Khan's Jacksonville Shipyards Plans Revealed

[Dapperdan]

Thirty million for cleanup is a lot but had this been done long ago, we would have buildings and businesses on the tax roles. We found how many million for the scoreboards and the amphitheater, but none to clean up this prime piece of land in all this time? Really?

[Tacachale]

We're new to the area and we'd love downtown to be as great as the big cities we originally are from.

Question: Is Jacksonville getting a deep water port upgrade and if not, what exactly will the new shipyards be used for?

Don't worry. There are plenty of friendly people in Jacksonville. 

In a nutshell, Jacksonville in the process of trying to redevelop the site of the former downtown shipyards. It has sat empty for decades, and  it has seen several redevelopment plans come and go with no progress. The owner of the Jaguars has had an interest in the site because of its proximity to the stadium, but now they are considering also including an existing public park that is adjacent to both the former Shipyards and the stadium.

The deepening of the port has more to do with other shipping terminals along the river because the shipyards is about commercial and residential types of uses.

Welcome to Jacksonville.

Thanks for the assist - so Shipyards is just a legacy name and they won't be actively used as shipyards? I saw the drawings and it looked like boat slips but everyone keeps saying shipyards.

Lol, yes. It used to be an actual shipyard but that closed decades ago (a shipyard is a place where ships are built, not just a place they go). The shipyard is distinct from the port, the main facilities of which are on the Northside around the Dames Point area, with some facilities on the east end of Downtown and elsewhere.

The former Shipyards property downtown is what this thread is talking about, if you read the first post. After some failed private ventures, the city owns the property and has been trying to figure out what to do with it. Shad Khan has expressed interest because of its proximity to the stadium district. However, his initial plans were a bad deal for the city, and we ended up building some of what he wanted to build (an amphitheater and practice field) closer to the stadium. The current administration is working with him on a new plan, which apparently would bundle it with Metropolitan Park for some kind of big mixed-use project that includes a public park element and marina.

[finehoe]

Also, while we're giving history tutorials, you should know that Shad Khan is the biggest welfare queen in Duval County.

[RattlerGator]

Also, while we're giving history tutorials, you should know that Shad Khan is the biggest welfare queen public-private business partner who has spent millions of his own money in Duval County.

FIFY

[Tacachale]

Also, while we're giving history tutorials, you should know that Shad Khan is the biggest welfare queen public-private business partner who has spent millions of his own money in Duval County.

FIFY

Nah, brah.  I don't care if he spent millions of his own money-- you know, that's sort of his responsibility, seeing as he is the one who reaps all the profit and also, you know, owns the damn team.  I don't know why rabid NFL fans can't take the blinders off and admit that the billionaire owners are scamming the hell out of them.  All data shows that pro sports are complete taxpayer rip offs. But, in response, all fans give is LALALALALALALALA CANT HEAR YOU FOOTBAW SO IMPORTANT MY LIFE WOULD END WITHOUT IT*

*See response of fans in September 2011 when one weeks' slate of games was cancelled

Totally the opposite of college footbaw homers, of course. They are enlightened and would never buy into such scams.

[Dapperdan]

Also, while we're giving history tutorials, you should know that Shad Khan is the biggest welfare queen public-private business partner who has spent millions of his own money in Duval County.

FIFY

Nah, brah.  I don't care if he spent millions of his own money-- you know, that's sort of his responsibility, seeing as he is the one who reaps all the profit and also, you know, owns the damn team.  I don't know why rabid NFL fans can't take the blinders off and admit that the billionaire owners are scamming the hell out of them.  All data shows that pro sports are complete taxpayer rip offs. But, in response, all fans give is LALALALALALALALA CANT HEAR YOU FOOTBAW SO IMPORTANT MY LIFE WOULD END WITHOUT IT*

*See response of fans in September 2011 when one weeks' slate of games was cancelled

Just ask San Diego how nice an NFL team can be. What a joke. At least California cities have to vote for any public money to be used for sports teams and every time it fails the vote. San Diego said no and the team packed up and took their ball with them. Everyone agrees that it is a terribly bad financial move for the Chargers, but does the owner care? No.  LA doesn't want the team and they are just piggybacking off another owner who put up his "own" money ( what a novel concept) for a LA stadium.

[TimmyB]

So, Mayor Curry is talking about this with a supposed "big meeting" coming next month.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/mayor-big-things-could-be-coming-to-downtown-jacksonville

Is this just more of the same, or is something really happening?

[martt12]

I try to remain optimistic.  I would like to see this proposal going North as he "hinted"

[TimmyB]

I try to remain optimistic.  I would like to see this proposal going North as he "hinted"

I haven't been around long enough to be pessimistic, but I can understand why a lot of the long-time Jax residents would be.   I'd just like to see it going, instead of just "envisioned"! 

[KenFSU]

So, Mayor Curry is talking about this with a supposed "big meeting" coming next month.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/mayor-big-things-could-be-coming-to-downtown-jacksonville

Is this just more of the same, or is something really happening?

If you put all of the context clues together, it's pretty clear where this is going.

Curry wants to partner with Cordish on a "Jacksonville Live" type venue, to be built between Everbank and the Baseball Grounds.



Not sure if/how Iguana would be involved, but they're clearly pushing for it, as evidenced by Khan flying Curry out to St. Louis, Baltimore, and KC a few months back, and as evidenced by Lamping's previous success with Ballpark Village.

I like it in that 1) it really does catalyze the sports district and make it more of a one-stop destination for locals and visitors, 2) you could probably have something open for business before the city even finishes remediation of the Shipyards and/or removal of the Hart Bridge ramps.

That said, it's also probably too far removed from the CBD to get much foot traffic on non-event days, and it certainly does point to the fact that work on the Shipyards is very, very far out.

[jaxjags]

I believe Shad will be involved. He wants to move forward even if Shipyards keeps getting delayed. The indoor practice facility and the amphitheater are good examples. Now we move to entertainment district. As said, near stadium work can start "tomorrow".

I believe the Shipyards will become more hotel, office and residential and park space in final design.

[thelakelander]

Hopefully, it will be built on Lot J in the image above.

[Rynjny]

Hopefully, it will be built on Lot J in the image above.

Is lot J big enough?

[thelakelander]

For a Cordish project? Yes, those things are like miniature Jax Landings in most markets Jax's size.

[vicupstate]

I guess you can put the final nail int he Landing coffin. FL-GA and the like would move to the Cordish project.