Baptist Medical Center Seeks Signage Exception
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/1110955048_pPBbP-M.jpg)
On December 8, 2010, the Downtown Development Review Board will make an official decision on a signage exception for the 195' tall Wolfson Children's Hospital/Adult Tower, currently under construction on the Southbank. Metro Jacksonville shares renderings of what this project will look like with the requested signage exemption.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-dec-baptist-medical-center-seeks-signage-exception-
Hmmm, I wonder if the hospital gets an exemption if that can be a step for modifying our sign laws to separate sign ordinances by region and to separate sign ordinances from bus stop sign ordinances (isn't it all in one giant overbearing comprehensive sign law guarded by Bill Brinton?)
Sounds fine to me, we need more signs on the buildings downtown. Without them they are dull and lifeless.
Wait wait wait, so am I to understand a business wants to put up a sign? In Downtown Jacksonville?? Surely the city council will step in. We can't just have businesses advertising themselves on the sides of their buildings. Next they'll start easing up on parking meter enforcement or something and all hell will break loose.
I say go for it! I have no issue with a property branding itself! Just make sign sexy & im good.
I really like this building. Its placement also makes it easy to drive by and see regular progress as it starts to rise above the highway.
Give 'em the green light on the signage COJ!!!!!
so is this somehow different that a giant at&t logo, or a huge modis, or a [ooCSXoo]
I love the look of the building. It will look great next to 95. As far as height goes, will this be taller than FNF or Everbank?? Just trying to picture it.
Quote from: stephendare on December 07, 2010, 09:36:26 AM
Quote from: Bativac on December 07, 2010, 09:21:24 AM
Wait wait wait, so am I to understand a business wants to put up a sign? In Downtown Jacksonville?? Surely the city council will step in. We can't just have businesses advertising themselves on the sides of their buildings. Next they'll start easing up on parking meter enforcement or something and all hell will break loose.
Its a slippery slope. A 'gateway drug' if you will.
Awesome! Next thing you know someone will want neon!!
Quote from: Captain Zissou on December 07, 2010, 09:46:21 AM
I love the look of the building. It will look great next to 95. As far as height goes, will this be taller than FNF or Everbank?? Just trying to picture it.
It will be about 15 feet taller than Everbank.
Anything that helps block out the godawful visual blight that is the Baptist campus is a plus. It is the most horrible mish-mash of styles and materials in this town. There is NO unity at all and each of the buildings is just plain ugly.
Quote from: stephendare on December 07, 2010, 09:36:26 AM
Quote from: Bativac on December 07, 2010, 09:21:24 AM
Wait wait wait, so am I to understand a business wants to put up a sign? In Downtown Jacksonville?? Surely the city council will step in. We can't just have businesses advertising themselves on the sides of their buildings. Next they'll start easing up on parking meter enforcement or something and all hell will break loose.
Its a slippery slope. A 'gateway drug' if you will.
No kidding. At some point we will have colorful signs projecting from the sides of buildings advertising restaurants and shops, and the place will look like some vibrant urban area. Can we not just put a few more giant orange stickers on the street?
Luckily the city council is looking out for our best interests by considering to make it difficult to sell hot dogs on the street. Soon we will have those beautiful, pristine, empty streets that everybody wants, uncomplicated by such visual distractions.
Quote from: stephendare on December 07, 2010, 11:03:25 AM
Well whats the alternative Bativac? Letting those businesses run the risk of getting addicted to money, sales, and positive income? That nonsense is like a virus. It spreads. It sends a message that this is the type of community that tolerates---nay encourages---this type of behaviour.
Exactly. Frankly I don't understand why they don't just fill in all the downtown-facing windows on the Landing and turn it into a beautiful wall of concrete. Then they could maybe put some of those orange stickers on it and a couple of (small) signs prohibiting the sale of hot dogs, sausages, or other cart-related bun-oriented food items.
Being relatively new to town.... what is the deal with the signage ordinances anyway? When did they begin cracking down on signs. DT would be so much more vibrant at night with some neon!
I guess that is what happend to the neon lights that used to be on top of the JEA Building. The City must have come after them. Who cares if a business has a freakin sign! Get over it. Last time I checked we were a big city. If these people spent as much time trying to lure businesses downtown as they do worrying about signs, we might actually have a vibrant core.
Sign ordinance got rid of all those portable signs with flashing lights and the urban sprawl proliferation of bill boards. It was worse than now. Sign ordinance was late 80 s early 90s.
Wolfson Childrens Hospital Adult Tower is 199'. How tall is Everbank?
Surely there is a happy medium between the truly awful bill boards along every road and an overly sterile downtown.
A lot of the sign clutter on suburban feeder roads like San Jose were those pole signs that are necessary since the stores are set back in a sea of asphalt nearly invisible from the road.
Downtown doesn't have that problem so the signs could be informative and attractive without being overwhelming.
