Thunderbird Hotel demolition approved along Arlington Expressway

[marcuscnelson]

After 59 years, the Thunderbird Hotel along Arlington Expressway has been approved for demolition.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/feb/03/thunderbird-hotel-demolition-approved-along-arlington-expressway/

With this being 19 acres directly adjacent to a First Coast Flyer station and right next door to College Park (Town & Country), this seems like a prime site for redevelopment.

[jaxoNOLE]

After 59 years, the Thunderbird Hotel along Arlington Expressway has been approved for demolition.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/feb/03/thunderbird-hotel-demolition-approved-along-arlington-expressway/

With this being 19 acres directly adjacent to a First Coast Flyer station and right next door to College Park (Town & Country), this seems like a prime site for redevelopment.

Woo-hoo! Major eyesore that needs to go, though it sounds like the future beyond demolition is very hazy at this stage.

It makes me wonder if the housing project in the old FBI building is dead. They pulled permits quite a while ago but I haven't noticed any activity since.

[thelakelander]

This should be a good redevelopment site. It will be interesting to see what will take its place.

[marcuscnelson]

Demolition is now underway.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/jun/16/one-last-look-at-arlingtons-thunderbird-motor-hotel/

Surprised there doesn't seem to be a real answer yet on what will happen next. Personally, I hope it's not just townhomes like what they did with the old shopping center to the east. This should be a prime site for something impressive.

[thelakelander]

What's your definition of "impressive"? I can't imagine much going in here, other than the typical autocentric type development (i.e apartments, strip commercial, light industrial/service, etc.).

[Jax_Developer]

With all that acreage next to the revamped JWB shopping center, they "could" do something that would be impactful for the Arlington gateway. There is also a 10 acre vacant parcel behind it.

Somewhat dependent on how much the Arlington CRA can support that vision I bet.. but they do have a ton of excess funds available. Hence why I think there is some opposition to the bank building on that University corner being torn down... for a... car wash...

The 900 building also could be a great future redevelopment site.

[thelakelander]

Back in 2008 or so, I rezoned the parcel behind it for the Arlington Road Church of Christ to build a new campus there. A year or two ago, they had a deal to sell it. The plan at that time was apartments.

[Jax_Developer]

Trust me.. I'm waiting for the news article that reads "Former Thunderbird Hotel to be redeveloped into 700 apartments with some retail."

[marcuscnelson]

What's your definition of "impressive"? I can't imagine much going in here, other than the typical autocentric type development (i.e apartments, strip commercial, light industrial/service, etc.).

Ideally it should be a goal of the city for the zoning to enable something more urban for such a large opportunity site. Sure, 0 parking probably isn't going to happen but this much land this close to downtown with emerging retail, transit connectivity, should be ripe for growth. Worst case should be something akin to the Times-Union redevelopment, but ideally better than that.