DVI to host public meeting to discuss parklets downtown

[BridgeTroll]

Thanks for the additional info guys... How easy are these "temporary" spaces to move... or set up and take down?

[thelakelander]

Pretty easy. Here's one I saw in Seattle last year..

[fieldafm]

The plan is to have a standard base and a look book of design elements that can be mixed and matched on top of the base that has been vetted and pre-approved by the City of Jacksonville, so that a parklet sponsor has a well-defined path to take that doesn't necessarily require them to jump through a lot of hoops or have to hire an architect.  The sponsor does not have to adhere to that template if they chose to go a different route, and there is a potential applicant that is exploring a really nice and forward thinking design put together by a good, local architectural firm.

But to answer your question, the parklet sponsor will need a Revocable Right of Way permit (the same kind of permit if you wanted to say put a fence on your property and that fence crosses over an easement that say JEA may have for a buried utility line). That RROW permit requires a bond (for a small fee, around $200) in case the City needs to have the structure removed for any reason.

If you take a look at the top right and bottom right pictures on the image below, you'll see that the base we are exploring will be made of concrete. A material will be placed on top of the asphalt (meaning there is a protective layer so that the concrete would not actually be affixed to the asphalt) and then you would build out your form and pour the concrete. The little white spaces are foam cores, so if the parklet needs to removed, you would be able to lift the base up via these foam cores and remove the structure intact. This kind of base was preferred for two reasons 1) it costs quite a bit less than a pressure-treated lumber base and 2) it would be easier to remove, if necessary.

*I'm not an architect, so my technical explanation of this may leave a little to be desired. Content Architecture and Design has put extensive work into this portion of the plan and can probably explain it better. 

[Bridges]

I'm not sitting outside in 100 degree heat to eat dinner.

Why not? Where is the fun in dining during the summer if you cannot watch the sweat drip down your face?

Ha, I love it.  Brick and mortar restaurants complained that food trucks were unfair competition even though people had to eat outside.  Now people are saying that no one would eat outside in the heat.  We want rooftop bars and dining, but no one would sit outside in the heat, right? 

[jaxlore]

thanks for the survey link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KeyXVsNRvvzCdjL22lirtJqlXOgo6A69ftxmdL0VKMQ/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=send_form

[fieldafm]

thanks for the survey link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KeyXVsNRvvzCdjL22lirtJqlXOgo6A69ftxmdL0VKMQ/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=send_form

Thanks for providing your input!

[Tacachale]

The parklet last night didn't feel substantially less safe than typical sidewalk seating at other restaurants. It's a nice addition in a place like Zodiac where the sidewalk is too narrow to for businesses to use. The "being outside" part isn't any different one to the other, so if it's working in the various places that have outdoor seating, it should work with parklets.

[jaxlore]

Whats funny is I saw the setup last night and totally missed this thread and was like damn zodiac grill is getting ahead of the game!

[Steve]

I'm not sitting outside in 100 degree heat to eat dinner.

Why not? Where is the fun in dining during the summer if you cannot watch the sweat drip down your face?

Ha, I love it.  Brick and mortar restaurants complained that food trucks were unfair competition even though people had to eat outside.  Now people are saying that no one would eat outside in the heat.  We want rooftop bars and dining, but no one would sit outside in the heat, right? 

I think we're going to far with my quote here. My point is that if my choice is to sit inside in 72 degrees or outside in 100 degree heat, I'm going to take 72 degrees. But, it's not 100 degrees all year.

[BridgeTroll]

The plan is to have a standard base and a look book of design elements that can be mixed and matched on top of the base that has been vetted and pre-approved by the City of Jacksonville, so that a parklet sponsor has a well-defined path to take that doesn't necessarily require them to jump through a lot of hoops or have to hire an architect.  The sponsor does not have to adhere to that template if they chose to go a different route, and there is a potential applicant that is exploring a really nice and forward thinking design put together by a good, local architectural firm.

But to answer your question, the parklet sponsor will need a Revocable Right of Way permit (the same kind of permit if you wanted to say put a fence on your property and that fence crosses over an easement that say JEA may have for a buried utility line). That RROW permit requires a bond (for a small fee, around $200) in case the City needs to have the structure removed for any reason.

If you take a look at the top right and bottom right pictures on the image below, you'll see that the base we are exploring will be made of concrete. A material will be placed on top of the asphalt (meaning there is a protective layer so that the concrete would not actually be affixed to the asphalt) and then you would build out your form and pour the concrete. The little white spaces are foam cores, so if the parklet needs to removed, you would be able to lift the base up via these foam cores and remove the structure intact. This kind of base was preferred for two reasons 1) it costs quite a bit less than a pressure-treated lumber base and 2) it would be easier to remove, if necessary.

*I'm not an architect, so my technical explanation of this may leave a little to be desired. Content Architecture and Design has put extensive work into this portion of the plan and can probably explain it better. 

Awesome info Thanks!  Another question... Do to the prefab, and size, and weight,  I assume a forklift or heavy equipment is required to place and remove?  I also assume these are likely to stay more than just Artwalk or a weekend... they are semi permanent?

[thelakelander]

I don't know the details on how COJ would physically remove them but there is a feasible way for doing so. Yes, they are intended to be semi permanent. A business owner could be spending +$10k to construct one. If someone is dropping that kind of money, it can't be something that's only in place for a few hours or a weekend.

[Captain Zissou]

Looks like a great event last night.  I wish I could have attended.  Sidewalk seating is a great way to let people know that you're a restaurant and that you're open.  Half the delis and restaurants downtown are easily skipped over if you don't know what's there.

[Tacachale]

Looks like a great event last night.  I wish I could have attended.  Sidewalk seating is a great way to let people know that you're a restaurant and that you're open.  Half the delis and restaurants downtown are easily skipped over if you don't know what's there.

Yeah, Zodiac is definitely one of those places. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't even remember it was there, and I've been there before.

[BridgeTroll]

Looks like a great event last night.  I wish I could have attended.  Sidewalk seating is a great way to let people know that you're a restaurant and that you're open.  Half the delis and restaurants downtown are easily skipped over if you don't know what's there.

Yeah, Zodiac is definitely one of those places. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't even remember it was there, and I've been there before.

The owner Jerry and his wife are great people...

[CityLife]

Regarding the elements...isn't it feasible to utilize moveable fans for summer and heaters for winter? They are commonly used at other outdoor dining/drinking spaces in Florida....

I believe Chicago removes their parklets in the wintertime...I guess that is always a worst case scenario option if there is light usage in the summer.