Downtown Construction Update - July 2009

[stjr]

I read the San Marco site clearing is being done by Baptist to dress up the existing parking area to blend in more nicely with the planned rebuild and landscaping of San Marco Blvd.

I just hope they get the manhole covers right this time 

[fsu813]

so noone knows what the heck is being done with 925 King?

I say Blockbuster Video (wow, what a difference!)

[Dapperdan]

Looking forward to seeing more progress on The Courthouse next month and maybe interior demo starting on The Ambassador. I know the Courthouse is a boondoggle but it is starting to create side effect developement such as The AMbassador, AND the prime riverfront property will be available for hopefully a Convention Center.

[reednavy]

Uh, nothing to report on Shipyards other than it has officially gone back to COJ, right? Landmar was in bankruptcy -- I understand it closed its doors, let all staff go, and vacated its building off JTB earlier this week. Unfortunately, it seems the fat lady has sung on that project (as it existed anyway).

Landmar's webpage is still up and running. So if they had closed, they would've done away with the website as well.

[tufsu1]

Yes, an art gallery will be included.  As for the Landing's center, I'm not sure of what will happen with it.  However, the one at 550 Water Street will close.

The Landing location will stay open...as will the ones at the airport and the beach

[mtraininjax]

What, no new projects in Mandarin? So much for the downtown report...

[nicktooch]

I think the new hotels in San Marco look great.

they do look great... inside as well... a LOT of $$$ put into them... high hopes for a hotel in the background of downtown.  side note: that lovely front corner door... yeh just for looks.  guests have to come through the entrance closest to the garage.  guess they had to put a nice front door for setback purposes but realized the even in downtown (read as southbank/san marco), it wouldn't be to safe to have it swinging open freely

[Ocklawaha]

Looking at Bay Street I was wondering what our bar-club-coffee shop "district" is up to. We have the "Learning From XXX" series that Lakelander runs on here and we always see "Jacksonville has 4 bars on Bay Street." That's not quite 100% truth any more, perhaps we should change the numbers as we grow. Think about the other cities we talk about, City XX has "XXTOWNE" a club district and night life center with 600 clubs. Hurrah for City XX, but thinking about it, don't we also have a SAN MARCO? a FIVE POINTS? or a PARK AND KING? Would these not be just as much an addition to the central core as "Little Saigon" in Orlando, or as much as the South Beach is to Miami?

I understand the humor in our "4 bars" line, and it might indeed have the desired effect of shaming some of our good citizens toward more action. The negative side is this is not just a Jacksonville forum. As the MetroJacksonville site gets spun around the world more and more outsiders are reading "Only 4 bars in Jacksonville." The 4 bars line might be a very negative thing - even though I know it has purpose. So many new voices are logging on now, perhaps it's time to throw them a new twist:

"Jacksonville has XX + restaurants, bars and clubs in 4 distinct urban nightlife districts..."

This certainly would toss some positive light on Old Hickory's Town. Everywhere I traveled on this recent trip, Jacksonville was getting rave reviews from someone... Very positive toward us.

OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

The "Elements of Urbanism series typically focuses only on our downtown core and the downtown core's of other cities.  There's no humor intended in the "4 bars on East Bay" line.  It is what it is.  Hopefully, it will continue to expand in the future.  However, we don't cover up our vibrant urban commercial districts. Check out the neighborhoods section.  You'll find tons of articles and images of these areas there.

[Ocklawaha]

Thanks Lake, I just thought that we have now raised the bar and broken the local record number of clubs, aren't we past 4 yet? Or was I seeing double last time our friendly downtown priest and I tipped back a couple of shots.

Understand my concern is that we balance ourselves with other cities when we do the Learning From series. We have so many newbies and wannabees in Jacksonville, I'd hate to give them the wrong impression. Doesn't The Landing count as downtown? Sure are some good places there too.

OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

East Bay has the Ivy, TSI, Marks, Dive Bar and a pizza restaurant (Northstar).  That adds up to four bars/clubs.  I don't know if I would qualify the Landing as a true nightlife district.  Its a shopping center.  I guess I could but I would have to do the same for every city that has a festival marketplace or mall in its downtown (which is most).

Anyway, keep in mind that the "Learning From" series is to show what other city's downtown cores look like.  From this, we can identify good and bad examples of things we discuss, regarding our downtown.  With the statistics, I stick with factual data as opposed to opinions or cooking numbers to go one way or the other.  Depending on the city shown, Jax will excell at certain things and fail at others.  However, don't look at it as giving viewers the wrong impression about downtown.  Look at it as a way of identifying areas where we may need to focus and improve.

[reednavy]

You can add The Sterling to that nightlife list, they opened last month.

[thelakelander]

What is "The Sterling" and where are they located on East Bay (Bay Street Town Center)?

[tufsu1]

You can add The Sterling to that nightlife list, they opened last month.

do you mean The Sinclair...which is actually on West Forsyth Street?

[reednavy]

You can add The Sterling to that nightlife list, they opened last month.

do you mean The Sinclair...which is actually on West Forsyth Street?

Shows that I don't go clubbing downtown.

I just think it needs to be expanded, because limiting it to E Bay seems a little harsh/