Post Housing Boom: How Does Jax Stack Up to Other Florida Cities?

[Keith-N-Jax]

Also along with one miami, bank of america, espirito is also a favorite. It seems much taller than that when your down there looking at it. I also hope some of our dead projects get new life if and when the economy starts improving. So many people losing their jobs. 

[thelakelander]

Espirito Santo Plaza has a Conrad Hilton hotel in it.  However, the three mentioned under construction are all 100% Class A office towers.  Met 2 will be connected to a 42 story JW Marriott, which is also under construction.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I have been following the Met project, it's stated to be the tallest in the south outside of New York (along with a grocery store). I believe Shack has some part in the Met project. Miami's skyline nice to look at, but some many down there hate it and are trying to get out. If the St. John, Shipyards, San Marco project had gotten built I promise I would not complain about anything for atleast two yrs lol,,anyway I hope the Brooklyn project breaks ground soon.

[ProjectMaximus]

I have been following the Met project, it's stated to be the tallest in the south outside of New York

Is New York part of the south?

[rjp2008]

The strength of Jacksonville is it's slower pace. Comparing/racing is kinda pointless. Jax's inherent humility is it's strength. People are friendlier, more open, cooperative here. Cutthroat, fast-paced business first is not the norm here, which is  why I suspect projects take longer. In many ways, there's nothing wrong with a more human pace to life, and that in itself is an advantage over go go go 24-7 South Florida.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I have been following the Met project, it's stated to be the tallest in the south outside of New York

Is New York part of the south?

I was only stating what I read in the Miami Hearld, uh so I guess you can ask them that.

[ProjectMaximus]

I have been following the Met project, it's stated to be the tallest in the south outside of New York

Is New York part of the south?

I was only stating what I read in the Miami Hearld, uh so I guess you can ask them that.

Lol, sorry man. Nothing personal, I just chuckled when I read that sentence and had to point it out.

[urbanjvl]

Is an almost empty residential skyline a good thing?

[heights unknown]

Is an almost empty residential skyline a good thing?

No it is not; but when the opportunity affords or presents itself, and we know if we build it there is a good chance they will come, then build it!  Jax has floundered or passed up numerous opportunitites in this area and it needs to stop; now considering South Florida, it is no way you can tell me that out of all the building construction they are now doing, that most or all of those residential spaces will be full in the short term future, or even immediately.  I see a lot of empty towers for the next 30 years or so, in fact, most of us in this forum will probably be "pushing up daisies" before all of those towers are filled...(and they just keep building, and building, and building.......).

Heights Unknown

[thelakelander]

I'm sure most would take empty condo towers over empty overgrown parking lots.  At some point, those empty condos should drop down in price as owners/banks attempt to generate some sort of revenue with these properties.

[thelakelander]

Heights, I think what you will see in Miami is that a lot of these condo towers will be converted into other uses (apartments, offices, hotels, etc.).   If the market is there, this is better than staying empty for a number of years waiting for the condo market to return.

[heights unknown]

Heights, I think what you will see in Miami is that a lot of these condo towers will be converted into other uses (apartments, offices, hotels, etc.).   If the market is there, this is better than staying empty for a number of years waiting for the condo market to return.

Lake said:  I'm sure most would take empty condo towers over empty overgrown parking lots.  At some point, those empty condos should drop down in price as owners/banks attempt to generate some sort of revenue with these properties.

Good points Lake and I do agree; but again, nothing is set in stone these days and old rules just don't apply; money, finances and economy (mood, prosperity, etc.) dictates and sets the tone for the entire market; so success in Miami will depend on an economic rebound and upswing. If this doesn't happen fully, you will see empty condos with no conversions or turning over into anything else...as you said, "if the market is there;" but nowadays it seems to all hinge and depend on the economy and not just the market.

As for Jacksonville, I would rather see something in those empty parking lots but I am not sure I would want empty condos or even half empty office buildings sitting there (as did happen in the 70's and 80's); those empty condos and/or office towers would also be a sign of failure and misjudgment on someone's part.  I feel that Jax had the chance, numerous times, to capitalize on "infilling" our downtown with not only office towers, but residential towers along with their adjoining complexes and developments, and other types of developments.

Heights Unknown

[Seraphs]

We are the tortoise for some weird reason.  We may always find ourselves in this position.  I do believe this city will prevail and rebound.  We'll get there just at a significantly different pace. 

[alta]

Our downtown development started a little later than the other cities in Florida.  Cities like Miami have lots of snowbirds and draw heavily from South American countries.  South Florida also has five times the population we do.  If we would have started our development six months earlier we might have the St. Johns and a tower or two at The Shipyards under construction right now.  We need to focus on getting people downtown, transit and getting city leadership that is fully dedicated to the downtown area.  This will ensure that when we get out of the real estate mess we will have a healthy downtown that is ready for more development.

[heights unknown]

Good point Alta and I agree; but remember we were once the tourism capitol until South Florida was discovered...and of course this was way back when, and people back then weren't as "money minded" as they are now.  However, when things started to go down the tube in the 60's is when our City Leaders should have went in to emergency mode and started planning and devising a way for our downtown, and the City as a whole to regain a foothold on prosperity and success, and to "keep up with the Joneses" so to speak; it's odd because Jax used to be "Mr. and Mrs. Jones" with other Florida Cities emulating us.

The mid to late 70's, in my opinion, would have been the perfect time for our Leaders to step forward and come up with a great plan for the city and it's downtown; but we can't dwell on what could have been...now we must move forward with a great plan and expound on what we already have (which isn't much).

I agree with you regarding getting people downtown, this is a good start; but we'd better have something for them to come downtown for...and of course good solid urban transit in various means and modes must be in place before those people start coming. It seems that Jax is always on the "tail end" of everything.  I disagree though with our downtown development starting a little later than the other cities; Jax was the first city in Florida to have a vibrant, well developed downtown as iterated in some of the photos that have been posted in various threads of this forum.  Somehow, and for whatever reason(s) our city leaders lost sight, dropped the ball, and just gave up once everything started to deteriorate in the 50's and 60's.

You must always keep what you have and Jax didn't; we destroyed most of the jewels and great things that were already in place.  However, now we must depend on city leaders to have a great plan and vision, along with forums like this one to ensure that our City possibly gets the very best relative to good solid planning and foresight for downtown and city wide development.

Heights Unknown