Urban Core Construction Update - April 2010

[hanjin1]

I think the old courthouse site should be used to build a memorial to Jake Godbold that looks similar to this:

no new parks. main street bum park and bumming plaza are enough

[fsujax]

^^amen to that!

[Sportmotor]

would make a good paintball building

+1

[DemocraticNole]

The courthouse looks nice, but it is still amazing how they managed to screw the city in the process. Every comparable city, such as Charlotte or Las Vegas, built their new courthouse as 20 story skyscrapers. This helps the skyline and takes up a minimal footprint in a prime property area. Knowing this, the idiotic leadership in Jacksonville decides to close down several city blocks and build a 5 story building that eliminates lots of prime space for private enterprise and will cost the city property tax revenues.

[aaapolito]

The courthouse looks nice, but it is still amazing how they managed to screw the city in the process. Every comparable city, such as Charlotte or Las Vegas, built their new courthouse as 20 story skyscrapers. This helps the skyline and takes up a minimal footprint in a prime property area. Knowing this, the idiotic leadership in Jacksonville decides to close down several city blocks and build a 5 story building that eliminates lots of prime space for private enterprise and will cost the city property tax revenues.

While I agree that this may be the common approach for most cities, I think that we can all agree that JAX is a different animal.  In many ways, the occupancy of several blocks may be a good thing in JAX because, let's face it, most (if not all) of the blocks that the courthouse is sitting on was blank earth.

Currently, LaVilla doesn't have much prime space, and I think it just might be a good thing that the courthouse is going to take over such a blank part of downtown.

I do hope that several of the other empty lots around will later be filled with the type of private enterprise that you are hoping for.

[TheProfessor]

I agree that it is probably good that it takes up 4 blocks since there is a dearth of building activity in LaVilla.  I wish that the grid of the city had not been disturbed, but since it has been I also wish that the curved portion of road were not in front of the courthouse, so that the park could be larger in front of it.  I hope that the city does something great with the public space in front!  Also I think that Porland, Oregon's "Pearl District" is a good expample of what could happen with LaVilla.  The Pearl District is all new buildings in an area adjacent to Downtown Portland with great small parks.

[ohhkristin]

Where is The Loft? Is it open yet?

[thelakelander]

925 King Street in Riverside.  Its between Walker's and Kickback's.

[CS Foltz]

Stupid City.....they did not have to spend money they don't have on a design that is substandard! Leave it to the Pay-a-ton bunch to flub one more thing! I have they dock Johnny's pay for that $350 Million! I did not approve that much so I guess I should ask .............Just who the hell did?

[tufsu1]

CS...the community approved a sales tax increase...not any given project or project cost.

[CS Foltz]

tufsu..........I may be wrong but that "Better Jacksonville Plan" was approved by voters when Delaney squeezed it through in an off election year referendem.......right? In the same slate offered to the voters was $190 Million  Dollars for a new Courthouse.........right? So like I said, I did not approve $350 Million Dollars for a new Courthouse just because Judge Moran wanted new offices! If I remember right there was a proposal for an enclosed elevated walkway for the lawyers to transit from one government bldg to the new courthouse and that was shot down as "Too Costly" so where is the difference? I did not approve of either and if voting was allowed, the general public would more than not say NO! So may I ask just where in heck that money is going to come from? Federal Funds..........my tax dollars again! Local matching funds........my tax dollars one more time! It is past time for some fiscal common sense from government at any level don't you think?

[tufsu1]

Look...the project list was supplemental material to the sales tax question itself...now it may have played a role in how folks voted, but they weren't offcially voting for any projects.

That said, remember that the $350 million includes land acquisition, renovation of the old Federal Courthouse and space in the Ed Ball Building (not a bad thing), etc....the new building itself is $224 million (that's pretty close to the $190 million froim 10 years ago, inflation notwithstanfing).

btw...the elevated walkway has been approved and is included in the plans.

[Charles Hunter]

If the project list was not part of the referendum, why does City Council have to approve any changes to the project list?  If it is just a list of "gee we might do these projects" why can't the Mayor or Public Works Director just swap projects around?  We were voting for specific projects.  That is why there were projects scattered all over town, and some that most people would not vote against - libraries, new ball park, etc.

[tufsu1]

I understand that the list was used to garner support....and as in many communities, a safeguard was put in place to ensure the projects listed got done.

But as you said, a change to the list can be made by City Councl...without public referendum.

[dubguy82]

Is it just me or did the Construction Updates seem to end?  they used to be the first few days of the month then they started trailing through the month and now it seems they have stopped?  even though i am in london now (maybe i should change my name from dub to ldn) i still enjoy seeing what is going on in Jax!