Laura Street Trio in Trouble? Updated status of six key Downtown projects

[whyisjohngalt]

Roads aren't privately owned.

Also, how does 20 million in equity actual become $?  Sounds like financial jargon and that the group is actually 37 million short of actual $.

What projects has Atkins successfully completed?  Were any of them under projected budget?  I believe that confidence is an issue and rightfully so.

[simms3]

A healthy downtown is effectively no different from a well maintained public utility.  It is a huge driver for a healthy economy.  At some point when downtown was abandoned and let to rot by public leaders and a bad attitude du jour by private citizens, it became a largely public responsibility to clean it up.  This cost and workout is by no means unique to Jacksonville.  Every city has had to do this.  Jacksonville is just kicking and screaming along the way and delaying what is becoming a larger public expense by the day.

A huge part of this healthy downtown is healthy buildings that can house uses.  A few relatively small investments here and there and the investment cycle will become more autonomous and the city can go back to its business of funding nothing, or funding whatever.  This has proven out in nearly every downtown in America by now.

[vicupstate]

A healthy downtown is effectively no different from a well maintained public utility.  It is a huge driver for a healthy economy.  At some point when downtown was abandoned and let to rot by public leaders and a bad attitude du jour by private citizens, it became a largely public responsibility to clean it up.  This cost and workout is by no means unique to Jacksonville.  Every city has had to do this.  Jacksonville is just kicking and screaming along the way and delaying what is becoming a larger public expense by the day.

A huge part of this healthy downtown is healthy buildings that can house uses.  A few relatively small investments here and there and the investment cycle will become more autonomous and the city can go back to its business of funding nothing, or funding whatever.  This has proven out in nearly every downtown in America by now.

So true and very well stated.

[whyisjohngalt]

So we should issue bonds like a utility?  Don't think it's nearly as safe a bet for an investor.

We spent too much on the courthouse.  Most cities don't have the same cost of bridge repair and JTA expense for 950+ sq miles.  And, there's the whole police pension thing.  Now the stadium is becoming a big yearly expense too.

Jacksonville has some serious and unique challenges to address.  Any solutions for making downtown "healthy" or even examples of how all those other cities did it?

[ProjectMaximus]

Any solutions for making downtown "healthy" or even examples of how all those other cities did it?

This website is littered with both solutions and examples.

[whyisjohngalt]

I was more interested in the solutions specifically referenced by the poster calling downtown effectively a utility.  Most of the other "solutions" on this site don't seem realistic and too public transportation centric to be relevant to Jacksonville.

Seeking financing solutions - like crowdrise.com - to actually get this project moving and simply asking question about legitimacy of current project lead isn't "bashing" but just addressing current sticking points so that we can move forward.

I now realize that the person with comment deleting capabilities has a personal relationship with Mr. Atkins and that may be why there isn't any answers to the questions about his past development success and if he was under budget on previous jobs.  That's not "bashing".

[Captain Zissou]

If the city is able to provide its portion, how soon will work be able to begin?  Is the Cucina Urban piece going in the previously proposed new construction on the grass lot north of the trio?  How tall will that building be?  In what other ways does the scope and scale deviate from the previous proposal?

[thelakelander]

What's the plans for the surface parking lot on Forsyth Street, between Laura and Main Streets?

[Downtown Osprey]

Is there any additional information on the residential units. Number of units? Price range? etc.

[whyisjohngalt]

I don't think asking questions is the same as bashing.  Even if the answers are negative.  It seems you would rather "bash" or delete me instead of being productive.  Gadfly.

My post history speaks for itself and is mostly full of questions.  I use this site like several others to investigate events but do not have the ability to edit or delete posts to suit my position.  If I did have that editorial power, then the discussions would be directed differently.  This site literally shapes public opinion and perceptions and when I ask a question I am either attacked or deleted.  Why not let truth shape public opinion instead of the highest bidder? 

The Tappouni stuff with getting hired by Ability Housing while campaigning was sketchy.  Atkins I asked questions about history to be met with a "guard dog" tactic so that's bashing?  And I don't want to waste anymore effort on Elton.  He's trying to keep a low profile and that's fine.  It's when he was proactively bending the truth that I had an issue.  Most of those posts ended up being right.

Obviosly this site can shape public opinion and I just wish that it subscribed to a Journalistic Ethics and Standards instead of "selling" to the highest bidder.  It is the one with the power/role of editor that can and should change.

[thelakelander]

I was more interested in the solutions specifically referenced by the poster calling downtown effectively a utility.  Most of the other "solutions" on this site don't seem realistic and too public transportation centric to be relevant to Jacksonville.

Although true vibrancy will never happen without human scaled connectivity, there have been quite a few that would improve downtown's conditions that aren't public transportation centric. Here's a couple of links if your interested:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-nov-creating-downtown-vibrancy-by-exposing-secret-retail

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2006-dec-urban-connectivity-state-union

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-mar-food-trucks-and-their-impact-on-downtown-revitalization

Since we are on the subject what experience does Shahid khan  have at large real estate development? Any successful projects to speak of?

What type of large scale real estate development? He's definitely been successful at building Flex-N-Gate globally since the early 1980s. He now has developed 54 manufacturing facilities in various continents.

[thelakelander]

What's the plans for the surface parking lot on Forsyth Street, between Laura and Main Streets?

With Steve now.

The plan is to build a parking structure. One that would be large enough to accommodate the greater market downtown, not just the development.  Plans have been submitted to the city that are basically identical to the ones we printed last.

So a parking structure with ground level retail and dining space?

[Captain Zissou]

Man this is exciting stuff.  I hope they start turning dirt soon.  I can't take another year of waiting.

[thelakelander]

What's the plans for the surface parking lot on Forsyth Street, between Laura and Main Streets?

With Steve now.

The plan is to build a parking structure. One that would be large enough to accommodate the greater market downtown, not just the development.  Plans have been submitted to the city that are basically identical to the ones we printed last.

So a parking structure with ground level retail and dining space?

Yes that is the proposal now.  It has a ground level retail built right into the plan.  There has already been interest in this space.

I ask because replacing that block long surface parking lot on Forsyth, with something that generates pedestrian activity and foot traffic, is just as big as restoring the vacant buildings across the street. This is a component of this redevelopment project that has been overlooked by most, IMO.

[Captain Zissou]

^ I agree with Lake, but if that becomes a huge garage, it will be adjacent to or across the street from 3 other garages.  Who uses these and why isn't there more coordination between them?