New McAllister Bar on King

[Sentient]

Planning commish hearing coming up on 8/21 for a new McAllister project coming to King (10-14-12 by BK).   I hear, in addition to bar, it will have some kind of burger thing going on.  Anyone hear anything?


ETA - looks like it is going to be challenged by the city...

http://www.coj.net/departments/planning-and-development/docs/current-planning-division/planning-commission-docs/2014/staff-reports-books/8-21-14-pc-book.aspx

[Josh]

Planning commish hearing coming up on 8/21 for a new McAllister project coming to King (10-14-12 by BK).   I hear, in addition to bar, it will have some kind of burger thing going on.  Anyone hear anything?

When it was first bought the news circulated that it would be a burger joint/bar.

[fieldafm]

He's been trying several angles with that building for well over a year now.

At one point, he was trying the angle that he could make the building a contributing structure, thereby not having to require any parking.

I really can't see these variances being well received (waiving all parking, reclaiming City ROW, exception for sale/service outside when the site has never accomodated such a use, and other variances).

[johnnyliar]

I don't really get it.
What does the city expect to go into this building? How is it possible for anyone to open a business in the King St. area if they are being required to supply a ridiculous amount of parking spaces? Doesn't a lack of parking in the area actually increase the demand for better public transportation? Doesn't this type of parking/planning restriction hurt small businesses and encourage sprawl?

Someone help me understand this lol 

[MusicMan]

Fact is there is pretty much unlimited (and unused) parking at Center State Bank. The merchants of King Street should approach them to co-ordinate a security person there on Friday and Saturday evenings. Parking problem solved.

(The way Fidelity allows parking for RAM.)

[ChriswUfGator]

The bank has been approached repeatedly and unless they've recently had a change of heart is decidedly uninterested.

[fieldafm]

Fact is there is pretty much unlimited (and unused) parking at Center State Bank. The merchants of King Street should approach them to co-ordinate a security person there on Friday and Saturday evenings. Parking problem solved.

(The way Fidelity allows parking for RAM.)

Unbundling and shared parking arrangements are frowned upon.. Which is unfortunate because it is such a simple, effective solution.

There isn't a parking supply problem, anywhere in this city.

[MusicMan]

So if Fidelity had said "No" what would RAM have done?

They provide 80 % of the parking. Does RAM pay them a fee?

God knows nobody in Jacksonville will walk more than a block to get to anything.

[Charles Hunter]

A few months ago, when there was a Sunday event at the RAM site, Fidelity had 2 security guards making sure no one used their parking lot.  I am assuming RAM pays Fidelity for use of the lot.

[ssky]

I wonder if some sort of shared valet service would work there? I know it has been suggested for Downtown/Urban Core businesses but it seems like it could also be viable in this case, especially if several of the area merchants came together to approach the bank as a potential partner in the endeavor. The bank would receive a great deal of free pr/advertising in conjunction with the promotion of the valet service, as well as (if necessary) a part of the revenue generated on a monthly basis.

[jaxlore]

Yeah so much for them being a neighborhood bank. 

[GatorShane]

I always laugh when some one says there isn't enough parking. There are plenty of spaces up and down King St. and on Park St. The problem is that the people who want to complain want to park right in front of the venue they are going to. These are the same people who complain about parking in San Marco, Avondale and 5 Points. Complain and complain for years about nothing to do or no night life, but when areas start to build up they start complaining about no parking. If the weekend trolley can become a permanent thing maybe that will alleviate some peoples concerns.

[ChriswUfGator]

It's even worse than that, the main parking complaints regarding king street have come from a small handful of residents who unilaterally declared the public street in front of their houses to be their private parking spaces. If someone parks in front of their house they think it's a parking problem. Which isn't exactly how that works...

[Lucasjj]

Since this has already turned into a parking discussion I will all add this. If people want the bank to provide parking, the people parking in the area now need to not trash the place. The Chinese restaurant at Post and King allows people to park there and that place is a mess on Saturday and Sunday morning. I picked up over a dozen bottles there just this past Saturday. If people from the bank are seeing that, they are going to be hesitant to get involved.

If a parking arrangement was worked out with the bank though, they could contract someone to monitor and clean the lot on those nights.

[fieldafm]

Since this has already turned into a parking discussion I will all add this. If people want the bank to provide parking, the people parking in the area now need to not trash the place. The Chinese restaurant at Post and King allows people to park there and that place is a mess on Saturday and Sunday morning. I picked up over a dozen bottles there just this past Saturday. If people from the bank are seeing that, they are going to be hesitant to get involved.

If a parking arrangement was worked out with the bank though, they could contract someone to monitor and clean the lot on those nights.

And that's exactly the bank's concern. Getting some of the business owners on board with paying for such an arrangement has not come to fruition.

In regards to the burger bar, the zoning code doesn't recognize a shared parking space arrangement... so that would be a variance as well.