Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center Renderings

[jaxlongtimer]

I am surprised they didn't make another skywalk to the giant parking garage to the east.  Then, employees could walk through the entire complex above the street, secure in the building, especially those on the night shifts.  A further connection to Nemours skywalk or another one over I-95, and you could walk the entire Baptist complex indoors, above the street. 

Up north, this would be a no brainier with their weather.  In Charlotte, as I recall, they took the second level of a large parking garage, put stores on it, and then connected that with skywalks to both the multiple Bank of America and Wells Fargo tower complexes which were on each side of the garage to create an above the street amenity.

Given Jacksonville's pedestrian accident rate, keeping thousands of Baptist employees out of crosswalks probably is a good idea .

[Steve]

^Let's not give any crazy ideas here:)

Generally, skywalks are bad for urban environments. They take people off the street and do a good job killing the pedestrian activity. Generally, Hospitals have the best excuse for them - whether or not they are for employees or patients they can say they are for patients and thus it becomes a medical need. Who would argue with them?

[jaxjaguar]

Agree with the skywalks comments. I don't understand why we don't have more of these. It helps with security, keeps people out of the heat and helps traffic flow (especially near the hospitals)

[Steve]

Actually, just realized something: This is south of I-95. DDRB will not be reviewing this - it isn't technically downtown.

[thelakelander]

^No DDRB needed. Council could possibly approve the PUD by the end of the month.

[reednavy]

Jacksonville already has a renowned medical center in UF Shands, plus world-class Mayo Clinic, and now with MD Anderson coming into the mix, the city could become quite the destination for healthcare. You have three extremely reputable brands in one city, and that's pretty damn amazing.

[URY914]

I am surprised they didn't make another skywalk to the giant parking garage to the east.  Then, employees could walk through the entire complex above the street, secure in the building, especially those on the night shifts.  A further connection to Nemours skywalk or another one over I-95, and you could walk the entire Baptist complex indoors, above the street. 

There is no "giant parking garage to the east." The parking garage is on the north side of the Anderson building. The building to the east is the existing out patient center for Baptist. It does have a MD Anderson sign on it now because Anderson is occupying floors in the building until their new building is completed.

BTW, I work at Baptist.

[CCMjax]

Agree with the skywalks comments. I don't understand why we don't have more of these. It helps with security, keeps people out of the heat and helps traffic flow (especially near the hospitals)

They are expensive.

[thelakelander]

I am surprised they didn't make another skywalk to the giant parking garage to the east.  Then, employees could walk through the entire complex above the street, secure in the building, especially those on the night shifts.  A further connection to Nemours skywalk or another one over I-95, and you could walk the entire Baptist complex indoors, above the street. 

There is no "giant parking garage to the east." The parking garage is on the north side of the Anderson building. The building to the east is the existing out patient center for Baptist. It does have a MD Anderson sign on it now because Anderson is occupying floors in the building until their new building is completed.

BTW, I work at Baptist.

I believe the reference to "the giant parking garage to the east" is for the one that is proposed as a part of this project. You can see it on the plan below:

[URY914]

My response was a reply to the comment on why not build a elevated walkway (skywalk) to the garage to the east when there isn't a parking garage to the east. It is a "future" garage location. Maybe in the future when the garage is built there is be discussion on a connecting skywalk.

There will be a new garage built north of 95, on the east side of Palm Ave. This one is already in the planing stage and it will have a skywalk to the hospital over Palm.

[Kerry]

Reading through the plan again. I have to take exception with the idea that creating pedestrian plaza's at the corners and adding open space enhances the pedestrian scale.  Putting things closer to together and defining positive space is pedestrian scale, not the other way around.  Heck, if open space and building setbacks were pedestrian oriented development, Jacksonville's Walk Score would be off the chart.

[ProjectMaximus]

Well it's obvious boosterism but it's getting me pumped. Also noticed this tidbit fwiw:

That was evident Sunday when Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan presented at $1 million gift to Hugh Greene, president and CEO of Baptist Health.

http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=548596

[JeffreyS]

Any idea how many new employees this may add?

[ProjectMaximus]

Greene said a national recruiting effort is underway to bring the finest cancer specialists to Jacksonville and when the center opens, about 600 new jobs will be created with salaries above $100,000 per year.

[thelakelander]

I just noticed today that they've started to install the base of the tower crane for this project.