Downtown Development Update: What's rising, what's delayed

[Des]

City's looking for ways to fumble once again.

[Skybox111]

Technically yes they are not national parks but are part of the national park service of 11 national parks in florida

[Tacachale]

City's looking for ways to fumble once again.

Not all the city. Hold fast.

[jaxoNOLE]

With respect to all detractors--because I do think the arguments have merit--this feels a lot like letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. We have been debating, studying, RFPing, re-RFPing, re-studying, canceling, wait-and-seeing, and otherwise screwing around for decades with our riverfront property. Pausing forward momentum again, at this point, will push Phase II back by years and simultaneously limit activation of phase I.

It would in fact be ideal to have a world-class contiguous riverfront park system that draws in organic, unsubsidized* demand for dense CBD development. The sea change that's required in our local politics and priorities, coupled with the historical decisions already being executed, just don't support this happening in the current generation.

*a bit of semantics, but spending hundreds of millions on park amenities could arguably be considered a subsidy in itself

[Jankelope]

Surely RPN isn't going to win out on this one. It's too much of a no-brainer. I am technically a "member" of RPN and attend meetings occasionally.

One of the first things that I noticed was that many of the most influential figures there have a different idea of what a "park" should be versus what has been successful in the last 2 decades in revitalization projects in the USA. There is an obsession with "green space" as an end to itself. Every park that we love has some type of nature or green space, but the scope of what a destination park is has changed dramatically. Hotels, residential, bars, restaurants, attractions, are now core to what make these urban parks thrive.

Sometimes it seems like the driving force for many in the RPN world is refraining from development whenever possible, or prioritizing nature in a spot that hasn't truly been "natural" for 100+ years. There are places where prioritizing green space above all else make sense. This isn't one of them. Have the big central lawn for sure, but without complementing uses, attractions, destinations, it will fail and look even dumber when compared to the landing.

Also, unironically I wish we were building the Lerp statue.

[heights unknown]

Unbelievable. I sometimes get the feeling that there is a "tug of war" and power struggle going on in City Hall; and it's not being perpetrated by Mayor Deegan, but certain "you know who's" that don't like her for whatever reason. Salem, Citrano, and others behind the scenes are very hard workers; working hard for their own interests (whatever that might be) and working hard (again for whatever reason) to undermine and destroy Mayor Deegan's image and/or what she is trying so hard to accomplish. If this land swap deal is shot down, I recommend doing away with consolidation, shrink Jacksonville's limits/boundaries back to 1967/68; why? Because our city, because of certain small-minded people in power, think on the level of a 30k (or slightly more I guess) population city rather than a city of 1.08 million people (last estimate). No, towers, tall buildings do not make a city or a great City, people do; but if you say or present yourself as a major city, then start thinking, behaving, and showing yourself as one!!! (I LOVE JAX!)

[jaxlongtimer]

^ I am not sure it is fair to put Citrano in the same boat with Salem.  Salem is clearly out to frustrate Deegan, no matter what and for his own selfish reasons such as being a want-to-be future mayor.

I am giving Citrano the benefit of the doubt that he genuinely believes his position is best for the future of Downtown. Just because some here see it differently, they shouldn't diss him by comparing him to Salem.

Let's have respect for even those we disagree with.  A diversity of ideas is sorely needed in this City and singlemindedness exists way too much here.

The prevailing view, whatever it might be, should be stress tested to at least ensure that it gets a better outcome than not, because no one challenged its possible defects.  If a position can't hold up to scrutiny, then maybe that isn't the right or best answer.

In my lifetime, I have found that naysayers, cynics and skeptics in this town have a pretty good batting average as projects play out, or don't.  Many of this City's problems today are pretty good evidence of that.

[vicupstate]

I have absolutely no doubt that if this park is not activated by adjacent development of some description, that it will fail. And the ONLY option for that is within the footprint of the park itself, because there is no other option.

As far as some of the talking points, wouldn't utilities have to be moved whether it was a 1-3 story building going up or a 40 story one? If so, then that is a moot point. Also, while a high rise may require more incentives (and let's be honest, $20mm is chump change compared to what JAX has done for past projects) whereas a 1-3 story project would not, the smaller version would also pay a fraction of the taxes than the larger one.

Given his background I tend to want to give Citrano the benefit of the doubt, but is it possible his name will be prominent in a potential Ron Salem administration?     

[Zac T]

a potential Ron Salem administration?     

Just the sound of this makes me nauseous

[Zac T]

Crane is up at Pearl Street!

[bg904]

Crane is up at Pearl Street!

Another crane in downtown?! I'm not crying, you're crying!

[Tacachale]

#DonnaGetsItDone

[jcjohnpaint]

Is the crane for the tower?

[Jones518]

Crane is up at Pearl Street!

I saw this yesterday and I was like "Yup it's happening!" Downtown Jax Baby!

[heights unknown]

I don't think it's for the high-rise tower; it's for one of the lower rise residential. Someone correct me if I am wrong. I believe the high-rise tower is next (3rd building) to go up (N8 I believe?), and will be the tallest at 275 feet; N9 will supposedly be 200 feet, or thereabouts in height.