Carter envisions entertainment park at Shipyards Downtown

[urbanlibertarian]

If someone buys the property from COJ and develops it with private money and no tax exemptions, let them try whatever they think will work.

[thelakelander]

Does the city even own the property?  Has it gone into foreclosure already?  At this point, no one has offered to buy anything on the waterfront except Sleiman.  

[Charles Hunter]

From Misty's comments, I get the impression it is still in bankruptcy court.

[tufsu1]

Does the city even own the property?  Has it gone into foreclosure already?  At this point, no one has offered to buy anything on the waterfront except Sleiman. 

well to be fair, Sleiman's not either...he's offereing to buy a parking lot a block off the water.

[Charles Hunter]

A few years ago, Sleiman offered to buy the land under the Landing buildings - Peyton turned down the offer.  Sleiman wanted to buy the land so he could move ahead with renovation and expansion plans, including opening up the building to Laura Street.

It that what you were referring to, Lake?

[Noone]

Does the city even own the property?  Has it gone into foreclosure already?  At this point, no one has offered to buy anything on the waterfront except Sleiman.  

The city will be getting it back. As for the future use of the site I remember that when it was Shipyards the project was to include 16 acres of Public space and 150 boat slips all private. When Landmar took over the 16 acres of Public space was reduced to 8. Now the city will get the entire 44 acre site back.

Right now I would hope that Mayor Peyton if the site reverts back to him while he is still in office would immediately use the 680' Public Pier that is next to Berkman Plaza, Plaza at Berkman for access and economic opportunity. Just focus on the pier.

Imagine using different size containers on the pier and operating 10 seperate businesses. This is from Fred Kent and the power of 10 concept. Some containers could be a Food container (remember the hot dog cart on the Main St. bridge), Art container (Partner with the Riverside Arts Market), Exercise container (Partner with the Y on Riverside), Sportsman's container (Partner with Suns, Jaguars and Fishing community), Think of a couple of others. The anchor container should be a Blue Crowley container (Mayor Peyton's Blueprint for Prosperity)

At the last Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting I asked the Commission if they would sponsor a resolution to support using the 680' Public Pier for access and economic opportunity when it reverts back to the city. The pier is in Dist.7.

We are getting a floating dock at the Riverside Arts market. There was a floating dock during Super Bowl XXXIX. Bring it back and complete the loop. You will immediately connect the Southbank with the Northbank. Watch when the river taxi leaves the Chart House it can easily stop at the 680' Public Pier.

Again, This is just the 680' pier. A small piece of the 44 acre site.

[thelakelander]

Bingo, Charles.  I was referring to the land underneath the Landing's building that Sleiman wanted to purchase a couple of years back.  If I recall correctly, the city gave him the middle finger and said that they didn't want to sell anymore waterfront property.  So now they want to sell the Shipyards?  What's changed?

[fieldafm]

I went to the landing when it had first opened, back when I was a kid. We were taking my pop's boat from Daytona to park behind our place in Astor, and stopped in for lunch. It was really quite nice back then, it had a sharper image, banana republic, other stuff like that. When I ultimately moved here many years later, I went back and was shocked it was the same place, nothing but those oriental gift/junk shops,  cell phone accessories, and football apparel. Not sure how or why, but the place was pretty upscale when it opened, and must have fallen on its face later. Probably gradually.

The Bannana Republic was where the jewelry store is now(next to Starbucks) and Shaper Image was where Sundries is... my how times have changed.  We used to go the Landing frequently on weekends and I vividly remember waiting in line to sit in the massaging chair at Sharper Image, lol.

The Landing, clearly is not the retail destination it was envisioned to be... but it is still an outstanding entertainment and restraurant venue in a setting second to none. 

Bingo, Charles.  I was referring to the land underneath the Landing's building that Sleiman wanted to purchase a couple of years back.  If I recall correctly, the city gave him the middle finger and said that they didn't want to sell anymore waterfront property.  So now they want to sell the Shipyards?  What's changed?

I think anyone thinking rationally about the subject would agree that decision not to sell that land to Sleiman was quite simply not a good decision. 

Not selling the school board land when the opportunity presented itself was another unwise move.

Lake, are you saying you're not in favor of the city selling the Shipyards property once the foreclosure proceedings are complete?

[thelakelander]

I'm in favor of selling the land underneath the Landing to Sleiman.  I'm also in favor of carving up the Shipyards site, keeping a portion of the property for public use and selling individual parcels to multiple parties, as opposed to giving the whole thing for one mega project.

[CS Foltz]

I'm in favor of selling the land underneath the Landing to Sleiman.  I'm also in favor of carving up the Shipyards site, keeping a portion of the property for public use and selling individual parcels to multiple parties, as opposed to giving the whole thing for one mega project.

lake I agree............that should be a win win for the city and Sleiman, which means won't happen while this Administration is in office!

[fieldafm]

I'm in favor of selling the land underneath the Landing to Sleiman.  I'm also in favor of carving up the Shipyards site, keeping a portion of the property for public use and selling individual parcels to multiple parties, as opposed to giving the whole thing for one mega project.

I would agree with that assesment.  I wouldnt quite discount Carter's idea, but regardless of how the space is used I would think it would be a travesty if a public pier was not part of any plan that was implemented.  Especially with a convention center potentially going into the old courthouse site.  Again, I envision some kind of Jacksonville version of the Santa Monica Pier... not something as grandiose as say St Petersburg's pier, but the Santa Monica 'model' would be adaptible in that space.  
Honestly, I just want at the least a good fishing spot that would offer the same viewing promenade as the old Fuller Warren could have become.

Noone, I can't quite envision this container idea you've put forth a few times.  Do you have any examples you could point to?  In my mind, all I can picture is a bunch of POD-type storage containers.

[blizz01]

I envision some kind of Jacksonville version of the Santa Monica Pier... not something as grandiose as say St Petersburg's pier, but the Santa Monica 'model' would be adaptable in that space. 

All things being equal, I would have actually preferred something along this line at Jax Beach.  The whole boardwalk, midway, & amusement park(s) seemed to have always gone hand in hand with a beach "shore" setting - which we are fortunate enough to have as well.  I still contend that we missed a golden opportunity when the pier was rebuilt.  While the "new" pier is nice, it leaves a little to be desired as it certainly has a "generic" feel.  The old pier seemed to have more charm and/or character.  Those old Jax Beach photos always make me wish that we could turn back to "the way it was"......

[thelakelander]

As far as the pier goes, I agree that it should be a part of any plan regardless of what that plan is.  In fact, if the city does take over the property, it should go ahead and develop the pier and riverwalk extension on it's own.