I think the signs are ok. It looks like they just want some that face the interstate. I think its kool.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on December 07, 2010, 09:46:21 AM
I love the look of the building. It will look great next to 95. As far as height goes, will this be taller than FNF or Everbank?? Just trying to picture it.
Quote from: Overstreet on December 07, 2010, 03:25:12 PM
Sign ordinance got rid of all those portable signs with flashing lights and the urban sprawl proliferation of bill boards. It was worse than now. Sign ordinance was late 80 s early 90s.
Wolfson Childrens Hospital Adult Tower is 199'. How tall is Everbank?
This article and comments list the new baptist tower as being 195'/199'. The stats on EverBank Plaza is 194'-6" (maybe a little taller if you count the lightning protection). If these numbers are correct, I don't think the 6"/4'-6" height difference will be very noticable from across the river. Both will make good bookends to the I-95 bridge.
Advertising is beautiful, man. It smells like jobs. Release the hounds!
The fact this is even open for debate is astounding. The signs are tasteful, within reason and, gee willickers, are for a hospital...stamp it and go. Elsewhere in this city real crises are underway...
QuoteA lot of the sign clutter on suburban feeder roads like San Jose were those pole signs that are necessary since the stores are set back in a sea of asphalt nearly invisible from the road.
Downtown doesn't have that problem so the signs could be informative and attractive without being overwhelming.
Exactly, trying to fit a suburban model within an urban area, each with their own set of distinctly different challenges, is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
They meet DDRB tomorrow. It is a square to be filled.
There are two signs on the south face and one on the north face. Most of them were shown ......... but incomplete in earlier submissions. Usually the logo and sign are some of the last things to be determined in projects like this.
Also neon signs were mentioned in some earlier posts. Sounded like there weren't any neon signs in downtown. Did y'all know the Landing sign on the roof is neon?
Let me toss this out for discussion...........there is a 180' Monopole across from the street parking........leave the bldg unmarked and paint the monopole! Should be easy to see......that sucker sits with 500' foot seperation between it and the I95 North bound lane.......real simple and one heck of a land mark!
In the cities near where I come from, signs are everywhere. Some are stories tall, I didn't know there were anti sign laws here in Jax. But, I can't say I'm surprised either.
Perfect example, the empty billboard above the magnificat across from the library, Couldn't that billboard at least say "welcome to Hemming Plaza! or something like that. And maybe have some flashy lights to catch the eye.
The more I learn about Jax, the more I see city council as a saboteur instead of a democratic government by and for the people.
QuotePerfect example, the empty billboard above the magnificat across from the library, Couldn't that billboard at least say "welcome to Hemming Plaza! or something like that. And maybe have some flashy lights to catch the eye.
Sure, as long as the city would pay the landlord of the building on which the sign sits.
Ihave thought the same thing about that sign. Ever notice the Coca Cola sign painted (very faded) on the side of the building being renovated along Adams St across from the Carling?
Quote from: urbaknight on December 08, 2010, 01:28:43 PM
In the cities near where I come from, signs are everywhere. Some are stories tall, I didn't know there were anti sign laws here in Jax. But, I can't say I'm surprised either.
Perfect example, the empty billboard above the magnificat across from the library, Couldn't that billboard at least say "welcome to Hemming Plaza! or something like that. And maybe have some flashy lights to catch the eye.
The more I learn about Jax, the more I see city council as a saboteur instead of a democratic government by and for the people.
Being a young man (31 is young right??) I feel like some of us are being held hostage to legislation that was passed 20-some years ago, during different times and different circumstances. There is a different mindset now and I think the sign ordinance needs to be reconsidered, even if it's just for the downtown area.
Get rid of the sign ordinance. Maybe it wouldn't have a huge impact but it certainly couldn't hurt.
Whats really going on here? It's not like Jacksonville is the birth place of mankind. What are we protecting so? If not for our bridges, Jacksonville's DT would be in serious competition for dullest city.
Quote from: Bativac on December 08, 2010, 03:08:23 PM
Quote from: urbaknight on December 08, 2010, 01:28:43 PM
In the cities near where I come from, signs are everywhere. Some are stories tall, I didn't know there were anti sign laws here in Jax. But, I can't say I'm surprised either.
Perfect example, the empty billboard above the magnificat across from the library, Couldn't that billboard at least say "welcome to Hemming Plaza! or something like that. And maybe have some flashy lights to catch the eye.
The more I learn about Jax, the more I see city council as a saboteur instead of a democratic government by and for the people.
Being a young man (31 is young right??) I feel like some of us are being held hostage to legislation that was passed 20-some years ago, during different times and different circumstances. There is a different mindset now and I think the sign ordinance needs to be reconsidered, even if it's just for the downtown area.
Get rid of the sign ordinance. Maybe it wouldn't have a huge impact but it certainly couldn't hurt.
