City will seek Proposals for Shipyards + Met Park Combined Development

[RattlerGator]

Once again, pay attention to the President's trillion dollar infrastructure plan that will rely upon public-private partnerships that Florida is quite experienced with.

Just a hunch, but we shall see.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-begins-map-1-trillion-223000523.html

President Donald Trump pushed his White House team on Wednesday to craft a plan for $1 trillion in infrastructure spending that would pressure states to streamline local permitting, favor renovation of existing roads and highways over new construction and prioritize projects that can quickly begin construction.

Sounds like taking down the Hart Bridge ramps to me. But if you're predisposed to underestimating this President, maybe not.

[Adam White]

Once again, pay attention to the President's trillion dollar infrastructure plan that will rely upon public-private partnerships that Florida is quite experienced with.

Just a hunch, but we shall see.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-begins-map-1-trillion-223000523.html

President Donald Trump pushed his White House team on Wednesday to craft a plan for $1 trillion in infrastructure spending that would pressure states to streamline local permitting, favor renovation of existing roads and highways over new construction and prioritize projects that can quickly begin construction.

Sounds like taking down the Hart Bridge ramps to me. But if you're predisposed to underestimating this President, maybe not.

He also planned to ban Muslims from entering the USA. How did that work out?

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/muslim-ban-comments-deleted-trump-website-minutes-reporter-brings-080205263.html

Donald Trump's pledge to impose a "Muslim ban" has been quietly removed from his campaign website minutes after a reporter challenged the controversial policy. During a briefing with beleaguered press secretary Sean Spicer, ABC's Cecilia Vega asked why the president's campaign page still calls for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."

Donald Trump says a lot of things. We'll see what happens with the Hart Bridge ramps. I doubt that douche has ever even heard of the Hart Bridge anyway.

[Jim]

^And the state is ready to commit approximately $0 to tearing down those ramps. Expect to see this project around the time the San Marco Publix wraps up.

Berkman Plaza II wants to race.

[KenFSU]

Looks like Curry's going to make a hard push for this:

Removal of Hart ramp leads city road priorities

Removal of the Hart Bridge ramp Downtown leads City Council's list of road project priorities.

Taking down the Northbank ramp also happens to be a key component of Shad Khan's plan to redevelop the Shipyards property.

Through Ordinance 2017-368, council has introduced its list of road project priorities for the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization.

The list represents the city's top requests for federal and state transportation funding during the next year's budget cycle.

Removing a stretch of elevated expressway extending into Downtown from the Hart Bridge is at the top.

The project would remove the current expressway ramp, grading it down onto Gator Bowl Boulevard from the Hart Bridge to A. Philip Randolph Boulevard.

On April 18, the Downtown Investment Authority approved Khan and his Iguana Investments of Florida group to redevelop the 70-acre riverfront site from Metropolitan Park to the former Shipyards site.

The first phase of the more than $500 million project would develop the area of Metro Park, across the street from EverBank Field.

The road has been blamed for traffic jams during large events.

In November, Mayor Lenny Curry informally asked the Duval Legislative Delegation for the state to provide $50 million to remove the ramp, citing safety and development concerns...

Full story: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=549877

[Tacachale]

Hmmm.

[Westside Guy]

He can push all he wants, but nothing is going to budge.  There still won't be any money coming from the state, the state that won't even give St. Augustine money for much needed drainage fixes. And its not like the COJ just has $50 million lying around not allocated. 

[thelakelander]

To be honest, I can't blame the State if nothing materializes within the next year.  It's not like $50 million will pop out of thin air to tear down a structurally sound structure just because Curry and Khan want so.  If this is Jax's top priority, we ought to treat it like one.

Some other communities have advanced projects by taking the money already allocated to other area projects. We could look at killing or delaying another Jax area road project, thus freeing up its allocated money to go towards the Hart Bridge priority.

[RattlerGator]

Donald Trump says a lot of things. We'll see what happens with the Hart Bridge ramps. I doubt that douche has ever even heard of the Hart Bridge anyway.

Good gracious alive, Adam -- you're smarter than that. The President wouldn't need to have ever heard of Jacksonville, Florida. Although he certainly has, and is probably familiar with the Hart Bridge too.

He's a builder, remember? And smarter than either of us.

Whether he's heard of the Hart Bridge is irrelevant, local and state officials have. The infrastructure plan will be driven by them, the prime-the-pump money and the request for streamlining of regulations will come from the federal government as a condition to get the money.

Thank goodness the Mayor isn't sitting around with his thumb up his azz when it comes to this bridge project. Plan for it, push for it, be ready when and if something suddenly is available.

[johnnyliar]

He's a builder, remember? And smarter than either of us.

