Urban Core Construction Update - August 2010

[hanjin1]

The cobblestone is just on the roundabout. It is a traffic calming design. They want that area to be largely pedestrian crossing. I have seen many a  car go around it. It does cause them to slow down.

No, I saw them installing the cobblestone on Bay this morning. That's when i was thinking "man, people are gonna bitch about this".

[TheProfessor]

I don't think it will be a bad thing to have people slow down as long as it doesn't hurt your car.

[urbaknight]

I think the cobblestone will be great for slowing down traffic. Bad drivers will just have to get over it. It'll be much safer for pedestrians. I love the cobblestone, it will give the city some character, it reminds me of home a little bit.

[videojon]

The River Printing and Office Supply building is on the NE corner of Hogan and Church Streets.  However, I have no idea of what's going inside there.

Apparently a sandwich shop of some sort.

[reednavy]

I imagine they're waiting for colder weather to plant anything, but the Landscaping around AJ and the medians as you approach AJ are pretty weak.

That ivy in the median on Water is probably all you're going to see in those thinner median strips because they probably want the statue to be the focus. Also, I'd imagine it is because not much will do well with that limited amount of space for root growth.

[rainfrog]

It's surreal to have watched the metrojax construction updates over the years go almost exclusively from major construction projects in the immediate downtown area to mostly small business renovations/openings in the surrounding neighborhoods. At least with our own little Ryugyong Hotel (Berkman Plaza II) it at least LOOKS like downtown's still a part of the action. I'll at least take illusion!

[CS Foltz]

It's surreal to have watched the metrojax construction updates over the years go almost exclusively from major construction projects in the immediate downtown area to mostly small business renovations/openings in the surrounding neighborhoods. At least with our own little Ryugyong Hotel (Berkman Plaza II) it at least LOOKS like downtown's still a part of the action. I'll at least take illusion!

We will know when things pick for sure when we see those jackup cranes back in operation! That will mean all projects on hold right now, will be moving forward once again! Might take a year or three, but wil happen again!

[stjr]

I drove that Laura Street roundabout earlier this week.  At about 5 mph, it's still a very bumpy ride.  More like a rutted out dirt road.  Taking bets on how long before they are forced to rebuild this.  Through traffic will crawl to a near stop.  This goes way beyond traffic calming to traffic inhibiting.  Imagine a thousand cars leaving the TUPAC shows headed for the main street bridge.  Not a pretty picture.

Also, noted the arch posts on either side of Laura.  It may be an optical illusion as I viewed out of the corner of my eye as I rode by, but they didn't appear to square with each other.  One seemed skewed.  Not sure I see the iron arch fitting in but will wait for completion.

Looks like biggest project in Jax this past year other than the courthouse may have been completely missed here:  Atlantic Coast High School, first new HS in Jax in 20 years.  I know its not urban core but looks like we are desperate for something significant. 

[CS Foltz]

stjr.............know all about it! My School District, which is 2, was gerrymandered out by the School Board. I can thank Nancy Broner for this one.............the whole DCSB voted for this to take place, vote was unanimous! Districs 2,7 and 13 were gerrymandered out and this is after the Citizens Committee made suggestions which the School Board made the number two option and the Boards option was made number one! Option one was passed which kinda irritated the Citizens Committee.........why go to the trouble to do the work and have the Board ignore what was suggested? I spoke at one of the meetings to no avail..........this still irritates me!

[tufsu1]

Imagine a thousand cars leaving the TUPAC shows headed for the main street bridge.  Not a pretty picture.

I assume you're talking about concerts at The Landing....might want to be careful with the racial assumptions

[thelakelander]

I think TUPAC is just a short way of saying Times Union Performing Arts Center.

[grimss]

Sadly, as relates to the court house, it seems like BLOB update is more appropriate.

[floridaforester]

Regarding the Olio restaurant that is supposed to be going into the Churchwell building, I was shocked to see that they destroyed the original tin ceiling in the entire retail section.  You can see where its still being destroyed.  I would have felt better if I thought that someone was at least salvaging it.  Why spend additional money when it was perfectly usable.  It probably would have been noisy, but they make acoustic baffles for that.

Either way, I got sidetracked.  Does anyone have any additional info on this restaurant and what the concept is supposed to be?  Thanks!

[acme54321]

Also, noted the arch posts on either side of Laura.  It may be an optical illusion as I viewed out of the corner of my eye as I rode by, but they didn't appear to square with each other.  One seemed skewed.  Not sure I see the iron arch fitting in but will wait for completion.

They aren't square to each other, I noticed it also.  They are built perpendicular to the sidewalk instead.  I think it looks a little odd.

[stjr]

Imagine a thousand cars leaving the TUPAC shows headed for the main street bridge.  Not a pretty picture.

I assume you're talking about concerts at The Landing....might want to be careful with the racial assumptions

TUFSU, TUPAC is a relative of yours right?  LOL.    Only one who needs to be careful of assumptions is you.