Million Dollar Downtown Restroom

[mtraininjax]

  is right, a million bucks to build a restroom for good ol Toney Sleiman.....

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-05-22/story/some-city-council-dont-smell-1-million-deal-build-bathrooms-near-landing#.VV-mhLwdhnI.twitter

Loved Lori Boyer's comments:

"I have heartburn about spending a million dollars on a restroom," Councilwoman Lori Boyer said.

A deal that would require $1 million in tax money to build a bathroom and storage facility near the downtown Jacksonville Landing — at the request of the development's owners — has left skeptical Jacksonville City Council members with sticker shock.

Several council members questioned the price of the restroom facility and the wisdom of building anything near the Landing before plans are complete to redevelop it, which could include tearing down the entire complex.

the Landing's owners, Sleiman Enterprises, initially asked the FDOT to build the rest rooms under the Main Street Bridge, which is managed by the state.

Toney Sleiman, a partner in the company, is a politically active developer and one of the top boosters to Mayor Alvin Brown's failed re-election bid.

Timing is everything.....

[UNFurbanist]

I don't necessarily disagree with adding a restroom in general but at $1 million that is totally insane! Can we all please agree to call this fiasco poopgate if the city actually goes through with it or comes anywhere close to that number?

[thelakelander]

My suggestion. Go the no-frills route like Tarpon Springs did below:

[urbanlibertarian]

^Even for that the plumbing would probably be big bucks.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

The plans are here:  http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2086566-landingpavillionproposal.html#document/p1

Even the $460k for the original bid seems excessive.  You're almost at $275/sqft for a restroom.  When you double that figure, we're at over $500 a freaking foot for a bathroom!!!!

I understand there will be more cost on the front end getting plumbing and electric to somewhere that may not already have it, but damn... 

[tufsu1]

The on-street toilets you see in Europe and in US cities like Portland and San Francisco cost around $200,000 to construct and install plumbing...and most of those only have 1 toilet

[Dog Walker]

I think Melody Bishop designed the first one under the Fuller Warren Bridge as part of her design of the Riverside Arts Market.  It works well and looks good.  Anyone know for sure?