Downtown on the verge of a development boom?

[thelakelander]

The original Skyway vehicle was a VAL type of APM. It was shut down and replaced with the current Skyway technology in 1996. The old rolling stock was sold to O'Hare airport in Chicago. NeoVal is something new and not in large supply. It seems that its parts are probably just as proprietary as the Skyway is now, which is a problem because proprietary technology tends to end up being higher to maintain than more commonly used technology. It could be great but I'm not sure Jax should risk its fixed transit future on attempting to implement a technology that hasn't made it to the US yet.  We sort of did that with the Skyway and screwed the pooch big time.

[thelakelander]

Site plans filed for Houston Manor:

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=548235

[icarus]

It seems MARTA (Atlanta) is seriously considering if not committing to dual purpose vehicles ... rails to streetcar ....

http://atlanta.curbed.com/2016/8/15/12486116/marta-atlanta-wants-swap-entire-train-fleet

[thelakelander]

 ^Pretty much validates my position with the Skyway.....

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2015-nov-9-reasons-to-expand-the-skywayas-a-streetcar/

Why spend big bucks to retrofit with technology that permanently limits the expansion potential of the system? If you're going to retrofit, do so in a manner that can accommodate and embrace growth and expansion to neighborhoods outside of the downtown proper.

[Dmitrii]

Great apartments downtown but why would folks want to live there? There is nothing there! Half of downtown is empty or abandoned buildings, no parking, nothing to do and god forbid you make any noise or the folks across the river will have a coronary! The effort would be better to make downtown  a place to go BEFORE you build places to live!

Dmitrii

[jaxjaguar]

We've been saying it's needed for years and it appears that we're finally gaining traction with downtown residencies! The design is a little utilitarian, but I'll take 250 new apartments!

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=548546

[Captain Zissou]

Unfortunately that's the old St John site, which was one of the few well designed buildings proposed during the last boom.  I otherwise would be fine with this project, but I hate to see the St John proposal finally die.

[thelakelander]

Site plans filed for Houston Manor:

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=548235

The building permit for Houston Street Manor has been filed. Expect to see another infill residential construction break ground anytime now:

•    Houston Street Manor, 139 N. Jefferson St., contractor is Core Construction Services of Florida, seven-story building with five floors for apartments over two stories of parking, $8.6 million.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=549454

[ProjectMaximus]

Awesome!

[pierre]

Looks good

[FlaBoy]

It will certainly make the area look a lot nicer there.

[ronchamblin]

The center, failing to hold, will be saved by encroaching victories in the flanks.

I suspect that this, along with two or three core successes, will allow the core to finally win the war against perpetual semi-desolation.

[spuwho]

Great apartments downtown but why would folks want to live there? There is nothing there! Half of downtown is empty or abandoned buildings, no parking, nothing to do and god forbid you make any noise or the folks across the river will have a coronary! The effort would be better to make downtown  a place to go BEFORE you build places to live!

Dmitrii

The basic problem is still parking management, our idiot city council and its attempt to rid downtown of wandering brown people, and the ongoing efforts of the downtown development authority to pretty much kill anything that isn't Shad Khan or from their vaunted brain trust.

If our city government would try to enable people instead of controlling everything, the downtown would boom within a year.

Its already a destination, our laws just dont allow people to live there, shop there, or visit there.

I agree with the wondering people perspective, its needs an update regardless of skin color.

Shad Khan gets what he wants because he has already made a substantial investment in Jacksonville, and usually doesn't have to wait (like most developers) for his partners to pony up or wait for his bankers to go through their due diligence.  This seems to be the pattern with most developments in greater Jacksonville. Those who internally finance, get the green lights, those who don't go through finance hell, and therefore run afoul of our leaders.

Jacksonville is not the only metro to have a chronic issue of aborted developments.  The hole in the ground for the Chicago Spire between Ogden Slip and the Chicago River is a prime example of how city leaders allowed a construction permit to be issued when the developer didn't have enough financing to begin with.  From what I have read, COJ is attempting to avoid that.

You mingle with more people in this realm, so you may be better informed. I rely what I read here and in the press in general.