San Marco Publix Site Plan and Renderings

[Adam White]

That is so ugly.

[Tacachale]

Finally. Still not getting my hopes up until the dirt's turning.

[Adam White]

Finally. Still not getting my hopes up until the dirt's turning.

Yes, I suppose I probably am focusing on the wrong thing. The aesthetics aren't really as important as the development. It will be a great addition if and when it arrives.

[Tacachale]

Finally. Still not getting my hopes up until the dirt's turning.

Yes, I suppose I probably am focusing on the wrong thing. The aesthetics aren't really as important as the development. It will be a great addition if and when it arrives.

At this stage in Jax history, where urban infill is only just starting to come back, I've made the decision to care less about facades than form. I'd rather have an ugly building that's in the urban scale and meets ground-level needs, than a beautiful strip mall. We've had a lot of things that look fine as far as the general aesthetics go, but don't address the basic needs of a walkable, urban area. In this development, we're getting a development that fills basic needs (grocery store, more residential, and infill at a major intersection), without a lot of the downsides we got in, say, Brooklyn Station or the Riverside Publix. There are no big surface lots and there's street interaction on the major street fronts.

That said, I agree that the aesthetics are... underwhelming. I really don't understand local developers' love affair with beige stucco. At the same time, to be fair this project did make more of an effort to fit with its surroundings than some other similar developments in other places. There was always going to be pushback from people who don't like the scale of the development and/or would nitpick any design they chose. I'm glad that apparently they've gotten the bones right. My hope is that each one of these that shows up is better than the last one, just as this is a step up from the (current) Brooklyn developments.

If it actually comes together, of course

[FlaBoy]

It looks fine.

[Adam White]

It looks fine.

The Golden Girls called - they want their muumuus back.

[jaxjaguar]

Call me crazy, but I don't think it looks that bad for a beige stucco building... Could definitely be worse. That example building they show in Mass looks pretty nifty, but it's just stucco painted a different color with modern architecture vs the "Spanish", or whatever you call it, architecture we're getting. I think it'll blend nicely with what's in San Marco currently. If it was more artsy in its design people would be complaining it didn't fit the look of the historic district. Design is pretty much always a lose, lose. I'm curious what Murder me Rachel would've done

[thelakelander]

It looks fine to me. It won't win any design awards but it could be a lot worse.

[Adam White]

Call me crazy, but I don't think it looks that bad for a beige stucco building... Could definitely be worse.

You're right. The issue for me is that it's another beige stucco building in that style. It's utterly uninspiring. The style is inherently ugly. But, baby steps.

[remc86007]

I think the design is fine for the area. If they pushed the envelope, especially in San Marco, they would get resistance from the residents. Downtown and Brooklyn are where I hope developers really push the design envelope.

[Keith-N-Jax]

^^^ Great post

[Adam White]

I think the design is fine for the area. If they pushed the envelope, especially in San Marco, they would get resistance from the residents. Downtown and Brooklyn are where I hope developers really push the design envelope.

I see what you mean, but I'm not talking about pushing any envelopes. I'm just talking about something a bit nicer and less generic (and ugly). But at least it's not the Duval County Courthouse...

[KenFSU]

I'm fine with the design, but for the love of God, no more palm trees.

[remc86007]

I'm fine with the design, but for the love of God, no more palm trees.

But how would travelers remember they are in Florida?

[Bativac]

Looks okay. Better than a vacant lot. But Archco does not own the property yet and the project is contingent on their purchasing the property, so...

I would love to see something built on the site. But "work will begin on X" dates have come and gone (as have site plans and renderings) so I won't get my hopes up. Hope I'm surprised!