Mini Arts District Proposed for Downtown

Started by thelakelander, August 17, 2018, 08:34:09 AM

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thelakelander

August 17, 2018, 08:34:09 AM
In collaboration with several art institutions and schools within the state, a group known as Metropolis has proposed an alternative vision for a long underutilized site being considered as the location of a new administrative headquarters for the JEA. Metropolis' plans call for the conversion of 337 West Adams Street into a community art incubator called La Rue des Arts.



Full article: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/mini-arts-district-proposed-for-downtown/
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

MusicMan

#1
August 17, 2018, 08:53:41 AM
Thanks Lake. I like what this proposal brings to the table, especially the re-use of the existing construction trailers. This should enable the developer to make affordable lease rates for artists and entrepreneur's who want to plant a seed in Downtown Jax.  Can easily see another application of food trucks on the site, coming and going all day.  I also noted the temporary aspect of the proposal, a sort of "trial balloon" to gauge the market for this type of development. One assumes if successful it could remain or be transplanted to a nearby vacant surface lot or parcel.

I'd sure love to see Haskell get on board as corporate underwriter. I believe this is the type of project Preston Haskell would enthusiastically embrace .

thelakelander

#2
August 17, 2018, 09:21:13 AM
No problem. It's a pretty interesting proposal. It does sit on one of the properties JEA is considering but it appears they're being wooed by the Khan and Atkins mixed-use proposals further east of this location.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

jaxnyc79

#3
August 17, 2018, 09:21:38 AM
Quote from: thelakelander on August 17, 2018, 08:34:09 AM
In collaboration with several art institutions and schools within the state, a group known as Metropolis has proposed an alternative vision for a long underutilized site being considered as the location of a new administrative headquarters for the JEA. Metropolis' plans call for the conversion of 337 West Adams Street into a community art incubator called La Rue des Arts.



Full article: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/mini-arts-district-proposed-for-downtown/

Thank you for preparing this article.  I am all for re-using deadspace and making it a draw for pedestrians.  May I ask - Why are there modular buildings on this site in the first place?

thelakelander

#4
August 17, 2018, 09:27:59 AM
They were put there during the construction of the Duval County Courthouse. They've been there for over 10 years now. Too bad we thought the George Washington Hotel was out-of-style and blew it up shortly after it closed.

"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

jaxnyc79

#5
August 17, 2018, 09:34:27 AM
Quote from: thelakelander on August 17, 2018, 09:27:59 AM
They were put there during the construction of the Duval County Courthouse. They've been there for over 10 years now. Too bad we thought the George Washington Hotel was out-of-style and blew it up shortly after it closed.



On the one hand, I'm all for street activation in any form, and creative ways to engender pedestrian vitality.  On the other hand, I'm wondering why a construction project left behind a trailer park in the heart of Downtown?

MusicMan

#6
August 17, 2018, 09:42:43 AM
It was done by the City of Jacksonville!

The developer actually owns the trailers. So the proposal is an attempt to use them as opposed to scraping them. They are relatively clean and have a lot of life left in them.  Combined over 10,000 square feet of air conditioned space.  Pretty sure The Daily Record will be presenting the full development plans in a day or so......

Captain Zissou

#7
August 17, 2018, 09:46:27 AM
Maybe I missed it in the article, but what about this project is French?  Are French artists going to come and teach classes?  Is one of the arts organizations French?  Why are we giving this a french name for no apparent reason?  It doesn't make it any more culturally significant. Is Al Emerick part of this?

KenFSU

#8
August 17, 2018, 10:05:11 AM
Really interesting, low-cost, low-commitment way to test out an idea and activate that block.

Love it.

jaxnyc79

#9
August 17, 2018, 10:16:19 AM
Quote from: KenFSU on August 17, 2018, 10:05:11 AM
Really interesting, low-cost, low-commitment way to test out an idea and activate that block.

Love it.

I'm not a huge fan of modular buildings, but I like what this project represents/symbolizes.  It represents that the downtown we all want, is not a function of complicated projects and soaring high-rises and high-end architecture.  The downtown we want encourages people to walk its sidewalks and to gather, and that can be done with a strip of 1 or 2-story buildings along a lengthy downtown corridor, or in this case, with a series of trailers.

jaxnyc79

#10
August 17, 2018, 10:29:51 AM
Can we incorporate a beer garden?

Adam White

#11
August 17, 2018, 10:47:19 AM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on August 17, 2018, 09:46:27 AM
Maybe I missed it in the article, but what about this project is French?  Are French artists going to come and teach classes?  Is one of the arts organizations French?  Why are we giving this a french name for no apparent reason?  It doesn't make it any more culturally significant. Is Al Emerick part of this?

Yeah, I saw that. Just stupid and pretentious.
"If you're going to play it out of tune, then play it out of tune properly."

Tacachale

#12
August 17, 2018, 10:54:15 AM
Quote from: Adam White on August 17, 2018, 10:47:19 AM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on August 17, 2018, 09:46:27 AM
Maybe I missed it in the article, but what about this project is French?  Are French artists going to come and teach classes?  Is one of the arts organizations French?  Why are we giving this a french name for no apparent reason?  It doesn't make it any more culturally significant. Is Al Emerick part of this?

Yeah, I saw that. Just stupid and pretentious.

I cringed a little typing that name in the Facebook post this morning. Of course, I'm the one who came up with the name "The Jaxson" which is, shall we say, not universally liked. At any rate, it shouldn't distract from what they're trying to do.
Do you believe that when the blue jay or another bird sings and the body is trembling, that is a signal that people are coming or something important is about to happen?

Adam White

#13
August 17, 2018, 11:01:33 AM
Quote from: Tacachale on August 17, 2018, 10:54:15 AM
Quote from: Adam White on August 17, 2018, 10:47:19 AM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on August 17, 2018, 09:46:27 AM
Maybe I missed it in the article, but what about this project is French?  Are French artists going to come and teach classes?  Is one of the arts organizations French?  Why are we giving this a french name for no apparent reason?  It doesn't make it any more culturally significant. Is Al Emerick part of this?

Yeah, I saw that. Just stupid and pretentious.

I cringed a little typing that name in the Facebook post this morning. Of course, I'm the one who came up with the name "The Jaxson" which is, shall we say, not universally liked. At any rate, it shouldn't distract from what they're trying to do.

Although I have never accepted the term "Jaxson" (I prefer the unwieldy "Jacksonvillian"), I think the website name is actually quite good. And as you point out, a good project should be able to rise above a silly name!
"If you're going to play it out of tune, then play it out of tune properly."

jaxnyc79

#14
August 17, 2018, 11:52:49 AM
Nod to the Huguenots?
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