've got to get moving," City Council member Bill Gulliford said Tuesday after meeting with the owners of the Berkman II condominium tower, a potential developer and city economic development officials.
The plan could include apartments, retail space and possibly even workforce housing.

"We're definitely excited about the project and the opportunity," said Brett Oliver, director of development for Atlanta-based Cocke Finkelstein Inc., after the meeting.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=543545

[jaxjaguar]

Was this what StephenDare was referring to?

Also, hopefully this takes off sooner rather than later! This combined with the shipyards announcement coming from Khan would be HUGE! If Deutsche Bank announces they'll develop the old JEA land AND the other proposals go through, by George well have a completely different looking city and maybe enough leverage to extend the Skyway! 

[thelakelander]

Was this what StephenDare was referring to?

Nope!

[CityLife]

Looking at that company's website, they appear to have the experience and expertise to pull this off.

http://www.cockefinkelstein.com/services/

[Downtown Osprey]

So much exciting news going on! Excited for the future 

[Tacachale]

Man, I was beginning to think we'd never see the day. Hopefully they can execute.

[Tacachale]

This is a good line:

Gulliford said whatever any future plans might be for the Shipyards, "We need more parking."

"We could realign the parking garage to intrude a little on the Shipyards property for future development. That's a good option," Gulliford said. "We're looking at a vehicle where we can give them the incentives they need to make the deal work with the bank."

The larger parking garage also could be designed to include retail space and possibly even workforce housing, while the apartments in the tower are proposed to be rented at high-market rate.

Imagine that, a parking garage with retail and housing.

[Tacachale]

I'm just pleased someone in our leadership thinks parking garages should be mixed use, instead of just throwing up window boxes and creating a permanent dead zone.

[IrvAdams]

I'm just pleased someone in our leadership thinks parking garages should be mixed use, instead of just throwing up window boxes and creating a permanent dead zone.

lol.  that would at least bring the steaming into the 1990s progress wise. (when observations lofts were as cool as digital watches in the 1970s.)

I just wish that we would start thinking along two important lines.

1.  Density is desirable.

2.  The first response to density cannot be more parking and automobiles.

Does the area really need more parking?  Like 'definitely'?

Or does it need a better circulation system downtown that obviates the need for parking (which is plentiful, and kept artificially hard to use)

Right - don't think "How can I bring more cars into this area?", think "How can I bring more people into this area?". A car never shopped for anything, or rode an amusement ride, or rented an apartment 

[jaxjaguar]

I do know a fair amount of people park on these lots for all of the big events that happen in the area. I would imagine at least one or 2 garages would be needed to make up for this. Also the people who live/work in the area will need a place to park. I makes more sense to build up with mixed use than to force people unfamiliar with the area into places they have to commute from 5 miles away

[thelakelander]

We need to increase density by getting rid of most of our off-street parking spaces. Better mobility and connectivity can be achieved by investing in alternative forms of transportation, which happen to be cheaper and more pedestrian oriented.  As for all of our lots, most sit empty for significant portions of the day/night.  There's more than enough ample opportunity to share parking facilities for many uses.

[jaxjaguar]

Downtown's land space is 60% parking lots, jaxjaguar.  Don't you think thats a lot?

I live downtown, but I don't see it... How much of that is owned by First Baptist, over-priced dilapidated street level lots and garages that close after 10pm?

As I stated in my thread a week or so ago, parking is one of the biggest issues for my guests when they come in town. Heck, it's $40 a month, for the two lots next to my building, for a pass. Both lots are completely run down with huge pot holes and broken glass, look abandoned and there's no option for daily use. If they catch you in those lots with out a monthly pass they tow you.... Where are my friends supposed to park when the streets are full and the garages closed or unusable except on Sundays?

[thelakelander]

From a 2011 article. Parking lots, both surface and garage are highlighted in red...



Other city examples here:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-jul-surface-parking-lots-a-downtown-vibrancy-killer#.U9lCwfldViZ

[edjax]

How much of the above would be available to residents of the building?  Obviously not the closest lots shown in red being the Shipyards and Jail and MH parking lots? 

[thelakelander]

I was showing the map and speaking in regard to downtown parking in general.  This 2011 graphic does not correlate directly with whatever this particular proposal or the future development of the shipyards will be. Those things will not be known until an actual project materializes.