Fleet Landing Riverside seeks DDRB conceptual approval

[thelakelander]

^ I'd be interested to know how many developers come to the table with half baked conceptual designs? From the presentations of Baptist's hotel and this, they were on either side of the spectrum. One funded and ready to go with minor adjustments while the other, well not so much.

Most come to the DDRB at the level or close to the level of the Baptist project. The Fleet project was a first during my time on the DDRB at that early conceptual level. Being in my professional field of work, I feel I have a pretty good idea of how much time it took to put that concept together, how far they have to go and how likely that there are several issues that will alter the concept to the point that when they come back at final, it will be a challenge and waste of volunteer time (I could literally care less what type of tree goes up in the parking lot or what type of fence material surrounds the dumpster) to review and recommend any changes (the actual building layout and how its spaces can best interact and engage the pedestrian at street level) that may be viewed as too significant.

I'd like to remain optimistic about their final product. They've been primarily in Jax for many years and have great communities. I don't think this would be any exception This is a little different what they've done in the past, but I think they'll get it right when it's all said and done. Would be nice if they do touch base halfway through just for a quick glance over but that time will come. They're very early in the process and have to do things differently unfortunately. Now if this was done Joe Schmo then I'd think twice about it, but let's give them a chance and see how things pan out.

I've been around long enough to know words, wishes and hope don't equate to much when it comes to good urban design. Policy, zoning regulations, ordinances, etc. can either make or break you from achieving a vision. Hope and wishing have turned Riverside Avenue and Forest Street in Brooklyn into an autocentric district despite the amount of infill projects that have clustered there since 2015. With guidance, direction and good policy, Brooklyn looks and feels completely different than it does today. When its the wild west, you end up with a Vista Brooklyn style project being immediately located next door to a strip mall with a big surface parking lot between Fresh Market and the street. Even that center looks a lot different if we didn't fight and rally to get the restaurant outparcels shifted to closer to Riverside Avenue than the original layout. Same goes for a number of other infill projects built over the past 15 years like the VyStar Garage, Gate gas at Forest & Park, the JTA U2C Operations building on Jefferson. Anyway, I do believe the ultimate fix is a comprehensive update of zoning, design guidelines, etc. in some parts of downtown to make things more predictable, understandable, efficient, timesaving, affordable, etc. for all involved (COJ, the community, the developer), while also facilitating individual development projects working together to get us closer to a corresponding community vision for downtown.

 

Not related, but the disposition has ended for the old courthouse site. Interested to see what has came out of that. As well as in curious to know what's up with the permits on getting the Related Jax going. Probably won't see cranes until fall at this rate. Lastly, not reading too much into it, but kinda am - MOSH. They requested another extension and it was approved. Is it ever going to happen? And they have a substantially completion date set for 1 Aug 2029 rather than 30 Jan 2029. Are we gearing up to throw our hat in the ring to host the 2030 NFL draft? Or do they want it up and running prior to the season beginning? Latest on Gateway proposal for Riverfront Plaza? My guess is an Edition with additional floors - key rooms 40/60% residential.

Time will tell. Its not always easy to get through permitting, which is where I think the Related Jax project is at. Even the LaVilla Heritage Trail project I worked on is still tied up in permitting hell. That installation date keeps getting pushed back. We're hoping to reach the finish line with that one later next month or early May.

Kinda upset the Lion Group fell through that looked beautiful. But everything happens for a reason.

This particular project was always a pipe dream. Part of me hates that conceptual renderings hit the media so quick. Most of these high level concepts will never make it to the final stage and the ones that do will most likely not look exactly like the original rendering. So to a degree, premature news only leads to great disappointment when the ones like Lions expectedly fizzle out because their proformas don't work.