Urban Infill: Americana Restaurant

Metro Jacksonville · June 04, 2009, 04:08:03 AM

Urban Infill: Americana Restaurant

The proposed Americana Restaurant and Office project could bring additional life to the Hendricks Avenue corridor. But first, the city city must grant the developers' wish to not include a surface parking lot on-site.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-jun-urban-infill-americana-restaurant

Hurricane · June 04, 2009, 07:43:41 AM

Good Desgin! Nice to see some thought put into this instead of just a boring box...

The parking issue may be hard to overcome though. I wouldn't want to work in a building where I have to fight with everyone else for street parking. The restaurant would probably suffer from those people who refuse to let a valet drive his car.

archiphreak · June 04, 2009, 08:10:17 AM

It's right next to reddi arts. how many of you have ever seen that parking lot full on any day of the week? there is plenty of parking for people willing to walk more than 30 feet from their vehicle to get to where they need to go. If the city does NOT let this through it will be yet another example of good design being pushed out in favor of more surface parking that IS NOT NECESSARY!

Deuce · June 04, 2009, 08:37:48 AM

I like the idea of not providing parking. I would rather see a small parking garage to serve the needs of this development and others in the future if it's needed. This creation of density without parking begins to force the issue of people living closer to where they work and usage of the mass transit system we have in place. This also helps spur the development of more mass transit.

Cliffs_Daughter · June 04, 2009, 08:38:51 AM

Do you think Reddi-Arts is willing to allow their parking lot be used by anyone else? They always have signs up stating other customers will be towed. I personally have never called them out on it, but it seems to me they'd really have a bug up their you-know-whats if asked.
Best parking option right now is what's under the overpass / I95.

vicupstate · June 04, 2009, 08:49:05 AM

The renderings give the impression that the outdoor diners are physically/visually separated from the sidewalk traffic. That's not a good idea at all, IMO. Open outdoor dining is a great way to give an appearance of vitality and activity.

Otherwise, the design is so-so. I would prefer this property be joined with other adacent ones and something with more density built too. But I don't own it, so I guess this will have to do.

TPC · June 04, 2009, 09:25:30 AM

What about the parking lot under 95?

Omarvelous09 · June 04, 2009, 10:27:25 AM

Ha ha...funny. i used to work in this building, its the Current site of Circa63 owned by the Insetta Family. I wonder if this is John's new project? Great location, and i don't see a problem with parking, there's an entire free parking lot under the overpass next door.

tufsu1 · June 04, 2009, 10:36:46 AM

Quote from: vicupstate on June 04, 2009, 08:49:05 AM
The renderings give the impression that the outdoor diners are physically/visually separated from the sidewalk traffic. That's not a good idea at all, IMO. Open outdoor dining is a great way to give an appearance of vitality and activity.

Open outdoor dining is hard to control...this way you still have to be seated by a host/hostess.

Ocklawaha · June 04, 2009, 10:40:00 AM

With the Mass Transit Station just 100' behind this project we SHOULD exempt them from all parking requirements. We've got a chance to roll back a stupid rule that holds TAD and TOD to the same parking requirements as the rest of the metro. THIS IS HOW WE CREATE DENSITY!

My only negative is WHAT ABOUT THAT BIG TREE? OAK? Don't even THINK about taking it down...

Skyway on down to San Marco at Atlantic and we're in business... GO FOR IT.

OCKLAWAHA

JA · June 04, 2009, 10:40:08 AM

It was my understanding that the I-95 upgrades were going to result in the loss of the parking below the overpass. Is that incorrect?

JeffreyS · June 04, 2009, 10:58:54 AM

I would love to see a very deliberate walkway (think Yellow brick road) with signage to the Skyway. I know the Skyway won't bring large percentage of the customers but let's tie in everything we can.

Ocklawaha · June 04, 2009, 11:11:37 AM

Quote from: JA on June 04, 2009, 10:40:08 AM
It was my understanding that the I-95 upgrades were going to result in the loss of the parking below the overpass. Is that incorrect?

Perhaps not that overpass, as Kings and Hendricks will still go under, however to the east where there once was a railroad yard, that space will be filled and the bridges done away with.

Jeffery, your right on the money, CONNECT IT!

OCKLAWAHA

downtownjag · June 04, 2009, 11:13:28 AM

Anyone know who the developer is?

Deuce · June 04, 2009, 11:13:35 AM

Good point OCK. I lived in Maryland near a Metro stop and developers were allowed to reduce the number of parking spaces provided when they built within a certain distance from the Metro. I can't tell you how many times I had to explain this to homeowners in our condo complex who looked at me like they had been cheated by the developer because there weren't enough spaces for their 3 cars plus room for visitors.