NEW SOUTHBANK RIVERWALK

[coredumped]

Riverwalk access points under fire
http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/kwidget/wid/_557781/uiconf_id/20678232/entry_id/0_xil6ucu3
Link to video on N4J: http://www.news4jax.com/riverwalk-access-points-under-fire/35281650

[acme54321]

The access along that stretch is pretty crappy.  Nothing between the west side of charthouse and the DCSB.  I imagine that the proposed apartment complex will put in a connection, they're going to have to do some extensive work to pretty up the seawall in that area.  Apparently no one considered what the old seawall under the old riverwalk looked like, it's a mess.

[thelakelander]

Update on the apartment complex:

Completion would be by early 2018.

Alliance Residential wants to develop 255 to 265 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments at the site of the former Crawdaddy's Restaurant. Alliance Realty Partners LLC of Winter Park applied in late August for a mobility fee calculation certificate from the city.

An architectural site plan filed with the application shows apartments fronting Prudential Drive, with an amenity center behind them.

Another group of apartments fronts the Jacksonville Riverwalk on the riverfront, with a pool and courtyard that offers a river view.

In between, and lined with apartments on the west side next to the Lexington, is the parking area.

Graff said the apartment buildings are envisioned as five stories along Prudential Drive and six stories along the riverfront..

He said a six-level, 489-space parking deck, whose floors are not as high as residential floors, will serve the complex.

Designs could provide for river views for most of the units. Renderings are not available.

"That is our intent, to provide the view of the river and the Downtown skyline," he said.

Sidewalks would connect Prudential Drive to the Riverwalk on both sides of the apartments. The western connection could feature a hardscape, fountain and public art, Graff said.

City Council Vice President Lori Boyer said she met with the developers and saw the preliminary concept plans. Boyer, who represents District 5 that now includes the Southbank, said she encouraged greater public access to the Riverwalk and that developers talked about creating a feature that would provide additional public access.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546143

[NIMBY]

There is an access point at the Radisson/Wyndham/Lexington, which you can see in the video, about half way between the Charthouse and the old Crawdaddy's site.  Placing the new riverwalk into the river a bit included structural and aesthetic considerations.  Structurally, it disconnects the riverwalk from the fate of the sheet pile retaining wall that could fail at any time.  I don't believe the city owns or controls all of that wall and to rehabilitate it would be expensive.  Future connections would be a welcome change, as it would mean increased usage but a wall failure that takes down the riverwalk was unacceptable.