10 Potential Uses For The Jacksonville Landing

[thelakelander]

Now that the City of Jacksonville is moving forward with taking full control of the Jacksonville Landing, here's ten types of uses that should be considered for the site's future before moving forward with complete demolition of a publicly owned turn-key commercial space.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/10-potential-uses-for-the-jacksonville-landing/

[Charles Hunter]

This should be sent to all 19 current members of the City Council, and the candidates in the May election, as well as to Mayor Curry and the DIA.

Just a picky note, the article could use some editing for typos and to tighten up the text.

[pierre]

I went to the Milwaukee Public Market last summer. It is awesome and, I think, would be a perfect model for the Landing.

[DrQue]

Excellent article, thank you for writing it.

At the same time, this hurts to read knowing that our leaders defaulted to a full demo so quickly. The complete lack of an informed vision is so incredibly disheartening.

[heights unknown]

I would say don't demolish it, and go for something mixed use with inside and outside restaurants and dining, and a large park on the river behind it with boat/marina slips and docks. Completely renovate it, taking out some of it, and leaving a large part of it to support whatever the end use or purpose will be. If there's still businesses there, though there's an attached park, this will also prevent or even in most cases eradicate the possibility of transients and the homeless (and nothing against them I respect them) making camp or residing in the park.

[fieldafm]

Excellent article, thank you for writing it.

At the same time, this hurts to read knowing that our leaders defaulted to a full demo so quickly. The complete lack of an informed vision is so incredibly disheartening.

Except that it really isn't the case that 'our leaders defaulted to a full demo so quickly'.  This is simply a rehash of former Mayor Peyton's 'Big Idea', which included demolishing the Landing and replacing it with a park, with limited retail along Independent Drive.

See here:
https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-dec-peytons-struggles-the-big-idea

The guy that produced this (former Planning Director Mike Saylor) in 2006:


Is the same guy that produced this in 2018:


The only difference between now and then is that then-Mayor Peyton didn't try to force out a political enemy, he simply stonewalled his political enemy for 8 years by vetoing any request for money that would have benefited the Landing. Current-Mayor Curry was simply more aggressive in removing his political enemy from the equation. The 'vision' is the same now as it was more than a decade ago.

[heights unknown]

Excellent article, thank you for writing it.

At the same time, this hurts to read knowing that our leaders defaulted to a full demo so quickly. The complete lack of an informed vision is so incredibly disheartening.

Except that it really isn't the case that 'our leaders defaulted to a full demo so quickly'.  This is simply a rehash of former Mayor Peyton's 'Big Idea', which included demolishing the Landing and replacing it with a park, with limited retail along Independent Drive.

See here:
https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-dec-peytons-struggles-the-big-idea

The guy that produced this (former Planning Director Mike Saylor) in 2006:


Is the same guy that produced this in 2018:


The only difference between now and then is that then-Mayor Peyton didn't try to force out a political enemy, he simply stonewalled his political enemy for 8 years by vetoing any request for money that would have benefited the Landing. Current-Mayor Curry was simply more aggressive in removing his political enemy from the equation. The 'vision' is the same now as it was more than a decade ago.

In the artist's conception or rendering of the park, what are those buildings on either side of the entrance to the park? Anyone know?

[CityLife]

It's mind boggling that a city with miles and miles of riverfront has virtually no waterfront dining, and then is considering demolishing one of the best opportunties to create waterfront dining/entertainment. I believe my current city of 65,000 people (Jupiter) has more waterfront restaurants (7) than the entire COJ, and has 3 more on the way.

If Jax does decide to convert it to a public space, I hope that they bring in a renowned landscape architecture firm, not whoever designed the Southbank Riverwalk, which is an absolute joke. Either be bold or do nothing at all. West Palm Beach is repurposing a 14 acre waterfront park and is bringing in the same firm that did the Highline, Underline, and several other good projects.
https://www.fieldoperations.net/projects.html

IMO, residents of Jax need to let the City know that if the Landing does go, there better be a strong plan in place with serious $ backing it.

[thelakelander]

In the artist's conception or rendering of the park, what are those buildings on either side of the entrance to the park? Anyone know?

About 30,000 square feet of possible new construction undetermined office or retail space.

[thelakelander]

Just a picky note, the article could use some editing for typos and to tighten up the text.

Thanks! No worries. We'll go back and clean it up. Got caught up trying to throw it together within a time limit and didn't have much time to go back over it last night.

[Tacachale]

Just a picky note, the article could use some editing for typos and to tighten up the text.

Thanks! No worries. We'll go back and clean it up. Got caught up trying to throw it together within a time limit and didn't have much time to go back over it last night.

I'm on it. 

[heights unknown]

It's mind boggling that a city with miles and miles of riverfront has virtually no waterfront dining, and then is considering demolishing one of the best opportunties to create waterfront dining/entertainment. I believe my current city of 65,000 people (Jupiter) has more waterfront restaurants (7) than the entire COJ, and has 3 more on the way.

If Jax does decide to convert it to a public space, I hope that they bring in a renowned landscape architecture firm, not whoever designed the Southbank Riverwalk, which is an absolute joke. Either be bold or do nothing at all. West Palm Beach is repurposing a 14 acre waterfront park and is bringing in the same firm that did the Highline, Underline, and several other good projects.
https://www.fieldoperations.net/projects.html

IMO, residents of Jax need to let the City know that if the Landing does go, there better be a strong plan in place with serious $ backing it.

Awesome post; right on mark, and I agree. Don't just bring in anybody to do the job, or someone on the council sketch on a napkin on what they think the park should look like; do it in the professional and right way...look at several proposals and propositions, vote on it or have the citizens vote on it, and go from there. Even if a park is put in there, I still say there should be some type of dining, restaurants, and some offices or retail, albeit minimal, in there as well. IMO that would curtail or even stop the possibility of anyone lounging, loitering, hanging out, or camping there (that's what security is for as well).

[Fallen Buckeye]

Crazy idea. What if Aqua Jax used the existing Landing structure for its aquarium?

[thelakelander]

It would be better than a front lawn filled with vagrants.

[Kiva]

Only 10? Have you not noticed that the buildings curve in a semi-circle? Topgolf! With edible fish bait as the balls of course!