Suburban Jacksonville: Fleming Island

[Clem1029]

People I talk to love it out there except for the commute into Jacksonville.

Pretty much this...I lived out there for the first 2 years after I moved to Jax, and I loved it. If I worked on that side of the river I'd seriously consider moving back out that way. But given that for those two years the Buckman was the bane of my existence, I'm not upset I don't have to deal with that commute anymore.

Also, I think FIP got hammered by the foreclosure/short sale wave. If I recall, Eagle Harbor is doing ok (or as close to OK as you can in the market), but the plantation is hurting. Also, one thing I couldn't understand is why they built and are continuing to build all those additional storefronts and office spaces. They couldn't fill them during the boom when the economy was rocking, so it made no sense to keep stuff going up around that "town center" area. If things ever come back and they can get some business in there, I could see that area being successful. But for now, it's just empty and/or half constructed buildings.

[copperfiend]

Also, one thing I couldn't understand is why they built and are continuing to build all those additional storefronts and office spaces. They couldn't fill them during the boom when the economy was rocking, so it made no sense to keep stuff going up around that "town center" area. If things ever come back and they can get some business in there, I could see that area being successful. But for now, it's just empty and/or half constructed buildings.

I seen this alot all over town. Go down Philips Hwy, Beach Blvd, Southside Blvd and you will see brand new strip malls that have been completed for over a year and are almost completely empty. And many of them have seen high turnover numbers from the few tenants they have.

[JaxNative68]

its good to see the developers have ruined another quaint area of Jacksonville.

[CS Foltz]

its good to see the developers have ruined another quaint area of Jacksonville.

You said it JaxJative68! It just burns my butt to see more trees coming down and more strip malls going in! To make matters even worse, the darn things don't have tenets for most of them and so they sit empty! That has to be a real time return on ones investment! Not me, even if I had the money!

[FL Treehugger]

Opponents of Amendment 4 say we need more of this to bring in jobs, etc.  The original comprehensive plan allow for more than enough housing and stores but developers and politicians prevailed.  Look at what they've done!!  Vote YES on Amendment 4.

[banjo]

Yup, the town center definitely fell through, started picking up with Orion fitness and Box Seats, then Orion became Bally's Fitness and closed shortly after, then Box Seats moved to the old Player's Grill location a little bit South on 220 from Home Depot, The only thing I can think of that is surviving in the heart of the town center is an Allstate agent, there's a few shops across from Fleming Island too, Pizzarela and a few other shops, further down that road towards 17 is Beauty and the Beef that has good cheessteaks and Acheive Fitness all in the typical bland strip mall, was a small farmer's market there on Saturdays for a while too, not sure if they still have it anymore.

[fieldafm]

Flemming Island has a Pita Pit?? Are you kidding me? Why doesn't Jax have at least 5?

Funny you say that 

Captain
Plans have finally moved forward so I can announce it now... but Pita Pit will be coming to Jax Beach slated to open for the Opening of the Beaches(still tentative depending on when the existing tennant will be out of the building)