Movie Theater planned near Prime Osborn

[thelakelander]

Complex by Prime Osborn planned

By Alison Trinidad,
The Times-Union

Three Jacksonville developers say they're going to put a multi-screen movie theater, hotels, stores, offices and maybe condos on a parking lot near the Prime Osborn Convention Center.

Doing business as Bay Street Station LLC, the developers signed the final contract last week to amass four acres bounded by Jefferson, Lee, Bay and Water streets. They've been working with the property's owners, including Charles "Bucky" Clarkson, for months, they said.

Clarkson, who won a $1.45 million settlement from the city late last year, had planned on building a hotel on the site with help from the city years ago. But the city wouldn't pay as much as Clarkson was seeking, and the hotel was never built. Now, the land is vacant and used for parking.

He is selling the property to the developers.

The Bay Street Station project could cost anywhere from $250 million to $300 million, depending on the type of tenants that sign on, said Bill Sulzbacher, a Bay Street Station partner.

Sulzbacher revealed plans for the project at a public meeting discussing the future of the Prime Osborn on Thursday night. A city task force has been studying the possibility of building a larger center somewhere downtown; they will make a recommendation to the city in October. Many say the Prime Osborn is too far from hotels to attract large conventions.

Sulzbacher said he thought it was important to announce their plans to the task force, as it continues to deliberate the issue. It would be easier to sign a full-service hotel, with meeting space and ballrooms, if the convention center stays where it is.

But the developers say their project is going to happen regardless of whether the convention center is moved.

"The convention center is important, but the real importance is connecting downtown, ... Brooklyn and La Villa," said Carlton Jones, another partner on the project. Jones runs the Renaissance Group, which bought the Gateway Mall on Norwood Avenue.

alison.trinidad@jacksonville.com,

(904) 359-4268[/quote]

This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/072707/bus_187212960.shtml.

[avonjax]

Wow that would be agreat project if it really happens.
I think people overlook the fact that the residents Springfield, San Marco, Riverside, Avondale and Murray Hill would love to have a movie theater that close...

[copperfiend]

They said they want to connect Brooklyn and Lavilla. What exactly in Lavilla are they trying to connect to?

[thelakelander]

Sulzbacher said he thought it was important to announce their plans to the task force, as it continues to deliberate the issue. It would be easier to sign a full-service hotel, with meeting space and ballrooms, if the convention center stays where it is.

Probably the convention center.  Did anyone attend the convention center meeting last night?  Does this thing have any meat & bones to it or is it strictly conceptual at this point? It will be interesting to see if these guys can pull it off.

[Jason]

Sounds conceptual but hopefully they'll be able to pull it off.  A project like this would definitely solidify the Prime Osborne site for a convention center expansion.  If the city could line up a major hotel at the site, Peyton's budget might be able to squeeze out a few dollars for an expansion and the possibility of having competetive convention center would be a reality.

[jason_contentdg]

This would be a great project.  Hopefully it will all be in place before Spiderman 8.

[hightowerlover]

Anyone seen at least a conceptual rendering?  Or is this just pie in the sky?

[jason_contentdg]

Anyone seen at least a conceptual rendering?  Or is this just pie in the sky?

The same guys working on that ronco building are putting the finishing touched on the rendering.

[vicupstate]

Anyone seen at least a conceptual rendering?  Or is this just pie in the sky?

Who are the developers?  Carlton Jones, I know of. Bill Sulzbacker.  The last name is promenient, is he?
who is the third one.   And where is the article on the public hearing?  Come on T-U.

Did anyone go?   

This would be a huge project, are these guys big-league enough to pull it off? Color me VERY skeptical, but hopeful.   

[fsujax]

I'll believe it when I am watching a movie there and eating popcorn.  I have started not to get excited over these kind of announcements.

[02roadking]

I'm with you there FSU. I used to get excited, but no more.

[tufsu1]

clearly many of the posters on this forum were correct in stating that very little could ever be built near the Prime Osborn!

[02roadking]

A little more info about the developing group, but nothing really new. From the JBJ:

Convention center decision may impact hotel development
Jacksonville Business Journal - 10:25 AM EDT Friday, July 27, 2007

The Jacksonville Convention Center Task Force's final decision on the existing center could affect nearby development deals that are under way, a developer told the task force at a meeting July 26.

The site selection subcommittee presented its report to the full task force at the meeting. The report listed eight potential convention center sites, including the existing site of the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, which could be expanded.

 
But most of the discussion has focused on new center sites that are closer to existing hotels, restaurants and entertainment. After the task force approved the eight recommended sites and opened the meeting for public comment, William Sulzbacher, president of Atlantic Coast Developers LLC, told task force members of a development that depends on the Prime Osborn's future.

Sulzbacher plans to develop property across the road from the Prime Osborn -- a site that is destined for multi-purpose development that would include infrastructure to support a convention center. He said his company is in discussions to place a hotel, a movie theater, restaurants, office space and possibly a residential development on that site.

"We are pursuing [developments] on the basis of whether the convention center is moved or not," he said, adding that a full-service hotel would probably not be developed if the convention center is moved.

Sulzbacher and the task force agreed to continue their interaction as the task force develops a final report that will be presented to Mayor John Peyton and the Jacksonville City Council in November.

The site selection subcommittee met one day each week in July. Its report outlines the criteria needed for a convention center as well as the eight potential sites. All but one site, The Jacksonville Landing, were previously suggested in the HOK study produced in 2004.

The subcommittee said four of the sites are available for purchase and four would require public-private partnership. It also noted concerns with each site.

The sites that are available and have nearby infrastructure are:

The Duval County Courthouse/City Hall Annex. It is unclear when the site would be available and the timing depends on the City Council.
The Jacksonville Landing. Some merchants might have to be relocated, the report said.
The former JEA Southside Generating Station site on the Southbank. It would require buying the Duval County School Board building, relocating school board staff and then demolishing the building.
The Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk hotel site. This site also could only work if the school board building is demolished, the report said.
The four sites that would require a public-private partnership and additional infrastructure are the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Lot J, the Jacksonville Fairgrounds, the Prime Osborn and the Shipyards.

The task force has hired a facilities consultant, Conventions, Sports & Leisure International, to perform a second feasibility study that would determine which of the eight sites would best suit a larger convention center based on size requirements, development costs and potential for further expansion. The finance subcommittee will begin meeting in August.

[urbanlibertarian]

If this thing happens wouldn't there need to be an easier way for people on foot to cross Jefferson and Broad Sts.?  High traffic on those streets would seem to be a barrier that would tend to keep people from easily getting from this development to the Adams/Laura/Landing area without riding the Skyway.  It's a walkability thing.

[Jason]

Here is the site. Includes the proposed Transportation Center and Brooklyn Central Park developments.