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

[JeffreyS]

We have noticed GG and we also noticed it not having dedicated parking it can commit to an anchor chain. Coincidence?  Lake in the past has posted the minimum dedicated spots different chains require his point has been proven.

[thelakelander]

It's over 125,000 square feet of retail space.  Its not SJTC but its no family dollar or gas station either.  I'd challenge you to find one second tier American city (along the likes of Jacksonville) that has that has a single urban retail center with that much retail space and no dedicated parking.

If you're interested in understanding the dedicated parking issue and how it can impact national chain recruitment, visit this link:  

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-may-the-jacksonville-landing-parking-myths-vs-reality

[Dapperdan]

Outside of major events, I have never not been able to find a parking spot either at the Landing parking lot or very close by.

[fieldafm]

The landing does not need dedicated parking..there are plenty of parking downtown near by....lots..jacksonville is just full of people who want to park at the front door....it is called downtown....you would'nt get that kind of parking in any major city...why here?

GG, I'd suggest you have a better understanding of commercial real estate before making statements like this.  What you are saying is simply not true.

Oh please, let's not add to downtown's existing supply of parking spaces and lots.  We have to many, we need to better utilize what's already in place, while getting rid of a few.  The Landing issue should be put on the back burner until a new administration is in place

What's really silly is now that $3.5mm is going to be thrown back at MetroPark... where no one goes now nor in the future.

That 3.5mm could have been spent honoring a 20+ year agreement to the ONE major destination downtown, or any NUMBER of high impact projects in our core... yet, it will be spent on Metro Park which has less than 200k visitors per year.  That number has been declining for 7 straight years.

What a legacy...

March 22nd(or now early voting began Monday), vote Audrey Moran

[urbaknight]

The landing does not need dedicated parking..there are plenty of parking downtown near by....lots..jacksonville is just full of people who want to park at the front door....it is called downtown....you would'nt get that kind of parking in any major city...why here?

GG, I'd suggest you have a better understanding of commercial real estate before making statements like this.  What you are saying is simply not true.

Oh please, let's not add to downtown's existing supply of parking spaces and lots.  We have to many, we need to better utilize what's already in place, while getting rid of a few.  The Landing issue should be put on the back burner until a new administration is in place

What's really silly is now that $3.5mm is going to be thrown back at MetroPark... where no one goes now nor in the future.

That 3.5mm could have been spent honoring a 20+ year agreement to the ONE major destination downtown, or any NUMBER of high impact projects in our core... yet, it will be spent on Metro Park which has less than 200k visitors per year.  That number has been declining for 7 straight years.

What a legacy...

March 22nd(or now early voting began Monday), vote Audrey Moran

Perhaps we can convince Brown to put that 3.5m back into some that makes sense, and finally kill anymore metpark improvements.

Maybe put that 3.5m toward the Trio revitalization.

[duvaldude08]

Well on today in the dailty record, that the Landing garage would include 200 spaces for Landing Patorns during the day and 375 spaces on the evenings and weekends. What do you guys think about that? Do you think this will help solve the issue? Even if the are spaces for "public use", honestly who would use those spaces besides Landing patrons on evenings and weekends anyways? Im THINKING this may work. But hey what do I. Chime in someone 

[Garden guy]

I don't think parking has ever been the real issue at the Landing...there may not be parking at the front door like so many lazy people scream for but there are plenty of parking spaces within a minutes walk.

[dougskiles]

I agree with you GG.  I think the parking excuse is just that.  An urban retail facility like the Landing will only thrive when downtown becomes a true urban environment - which would mean many more people working and living downtown.

Plus, we have thousands of people within a short public transit ride away if we would just build/extend the system.  Then we wouldn't need cars or garages to get there.

[JeffreyS]

It is not parking as in the total number but as dedicated.  So they can put up signs that say reserved for cheesecake factory.

[thelakelander]

Bingo Jeffrey.  The lack of sufficient dedicated parking is a direct negative impact on the recruitment of major retail chains at the Landing.  Although, I'll also say that dedicated parking isn't the only issue negatively impacting the center. 

In any event, the parking being proposed actually does nothing for the Landing.  Since they aren't "dedicating" the required set number of parking spaces (proven by the fluctuating day/night time number), the garage will have no impact.  Assuming this garage is forced to be designed with street retail on Bay, Hogan and Independent Drive, the only good thing that will come out of this is having another surface parking lot disappear.

[Garden guy]

Maybe..just maybe when downtown has so many people living there that the landing is so busy that there must be dedicated parking but history so far has'nt proven that to be needed...i've been going there since the beginning and never have i had an issue with parking and noone i know has ither...within a block or two there is parking...this is not atlanta...it's jacksonville and we have not done enough with this city to suck up the cost of a parking garage at the doors of the landing..it's crazy and a waist of money when there are parking spots all over the place..iknow one good start for the landing would be that the owner stop his nasty attitude and start kissing some ass...his place is waisting and he's got and attitude with everyone...That place will survive but only with more people living downtown...period.

[thelakelander]

Yeah, but downtown with enough street traffic and residents to render dedicated parking meaningless is decades away.  When we get to that point, then we can redevelop a lot of our garages into new uses.  In the meantime, we've got to bridge the gap.

[jcjohnpaint]

I think the owner of the landing should suck it up and try to use creative problem solving to get people to his mall.  It is not the city's job to boost his business and it seems like there are so many events held there that he should be happy. 

[thelakelander]

It is the city's job to supply the center with dedicated parking. It's part of the deal the city made to get Rouse to build the Landing in DT 22 years ago. It's a shame this discussion is still going on in 2011.

[duvaldude08]

It is the city's job to supply the center with dedicated parking. It's part of the deal the city made to get Rouse to build the Landing in DT 22 years ago. It's a shame this discussion is still going on in 2011.

Thanks Lakelander. I think everyone seems to forget that part. I dont think the city should be let off the hook so easy. Whether parking is the "real" issue or not with the landing, bottom line we  promised the parking and we should deliver. Period. I really hope this is deferred though so that the new administration can take a look at it. Because what is currently on the table is not really solving the issue.