Old downtown library may get a tenantQuoteThe former Hayden Burns Public Library in Downtown Jacksonville could soon have a new tenant three years after an investment group acquired the building.
Ringtail Technologies, LLC, a Jacksonville-based wireless internet and telephone provider, is in talks to take the entire second floor of the historic building, company officials said. The building is owned by Main Branch LLC.
Main Branch LLC acquired the former main branch of Jacksonville’s library system at 122 N. Ocean St. in 2007 from the city for $3.25 million. Original plans for the building included a mixed-use development, including an “urban market†grocery store.
But the plans to renovate the former library stalled because of the recession.
Read more: Old downtown library may get a tenant | Jacksonville Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2010/11/08/old-downtown-library-to-get-a-tenant.html
Hopefully everything will work out for the best, which could create the possibility of finally moving forward with this long delayed project.
Here's some more news on this project. Let's make sure these guys don't end up at Cecil Field. Sounds exciting.....
QuoteIf they move there, the company would take the entire third floor, said Bill Cesery, a developer and one of building's owners.
Younger said Ringtail would open with 50-75 employees doing sales, marketing, administration and programming work. The jobs would be in the $80,000-$100,000 range and could eventually grow to about 300 employees.
The device, about 12 by 5 by 1 inch, would be assembled here with parts made overseas. That assembly, which might be done in the library's basement, could start with 100-150 jobs paying $40,000-$45,000, Younger said. He also said they're considering Cecil Field. With Ringtail for a tenant, Cesery said that would put him in position to apply for a Small Business Administration loan to finance the renovation of the 125,000-square-foot building.
The only definite tenant he has so far is a nightclub planned by partners Matt Richardson and Michael Yokan. Work on the club has already begun, and Richardson said it would be on two levels with bowling, a full-service restaurant and concert space for a crowd of 1,500-2,000.
http://jacksonville.com/business/2010-11-09/story/start-company-pitches-offering-low-cost-wireless-setting-shop-old-library
QuoteThe only definite tenant he has so far is a nightclub planned by partners Matt Richardson and Michael Yokan. Work on the club has already begun, and Richardson said it would be on two levels with bowling, a full-service restaurant and concert space for a crowd of 1,500-2,000.
Maybe I've been under a rock lately - are there more details around this?
Yes, I completely missed that bowling/nightclub story too, but it sounds great.
Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on November 09, 2010, 08:38:31 AM
Yes, I completely missed that bowling/nightclub story too, but it sounds great.
That club would be great if it's something like Lucky Strike. I've been to the ones in Vegas and LA and the atmosphere of the place is nice. Somewhat upscale bar + bowling... who would've thought. I didn't know that they already started work on the club space though.
Also, the Jax.com article noted that the potential tenant is also considering Cecil Field. One has to wonder if downtown parking issues play a big part in them making their decision between Downtown and Cecil Field.
Something incredibly fishy and unsettlingly familiar about that company. Can't put my finger on it. Gonna dig around some.
http://www.ringtailtechnologies.com/
Quote from: comncense on November 09, 2010, 08:46:04 AM
Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on November 09, 2010, 08:38:31 AM
Yes, I completely missed that bowling/nightclub story too, but it sounds great.
That club would be great if it's something like Lucky Strike. I've been to the ones in Vegas and LA and the atmosphere of the place is nice. Somewhat upscale bar + bowling... who would've thought. I didn't know that they already started work on the club space though.
I did some work with a group that explored the possibility of bringing a Splittsville franchise to Jax. Its a really cool concept. Lattitude 30, which is almost finished will be the same type of deal.
QuoteOriginal plans for the building included a mixed-use development, including an “urban market†grocery store.
With this quote, and the quote in the paper about an urban grocer contacting the Laura Trio group... one has to wonder, is this Laura Street grocer 'City Market'?
Wild Oats had looked at the Jax market years ago, but that was before the real estate bust... and the growth they thought was coming in Jax didnt come to fruition. Can't believe it would be Wild Oats, and certainly not Trader Joes... so maybe City Market is switching over to the Laura Trio/Capital City group... would make sense with whom the parties that are involved.
Wild Oats was bought by Whole Foods a few years ago....and Trader Joe's is nowhere in FL, so I doubt it is them as well.
Is the Library that big to hold both tenants? I don't remember that building appearing to be so big as to hold a bowling alley, concert hall, restaurant, club , maybe a urban market, and a wireless operations on top floor and basement.
Its a pretty large building. It should be able to hold those uses and a little more.
As long as its being used, Im all for it. Its better than another downtown building sitting vacant. If you havent noticed the small scale projects such as this one and 200 riverside just got delayed, but are moving. Unlike the mega pie in the sky dream projects like the St John, Shipyards,etc.
Quote from: RiversideLoki on November 09, 2010, 12:54:25 PM
Something incredibly fishy and unsettlingly familiar about that company. Can't put my finger on it. Gonna dig around some.
http://www.ringtailtechnologies.com/
Anyone that is curious about Ringtail or is in disbelief that we can do what we say we can do. Please send an email to Ryan@Ringtailtechnologies.com. I am the CEO and I would be glad to answer any questions you may have regarding our product assuming it's nothing confidential.
Respectfully,
Ryan Younger
CEO / Ringtail Technologies, LLC
http://www.Ringtailtechnologies.com
Thanks for posting Ryan. I for one am excited to see that wonderful building put to use.
Quote from: JeffreyS on November 10, 2010, 06:11:26 PM
Thanks for posting Ryan. I for one am excited to see that wonderful building put to use.
Thanks for your kind comments. We hope to finish putting things together with the building owners soon and get underway. As you know these things take time, more time than any of us care to think about!
