Wait, is Lerp not actually happening?

[Tacachale]

^Interesting. Well, the sculpture is definitely why it won, as without those points the bid would have gone to Agency.

[thelakelander]

At the NEFAR meeting today, Lori Boyer gave a 2-3 year development timeline for the Landing Park. She also mentioned that they would like an art design committee to decide whether to work with Jefre and his plans for the Jax sculpture or to move forward with another artist altogether

2-3 years? Hmm.

Hmm wasn't this the timeline 2.5 years ago? Let me know when the money to construct is fully programmed in the budget. It's looking like another administration will have to figure this one out.

[Charles Hunter]

Can they proceed with the park design, with involvement of the new Resilience Officer, and leave a space for the sculpture whenever they settle on a design? Just make sure whatever is designed ("lerp" or something else) fits the pad?

I like the ramp up to the Main Street Bridge, too. It seems to be part of the park, rather than the typical switch-back ramp.

[jaxoNOLE]

And away we go:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/city-approves-dollar1-7-million-design-contract-for-park-at-former-jacksonville-landing

They look to be doing exactly as Charles suggested:

The deal does not include a final design-build contract for the park's proposed centerpiece "Jax" sculpture envisioned by Orlando-based international artist Jefrë Manuel.

The artist will negotiate a separate fee for the "iconic sculpture" design directly with the city, according to documents defining the initial project scope sent Nov. 30 from Perkins & Will to the city.

The agreement calls for an Iconic Art Review Committee to work with Jefrë in guiding and refining the sculpture.

...

DIA CEO Lori Boyer said Dec. 7 that officials have not decided who will make up the committee.

"So, the idea is to have a group of people with expertise in that field who can work with the artist on what the actual piece would be," she said.

The contract calls for the basic dimensions and size of the sculpture and design work on its pedestal and footings.

Other points in the article: Design must be complete by Feb 23, "pricing" with a deadline of May 27, and construction documents 100% complete by Nov 4. There have been no budget revisions.

[heights unknown]

OK. Alright. Uh huh.

[blizz01]

So if not LERP, something?

[landfall]

"Officials have not decided who will make up the committee."

If ever a line summed up a city perfectly. Then once we have a committee we can have meetings about meetings and then vote to have a vote.

[jaxoNOLE]

I wonder, if the park design specifies a pad for sculpture but we can't get our act together picking or funding the sculpture, does the whole thing just bog down and never go anywhere?

[Ken_FSU]

I do like the fact that they're moving somewhat quickly (lol) to RFP the private pads in February so that P+E and the selected developer(s) for the private pads can work in tandem on integrating their designs.

I also think a refined version of the original sculpture ends up happening, as it should, in the spirit of honoring the original RFP and not giving in to the trolls who had every opportunity to voice their opinion during the public listening phase and want to turn the entire thing into a meme based on one very specific view of the sculpture. There's only so much you can deviate from the general dimensions of the original sculpture included in the agreement.

Apparently property taxes from the private development pads will be used for upkeep on the park as well, which I like.

Can't see a scenario where this thing opens before 2025 though.

Park designs completed to 100% by end of 2022.

Private development design probably completed by maybe Q1 2023.

By the time we RFP the construction, we've gotta be looking at breaking ground in mid-2023.

18-months of combined construction for the park, private development, and art, and we're looking at maybe Q1 2025 as a best case for opening.