It's sad that you think that little of yourself.

[strider]

Donald Trump says a lot of things. We'll see what happens with the Hart Bridge ramps. I doubt that douche has ever even heard of the Hart Bridge anyway.

Good gracious alive, Adam -- you're smarter than that. The President wouldn't need to have ever heard of Jacksonville, Florida. Although he certainly has, and is probably familiar with the Hart Bridge too.

He's a builder, remember? And smarter than either of us.

Whether he's heard of the Hart Bridge is irrelevant, local and state officials have. The infrastructure plan will be driven by them, the prime-the-pump money and the request for streamlining of regulations will come from the federal government as a condition to get the money.

Thank goodness the Mayor isn't sitting around with his thumb up his azz when it comes to this bridge project. Plan for it, push for it, be ready when and if something suddenly is available.

To be honest, I would say do not look to the Federal Government for help with infrastructure until at least President Hatch is sworn in......

[RattlerGator]

To be honest, I do enjoy the nattering nabobs of negativism on the board. It helps to explain Shad Khan's comments about what he found when he arrived here.

[Tacachale]

He can push all he wants, but nothing is going to budge.  There still won't be any money coming from the state, the state that won't even give St. Augustine money for much needed drainage fixes. And its not like the COJ just has $50 million lying around not allocated.

This is correct. The city doesn't have the money and the state, even if it has it, is not in the habit of giving out tens of millions of dollars for currently working infrastructure to newbie delegations. It's disappointing that the redevelopment of the Shipyards is being tied to the bridges coming down; whether or not it's a great idea, as it may be quite some time before the money is there.

[FlaBoy]

He can push all he wants, but nothing is going to budge.  There still won't be any money coming from the state, the state that won't even give St. Augustine money for much needed drainage fixes. And its not like the COJ just has $50 million lying around not allocated.

This is correct. The city doesn't have the money and the state, even if it has it, is not in the habit of giving out tens of millions of dollars for currently working infrastructure to newbie delegations. It's disappointing that the redevelopment of the Shipyards is being tied to the bridges coming down; whether or not it's a great idea, as it may be quite some time before the money is there.

1) I don't think it is completely tied to it. Moving Metro Park and Khan building some sort of hotel eventually will happen one way or another. I think they would prefer to see it done simultaneously with the expressway coming down.

2) Curry, himself, and Khan are the major players to get this done. Don't be surprised if Khan is donating to Let's Get to Work for Governor Scott's Senate run and Curry is pulling out his stops with the good will and influence he has gotten through the years. Curry is, by far, the most influential mayor with State Government today (If Rick Baker were to win in St. Pete, he would be right up there). Anyway, if the Mayor makes it a big priority, they can get it done but it would be nice if the Duval Delegation were to gain some more clout this upcoming year.

[Tacachale]

He can push all he wants, but nothing is going to budge.  There still won't be any money coming from the state, the state that won't even give St. Augustine money for much needed drainage fixes. And its not like the COJ just has $50 million lying around not allocated.

This is correct. The city doesn't have the money and the state, even if it has it, is not in the habit of giving out tens of millions of dollars for currently working infrastructure to newbie delegations. It's disappointing that the redevelopment of the Shipyards is being tied to the bridges coming down; whether or not it's a great idea, as it may be quite some time before the money is there.

1) I don't think it is completely tied to it. Moving Metro Park and Khan building some sort of hotel eventually will happen one way or another. I think they would prefer to see it done simultaneously with the expressway coming down.

2) Curry, himself, and Khan are the major players to get this done. Don't be surprised if Khan is donating to Let's Get to Work for Governor Scott's Senate run and Curry is pulling out his stops with the good will and influence he has gotten through the years. Curry is, by far, the most influential mayor with State Government today (If Rick Baker were to win in St. Pete, he would be right up there). Anyway, if the Mayor makes it a big priority, they can get it done but it would be nice if the Duval Delegation were to gain some more clout this upcoming year.

A few days ago, Thelakelander said this:

Learned today that the first phase of Khan's project (the hotel) is contingent on the Hart Bridge viaduct being torn down first.  So if anyone wonders about the development timeline for the Shipyards, don't expect much as long as the Hart Bridge ramps are still standing.

As far as getting the money goes, there are a lot of hoops to jump through, and a lot of worthy (and unworthy) projects competing for the same pot. Curry may be a big deal in Tally, but the Duval Delegation is not, and we also have a number of other big asks for the state coming up.

[remc86007]

I forget what the term for it is, but I remember hearing about special development districts (or something term like that) that focus property tax revenue in the district that it comes from. Couldn't something like that be used to payoff bonds that could be used for the demolition of the ramps in conjunction with state money in an amount discounted by the remaining useful life of the ramps?