Respectfully,
Ryan Younger
CEO
Ringtail Technologies, LLC
Quote from: thelakelander on November 09, 2010, 04:33:29 PM
Its a pretty large building. It should be able to hold those uses and a little more.
I agree, I think the bookshelves made it seem smaller than it actually is. The new library is bigger, but Hayden Burns is not a tiny place if I remember
Quote from: Ryan Younger on November 10, 2010, 06:40:51 PM
Quote from: JeffreyS on November 10, 2010, 06:11:26 PM
Thanks for posting Ryan. I for one am excited to see that wonderful building put to use.
Thanks for your kind comments. We hope to finish putting things together with the building owners soon and get underway. As you know these things take time, more time than any of us care to think about!
Respectfully,
Ryan Younger
CEO
Ringtail Technologies, LLC
Thanks for choosing downtown. More workers downtown are greatly needed and the library need to be put to good use!
Quote from: fieldafm on November 09, 2010, 02:54:47 PM
QuoteOriginal plans for the building included a mixed-use development, including an “urban market†grocery store.
With this quote, and the quote in the paper about an urban grocer contacting the Laura Trio group... one has to wonder, is this Laura Street grocer 'City Market'?
Or maybe developers use the lure of a grocery store to get approval for their plans and then
poof! the promised amentity always seems to disappear.
I could be completely mistaken here, but I remember watching a video interview on urbanjacksonville.info with Tony from City Market and he spoke about initial plans there. He said that with the way things cooled down in downtown, there wasn't a need at this time to go forth with a grocer there, but would consider it in the future.
Again, I watched this right before City Market opened and could be completely wrong in what I remember though.
Quote from: Ryan Younger link=topic=10272.msg186828#msg186828 date=
Quote from: RiversideLoki link=topic=10272.msg186783#msg186783 date=
Something incredibly fishy and unsettlingly familiar about that company. Can't put my finger on it. Gonna dig around some.
http://www.ringtailtechnologies.com/
Thanks for posting. Downtown is the way to go!
Anyone that is curious about Ringtail or is in disbelief that we can do what we say we can do. Please send an email to Ryan@Ringtailtechnologies.com. I am the CEO and I would be glad to answer any questions you may have regarding our product assuming it's nothing confidential.
Respectfully,
Ryan Younger
CEO / Ringtail Technologies, LLC
http://www.Ringtailtechnologies.com
Sounds positive.
So I thought I read a while back that The Library needed only one or two more new tenants to sign and they could officially start development. With that said, is The Library project a go at this point? I look forward to them not letting us go in there for Art Walk due to the place getting worked on.
You can email the dude that involved with it. He actually responded to my email. I didnt really ask when it would be up & running though.
I know the thread is old, but there seems to be some more action in the Haydon Burns basement.
Last night I ran into a swarm of people (30-40) who were in town from the beach doing a Beach to Town Pubcrawl.
In fact, they were trying to drum up some interest (read investments) into downtown and I met a few of the people directly involved with the new nightclub/bowling alley.
There's still hope.
Ah, the old library. We had our engagement photos taken in there. I really, really hope someone gets someone does something with it soon. As usual, I'm not holding my breath on that one.
Im just curious to know what exactly is holding everything up. As teanet's they have ringtail, the night club and bowling, etc. How many more do they need before they can proceed.?
Quote from: duvaldude08 on July 13, 2011, 10:31:21 AM
Im just curious to know what exactly is holding everything up. As teanet's they have ringtail, the night club and bowling, etc. How many more do they need before they can proceed.?
$,$$$,$$$
The reason for the holdup last year was that they had a lot of the smaller spaces leased, but they couldn't get a big anchor tenant, which is what they were counting on. Without that, the whole thing's on hold, and the future is probably shaky.
Quote from: Tacachale on July 13, 2011, 10:42:56 AM
The reason for the holdup last year was that they had a lot of the smaller spaces leased, but they couldn't get a big anchor tenant, which is what they were counting on. Without that, the whole thing's on hold, and the future is probably shaky.
Oh okay gotcha!
I love the conceptuals for the marketplace/coffee shop that are in burrito gallery on the walls.... I'd love to see that come to fruition. As I'm sure it will.
So, I wonder if Ringtail got capitalized, and if they are still a possibility. The technology that are talking about it already available through Clear for $45 and up. At least, that's what it sounds like from the below quote from their June 2011 press release about showing off their technology in San Paulo. Clear has mobile hot spots and something called the Puck that picks up a wireless signal from their own cell towers. I've had one of their modems for years, and I can pick up a signal wherever I can plug it in, but their new mobile modems are much smaller and more portable, and recharge from a USB port. It sounds like Ringtail is hoping to use existing cell towers and partner with other cell providers.
"Several potential internet “partners†have been defined in the wireless cellular business."
Quote from: Debbie Thompson on July 18, 2011, 01:05:36 PM
So, I wonder if Ringtail got capitalized, and if they are still a possibility. The technology that are talking about it already available through Clear for $45 and up. At least, that's what it sounds like from the below quote from their June 2011 press release about showing off their technology in San Paulo. Clear has mobile hot spots and something called the Puck that picks up a wireless signal from their own cell towers. I've had one of their modems for years, and I can pick up a signal wherever I can plug it in, but their new mobile modems are much smaller and more portable, and recharge from a USB port. It sounds like Ringtail is hoping to use existing cell towers and partner with other cell providers.
"Several potential internet “partners†have been defined in the wireless cellular business."
Clear sucks. I had them for like two years. After a year and a half, my service kept going out. It would go out like 10 times a days, and I would have to go in a re-stablished the connect. I called them like 6 times and they kept "trouble shooting" and could not solve the problem. I asked them if they could send a techician out and they kept evading the question. Needless to say I stop paying them and went to comcast.