A Look at the Proposed Bank Hotel

[Wacca Pilatka]

Does anyone have pictures of the Barnett building when the digital clock had a blocky-font BARNETT or BFN sign on it?

[fsujax]

The only thing i remember of that building is the facade that was left standing. It was like a grand entrance to a parking lot!

[finehoe]

This looks really nice, but I can't help but wonder where do the developers see the clientele for this hotel coming from? It seems they are targeting a demographic that doesn't currently have much of a reason to visit downtown Jacksonville.  I'm not sure that "build it and they will come" is applicable here.  Let's hope so.

[fieldafm]

Man - Imagine what this group could do with Universal Marion Building (JEA).  Bring back the (revolving) Embers!

Good call on Embers.  But here's my positive optimistic spin for the day...

My dad used to talk about Embers a lot.  It was where he and his brothers would get to go on a Saturday for lunch if they had done soemthing really good.. like everyone having a good semester of school or something.  Embers was obviously a very special place to Dad b/c of this.

When the Skyline Cafe opened up, I took him up there for lunch as kind of my appreciation for his fondness of Embers.  We went up there on a Thursday, had lunch(very reasonably priced meal for the view you get), and traded stories of Jacksonville why glancing at the pictures of the BofA tower being built.  He made the comment riding down the elevator that Embers never had that kind of view and this place has way more potential than Embers ever had.... River Club/University Club views, but exclusive to all.

[comncense]

I L O V E the names they came up with for branding the individual aspects of the hotel. I really hope that all the things come together and come to reality.

[duvaldude08]

I really hope this all happens. I am thoroughly excited. I will be getting a room for the weekend there just because. lol

[stjr]

That was the Heard Bank Building.



http://www.cowart.info/blog/?p=1015

Also known for many decades as the Florida Title Building.  Was controlled by the Towers law firm family as I recall.

[Mattius92]

I love the idea of converting this historical downtown building back into something that poeple would talk about. There is too many historical buildings in our city that need to be revitalized.

The bank hotel and the trio project is something Jax needed, I do hope everything they plan for goes through, because our downtown needs it.

[downtownjag]

I can't wait to have a Bailout on a Friday night! 

[Coolyfett]

Sexy. Get it done

[exnewsman]

Seems like a well thought out plan... hope the plan turns into reality. Love the sinergistic banking theme throughout. Anybody know where they are in the process? We've seen lots of plans for projects over the past 3-4 years... some quite grand. Yet not much in the way of construction.

[tpot]

I would love to see this play out for JAX but i agree with finehoe...  Who is going to stay here?  Most business travellers book through corp sites and stay at large chain hotels like a Hilton or Hyatt and on top of that we have so few businesses in downtown jax, most of the time out of town travellers end up staying at a hotel out on the Southside because it's close to where they will be in town having meetings.
Again, I hope I am wrong and wish this project much sucess, just don't think JAX can sopport this level of establishment yet.....

[fsujax]

It is my understanding the hotel even though boutique will be affliated with a nationl chain like Marriott.

[kells904]

This kind of project worries me...some big awesome hotel left to fend for itself, while there isn't much around it.  It'd be more effective as the cherry on top of an already spruced-up Laura St. with activity already in place.  Otherwise, it might be difficult to constantly attract customers.  And like it's been mentioned already, this presentation is pretty hollow (intentional, I assume).  I get the impression that the residential units are going to be out of the average joe's price range.  We'll see, I suppose.

[blizz01]

I really feel that a place with so much substance will sell itself - and, in this case could become the catalyst for things to come.  Look at the current trend that's happening downtown with the nightlife.  The more recent openings of places like Dos Gatos, Lit, Ivy, etc. all carry an upscale vibe & seem to have given us something fresh - that's all that's required, just some creativity.  The hotel itself actually has a Kessler vibe (of which, I believe that the Autograph Collection is now part of Marriott International).  If this comes to fruition, I have no doubt it will be THE place to stay DT.

http://www.kesslercollection.com/