Convention Center Wars

[Lunican]

Mousa said the properties will be graded and landscaped with grass.

Back to reality.

[thelakelander]

^One of the most important intentions of the RFP, if not the most important, was to test the waters and see what type of private investment, if any, that companies were willing to make in a Jacksonville convention center. As the DIA stated bluntly yesterday, the RFP plainly demonstrated that no one was going to come in and build a convention center for us.

Most of us would definitely agree that Jacksonville needs a new convention center, but the real question is, do we need it $1.4 billion bad? This is why the DIA is referring to the convention center as a generational decision.

No one builds convention centers for anyone. We didn't need to go through an RFP to figure that one out. I also don't like the narrative of bloated criteria resulting in the solution costing over one billion. Scrap the extras and combine with what we already have in the Hyatt and the dollar figure easily drops more than 60%. Get a realistic no frills solution on the table and go from there. In such a scenario, we would actually be in position to get something done.

Playing with the crazy numbers will only end up with us burning more money with Iguana than we have to for something that's highly questionable on if this market can support at such a scale.

[thelakelander]

Mousa said the properties will be graded and landscaped with grass.

Back to reality.

Lol so true, so true

[vicupstate]

^One of the most important intentions of the RFP, if not the most important, was to test the waters and see what type of private investment, if any, that companies were willing to make in a Jacksonville convention center. As the DIA stated bluntly yesterday, the RFP plainly demonstrated that no one was going to come in and build a convention center for us.

Most of us would definitely agree that Jacksonville needs a new convention center, but the real question is, do we need it $1.4 billion bad? This is why the DIA is referring to the convention center as a generational decision.

No one builds convention centers for anyone. We didn't need to go through an RFP to figure that one out. I also don't like the narrative of bloated criteria resulting in the solution costing over one billion. Scrap the extras and combine with what we already have in the Hyatt and the dollar figure easily drops more than 60%. Get a realistic no frills solution on the table and go from there. In such a scenario, we would actually be in position to get something done.

Playing with the crazy numbers will only end up with us burning more money with Iguana than we have to for something that's highly questionable on if this market can support at such a scale.

The whole point of this RPF process was to eliminate the courthouse option, so that Iguana is in the driver's seat. With Curry's man in at DIA, that process will no doubt proceed at a slightlu faster pace now.   

[itsfantastic1]

Other than "We've referred it to Mayor Curry," is there any movement or timetable for a decision on this? Does the council get a say in the matter? Or do we just expect another surprise set of modified Shipyard renderings with an announcement from the Mayor's Office and the former Chief of Staff DIA CEO that the Shipyards have been chosen?

[bl8jaxnative]

The glut of convention space has been long known and documented.  JAX should avoid putting much of anything into one.  The city should focus on it's strengths. 

https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/20050117_conventioncenters.pdf

[Kerry]

You have to change the location.  Here is a site plan for the OKC Convention Center currently under construction for around $250 million.  Where in downtown Jax are you going put loading bays for 16 semis?

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=26179&page=180

[thelakelander]

Pretty cheap in comparison to the numbers we've seen locally. What's the size of the exhibition hall?

[Kerry]

https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2717/18

The MAPS 3 Convention Center's total project budget of $288 million, including land acquisition and other related expenses, is the biggest in City history for a single project. The construction contract is $168.2 million, $20 million under budget.

The state-of-the art building will be located east of Scissortail Park along Robinson Boulevard between SW 4th and SW 7th streets. Like the park and many other important landmarks downtown, it will be served by the OKC Streetcar.

The convention center's sleek and modern design features sweeping downtown views, and materials designed for energy efficiency and resiliency against the weather.

The 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall will dominate the ground floor, featuring three operable walls to divide it in up to four flexible spaces. About 45,000 square feet of meeting spaces are on all levels of the building, and many also have operable walls to make the spaces flexible. The rooms can be configured to provide up to 27 individual meeting spaces.

A 30,000-square-foot ballroom is the main space on the fourth level, complemented by 10,000 square feet of pre-function space and a 4,000-square-foot balcony.

[fieldafm]

https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2717/18

The MAPS 3 Convention Center's total project budget of $288 million, including land acquisition and other related expenses, is the biggest in City history for a single project. The construction contract is $168.2 million, $20 million under budget.

The state-of-the art building will be located east of Scissortail Park along Robinson Boulevard between SW 4th and SW 7th streets. Like the park and many other important landmarks downtown, it will be served by the OKC Streetcar.

The convention center's sleek and modern design features sweeping downtown views, and materials designed for energy efficiency and resiliency against the weather.

The 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall will dominate the ground floor, featuring three operable walls to divide it in up to four flexible spaces. About 45,000 square feet of meeting spaces are on all levels of the building, and many also have operable walls to make the spaces flexible. The rooms can be configured to provide up to 27 individual meeting spaces.

A 30,000-square-foot ballroom is the main space on the fourth level, complemented by 10,000 square feet of pre-function space and a 4,000-square-foot balcony.

45,000 square ft floor plates seem to be the definition of having a 'low bar for expectations' and 'dawdling along'. Coming from someone that used to put together events in convention halls across the US... having large swaths of contiguous space along one floor is the difference between being a true player in the convention center business, or being a second rate cousin.  But OKC is great at everything, so...

That is the exact response I was expecting and is the reason Jax is moving in slow motion.  We have a population with such a low bar for expectations that the City can just dawdle along - so it does. 

[Kerry]

You might want to read it again.  The main exhibit hall is 200,000 sq feet.  Then on top of that are 2 more floors containing 45,000 sq feet of event space each.  Total of 290,000 sq feet.  The 4th floor has an additional 30,000 sq ft ballroom and 10,000 sq ft outside patio.

What isn't in the article I posted is the 17 story attached hotel under construction and the approx 300 apartments that are going to wrap the building.

[fieldafm]

You might want to read it again.  The main exhibit hall is 200,000 sq feet.  Then on top of that are 2 more floors containing 45,000 sq feet of event space each.  Total of 290,000 sq feet.  The 4th floor has an additional 30,000 sq ft ballroom and 10,000 sq ft outside patio.

What isn't in the article I posted is the 17 story attached hotel under construction and the approx 300 apartments that are going to wrap the building.

Then, yes. I did read that wrong. Do you have a copy of the floor plan? Could not find online.

[Kerry]

Let me see if I can find a link to it.

[Kerry]

I can't find a link that points directly to the floor plans but I have seen them.  They are somewhere in this link.

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=26179

One correction from my previous comment - the apartments are going to wrap the parking garage and not the convention center itself.

[KenFSU]

Courthouse and Annex demo permits are in.

January is looking like the month.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/demolition-permits-sought-for-bay-street-government-buildings

Though it wouldn't be my first pick, 100% of my money remains on an Iguana convention center, possibly as part of a larger redevelopment agreement inclusive of Lot J. There's too much pressure with Wembley falling through. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see a mega-development announced by early next year inclusive of the Jacksonville Live entertainment complex, office (potentially JEA), residential, convention center, hotel, parking garage, and removal of the Hart Bridge ramps. I think Curry pushes it as the most cost-effective option due to the partnership with the Jags on the project, and also angles it as a two-for-one with Rimrock offering to redevelop the Courthouse site as suburban apartments/hotel.