St. Johns Town Center Thread

Charles Hunter · March 14, 2009, 08:37:15 PM

Maybe they don't like that uncle?

nicktooch · March 15, 2009, 08:58:13 PM

haha maybe... but i'm sure his cooking was a lot better

reednavy · March 17, 2009, 11:12:10 AM

Until this mall gets real department stores, it is a glorified strip mall basically. Someone really needs to get it together and make this strip mall a mall.

Still, I love it though.

comncense · March 17, 2009, 11:20:14 AM

I thought I saw on here that someone heard they were building a Blue Martini at the SJTC. Anyone else heard anything about that?

Ernest Street · March 17, 2009, 11:33:36 AM

Why oh Why did they have to completely strip all the native trees out of there.
Oh..I forgot,Maintenance of the trees isn't in the budget.

blizz01 · March 17, 2009, 11:56:45 AM

Were there really any native trees there to begin with? I believe that there were timber (southern) pines (rows & rows) that had been planted, harvested, & replanted through the years - this is evident at the intersection just short of the large lake. Certainly not a virgin forest, though.

Joe · March 17, 2009, 12:05:12 PM

Yeah, that was all tree farms (the majority of North Florida's rural land is) so there was nothing native about it.

It wouldn't kill them to plant something other than palm trees though. We haven't had a BIG freeze since the 80s. Eventually a lot of those fancy palms are going to bite the dust.

Captain Zissou · March 17, 2009, 12:17:15 PM

I used to go on two hour runs back in the woods where the Town Center now sits. There was a little bit of variety in the vegetation, but not much. When I say used to, it was only about 5 years ago. That area has changed so much so quickly.

copperfiend · March 17, 2009, 12:44:45 PM

Zissou, I know what you mean. When I was at UNF during the summer of 2002, I remember going down St Johns Bluff and there was nothing at the traffic light in front of campus. When I came back in 2005, I could not believe how much had been done.

reednavy · March 23, 2009, 11:17:51 AM

Quote from: blizz01 on March 17, 2009, 11:56:45 AM
Were there really any native trees there to begin with? I believe that there were timber (southern) pines (rows & rows) that had been planted, harvested, & replanted through the years - this is evident at the intersection just short of the large lake. Certainly not a virgin forest, though.

That is actually Slash Pine, which is native to Florida. It is excellent for lumber and pulp because it is fast growing and readily available. The other usual tree farms are of Longleaf Pine, which is superb for lumber and power poles.

On another note, my partner and I ate at Cantina Laredo this past Friday. I had chicken fajitas, he had the Beef Quesadillas. OMFGHS were those quesadillas awesome, the fajitas were good as well. Definetly a nice hint of lime juice in the chicken, however, La Nopalera beats them in original. Marqaritas are good and strong as well.

reednavy · April 06, 2009, 07:51:21 PM

Anybody know what was supposed to go into the built, but still vacant store front across from Louis Vitton and Mayor's?

floridaforester · April 06, 2009, 10:00:26 PM

I still don't quite understand the excitement about just another mall. Maybe I'm missing something, but where is the town in this town center? To visit a real town center, Jacksonville has several nice examples such as 5 Points, Shops of Avondale, San Marco square or, heaven forbid, actual Downtown.

I remember speaking with a Realtor selling those "town center" condos behind the Italian restaurant and he made the contention that the St. Johns town center is Jax's new downtown. I just about fell over but did manage to recover in time to ask him where the symphony plays or where I might attend a concert or watch a ballgame in this area. He didn't continue with his metaphor.

Also, regarding the pine conversation. Most of this area originally would have been upland longleaf pine stands with an open understory and a very diverse mix of wildflowers, saw palmetto and wiregrass (see a nice example @ UNF, even if it could use some fire very badly). However, much of this area had been converted to pasture (ie-Skinner's Dairy) and then planted in slash pine before being forever altered with pavement & malls. Its tough to restore an ecosystem once a management prescription of asphalt & concrete has been applied. But, in Jacksonville, that's considered progress.

9a is my backyard · April 06, 2009, 10:14:50 PM

Quote from: floridaforester on April 06, 2009, 10:00:26 PM
I still don't quite understand the excitement about just another mall. Maybe I'm missing something, but where is the town in this town center?

It is frustrating that the whole theme of the town center is to seem like a mixed-use development with retail on the ground and then office/residential space above, only the office/retail space is just fake windows. If it's such a draw, why not just build it that way?!?!?

mtraininjax · April 07, 2009, 01:30:35 AM

Ebay works just fine for me, and there is no food at SJTC that I just can't find close to home. The City planners get an F for the road system as well. Might as well put in a roundabout there at the light to Gate Parkway and same at Costco.

nicktooch · April 10, 2009, 08:21:06 PM

Quote from: reednavy on April 06, 2009, 07:51:21 PM
Anybody know what was supposed to go into the built, but still vacant store front across from Louis Vitton and Mayor's?

between that building and the vacant slot between Mayor's and LV, still "proposed" are Tiffany's, Calvin Klein, and Allen Edmonds. They should've stuck with Crate & Barrel...or take a look at the various shops in Orlando's plethora of malls. It's a recession, we should have an H&M or Armani Exchange to get the most bang for our buck... but those stores are way too trendy for Jax.