City set to approve grants for Barnett Bank, Laura Street Trio

[Tacachale]

But, we've heard a lot of news about this project over the years and it's still in the same state. I'm not getting my hopes up.

There's a key difference here though. In the past, we've heard a lot of news, but it's all been out of the Atkins camp. If nothing else, the man has done a great job keeping this project in the public spotlight. But this time, we're hearing news and buy-in from the city and DIA themselves.

Here's why I think it's the real deal this time:

1) Curry is behind the project. Big time, from the sounds of it. Wallace said that it wouldn't have been possible without the Curry administration. We've been hearing for months now that, with the pension tax passed, Curry wants his lasting legacy to come from transforming downtown Jacksonville. He promised big announcements in terms of public-private partnership beginning early in January, and this appears to be the first of such announcements. He also guaranteed that where others were all talk and no action in the past, he was going to get things done. Whether you like him or hate him, he has a way of getting shit done, and if he's all in on the Trio, then that's a hugely positive sign.

2) The incentives are right, and a win-win for the city and Atkins. Atkins gets more money than he originally asked for, but the city doesn't have to pay out until the project is complete.

3) Shad Khan has stated repeatedly that he wasn't going to sell the Barnett unless it was the right thing to do for downtown Jacksonville. Considering how contentious his relationship has been with Atkins in the past, I don't think he sells Barnett back to him - at what I'm assuming is a fair price - without assurances that the project is going to move forward.

4) The city is serious about building an $11 million parking garage for the project, and has already drafted terms of use with the Atkins group ($300k a year for 20 years for 250 private spots, with an additional 300 spots being open to the public).

If terms get greenlit tomorrow, I think it's off to the races.

That probably came off more negative than I meant it to. The Atkins group has an impressive vision for the space, they've stuck with it despite all the roadblocks, and they've managed to keep excitement up over the course of years when it would have dwindled for nearly anything else. Props to them. I do hope that it all works out for everybody involved.

[Westside Guy]

Does anyone know if the plans included replacing the Jacksonville sign on the Laura Street Trio (the one that the city blasted off)? I recall someone from the city telling me that it would cost about $50,000 to replace it. I know it's a bit nitpicky but if the buildings do get renovated I would like to see that back.

[tufsu1]

This is the most excited I've been for Jacksonville in a looooooong time.

I keep waiting for the... Wa  Wa...

I keep waiting for Wawa too

[tufsu1]

But, we've heard a lot of news about this project over the years and it's still in the same state. I'm not getting my hopes up.

The first day I met Stephen, Wyatt, Ennis, and Steve was when they invited me down to 3 Layers to look at the original renderings of this project, which I think this was in 2009.

would love to give Wiatt credit here, but Dan may have been the fourth horseman with the invite to Three Layers

[thelakelander]

Does anyone know if the plans included replacing the Jacksonville sign on the Laura Street Trio (the one that the city blasted off)? I recall someone from the city telling me that it would cost about $50,000 to replace it. I know it's a bit nitpicky but if the buildings do get renovated I would like to see that back.

You mean the old Jacksonville National Bank sign?



I doubt it. I think it was only on the building during the 1970s and early 80s.  It definitely wasn't an original part of the building and was gone once NCNB took over.

[Captain Zissou]

But, we've heard a lot of news about this project over the years and it's still in the same state. I'm not getting my hopes up.

The first day I met Stephen, Wyatt, Ennis, and Steve was when they invited me down to 3 Layers to look at the original renderings of this project, which I think this was in 2009.

would love to give Wiatt credit here, but Dan may have been the fourth horseman with the invite to Three Layers

Whatever.  Please send my apologies to Mr Bowers.

[FlaBoy]

I will never understand why they thought demolishing these buildings was a good idea. I know, they wanted parking, but come on...

[FlaBoy]

One concern I have for Atkins plan is the corner of Main and Forsyth. I am concerned that it will be difficult to see anything ever built on such a small parcel of land. I know it is difficult, but it would be nice to have someone jump in to develop that space while construction is occurring.

[thelakelander]

^Assuming the garage would contain the site's off-street parking needs, it's more than enough space to cover the garage from the street with future infill like the Bookends project in Greenville, SC. If Greenville, SC can pull something off like this, Jax should be able to.

[camarocane]

Anyone know what will go into that park on Forsyth and Laura? Veterans Memorial Park... eh? Lets open up the Arena for naming rights!

[thelakelander]

I don't know but both that proposed park space and the hotel drop off area could use a bit of placemaking at some point in the project's design future.  Both should be heavily interactive with the surrounding pedestrian scale environment and adjacent land uses, as opposed to another passive space like the Main Street Pocket Park.

[KenFSU]

"Let me tell you how long I've been working on this," Steve Atkins said after the incentives were approved. "When I started, my daughter was in second grade. Now she's in high school and looking at colleges."

- Daily Record

[Steve]

The one on Adams could easily be outdoor seating for the cafe there. If it's the standard cafe that's in all Courtyard Marriott hotels, they stay busy for breakfast and has varying traffic for evening drinks (the breakfast area becomes a bar with light food). Could be an opportunity for interaction with the building.

[Tacachale]

^That "public art/monumental sculpture" space in the park would be perfect for the James Weldon Johnson memorial that Jax has sadly always lacked.

[thelakelander]

The one on Adams could easily be outdoor seating for the cafe there. If it's the standard cafe that's in all Courtyard Marriott hotels, they stay busy for breakfast and has varying traffic for evening drinks (the breakfast area becomes a bar with light food). Could be an opportunity for interaction with the building.

Yeah, some outdoor seating at the cafe there would be a perfect fit with what FSCJ is doing next door at street level. I believe those Courtyard by Marriott cafes serve food till 10 or 11pm, so you'd also have something open late that doesn't rely on surrounding street traffic.