Twisted Martini closing at The Jacksonville Landing

[thelakelander]

The Landing shouldn't be viewed as "the" destination - with parking committed as though it's a stand-alone entity that could be anywhere.

It shouldn't. However, it will need a certain amount of dedicated parking as a part of the solution to make it work. If a vibrant downtown happens to be everyone's goal, then we need to find a way to handle the problem.

[ChriswUfGator]

I understand that the Landing needs more parking to meet the requirements of major tenants.  But this is only part of the reason they aren't coming.  I don't think Starbucks left because of a lack of parking.  The only thing that will save the Landing is greater density downtown.  The Laura Street Trio project could end up having a greater benefit than a new parking garage - just because it will bring more people - day and night.

It's not really about the need. It's about national chains mostly all having requirements for dedicated parking within a certain distance of the proposed location. They won't consider leasing at your property unless you meet their minimum requirements, which the Landing can't do without some kind of dedicated parking. Regardless of whether the parking is actually used or not, it would allow the landing to sign national/chain tenants. Some of them waive their requirements on a case-by-case basis, but usually that only happens in places like Boston or NYC, where the pedestrian traffic would be enough to support the location. Which certainly isn't the case here. This has been a major roadblock in the Landing's efforts to attract tenants. Nobody thinks we need any more parking, we certainly don't. There's a glut of it already.

Unfortunately, the Landing truly does need attached parking to attract large tenants. That's really the issue here.