Inspirations for a Downtown Hub

[rjp2008]

I live just south of West Palm Beach. They struggled for a while to develop a core and attract business/nightlife until "Cityplace" was created. A four bloc section, multi-level but with an interior open courtyard of retail, restaurant, movie complex, housing, and parking garages. It quickly became the go-to spot for all ages, and has infused huge spinoffs - a huge convention center across the street, and several high-rise condos nearing completion now.

The key features of Cityplace are:
- An open central courtyard, beautifully 'scaped with fountains
- An outdoor performance area with surrounding chairs/tables
- Integrated parking garages
- A fabulous Renaissance-style movie theatre with an upscale, upstairs tower circular bar
- A ballroom style fine cultural arts theatre (Harriett Hillman)

Brooklyn Park and Bay Street Station look like they will have some of these elements. Yet, perhaps a third project can be developed for the La Villa area more in the open courtyard/arts sense.

[rjp2008]

View from 2nd floor atrium facing north to the back of the Harriett Hillman theatre and the Italian restaurant

View from the 2nd level facing south


Same view, night time


View facing opposite of 1st picture (looking up at atrium)


Muvico and the Premiere Club Bar tower (best part!)

[Joe]

City Place is pretty amazing. Unlike other New Urbanism inspired retail developments (i.e. Town Center) the City Place mall actually delivers as a true urban place.

It's hard to fully appreciate until you've been there.

I would be thrilled if Jax ever pulled off an urban Mall even half as cool as City Place. Basically, it would have to be Brooklyn Park + a Macy's + A movie theater nicer than Tinseltown + an office tower + 3 condo towers + hidden garages.

[thelakelander]

Jacksonville's version of City Place is sitting on the corner of JTB and 9A.  Both Bay Street Station and Brooklyn Park will be similar if they ever get off the ground, but neither will contain department stores, such as Macys.

[Doctor_K]

Both Bay Street Station and Brooklyn Park will be similar if they ever get off the ground, but neither will contain department stores, such as Macys.

But if both of those end up being built, would that not spur additional growth in adjacent parcels?  Maybe it's not going to be a big deal that we can't/won't replicate a City Place in one fell swoop, but rather let the infill come over time?

[thelakelander]

I don't think we need to replicate City Place.  Historically, we get ourselves in trouble when we hang our hat on one large development to swoop in to be the urban core's savior.  If we make it easy and attractive for the private sector to develop in the core, over time it will fill in on its own with its own unique funky feel.

[Joe]

The North side of City Place does illustrate a problem with letting the infill come over time.

While the East and South have seen tremendous growth and investment (to the West is a school) the North has remained a rancid wasteland. Think Lavilla if only half the houses had been bulldozed.

No one bought out the property beforehand, so once City Place was built, all the slumlords put their houses for sale for $2,000,000. Everything has just rotted and decayed, since 100% of the value is in the land, and none of the slum house owners individually own enough land to develop anything useful themselves.

It's not a perfect analogy. But if Brooklyn Park and Bay Street Station ever get built, don't expect much different from the rental house or surface parking lot owners in Jax.

[rjp2008]

Thanks for the responses. I agree that Jacksonville has it's own flavor. Good point that one "mega site savior" isn"t always the answer.

This project doesn't have to be the size of a Cityplace or Atlantic Station, but the key elements - upscale, entertainment/retail mix, and open courtyard beauty downtown are essential.

Perhaps with the space reserved for the courtyard (7 blocks is it) they could incorporate some public retail and entertainment space?

[thelakelander]

The center of Brooklyn Park will be dedicated for public retail and entertainment space.

[Seraphs]

Sure would be nice to see come cranes and construction crews at  Brooklyn Park.

[heights unknown]

This will be nice, very nice; not far from downtown, on the trolley route, and maybe another justification to extend the skyway in that direction as well.  Yeah, will be nice to see the cranes start building.  When is the start and completion date for this development?

Heights Unknown