DIA wants the Landing to start with a park

[marcuscnelson]

Apparently construction on Independent Drive is set to begin next month.

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/gmj/construction-on-riverfront-plaza-set-to-begin-june/77-7c96d2b7-a2eb-427d-9b1f-15ff174e626f

Did I say next month? I meant next next month.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/06/05/construction-expected-to-begin-on-long-awaited-riverfront-plaza-development/

[fsu813]

Apparently construction on Independent Drive is set to begin next month.

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/gmj/construction-on-riverfront-plaza-set-to-begin-june/77-7c96d2b7-a2eb-427d-9b1f-15ff174e626f

Did I say next month? I meant next next month.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/06/05/construction-expected-to-begin-on-long-awaited-riverfront-plaza-development/

The logic is sound...... but it's also very, very Jacksonville.

[Charles Hunter]

The reasoning makes sense.  When the June 4 start-date was announced, I wondered why they weren't waiting until after the 4th of July festivities. With Friendship Park still a construction zone, the absence of Lenny's Lawn would limit prime viewing.

[Todd_Parker]

"The first Riverfront Plaza phase does not involve the park's 151-foot-tall "JAX" sculpture -- perhaps the most talked-about part of the project.
City officials say the artist and several experts are refining the design and will present something more affordable."

More affordable = disappointing and boring. Nothing says Jacksonville like half-assing an important project.

[marcuscnelson]

At least some of the permitting is on its way now.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/jun/12/city-reviewing-permit-for-riverfront-plaza-cafe-shell/

[acme54321]

Has anyone seen the actual plans?  I'm sure they were value engineered into oblivion.

[Jax_Developer]

https://jaxcivilplan.coj.net/

Search "Project Name" and type in "Jacksonville Riverfront Plaza."

Should show up and you can look into it from there. Still looks similar but the VE here is in the materials and plants used. Labor is going to be pretty much the same unless a major scope is removed. But this is a city project to the budget is already 2x inflated.

[vicupstate]

https://jaxcivilplan.coj.net/

Search "Project Name" and type in "Jacksonville Riverfront Plaza."

Should show up and you can look into it from there. Still looks similar but the VE here is in the materials and plants used. Labor is going to be pretty much the same unless a major scope is removed. But this is a city project to the budget is already 2x inflated.

I got 'No records found' with that criteria

[Jax_Developer]

It is there. I included a period to be proper but you would likely need to remove that if it was copy & pasted.

[Gators312]

I was able to find it without issue.

[heights unknown]

At least some of the permitting is on its way now.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/jun/12/city-reviewing-permit-for-riverfront-plaza-cafe-shell/

Looks and sounds good, thus far, to me. Let's get my skyscraper approved and cranes in the air!

[marcuscnelson]

And finally, here we go.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/07/10/long-awaited-construction-on-riverfront-plaza-begins-monday/

[Charles Hunter]

Instead of "Lerp" maybe we could have an interactive sculpture.

One in Germany
https://www.duisburg.de/microsites/visit_duisburg/discover_the_city/industrial_heritage/tiger-turtle.php


and one in South Korea
https://thesmartlocal.kr/pohang-space-walk/

[JaxJersey-licious]

Yeah! Then we'll have to rename the structure "Clippy from Microsoft Word is back...and this time he is piiiiissed!!   

[Zac T]

This quote from Lori Boyer is so emblematic of what is fundamentally wrong with DIA and the city's approach to Downtown. You put out an RFP for an iconic park space with an iconic centerpiece sculpture. You select Perkins + Will in large part due to the sculpture that was included in their bid. Now it's too much and is not a reasonable budget for Jax. Everything the DIA does at this point is so laughable.

DIA CEO Lori Boyer told the Meninak Club of Jacksonville on June 26 that the $18 million to $20 million estimate for the statue would "not be a reasonable budget for the city of Jacksonville."

DIA officials say the Jessie Ball duPont Fund is working with the Perkins & Will team artist Jefrë of Orlando to refine and reimagine the initially designed 151-foot-tall "Jax" statue design to be more "emblematic" and "representative of Jacksonville."

Boyer said another sculpture proposed for a riverfront city park Downtown, a 50-foot-tall sculpture in Preston Hollow Community Capital LLC's mixed-use RiversEdge development on the Southbank designed by international artist and architect Marc Fornes, will cost $2 million to $3 million.

"So, I know it's possible to do something more affordable and we envision that this needs to be something that we can raise most of the funding for privately," Boyer said June 26. "So we've got to get that budget under control."

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/jul/10/construction-equipment-crews-arrive-at-riverfront-plaza-park-site/