Bet this doesnt have ANYTHING to do with Chris Hionides.

[firestarter]

Hionides, the springfield slumlord, has been fighting the beaches communities for several years to build highrises that exceed their maximum height allowances....

Suddenly!  A letter to the editor from a 'concerned citizen'.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/060207/nes_174059054.shtml

That 35-foot height restriction needs to be amended


By The Times-Union

A few months ago, I wrote a letter to the editor citing the Jacksonville Beach flawed 35-foot height amendment. In that letter, I explained how that 35-foot height restriction affected the continued progress in the downtown business district, since a property owner could not make a profit limiting height to 35 feet, which did not give them room for retail, parking and office space.

I now read in Shorelines [May 26] about the design expert the city of Jacksonville Beach hired to help the city develop a vision for the downtown business district.

He said that "the city should reconsider the 35-foot building height cap." He went on to say that "a lot of great buildings come in at 50 feet."

Now maybe the same "group" who came up with that flawed 35-foot height amendment could use their energy to have that 35-foot height restriction amended to allow a 50-foot height in the downtown business district so that the city could continue the progress that was started before that went into law.

Dick Matthews

[Matt]

well...whoever wrote that, i agree. 50 feet is far more feasable for street retail and apartments/condos on top. HOWEVER: They should not be able to continue to build old folks buildings (verticle country clubs) that cut themselves off from society. Make street level retail a law!!!

[thelakelander]

Matt I agree with you.  Building heights should have never been the main issue.  Its how these things meet and address the street.