Barnett And Laura Street Trio Site Plan September 2014

[thelakelander]

It appears the architecture of the proposed addition has changed as well:


http://members.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-09-23/story/developer-announces-major-plans-revamp-laura-street-trio-area-downtown

[AuditoreEnterprise]

These are some of my absolute favorite structures in Jacksonville. I just don't understand why the atkins group thinks the city will fork over that kind of money after all of the other proposals they basically have shot down. I hope it gets going though it will truly be a benefit to that area no doubt.

[For_F-L-O-R-I-D-A]

IMO, this is so much more important than the Landing. The Landing is usable at this point, this is literally TRANSFORMING the heart of DT and preserving some of our most treasured buildings/our history. This is especially true if the Barnett Building will still include UNF classes and residential as last planned. There is 5 million in the Historic Preservation fund and 4 million in the DT Fund. The Landing will probably be the first thing investors are interested in if the DT Jax momentum really picks up, however, the Trio is something I truly believe will provide Jax with a real vibrant city feel at least for a few blocks which is a start.

Maybe a small Publix goes in here too?

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/blog/morning-edition/2014/05/publix-quietly-working-on-smaller-prototype-store.html

[avonjax]

I can't imagine not finding a way, any way to get this project started. I may be naive but it's hard to imagine any city would allow one of their most historically significant structures to lay in such sad disrepair. The Bisbee Building has been called one  of the most historically important buildings in the South because it was the first reinforced concrete highrise anywhere in the South. The time is now to make sure this group of buildings receive the respect and care they need and deserve. I agree with For_F-L-O-R-I-D-A, this is much more of a priority than the Landing.

[thelakelander]

Only in Jax do we pick and choose and eventually end up with nothing. It shouldn't have to be that way. We should get them both done. It would be a huge boost for the heart of the downtown core.

[jcjohnpaint]

I wonder if there is an app out there called 'Balancing the Budget' that could replace all of these council members?  It would be nice to get them off the payroll and free up some money for projects like this. 

[Dapperdan]

So, will The Loop finally open up next door then? In all seriousness, that Loop building would seem to be primed for something if these plans come to fruition.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Yes, that would be fantastic if this also spills over to finally reviving 20 West Adams.

[thelakelander]

So, will The Loop finally open up next door then? In all seriousness, that Loop building would seem to be primed for something if these plans come to fruition.

I heard the Loop and the Fuddruckers at the Landing will be having their grand opening on the same day! Cameron Kuhn will be flying in on his helicopter for the ceremonies. It will be perched across the street from the Landing, on top of Riverwatch Tower

[Jtetlak]

I had the pleasure of touring these buildings to learn about this proposal a few weeks ago and the plans are very impressive. I think the impact on downtown is going to be incredible. There are plans for a high end restaurant, apartments, retail and cafe space, overall its exactly the kind of coordinated effort needed to jump start more growth.

[KenFSU]

IMO, this is so much more important than the Landing. The Landing is usable at this point, this is literally TRANSFORMING the heart of DT and preserving some of our most treasured buildings/our history. This is especially true if the Barnett Building will still include UNF classes and residential as last planned. There is 5 million in the Historic Preservation fund and 4 million in the DT Fund. The Landing will probably be the first thing investors are interested in if the DT Jax momentum really picks up, however, the Trio is something I truly believe will provide Jax with a real vibrant city feel at least for a few blocks which is a start.

Could not agree more. One way or another, we need to make this happen with the Trio. The few million that we would need to pony up as a city to finally restore and activate the Trio would almost certainly do more to spark downtown redevelopment than the $16 million that Brown proposed for renovating the Landing and demolishing the old Courthouse. If Atkins gets the Trio up and running, Sleiman is a big winner, even with the existing Landing design. Opportunities like this don't come around every day, and if we don't jump at it when the private financing is in place, it could be a decade or more before the opportunity comes around again.

[Tacachale]

Does anyone have an email contact for these guys? PM me if so.

[edjax]

So I am assuming the city money he wants is just for the Laura St Trio? He had stated back in April he had the financing in place for the Barnett and would not need any city incentives for that restoration.  So I guess he can go ahead and start that portion now.  Yea right.

[AuditoreEnterprise]

I have noticed that the phrase "we are not seeking city incentives" is a general term meaning "not at this moment, but I am sure there will be unforeseen circumstances that will require us seeking a substantial incentive in order to start our project."

On another note there actually may be something to the story we don't know. Such as they had an investor they were banking on and then financing fell through or the firm looked towards other options instead of focusing financing on this project. I am assuming it is something we will never know. 

[pears045]

I want odds...What do you think the odds are that this actually happens and is functional by 2018?