Barnett/Laura Trio Redevelopment to be announced

[videojon]

Great to hear

[Wacca Pilatka]

It's terrific that this appears it will get off the ground and provide some connecting street level retail for the beginning of Laura Street. The challenge will be to make it creative, eye-catching and interesting enough to entice people to come up the street. As it is, the buildings while historical are as STIFF and ho-hum as...well like walking by a bank. Where is the art? Shiny looking metal/glass? The little white bank building looks like a TOMB!
Traditionalists will scream but I'd paint that sucker with color, attach some terrific streetside glowing lights and put some kind of rooftop gazebo right on top of it. With the side of Modus looking like a military bunker or something, have to change that up somehow.

Maybe something like 24hr street in curritba?

Instead of opening up the landing, EXTEND IT (maybe with a simple tensile canopy) FURTHER up the street.

http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&biw=1345&bih=562&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=rua+24+HORAS&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

I consider the FL Life building to be one of the greatest works of art in Jacksonville.  Of course, restoring the cornice would make that status clearer.

[dlupercio]

Speaking of which, I just heard from one of the guys involved with the project, and he told me that its percolating along.

Hopefully we shall hear something major soon!

Awesome! I wouldn't mind moving down the block when they finish.

[duvaldude08]

Im definately excited about this. I can not wait to hear more.

[fieldafm]

From today's Daily Record
http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=531666

JEDC Executive Director Ron Barton reported about projects, including the proposal to rehabilitate the three historic buildings on Laura Street between Forsyth and Adams streets. Plans include a boutique hotel, a restaurant and residential units.

Barton said the developers have an option to purchase the property and were in “significant conversations with lenders. That’s where it stands.”

He also said the project would be a partnership between the developer and the City. “We’re going to look at it just like a bank would. There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said.

[duvaldude08]

From today's Daily Record
http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=531666

JEDC Executive Director Ron Barton reported about projects, including the proposal to rehabilitate the three historic buildings on Laura Street between Forsyth and Adams streets. Plans include a boutique hotel, a restaurant and residential units.

Barton said the developers have an option to purchase the property and were in “significant conversations with lenders. That’s where it stands.”

He also said the project would be a partnership between the developer and the City. “We’re going to look at it just like a bank would. There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said.

Great news. Atleast it is still moving forward

[Captain Zissou]

That was a pretty unremarkable announcement.  Weren't they in talks with banks when this whole thing was announced??

[fieldafm]

That was a pretty unremarkable announcement.  Weren't they in talks with banks when this whole thing was announced??

That's why I was so interested to see how much of their own cash or investor financing the Capital City group was putting up in the deal.
That's going to be a complicated financing deal to put together, and it certainly will take awhile to get it underwritten. 

[thelakelander]

When it was announced they were still in the due diligence phase.  If everything goes smoothly, you're still looking at a couple of years before this project gets into full gear.

[CS Foltz]

If JEDC is involved...............what are we going to be promising them? I have no problem with private enterprise rounding up financing and the like, but have to ask......just what is the taxpayers gong to be giving them!

[thelakelander]

That's the biggest question mark that has not been presented just yet.  The redevelopment of these historic structures will not be feasible without city money.  You could say we're partially to blame for not sealing up these abandoned properties properly to slow the deterioration process.

[thelakelander]

It really doesn't take long for water to make a strong impact.  They would be in much better shape if those new roofs were installed a decade or two ago as opposed to two years ago.

[thelakelander]

Didn't the city allow a previous owner to destroy the cornice work of the Florida Life?  In any event, there would not be as much decay if properly sealed throughout the years and it won't be feasible to restore any of them without city money. Btw, how do cities like Savannah and Charleston handle building owners like the Schneiders?  Whatever they do, we should take a page from them when it comes to preservation.

[CS Foltz]

That might be something to think about for the long term, but have yet to see or hear of anything being discussed along those lines! ( I am refering to the Mayoral candidates, this should be on their platforms) Springfield has the same problem.......instead of condeming and bulldozing, mothball them up until a buyer shows up! There is something to work with when proper mothballing is done! Costs could be rolled into the selling price so taxpayer money is not lost forever!

[newzgrrl]

Conceptual approval was granted at DDRB today. After the presentation, which lasted about two hours, board members had glowing comments about the plans in general.