A Cheap Solution To Jax's Convention Center Problem?

[mtheschmidt]

Why not expand into that large parking space directly on the river. Have a bridge connecting the Hyatt and the new center. The breakout spaces, grand lobby, etc could actually have adjacent a river view with spaces on north acting as street level retail and restaurant space. Design the roof to house an intensive green roof that would serve as a river front park that slopes down to the ground plane and pulls people up and onto the park. A surface parking lot directly on the river is a dis-service to such a great location and parking could be mitigated with a garage if necessary (god knows we know how to build those!). This would be more cost effective in that it would require no demolition of an existing structure that realistically has potential to be rehabbed and repurposed. The old courthouse is not a terrible building and with some imagination and good design ideas could easily be redeveloped into mixed use tower with residential, offices, gallery space, retail and restaurants.

[brainstormer]

I would love to see the current parking lot become interactive green space, with an exhibition hall built where the old courthouse is. You would get to keep the Annex building and still have street level retail along Bay. The river-side of the exhibition hall could also interactive with the green space fronting the river, i.e. restaurant with outdoor seating. Could the Annex building be turned into affordable apartments?

[Charles Hunter]

A great idea, I like both the Annex site and the Court House site.  Any new construction should go for the highest LEED certification possible.
Regarding saving the old City Hall, what would the cost of rehabbing - including asbestos mitigation - so it can be used for something else?

[InnerCityPressure]

Why not expand into that large parking space directly on the river.

Welcome to the forum!  Also, you might notice that Lake answered your question in the comment before yours.  See below

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

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

My view is, if you can possibly save the tower portion of the City Hall Annex, try and do it. I guess it is somewhat a landmark in downtown. Maybe redevelop it into a hotel portion? However, I would much rather see greenery and park, not on Bay street, but on the river where the parking lot is. Both the City Hall Anex and Courthouse Anex disengage from Bay St., and will never do the "entertainment district" justice but always be a hindrance. Instead, build a convention center on the sites, maybe with the ability to go vertical in the future with some mixed use development, and have restaurants, bars, and maybe some touristy shopping on the street. It would make Bay St. so much better. A new green park or square on the current surface lot would be great and is something missing currently in the CBD of the Northbank, and Riverside Park-esque. Let's commit to revitalizing something, whether its Bay St, Laura St. Trio, Hemming Plaza, or the Landing. Other cities are getting things done, and all Jax seems to do is talk and bicker. We need momentum and excitement DT more than anything.

[mbstout]

My view is, if you can possibly save the tower portion of the City Hall Annex, try and do it. I guess it is somewhat a landmark in downtown. Maybe redevelop it into a hotel portion? However, I would much rather see greenery and park, not on Bay street, but on the river where the parking lot is. Both the City Hall Anex and Courthouse Anex disengage from Bay St., and will never do the "entertainment district" justice but always be a hindrance. Instead, build a convention center on the sites, maybe with the ability to go vertical in the future with some mixed use development, and have restaurants, bars, and maybe some touristy shopping on the street. It would make Bay St. so much better. A new green park or square on the current surface lot would be great and is something missing currently in the CBD of the Northbank, and Riverside Park-esque. Let's commit to revitalizing something, whether its Bay St, Laura St. Trio, Hemming Plaza, or the Landing. Other cities are getting things done, and all Jax seems to do is talk and bicker. We need momentum and excitement DT more than anything.

t
i agree with everything said above.  Also, Bay Street feels more like a wide highway in that area so I think putting it on a road diet, with curb extensions (neckdowns) at crosswalks, protected bike lanes, and having any new development actually address the street edge (instead of hiding it behind 8'-12' of landscaping) would do a lot to make The Elbow more of the pedestrian friendly 'entertainment district' that seems to be developing that way..

[CityLife]

Great piece Lake and a lot of good discussion.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the Hermiker Block to the west of the Hyatt along Bay. That alleyway and rear parking lot would make for a fantastic outdoor courtyard/dining/entertainment area. However, the JEA station next to it is a major deterrent from anything like that happening there. Anyone know what the feasibility of moving that JEA station is? With the adjacent surface parking lot, and Hermiker Building, that site would have infinite potential if a convention center was built in the area.

[Marle Brando]

I agree with regardless of what is developed on the property that the City Hall Annex building should be refit as either a hotel component or some sort of affordable apartment residences with the ground floors being converted to retail/residential use. The Old Courthouse land would be best suited for a convention center expansion in partnership with the Hyatt with ground floor retail and exhibition space above. The old eyesore of a parking lot would make for a world class riverfront park like many above have mentioned. I cant understand why the City, Sleiman, The Hyatt, and in between parties will not do the obvious and brand this entire sect 'The Landing' i.e Gaslamp District.. For instance the Hyatt would become the Hyatt@ The Jacksonville Landing..Etc. i think rebranding this entire section downtown as The Landing would help all parties involved and help expand the actual Landing retail experience outside of the half-shell structure and out into future developments along the corridor shall they ever come to past. Btw..new guy here. Metro Lofts Resident. Love the board. Great info and insight.

[IrvAdams]

^^welcome, Marle. Good insights.

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

I love the idea of the rebranding of the entire riverfront up to a new convention center on the Northbank as the Jax Landing.

[RattlerGator]

I agree with regardless of what is developed on the property that the City Hall Annex building should be refit as either a hotel component or some sort of affordable apartment residences with the ground floors being converted to retail/residential use. The Old Courthouse land would be best suited for a convention center expansion in partnership with the Hyatt with ground floor retail and exhibition space above. The old eyesore of a parking lot would make for a world class riverfront park like many above have mentioned. I cant understand why the City, Sleiman, The Hyatt, and in between parties will not do the obvious and brand this entire sect 'The Landing' i.e Gaslamp District.. For instance the Hyatt would become the Hyatt@ The Jacksonville Landing..Etc. i think rebranding this entire section downtown as The Landing would help all parties involved and help expand the actual Landing retail experience outside of the half-shell structure and out into future developments along the corridor shall they ever come to past. Btw..new guy here. Metro Lofts Resident. Love the board. Great info and insight.

Fantastic post.

[spuwho]

The branding idea is a good one.

[Ocklawaha]

Welcome aboard Marie! Nice post. Of course I'm always thinking in terms of transportation here, but that gas light idea really got the wheels turning. Imagine a brick (or impressed colored asphalt that appears to be brick) pavement down Water Street, gas lamps or very early style electric streetlights, vintage streetcars, maritime trappings and furnishings, signage, and names. For example the little dead end on Hogan could be relabeled 'Hogan Street Wharf' or 'Hogan Street Quay.' Rebuild the old arch over the (Water St.) street (once upon a time over Main Street at the Ferry Landing) that actually said 'Jacksonville Ferry Landing' and 'Gateway to South Jacksonville'. Now knock down the ramps off of the Main Street Bridge and instant transformation of downtown seeded!

[brainstormer]

The re-branding idea is brilliant! This could easily be done with minimal costs. Lamppost banners along that stretch of the riverwalk could tie the section all together. Maybe informational placards in a timeline format could be added to outline the history of that section of the riverbank. Go back all the way to when it was docks and warehouses. Isn't there still a large restaurant space available in the Hyatt? It's a shame that we can't get that filled.

[Redbaron616]

There is ALWAYS someone or some organization pulling up to the public trough trying to suck up some taxpayer dollars. If all these ideas are so worthy, why can't anyone find any private financial backing? If the private sector won't back it, why should taxpayers?