San Marco Publix Site Plan and Renderings

[thelakelander]

For a Publix in San Marco, on that site? Either Regency will develop it, it will sit empty or someone will buy it off them. By the same token, if that project fails there's other places Publix can go if they truly want to be in the area. I see no reason to change citywide policy to get a Publix to come to East San Marco.

[realestatejax]

A land value tax would get this project moving.  Regency wouldn't be able to afford doing nothing.

No developer would ever do business again in Jacksonville.  Development is already risky and complicated enough.  Some times it works and some times it doesn't.  When it doesn't some sites linger until such time that it is feasible to develop.  By adding another level of risk you would run off every developer and nothing would get done. 

[Kerry]

I don't think you guys understand how a land value tax works.  If you don't know then educate yourself.  There is more than enough educational material out there.  Just Google "Land value tax"

[thelakelander]

Those guys aren't sitting on the property for the sake of sitting on it. A land value tax assumes the city in thriving. All areas of Jacksonville aren't. Placing more tax burden on Regency to immediately put a Publix there doesn't mean that development happens faster. There are a lot of things at play that additional taxation won't resolve.

[Kerry]

If Regency could build on the lot TAX FREE you don't think that would play into their equation?  It removes a huge part of the cost of development.  220 Riverside got built in large part to the property tax rebate for 10 years - imagine a permanent tax free structure.  Developers wouldn't be able to build fast enough because it would significantly reduce the cost to build and own.

[thelakelander]

You have to take things on a case-by-case basis. Property taxes aren't necessarily the issue that stand in between a grocery store happening with seven floors of concrete on top of it. That project and component has finally been scrapped. The current project is a completely different project with a different design and likely modification of the PUD. It hasn't been a year since the current project was announced. I wouldn't be too concerned about it at this point in time. As for a citywide tax abatement.....no way. We subsidize certain areas of town too much as is. That type of program should be reserved for economically struggling areas of town long ignored by the establishment in this city, not San Marco.

[Kerry]

I'm really surprised you aren't a huge LVT supporter.  Oh well.

[Steve]

Following this...I don't see Jacksonville as a city where Property Taxes are a major source of angst. Maybe I'm wrong though.

Compared to other cities, our taxes are really low.

[thelakelander]

I'm really surprised you aren't a huge LVT supporter.  Oh well.

I don't see a need to change the city's tax structure for an already dead development proposal in San Marco. I'm confident Publix will find a way to add a store in the area if they really want one. If they don't and the market is viable, a competitor will.

[jaxnyc79]

It is just a Publix > Publix is no urban savior.  I'm all for adding new dense residential to in-town neighborhoods, but I sort of hope the Publix plans for the site fizzle unless they're planning to blow our socks off with some sort of pedestrian-scale design that, in effect, creates a Part II of San Marco Square which happens to include a supermarket component.

I was reading up on The Gallery project in Jax Beach, described as a multi-structure campus (hopefully with a pedestrian orientation), and immediately thought, I'd much prefer this over some big-box Publix grocery store on a prime piece of property in what could someday be considered "Downtown San Marco...San Marco Square East"

In fact, such a multi-structure campus with mixed-use clusters has the potential to breathe street-level life into massive swaths of Brooklyn and LaVilla as well.  Perhaps such structures would better accommodate a multitude of proprietorships that symbolize a celebration of local heritage and flavor, with niche or specialized boutiques, with the artisans and craftsmen that will make urban Jax interesting and authentic for both its people and tourists.

I'm over the freaking Publix in San Marco.  The everywhere Publix.  Yes, I'm sure it's a convenience for nearby residents, but come on, most everyone in San Marco drives and based on that, it's not like San Marco is anything close to a food desert.

Maybe there's some merit to exploring how to better link tax policy to land use, but by God, please don't let a freaking Publix Grocery Store on a random patch of grass in San Marco be the driver of transformational tax policy changes.

[MusicMan]

I agree with a lot of what you are saying. I guess my disappointment stems from 10 years of nothing.  If it was just a nice pocket park that would be 100% better than a barren lot behind chain link.

[jaxnyc79]

I agree with a lot of what you are saying. I guess my disappointment stems from 10 years of nothing.  If it was just a nice pocket park that would be 100% better than a barren lot behind chain link.

If you stop and think about it, a patch of grass with a few mature oaks on it shouldn't really be that offensive!  I'd venture that you've allowed general, multi-dimensional frustrations with the state of urban Jax, the extent of suburban sprawl, and painstakingly slow progress toward broad revitalization, to sort of coalesce around this site and this project.  In truth, your frustration is far bigger than a Publix Grocery Store on San Marco green space, and a mere Publix, if built, is highly likely to underwhelm you.

[bill]

I'm really surprised you aren't a huge LVT supporter.  Oh well.

Talking points by Ocasio Cortez

[bl8jaxnative]

but come on, most everyone in San Marco drives and based on that, it's not like San Marco is anything close to a food desert.

If you want to live a life where you can walk to the store for everything or even just bike, San Marco isn't any better than Mandarin or Argygle Forest.  There's nothing to walk to and you have to put in a big ride - an issue when carrying groceries - to get to a proper grocery. 

[thelakelander]

^btw, that's not my quote. Jaxnyc79 said that.