Winegardner & Hammons to Manage Laura Trio Marriott

[heights unknown]

As someone said, "DONT HOLD YOUR BREATH." And I hope that April fools thing is not the truth, and never happens. What a boost this would be for downtown and the City if City government got off their ass and MADE those numbers work. They can find 8 million dollars for everything else that usually doesn't work out and then its money wasted; in my opinion, this would not be money wasted and would be a super investment for the City.

[Houseboat Mike]

Does anyone know where this project is at? It doesn't appear that any construction has started here yet.

[thelakelander]

Still waiting for COJ to make a decision on whether to it's going to provide incentives necessary to make it happen.

[Houseboat Mike]

Do you know who within the City could be contacted regarding this? At some point I have got to stop just shaking my head and bemoaning the lack of progress, and become another squeaky wheel that demands answers as to the lack of movement on downtown projects.

While I know that statement may invoke a few eye rolls and muttering of "Good luck", I have to at least try. I am sick and tired of seeing wasted opportunities pass us by. The revenue that this project would create, in both construction buildout, as well as increased property taxes, bed taxes, etc. would offset the incentives. I understand the hesitation of giving "corporate welfare"- and I personally think too many people try and gain the system. However, I would consider this investment money- not welfare. The money would come back to the city in more than one revenue stream.

[jaxjaguar]

Preach on preacher man. I agree 100%. Same can be said for the Barnett building.

[thelakelander]

^The Barnett building is a part of the Laura Trio deal.

[jcjohnpaint]

Can't believe this hasn't spurred any investigative reporting from news sources.  I guess they are too busy writing about the town center.  It would be nice to get to the bottom of this. 

[urbanlibertarian]

Can't believe this hasn't spurred any investigative reporting from news sources.  I guess they are too busy writing about the town center.  It would be nice to get to the bottom of this. 

Breaking news:  The wheels of government turn slowly.  Sometimes very slowly.

[Houseboat Mike]

Can't believe this hasn't spurred any investigative reporting from news sources.  I guess they are too busy writing about the town center.  It would be nice to get to the bottom of this. 

Breaking news:  The wheels of government turn slowly.  Sometimes very slowly.

Urban, I agree with you- somewhat. It seems that anything that is a potential development that would bring economic progress to the core gets mired down in red tape, however if it involves tearing down and leveling buildings, it takes what seems like minutes from the time we hear about them to the time the structure is destroyed. That well may just be a perception, but that is what it looks like to me, a passive citizen, who really hasn't (to this point) been all that involved in local government.

I am fine with a thorough review of the proposal, and indeed that may be what the perceived delay is. But without regular updates from somewhere, we can only assume or expect the worst- which is inaction. In other words- WHY does it have to take so long? The project was submitted months ago- what has the city been doing during this time?

[jcjohnpaint]

The project is important on many levels and seems doable.  I have heard bits of info about the city being expected to build a garage etc, but not much more.  Sorry for the ignorance, but it seems kind of odd that so much has been lined up and totally falling on silence.  What is holding it up?  I don't think it is money because the city can find that kind of money when it needs to. 

[tpot]

JAX should consider hosting educational tours for other cities......One tour could be "How not to grow as a city" and the other could be, "How to tear down historic properties and replace them with vacant, overgrown lots"............Jax has these two concepts down to a science.....

[CutterJ]

Are they going to open these buildings up for OneSpark this year. Last year they hosted some vendors in the Barnett bldg? It would be nice if they released some sort of status report on where this project is.

I don't think that the city is going to come up with any money for this project, their all focused on the shipyards project now. The Laura Street trio is last years hot city news and now the focus has turned to the shipyards. I think the Laura Street trio missed its opportunity to secure funding. Seems like the developer just took to long to get anything done.

[thelakelander]

The developer has been ready for months....assuming COJ can come up with it's half of the required funds. Problem here is you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. COJ doesn't have the cash to incentize all the current proposed projects. Sell a few assets like the shipyards and there'll be some extra cash to play with for projects like the Trio.

[jcjohnpaint]

I'm not holding my breath for the shipyards, but Coj does love bling.  They should prioritize the possibility if...  Would love to hear it from the city's mouth though

[Kay]

I think the lender is not going to lend the money without the City being responsible if project goes belly up.  Don't know that makes
sense for the City.  The DIA wants to see this project happen.