Landing bill moves forward without preservation funds, but mayor may veto

[cline]

All I am saying it would help Sleiman to put names out there. I know the Landing is revenue ready and the City should embrace that!

That was all I was getting at.  Its easy for him to say I have various "unnamed" businesses wanting to move in here once I get dedicated parking.  He could probably leverage the City much better if he named names (that is, if he has any actual names).

As for the City living up to it's obligation- perhaps they should.  But why hasn't Sleiman taken this to court to force the City to pay?

[buckethead]

I would guess there are no national chains who would commit in writing to open shop in the landing should x amount of dedicated parking spaces become available.

More likely, this has been a point of contention when trying to recruit potential tenants historically.

Understand, I am no fan of Slieman. As I understand it, he got access to a property at the foot of JTB through eminent domain litigation from the city of Jax Beach. I have seen him as an insider and perhaps even a bit of a scoundrel since.

(Perhaps my own cynical misperception)

The parking issue is the fault of the city. JEA doesn't need to consult me regarding electricity uses to determine that I must honor my obligation to pay the bill.

[thelakelander]

As for the City living up to it's obligation- perhaps they should.

Lol.

But why hasn't Sleiman taken this to court to force the City to pay?

One would hope getting the city to live up to its word and its so-called commitment to improve DT would not have to wind up with the owner of DT's top destination taking them to court.  DT's future is worse than we can imagine if something as simple as this requires a full out court case.

[mySpringfield]

As for the City living up to it's obligation- perhaps they should.

Perhaps??  

How many potential future public/private partnerships will this impact (or has this already impacted).  Why would anyone want to enter contract with our city when the city may 'perhaps'  fulfill their end of the commitment?

This issue is far bigger than The Landing.  It potentially impacts all of downtown's development for years to come...frustrating considering Mayor Peyton has been so vocal in his support for downtown development.

[fsujax]

^^Very good point. With all the land the City owns..it could really be disasterous....Lavilla...anyone.

[cline]

One would hope getting the city to live up to its word and its so-called commitment to improve DT would not have to wind up with the owner of DT's top destination taking them to court.  DT's future is worse than we can imagine if something as simple as this requires a full out court case.

Yes, one would hope.  But reality is different.  Perhaps that is what Sleiman should do though if this is so important to him.  You would think that if the garage would be the door that brought in the PF Chaings and Cheesecake Factories and the masses of people that Sleiman would pursue any means necessary to get his parking.  That may require forcing the City's hand in court.  Why has he been OK with this lingering on for years and years.

[fieldafm]

Well you could give them my cell number and Id be glad to go give them a piggy back ride or something.

Im sorry Mister Sleiman, we really just need.....

Well I tell you what.  If you will sign this lil ole peice of paper here, I bet I could get that big ole huggy bear mayor to build you a Bang up Parking garage!  He owes me one after all!

Huggy Bear Mayor?  Of the City Council Care Bears?  You must be outta your cotton pickin mind toney!  Or think that we are!  Huggy and the Care Bears have been dangling that garage in front of you for going on 23 years!  They arent going to build you no garage!  (laughter, demeaning laughter breaks out.)

No I swear!  If you will just sign this itsy bitsy old letter, They'd prolly do it tomorrow!

Probably?  (more demeaning snickers break out)

Look!  Jes sign the damn thing!

Let me see that.   (scans for a moment in disbelief)  Toney!  You old hooker!  This is a contract guaranteeing that we will come out here for sure if Huggy builds you a parking garage.  How are we going to sign a guarantee if we havent even agreed its a sure thing?  (tears up the contract)

LOL, thanks for that.  Been having a rough morning but this certainly put a smile on my face!  

[fieldafm]

why has he been OK with this lingering on for years and years.

LOL, ask him... or better yet, don't ask him.  The conversation would take up a long part of your day 

[Captain Zissou]

FSU,  I don't think Sleiman needs to list tenants to help his case.  He has already said that the parking spaces will enable him to sign major tenants and improve vacancy rates.  That's enough to set him up for hundreds of 'I told you so's from Johnny Boy and his band of miscreants.  If the city gives him the money for the lot, they will be released from their obligation, the Landing will have to pay significant rent annually, and they can make as many pot shots, wise cracks, and snide remarks about old Toney as they can stand, until the cows come home.

I will pitch in for some lawn chairs and a jug o' moonshine for the whole mayor's office so they can just post up on Water street and laugh themselves silly at the whole Sleiman family if they can't sign a tenant.  This situation is a whole Hatfield and McCoy scenario anyway, so the chance to mock Toney for eternity should be incentive enough for John Boy to let Ole Toney have his parking lot.

[thelakelander]

One would hope getting the city to live up to its word and its so-called commitment to improve DT would not have to wind up with the owner of DT's top destination taking them to court.  DT's future is worse than we can imagine if something as simple as this requires a full out court case.

Yes, one would hope.  But reality is different.  Perhaps that is what Sleiman should do though if this is so important to him.  You would think that if the garage would be the door that brought in the PF Chaings and Cheesecake Factories and the masses of people that Sleiman would pursue any means necessary to get his parking.  That may require forcing the City's hand in court.  Why has he been OK with this lingering on for years and years.

