Construction begins on the Barnett & Laura Street Trio

[Steve]

Gotta give Atkins credit for sticking with this project.  I can't say I ever thought I'd see him pull it off.

A great milestone, indeed. Not to be Debbie Downer, but this and a Parking Garage are the easy ones (in comparison of all of the project aspects - the entire thing is very difficult). When the Laura Trio is completed and they cut the ribbon on the hotel, I will offer him up to Rome for Sainthood.

[acme54321]

By pull it off I really should have said break ground lol.

When the cornices go back onto the Florida Life building I will become a true believer 

[FlaBoy]

Gotta give Atkins credit for sticking with this project.  I can't say I ever thought I'd see him pull it off.

A great milestone, indeed. Not to be Debbie Downer, but this and a Parking Garage are the easy ones (in comparison of all of the project aspects - the entire thing is very difficult). When the Laura Trio is completed and they cut the ribbon on the hotel, I will offer him up to Rome for Sainthood.

My thought is, if Barnett gets done, that is a big win for DT alone. I would love for them to get the Marble Bank building ready ASAP as well so maybe it can open sooner than later. The Florida Life and Bisbee buildings with the new Marriott will be quite the undertaking. Exciting though!

[KenFSU]

Gotta give Atkins credit for sticking with this project.  I can't say I ever thought I'd see him pull it off.

A great milestone, indeed. Not to be Debbie Downer, but this and a Parking Garage are the easy ones (in comparison of all of the project aspects - the entire thing is very difficult). When the Laura Trio is completed and they cut the ribbon on the hotel, I will offer him up to Rome for Sainthood.

My thought is, if Barnett gets done, that is a big win for DT alone. I would love for them to get the Marble Bank building ready ASAP as well so maybe it can open sooner than later. The Florida Life and Bisbee buildings with the new Marriott will be quite the undertaking. Exciting though!

Not sure what the context is, but there's been activity at the Marble Bank building today.

I've been watching construction workers stream in and out.

Weird to see the doors open.

[Tacachale]

^Interesting. Is it just staging for the Barnett I wonder?

[KenFSU]

^Interesting. Is it just staging for the Barnett I wonder?

Possibly, or for continuing work at 20 West Adams.

I walk that way every day, and it's the first time I've seen crew inside.

[KenFSU]

Over 200 pre-registrations for leases at the Barnett so far.

For 104 residential units.

And Atkins hasn't even officially opened up leasing.

Really good sign.

[Tacachale]

Over 200 pre-registrations for leases at the Barnett so far.

For 104 residential units.

And Atkins hasn't even officially opened up leasing.

Really good sign.

This is exactly why housing is what the city should be focusing on for downtown development. The demand is already there.

[thelakelander]

The demand had always been there. They just need millions in incentives to make the construction/restoration numbers work with what the local market can pay to purchase or lease.

[FlaBoy]

Over 200 pre-registrations for leases at the Barnett so far.

For 104 residential units.

And Atkins hasn't even officially opened up leasing.

Really good sign.

This is exactly why housing is what the city should be focusing on for downtown development. The demand is already there.

Agreed. Would be nice to see the Ambassador/Old JEA block potentially see some movement with incentives.

[KenFSU]

Look what popped up this afternoon:

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

That's the tiniest wrecking ball I think I've ever seen...

[jagsonville]

Look what popped up this afternoon:

I wonder if this is for the hotel addition of if this is just being set up for the garage across the street.

[acme54321]

I wonder if this is for the hotel addition of if this is just being set up for the garage across the street.

It's a very large telescopic boom crane, in that picture the boom is completely collapsed if that gives you any idea of its size.  Once it's set up like that it's not moving.  My guess is that it's there to lift mechanical equipment to the roof of the Barnett and it will be gone in a few days.

[reednavy]

That is usually a crane the erects tower cranes.