5 Ideas to Revitalize the Jacksonville Landing

[FRANTZ46]

You guys need to stop bashing Downtown and the landing. All those other vibrant cities you guys are comparing with Jacksonville have better vibes because people are living and working in those cities. But technically they are not nicer than JAX, they don't have our ST JOHN RIVER running thru their cities. In Jacksonville people drive to downtown to work and drive back to their homes in the suburbs or by the beaches lol!! I Personally don't see nothing wrong with the landing maybe just needs some repairs and some fresh new business. Downtown is gorgeous; yes it can be better, but only when you people decide to live, eat, play; or taking parts of those events. Riverside and Brooklyn it's a good start but Downtown needs more. Also stop complaining about parking there are plenty all over the streets. I usually go at night and never have any problems to park. I can tell you Downtown is very safe compare to years ago. Thanks to JSO they are doing a good job to keep the city and downtown safe. The way I see it only You people can save downtown. Also the city needs to do a better job to bring more jobs and business to downtown (China, Canada, and some Europeans countries can help) its just there are not enough tourist and people living there and not enough business, apartments bars and restaurants and things to do. Man! the other day I took a walk by the Jaguar Stadium at the metro park stadium OH MY GOD WHAT A WASTE!  So much potential.

Also that shipyard crap, we can forget about it; because its not going to happen.

[Elwood]

Once more please.

[Noone]

The food court idea is a no brainer. A restaurant with some event space would do well with the views and business community of DT.

I love the idea of creating cultural attractions in the Landing. Any museums that could move to the Landing or potential museums that have been discussed for Jax other than the USS Adams?

Ok, so assuming you are correct, the only way I can think of to "revitalize" The Landing would be to level it and start over. The current configuration pretty much doesn't allow for anything other than what it is now - and that isn't working.

To The Lakelander's point it may just have to sit there, slowing dying for another 5 years. But once the USS Adams shows up, there has to be a Shipyards to put it at. I think that was part of the agreement to obtain the vessel, but I could be wrong. Isn't that supposed to be happening in the near future - like at the end of last year? I think the Adams isn't going to get us a whole bunch myself. Having lived in Charleston, and seeing the Yorktown all the time, I never got the impression that it drew that many people - and that was an aircraft carrier with a museum of other cool items around it. I went once, and it was a neat addition to the skyline, but I know it cost a fortune to maintain and I don't believe that it was breaking even. Again, I could be wrong.

Jim

BJP -Better Jacksonville Presents
Active legislation 2016-425 Public Hearing 7/26/16 for money for the Jax Historic Naval Ship Association. (USS Adams)

[tufsu1]

Dedicated parking for the Landing has been an issue for a long time. Having that terrible surface lot next door is also half-baked. It's essentially riverfront property that's being used to provide a small but inadequate amount of parking. One of the worst projects ever conceived in Jacksonville was that Parador garage, which is a block from the Landing and doesn't provide the necessary parking. Fixing that will be a long-term issue, if it ever gets done.

while the design of the Parador garage leaves much to be desires, it is Sleiman's interpretation that it doesn't meet the requirements of the Landing lease.  And guess who owns the surface lot on the river and hasn't been paying property taxes on it.

[thelakelander]

If the spaces aren't available 24/7, they probably don't meet Rouse's or any other retail developer's interpretation either.

[jaxjaguar]

Since we're never going to stop providing the same ideas for this space... Artegon Marketplace in Orlando is yet another example of what would be perfect for the Landing. http://www.artegonmarketplace.com/shops//all/page/2

[FlaBoy]

http://www.cltampa.com/food-drink/openings-closings/article/20830232/tampa-heights-getting-chefdriven-experience-called-hall-on-franklin

Inspired by Euro-style food halls and successful restaurants in major cities, The Hall is exactly what you're thinking: a dining hall made up of local restaurants co-existing under one roof and serving fresh, prepared foods. Some will bring favorites from their flagship locations, while others will introduce new pop-up projects.