Perhaps he will at some point.  He tried for a while to get them to sell him the east lot and only after being continuously ignored, once litigation talk started they came around.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Peyton: Landing doesn't have option on parking lot

Mayor John Peyton said Friday that City Hall's position is that the owners of the Jacksonville Landing do not have an option to purchase the parking lot east of the Downtown mall.

The city and the Landing's owner, Jacksonville Landing Investments LLC, had been negotiating a complicated deal under which JLI would buy the property under the Landing, which it leases, as well as the end of Hogan Street, where it would build a parking garage.

But the city backed out of that deal earlier this month, citing a preference for an ambitious Downtown redevelopment plan affecting both sides of the river. That prompted JLI to exercise one option to extend its lease on the property and another to buy the parking lot to the east.

But Peyton said the city looks at the lease agreement in a different light.

"The city believes they do not have the option to purchase" the lot, Peyton said.

Since the Landing opened in 1987 the city has owed its developers, and now JLI, 600 parking spaces. JLI wants a parking garage adjacent to the Landing, but Peyton's redevelopment plans call for maintaining the public access to the river at the end of Hogan Street.

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2006/02/20/daily38.html?jst=b_ln_hl

February 25, 2006

Mayor says Landing owner has no right to lot

Attorneys for the Mayor's Office do not believe that Jacksonville Landing Investments LLC, which owns The Jacksonville Landing, has an option to buy a parcel of land east of the open-air mall, said Mayor's Office spokeswoman Susie Wiles.

Two weeks ago, JLI officials sent a letter to the city exercising what they claim is their option to purchase the land, which is now a surface parking lot. That move followed the mayor's decision not to sell the land underneath and around the Landing, after JLI, which is owned by the family of developer Toney Sleiman, had negotiated for more than a year with the city for the property.

JLI attorney Mitchell Legler said that he had not been notified of the city's position.

"It is our vehement position that the Landing has the right to acquire that property," he said. "If the city objects to that right, then the appropriate response would be litigation."

Joe Light/The Times-Union

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/022506/bus_21203026.shtml

We all know how this ended.  Maybe its just me, but it would be nice to show that we can move forward on such a simple issue without drawing blood.

[thelakelander]

A brief timeline:



1993 - The city hired PQH Architects to design a 600 space riverfront garage with retail lining the riverfront. PQH was 60% complete with construction documents when the city and Rouse agreed to use the Daniel Building's 600 space garage for the Landing.

1999 - The city gives the Daniel Building and its 600 space garage to Adams Mark. Today that garage serves the Hyatt Hotel's guest and employees.

2000 - Highwood Properties announces plan to construct a 10 story office building and 6 story, 1,147 space garage. The city would lease 300 spaces for the Landing. Deal dies when Highwood sells property to Capital Partners.



2002 - City and Humana agree to construct 1,100 space garage, in which Humana would set aside 300 during the week and 375 spaces for the Landing on the weekends. Nothing ever happens when Humana consolidates and eliminates most of its positions at its downtown office.

2003 - Toney Sleiman buys the Landing and announces plans to expand the center to include a 120 slip marina, 6-8 story condo buildings, a boutique hotel, additional retail space and a 25 story office tower. 3 parking garages would be built along with the phased expansion. Two 960 space garages and one 1,100 space garage.

Feb 2006 - After two years of negotiations, the Big Idea plan is announced, along with pulling the rug from under Sleiman. Mayor's plan includes demolishing most of the Landing and replacing it with limited specialty retail space and park with a merry-go-round in the middle.

March 2006 - Mayor sends letter to Sleiman offering to solve the city's parking obligations by taking Kuhn's offer to provide 375 spaces for the Landing.


Kuhn's proposed Riverwatch at City Centre tower & parking garage.

Summer 2007 - Kuhn's real estate empire falls apart before the Riverwatch project breaks ground.

August 2008 - Riverwatch tower and garage site sold at forclosure auction to JDI Realty of Chicago.

2008 - Early 2010 - Two things remain constant: Downtown struggles and no dedicated parking for the Landing.

May 2010 - Where we are today.

[fieldafm]

Mayor's plan includes demolishing most of the Landing and replacing it with limited specialty retail space and park with a merry-go-round in the middle.

That says a lot right there....

[Mattius92]

They should add a cruise terminal for smaller cruise ships at the landing, while still building a Mayport facility for large cruise ships. This would generate even more revenue from the Landing. Add Streetcars and a garage for the cruise terminal and we could really see some changes around there.

[thelakelander]

If the city takes care of their parking obligation, this would place the emphasis on Sleiman to move forward on flipping the interior mall spaces to face the green space at Hogan & Water.  Such a project could be designed to be the first phase of this long lost proposal.



Privately-funded public park proposed for Northbank
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=47655

With the TU Performing Arts Center, the river, Omni and over 4 million already visiting the Landing annually, one could assume that this could become a pretty popular spot.

[thelakelander]

Mayor's plan includes demolishing most of the Landing and replacing it with limited specialty retail space and park with a merry-go-round in the middle.

That says a lot right there....

Here are some old conceptual sketches.....


Overall Big Ideas plan


Revitalized Landing