Jacksonville Landing project dead

[Kerry]

http://skyrisemiami.com/skyrise-miami-construction/

Skyrise is currently under construction. Can you post a link to the story claiming Bayside was deemed structurally unsound?

I'm interested in learning more about it.

Take it for what it is worth.  For all I know the guy could be crack pot.

http://www.crespogram.com/index_public_html/SKYRISE_BAYSIDE_SERIES.html

[JaxJersey-licious]

Speaking of Waterside, it's being revamped again. Much of what has been posted about what can be done with the Landing is being done in Norfolk right now. Markets, seafood vendors, restaurants, live events, brew pubs, bars?.....go figure....



http://cordishinthenews.com/news/press/526/the-cordish-companies-announce-the-name-of-norfolk/

So that's what it takes: Make the Landing so empty and undesirable that even the Tony Sleimans of the world would divest leaving it open to bigger grander plans 

As far as the food market concept, I've always thought it would be better suited in the Farmer's Market since there is building space that could be refurbished for different vendors, indoor seating, and possibly demonstration space or areas for cooking classes. There is no way any wholesale changes could be considered by present ownership unless there was more competition to spur it (a mall in LaVilla, perhaps).

[thelakelander]

A food/public market-style product or two will happen sooner or later. It's a concept that has increased in popularity over the years.

Yeah, like the Landing, it's something that would work at the farmers market and a few other spots in the urban core as well.

Even a developer in Tampa is moving forward with one at the old trolley barn (Armature Works) in Tampa Heights now:



http://www.tbo.com/news/business/developers-envision-the-heights-as-historic-riverfront-neighborhood-20130726/

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2016/06/15/ambitious-mixed-use-vision-for-tampa-heights.html

[avonjax]

And any of you are surprised that Curry is leading Jax down this path? I saw this 100 miles down the road. His probable 8 years will see Jax looking at other downtowns taillights for years, more likely decades to come.

[thelakelander]

I don't know how Curry can be blamed for the Landing. It's been an ongoing issue since it opened in the late 1980s. We've had lots of mayors in those years. The last plan would have cost the public millions and may have not been worth the investment anyway.

[Tacachale]

I don't know how Curry can be blamed for the Landing. It's been an ongoing issue since it opened in the late 1980s. We've had lots of mayors in those years. The last plan would have cost the public millions and may have not been worth the investment anyway.

Yeah, definitely not. To be clear, this particular issue predates Curry and even Alvin Brown. The issue is that Sleiman has been refusing to pay taxes on the parking lot property he bought, owns, and is generating money from. Brown was initially pursuing Sleiman on this as well, but quietly dropped it once he became friendly with Sleiman. However, the fact remains that Sleiman has been refusing to pay taxes on the parking lot property he bought, owns, and is generating money from.

The whole thing is part of the larger dispute between the city and the Landing's owners over parking that goes back to when it was built, long before Curry, Brown, or even Sleiman were in the picture. Sleiman's also bellyaching about not getting the $11 million he wanted to tear down the Landing and build something else. Looking at the plans he submitted under the last administration, it's a good thing he didn't get it.

Hopefully the legal dispute will be settled (with Sleiman paying the taxes he owes the city, i.e., us) and we can move on to solving the greater parking issue and exploring the possibility of a solid redevelopment of the Landing.

[Kerry]

Can someone briefly explain why Sleiman thinks he doesn't owe us property taxes?

[thelakelander]

Here's the back story: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546280

[Tacachale]

^
Sleiman's claiming the deed isn't valid as he never accepted it, even though he paid the city for the property and immediately started using it and drawing revenue back in 2007. He actually started the present dispute by demanding that the city pay him back the money he gave them for the property he bought.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546280

Presumably, that was an attempt to gain leverage in the wider parking dispute and redevelopment deal that backfired on him.

[jaxjaguar]

Serious question: Could the city claim eminent domain on the landing for failure to upkeep/create economic development? This could kick Tony Sleazeball out of downtown and allow us to rent the full property and building to a better manager. Maybe create a group similar to friends of hemming that would encourage local artisan shops/startups to move in. This could add a little vibrancy to the landing and give the city the ability to better manage those who don't have the landings best interest in mind.

[thelakelander]

^Doubt it. In addition, the city's track record for downtown economic development isn't a good one itself.

[vicupstate]

It might pay to go the opposite way. Offer Sleiman this deal:

The city gives him the land
The city drops all claims to past rent or taxes and the related litigation.


In exchange Sleiman agrees to:

Drop all litigation
Drop all claims to unprovided parking
Complete the transaction as planned for the East parking parcel and take title
Invest a minimum of $20 mm into the site   
Agree to have the plans approved by DRB and city council
Agree to start construction within 18 months of DRB/city council approval 
Agree to finish construction and the investment within 18 months of construction commencing. 
Agrees to allow FL/GA and Gator Bowl events to continue on the site as they have in the past.

Sleiman might not take it, but it would cut through all the red tape/litigation, put the ball in his court and not cost the city a dime. 

One way or another the city needs to get off the dime on SOMETHING, or DT will lose another decade from inaction. It seems everything is tied up in litigation, environmental clean-up, lack of funding, etc.     

[thelakelander]

I'd be in favor of issuing an RFP to rid ourselves of the land underneath the Landing, at market value, and reinvesting the profits into getting some other downtown initiatives off the ground. Wouldn't matter to me if Sleiman or another entity purchased it. Putting it in 100% private hands returns the property to the tax rolls and allows the market and private sector to determine its ultimate fate. Yes, we'd lose some of the public waterfront. However, it's not like we're correctly utilizing the rest of the public waterfront we own.

[vicupstate]

I'd be in favor of issuing an RFP to rid ourselves of the land underneath the Landing, at market value, and reinvesting the profits into getting some other downtown initiatives off the ground. Wouldn't matter to me if Sleiman or another entity purchased it. Putting it in 100% private hands returns the property to the tax rolls and allows the market and private sector to determine its ultimate fate. Yes, we'd lose some of the public waterfront. However, it's not like we're correctly utilizing the rest of the public waterfront we own.

I question how marketable the site would be to anyone else, given the lease to Sleiman would have to be honored or he would have to be bought out.   
Plus Sleiman doesn't have to pay rent to the city because of the parking issue. I don't think the city could end that arrangement for the new owner, by selling.     

[thelakelander]

I don't know how the details on the parking situation would work but letting the private sector work things out would offer an opportunity of a joint venture for redevelopment. Sleiman and the city may not be able to work things out but Sleiman Enterprises has done joint ventures with other development firms before.