A Cheap Solution To Jax's Convention Center Problem?

[Metro Jacksonville]

A Cheap Solution To Jax's Convention Center Problem?



Investing in a new convention center is an issue that has been debated in Jacksonville for over a decade now. Looking back, the Civic Council may have provided an affordable "no-frills" solution that may be worth dusting off and revisiting.



Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-dec-a-cheap-solution-to-jaxs-convention-center-problem

[tufsu1]

Great article Ennis. 

Just one point of clarification for your readers.  the APA Florida conference was held at the Hyatt.  Holding the conference at the Prime Osborn was never considered, as there are no nearby hotel rooms.  That said, a reception was held in the grand hall of the building because of its grandeur and former life as a train station (which fit the conference theme).

[spuwho]

I agree completely with the biz case of having the con center re-hosted closer to the hotels and sports complex.

One thing I want to add is that in the total cost of the Owensboro center was a significant amount of riverbank remediation along the Ohio.  Remediation that would not be required in Jacksonville because in this plan the center would reside on land reclaimed from the river back in the late 50's.

Other items of note, Owensboro is managed by Mayor Brown's friends at Global Spectrum.





The January calendar looks good.

- New Years Party
- Real Estate Event
- A weekly Thursday Winter Blues concert
- Wedding Planning Event
- Ag Expo
- Tri-State Kids Fair

Later on you have a boat & recreation show, Fire Fighter Officer School, Mardi Gras, Home & Garden Show, Health & Wellness Show, Public Health Association, Municipal Clerks Association

These are all typical shows that are already hosted in Jacksonville at either the PE, The Hyatt, the Morocco Shrine or UNF.

Owensboro is a good example of a parallel, complimentary center that would meet Jacksonville's needs.

We are missing only 1 key ingredient. Public Will.

[I-10east]

I don't know what's 'great convention center architecture' and I wouldn't call myself some authority by no means, but that thing in Owensboro, KY look like a stormwater culvert of some sort.

I can't say that I wild about putting all of our eggs in the very oversaturated convention business and tearing down the Annex, but I see where Lake is coming from with this article, making a compact convention center footprint.   

[coredumped]

Great article.

I think this is a good compromise on a convention center. As the article states we don't need to compete with Orlando and and Atlanta, we'll never win those crowds, but we could have something more competitive and this looks like a good, reasonably, affordable solution.

Most importantly it frees up the terminal.

[thelakelander]

I don't know what's 'great convention center architecture' and I wouldn't call myself some authority by no means, but that thing in Owensboro, KY look like a stormwater culvert of some sort.

I can't say that I wild about putting all of our eggs in the very oversaturated convention business and tearing down the Annex, but I see where Lake is coming from what this article, making a compact convention center footprint.   

^I hear you. However, in this situation, all this does is;

A.  Make better use of the convention market we already in..

B.  Creates a situation for a more vibrant entertainment district along East Bay Street...

C. Gets the convention center out of the train station, allowing that facility to be used for a better JRTC....

D. Creates a situation where Hyatt (a place taxpayers have subsidized) becomes more viable....

E. Dramatically reduces the cost/need for a convention center from the ground up.....

F. Placement on City Hall Annex site avoids the costly issue associated with building on the river.....

G. Still puts Jax in position to expand exhibition space on the courthouse block (immediately east), if a true market rate need ever arises at some point in the future.

All of that for a potential cost that's cheaper than the recent improvements to EverBank Field or the average highway overpass. I've grown to value the City Hall Annex but I'll admit that the amount of bird's taken out for the one stone tossed (and it's potential cost), provides incentive to re-evaluate my initial thoughts.

[tufsu1]

I've grown to value the City Hall Annex but I'll admit that the amount of bird's taken out for the one stone tossed (and it's potential cost), provides incentive to re-evaluate my initial thoughts.

you could likely fit the same size building on the Old Courthouse property, and not lose the City Hall Annex building at this time.  Connection with the Hyatt could be made via a diagonal skybridge and easily be served by the Hyatt's back-of-house operations area.   

[thelakelander]

^Good point.

[JeffreyS]

So this is something floated by the Civic Council? Has there been any feedback from the City Council?

Old Courthouse site seems like a better Idea.

[JaxNative68]

I am completely against the demolition of the City Hall Annex building or any other building.  We have enough vacant lots in downtown to build on.  The one for one trading of our buildings downtown are averse to actual city growth.  Not to mention I am not convinced the new construction would happen once the demolition took place.  Maybe I'm still bitter about the buildings we lost for the construction of the new library when half of downtown is vacant parking lots on the foundations of our lost historic buildings.

[thelakelander]

I've grown to value the City Hall Annex but I'll admit that the amount of bird's taken out for the one stone tossed (and it's potential cost), provides incentive to re-evaluate my initial thoughts.

you could likely fit the same size building on the Old Courthouse property, and not lose the City Hall Annex building at this time.  Connection with the Hyatt could be made via a diagonal skybridge and easily be served by the Hyatt's back-of-house operations area.   

So basically this, which allows the City Hall Annex to be retrofitted with a new use:

[thelakelander]

I am completely against the demolition of the City Hall Annex building or any other building.  We have enough vacant lots in downtown to build on.  The one for one trading of our buildings downtown are averse to actual city growth.  Not to mention I am not convinced the new construction would happen once the demolition took place.  Maybe I'm still bitter about the buildings we lost for the construction of the new library when half of downtown is vacant parking lots on the foundations of our lost historic buildings.

Oh, I totally understand your position and feel the same way on many levels.

[urbanlibertarian]

If memory serves, the money for the stadium enhancements came from CVB bed tax revenue (2/3rds) and the Jags (1/3rd).  Demolition and property remediation of obsolete city structures is clearly COJ's responsibilty.  Seems that we would have to work with the hotel ownership and/or Hyatt hotel group or a 3rd party to supply a huge portion of the project construction costs unless there is more we can wring more $ out of the CVB revenues.

[jaxjaguar]

Would it not be possible to demo the red location about and put the surface parking or a multi-use garage there? Then just build the new center on the old parking lot? It would definitely spice up the riverfront view....

[thelakelander]

The parking lot is actually a deck over a deep part of the river. Putting a building there would get quite expensive.