Rummell, Balanky pitch ‘Healthy Town’ for JEA site

[BoldCityRealist]

What would make it work? As designed on the JEA site, Rummell said the residential and amenity mix to attract all age groups and a range of demographics would have included:

• 700-800 multifamily units for sale and for rent

• A unit mix from studios to penthouses that would attract, for example, residents ranging from new college graduates taking their first jobs to more affluent professionals to retirees.

• Multistory residential buildings of three to four floors that are designed with the stairs up front and the elevators in back, which could entice residents to take the stairs. "If you walk to your fourth floor five times a day, that's a lot of exercise you wouldn't get otherwise," he said.

• 75,000 to 85,000 square feet of retail, food and beverage space to serve residents and visitors.

• "A riverfront cool bar and restaurant."

• Garden space for rent that encourages residents to plant and reap their produce, but would be tended by staff if the residents prefer.

• The "hardware" of fitness centers and amenities that encourage a healthy lifestyle.

• Most important, he said, is the "base camp" and software services that would be staffed by people who could help residents with questions ranging from finding a church to booking an appointment with a medical center.

This all sounds super awesome to me. If it comes down to this or the Deutsche Bank complex, I'd be happy with either.

[IrvAdams]

^^^ or a blending of the two. Both are incredible uses for this property.

[jaxlore]

I am not too enthused at this project. What recent college graduate wants or can afford to live alongside affluent retirees? This idea seems thrown together and I am not sure its the right fit for downtown.

[tufsu1]

I am not too enthused at this project. What recent college graduate wants or can afford to live alongside affluent retirees? This idea seems thrown together and I am not sure its the right fit for downtown.

that's actually the demographic makeup of many urban downtowns now....millenials and active retirees

[jaxlore]

I see your point. But still cant see how you would market that. "Workout and live right downstairs from your grandparents". Maybe once the full plan is released it will make more sense to me.

[edjax]

Not all retirees are in their 70 and 80s.  So if you have young professionals in their 30s and early retirees in their 50s and 60s, not a bad mix.

[finehoe]

JEA gets 2 bids for Southbank site

The process to sell JEA's riverfront property along the Southbank Downtown that began nearly 14 years ago may soon come to an end.

On Tuesday, two bid proposals were accepted by the public not-for-profit utility. One was from Elements Development LLC, a partnership between developers Michael Balanky and Peter Rummell.

Their plan for the site is a Healthy Town concept, a residential community for all ages designed for people seeking a healthy environment and lifestyle.

The other respondent, Atlanta-based RocaPoint Partners, is an investment firm comprising Phil Mays, former portfolio manager and legal affairs manager for EverBank Commercial Advisors; Patrick Leonard, former residential and commercial real estate development executive at EverBank; and Adam Flatto, president of the Georgetown Co., a privately held real estate investment and development company based in New York City, according to the company's website.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=544040

[ProjectMaximus]

I see your point. But still cant see how you would market that. "Workout and live right downstairs from your grandparents". Maybe once the full plan is released it will make more sense to me.

I don't think the idea is as much about marketing to groups of old and young people as it is marketing ideas that attract people of all ages.

[KenFSU]

From the Jax Business Journal:

Rummell's Healthy Town project gets preliminary approval from JEA

Based on its offer of a higher price per acre for JEA's Southbank property, Peter Rummell's Elements project has gotten the preliminary nod from the utility.

Rummell, along with development partner Mike Balanky, have proposed a healthy living-focused mixed use project for the site.

In the proposals, which were unveiled Tuesday, Elements offered $608,164 — or about $200 per acre — for the 30-acre site.

The other bidder, RocaPoint Partners, bid $404,169, or $133 per acre...

RocaPoint has proposed a mixed use project for the site.

...The decision now moves to the full board, which will be meeting later today.

Full story at: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/10/21/rummells-healthy-town-project-gets-preliminary.html

[jcjohnpaint]

It would be nice to see some kind of site plan.

[finehoe]

It would be nice to see some kind of site plan.

Agreed.  I've searched all over for one, to no avail.

[edjax]

The story above does not mesh with one currently up on JBJ in a very important way.  The story states on the site states the $600,000 plus figure is PER ACRE , not the total amount as indicated above thus the total amount is in excess of $17 million. This would make more sense as when I read the above figures I was like, really??

[Steve]

It's $608k per acre. They corrected it. Not sure how that got out though.

[BoldCityRealist]

My big question here is will the Riverwalk be extended down to this? Because I feel that would be essential.

I also hope they make the Skyway more accessible from this area. If the Skyway was extended to Brooklyn as well, it would really fulfill its potential as a people mover. You could grab dinner at the new restaurant in 200 Riverside, stop by downtown for a cocktail and get home early enough to wake up for a gym sesh in Healthy Town - all without getting in your car!

[pierre]

My big question here is will the Riverwalk be extended down to this? Because I feel that would be essential.

I also hope they make the Skyway more accessible from this area. If the Skyway was extended to Brooklyn as well, it would really fulfill its potential as a people mover. You could grab dinner at the new restaurant in 200 Riverside, stop by downtown for a cocktail and get home early enough to wake up for a gym sesh in Healthy Town - all without getting in your car!

"Healthytown" is a short walk to the Kings Avenue Skyway Station.