Marketplace at The Fountains Coming to East Arlington

[JC]

Am I correct in thinking this development is named after retention ponds??

1661 Riverside and the Publix shopping center are constantly cited as being progressive and successful developments, but their layout and densities are yet to be replicated in Jax (Tapestry Park maybe).  Why has this trend not caught on?  East San Marco offered something similar, but it's delayed.

I may move to riverside next year simply because of the conveniences those two developments provide.  I can't say that about any other shopping centers in town.

You could always park an RV in the River City Market Place parking lot, and you would be all set.

[thelakelander]

The trend has not caught on because the current zoing code restricts a lot of it and there's no financial incentive from the development industry to change from the current structure.

[RockStar]

Wow. That's awesome. A strip mall with a huge parking lot in front. A design masterpiece.

[hanjin1]

it's so innovative. why has no one ever thought of it before?

[Captain Zissou]

Walmart on 103rd is more dense than this development. 

[finehoe]

"The Marketplace at The Fountains"?  Could they have come up with a stupider name?

[avonjax]

"You could always park an RV in the River City Market Place parking lot, and you would be all set."
That is hilarious....
But you better not walk outside or you'll be hit by a car in RCMP's many four lane highways.....

[JC]

"You could always park an RV in the River City Market Place parking lot, and you would be all set."
That is hilarious....
But you better not walk outside or you'll be hit by a car in RCMP's many four lane highways.....

My favorite part are the 4 lanes with the 4 way stop signs.  Not nearly enough people understand this complex traffic device!

[TheProfessor]

This looks horrible.  Those "Better Jacksonville" overpasses really do kill the character of the city.  I hope no more are built!

[classicfit]

Words just can't express how grateful I am to the developers for bringing this wonderful "marketplace" to E. Arlington. How can we ever thank them enough for their magnanimous contribution to the citizens of Jacksonville? I mean, just when we thought there was enough of a surplus of underutilized strip centers that will be blighted inside of 20 years, along comes another one like manna from heaven! Why, everything from the huge cesspools, er, retention ponds, to the acres of petroleum-based asphalt are an environmental pillager's dream! And this project shouldn't generate more than several thousand additional vehicular trips through the intersection of Atlantic and Kernan, which already is the worst in the City, so certainly that is nothing to worry about, is it? After all, who couldn't use a little more noise, additional time in stand-still traffic and an increase in accidents? And who liked the thousands of pine trees that once stood on this site, what with their icky pollen, sap and shedding needles and their protective environment for all kinds of disgusting furry and feathered creatures? I say that we should encourage the developers to build more and more projects just like this one anywhere and everywhere they can so that one day their dream of completely paving over Jacksonville can be realized (except for their estates on the river, of course).

[hightowerlover]

couldn't they just put in some more parking and not waste all that space with buildings.

[reednavy]

Honestly, why the f*ck do we need another strip center when there is vacant space all over the place? Couldn't Academy just have moved into one of the spaces by the Target on Southside?

[brainstormer]

Depressing.

[stjr]

Just like the development being encouraged by the City at Youngerman Circle/Collins Road and I-295/Blanding.  Jax just loves its strip centers, even in the midst of a retail glut.  Wherever there is a "green spot", we know just what to squeeze in.  Especially around two of the busiest intersections in Jax.  Pile on the traffic.

It would appear, given the number of Sleiman centers, that he is at the point of cannibalizing his own tenants, but no matter.  Build, baby, build.

From the MJ thread at: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,7819.0.html :

Private developer will build road if city lets him construct shopping centers near Interstate 295 and Collins Road
The project to connect two busy roads is only partially funded.

   * By Larry Hannan
   * Story updated at 1:15 AM on Tuesday, Mar. 9, 2010

A four-lane road that would connect Youngerman Circle to Collins Road may end up being partially built by a private developer.

Under a plan going to the Jacksonville City Council today, developer Thomas Dumas would help build Parramore Road - currently a two-lane dirt road - and then build two shopping centers nearby.

The plan concerns the Council Auditor's Office, which objects to Dumas only building a portion of the roadway, for $4.7 million. The rest, which would connect to Youngerman Circle and is expected to cost $2.1 million, is unfunded.

Councilman Daniel Davis said the council, at today's meeting, will try to figure out a way to find the extra money.

Under the proposed agreement, Dumas would build Parramore from Collins Road south to where one of his developments will end. In return, Dumas would be allowed to build a 285,000-square-foot shopping center on 41 acres of land south of Collins Road and a 150,000-square-foot shopping center on 13 acres of land north of Collins Road, between Interstate 295 and Rampart Road.

The city also would pay the developer $375,000 to settle an eminent domain lawsuit over the land and waive about $4.4 million in fair-share money - meant to pay for infrastructure work - the developer would normally have to pay for building permits to build the shopping centers.

Auditor Kirk Sherman said the roadway construction would not offset the extra traffic that would be on Parramore and Collins if the road doesn't go to Youngerman Circle. Building the entire road would ease his concerns.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-03-09/story/private_developer_will_build_road_if_city_lets_him_construct_shopping_ce

[TheProfessor]

Too bad all of that didn't go into the Regency area.  I guess this sprawling development will continue until all of the land is gobbled up and then people will start building vertically?  The city needs an ordinance to promote existing building reuse and discourage this sprawling development.