[thelakelander]

^Yeah, instead of trendy, they're becoming as common as mall food courts.  The market has changed. It's only a matter of time before a few find their way to Jax.

[KenFSU]

Been in Atlanta the last few days on business.

Has anyone been to Krog Street Market?

Someone needs to tie Toney Sleiman up, drag him down there Christmas Vacation-style, and show him what the Landing could look like without even altering the existing structure that much.

Place is amazing, and packed to the gills, even on a random Tuesday night. Waited 40 minutes for a table at Superica.

[thelakelander]

The food hall concept is something I believe the Landing could succeed using the existing structure.

https://www.moderncities.com/article/2016-oct-a-foodies-paradise-the-awesome-food-halls-of-atlanta

https://www.moderncities.com/article/2016-sep-the-souths-14-must-visit-food-halls-

[Tacachale]

^I agree with that. Especially if they got on it now, it could be a big hit. It's not like it's much harder than running the food court they already have. A food hall is just a food court with better food, and that people go to.

[Todd_Parker]

Been in Atlanta the last few days on business.

Has anyone been to Krog Street Market?

Someone needs to tie Toney Sleiman up, drag him down there Christmas Vacation-style, and show him what the Landing could look like without even altering the existing structure that much.

Place is amazing, and packed to the gills, even on a random Tuesday night. Waited 40 minutes for a table at Superica.

From what I remember, isn't Krog Street surrounded by quite a bit of residential homes/complexes? I know the dedicated parking lot is pretty small.

I agree that it would be easy to mimic the Krog Street vibe at the Landing by just upscaling the food offerings (I think there are also a few specialty shops like a pet store and homemade/organic soap joint), but to match the success, you would need the foot traffic that a large downtown residential population would provide. I'm also guessing that the Landing is just a bit too far from the Sports Complex to draw those folks who come downtown for a concert/sporting event.

[acme54321]

The setting is completely different.  If the landing were in the middle of a neighborhood it would be a different story too.

[KenFSU]

Been in Atlanta the last few days on business.

Has anyone been to Krog Street Market?

Someone needs to tie Toney Sleiman up, drag him down there Christmas Vacation-style, and show him what the Landing could look like without even altering the existing structure that much.

Place is amazing, and packed to the gills, even on a random Tuesday night. Waited 40 minutes for a table at Superica.

From what I remember, isn't Krog Street surrounded by quite a bit of residential homes/complexes? I know the dedicated parking lot is pretty small.

I agree that it would be easy to mimic the Krog Street vibe at the Landing by just upscaling the food offerings (I think there are also a few specialty shops like a pet store and homemade/organic soap joint), but to match the success, you would need the foot traffic that a large downtown residential population would provide. I'm also guessing that the Landing is just a bit too far from the Sports Complex to draw those folks who come downtown for a concert/sporting event.

Krog Street Market is actually a really far walk, bordering on undoable in Atlanta climate, from Midtown or Downtown Atlanta. Lot of residential homes and some low-rise complexes surround it, but I'd compare the area more to Riverside/Brooklyn than urban Atlanta. Was standing outside waiting, and every other person seemed to be arriving via Uber.

But I'm with you. The Landing needs more foot traffic than we currently see to really flourish. That said, more foot traffic is definitely on the way via the Barnett, Laura Street Trio, UNF, FCCJ dorms, Lavilla developments, etc. With even more potentially coming via the 13-story tower proposed by the Aetna building and a potential mixed-use completion of the Berkman 2.

Now's the time for Sleiman to get serious about the Landing, particularly with the Cordish development down by the Sports Complex in the queue.

And what better way to differentiate yourself from the big box Cordish development than by deeply focusing on local, with a food hall, local vendors, and edgy restaurants from the area's top chefs.

[thelakelander]

A food hall is more of a regional draw than a neighborhood supported destination. Krog is only one of hundreds across the country. You'll find them in urban and suburban settings. More residential in downtown would not hurt but I'd argue there's enough people in downtown and Jax now to make a food hall work.