That's why I'm trying so hard to push for different leadership come next election.
Sounds like a bunch of Rick Scott fans; "smells like jobs, etc." A buildings architecture is not enhanced by signs (check out the Chrysler Building in NYC for example...would anyone want a big neon sign on it?) but by its design.
For those of you who want to do away with the sign ordance, I encourage you to move to Blanding Boulevard between 103rd St and I-295.
Quote from: tayana42 on December 08, 2010, 11:07:09 PM
Sounds like a bunch of Rick Scott fans; "smells like jobs, etc." A buildings architecture is not enhanced by signs (check out the Chrysler Building in NYC for example...would anyone want a big neon sign on it?) but by its design.
For those of you who want to do away with the sign ordance, I encourage you to move to Blanding Boulevard between 103rd St and I-295.
I agree, it's not the architecture, if there are things at street level, or a few stories above that are worth the hype of a neon sigh, then let them show off.
Screw Blanding, it's part of the sprawl problem that I'm trying to discourage. Get those businesses out of that area and entice them to relocate downtown.
Quote from: tayana42 on December 08, 2010, 11:07:09 PM
Sounds like a bunch of Rick Scott fans; "smells like jobs, etc." A buildings architecture is not enhanced by signs (check out the Chrysler Building in NYC for example...would anyone want a big neon sign on it?) but by its design.
For those of you who want to do away with the sign ordance, I encourage you to move to Blanding Boulevard between 103rd St and I-295.
Who said anything about a sign making a building.... or Rick Scott ???
Signage just lets people passing by that there is something going on inside the building, enticing people to stop. Without anything advertising what's there people will just cruise on by.
And why would anyone want to even drive down blanding, much less move there?
Blanding north of Harlow, ConfederatePoint, Cedar Hills, Wilson Boulevard, through LakeShore ultimately transitions into Park Street at FSCJ Kent at the 17& Hamilton St. flyover, and continues through Avondale and the rest of Riverside into DT.
www.jacksonvillemarinamile.com
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jun-suburban-jacksonville-exploring-cedar-hills
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jul-working-waterfronts-jacksonvilles-marina-mile
www.lapsjax.org
perhaps a bit off topic_but you semed to need an answer, acme.
plunder this resource that is metrojacksonville and other intensely local blogs.
in short: affordability, location, location, affordability, convenience, and location. and affordability.
Maybe oneday we will enjoy our passenger rail stops along the CSX A-line.
The stretch of 21(a.k.a.Blanding bv) from Cassat, north to SanJuan, Saint John's Ave, north into Park St and 17 is not too entirely dissimilar from St.Nicolas - just years behind in locating its motivated stake-holders.
Possibly you are new to Jax?
JEA's addition of a gazillion new cobra-head fixtures from the new Benz, Lexus, Audi, BMW, Subaru dealerships at Townsend north into LakeShore coupled with JTA's "BRT" effectively "cleaned-up" the street scene from Morse to 103rd but eliminated on-street (previously legal parallel) parking with a restriping job which converted the "newly created" outboard lanes to Right Turn Only lanes. sorta killed the bargain house of fleas, somewhat sadly. www.jtafla.com / www.ridejta.com
IF and/or when this treatment is continued north, vacancies may vanish to be replaced with expanded vibrancy.
north of Wilson, or Cedar Park Ln, certainly from LakeShore Bv north into 'town, Blanding could safely carry its load as a 3 lane route with a slightly wider central "suicide" mutual turn lane for passenger vehicles with the 2 outboard lanes of the current 5 used as Right Turn Only lanes as well.
I believe such maneuvers are referred to as lane-diets.
coming soon to a Park St near you? (200RiversideAve/ Lee St viaduct teardown and replacement / whoknows)
STILL OFF TOPIC SORRY.
uhm sign ordinance.
A certain business owner (Jim's bicycle shop) is not allowed to finish freshening the painted facade of his enterprise even though he wasn't making any real changes. It now reads "Jim's Bic" on Timothy Ln next to the OrientalFOODstore and TeaRoom.
RIDICULOUS
With regards to our sign ordnance, seems to me that every time Jacksonville comes up with a good legislation idea we go over the top. As if we decided to regulate shoe strings. Jacksonville would not stop at if one had shoestrings or not, we would add size, weight, color, thickness, fiber, coatings, etc... Just too damn over the top when someone cannot even fix a sign they already have.
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: Bativac on December 08, 2010, 03:08:23 PM
Being a young man (31 is young right??) I feel like some of us are being held hostage to legislation that was passed 20-some years ago, during different times and different circumstances. There is a different mindset now and I think the sign ordinance needs to be reconsidered, even if it's just for the downtown area.
Get rid of the sign ordinance. Maybe it wouldn't have a huge impact but it certainly couldn't hurt.
I like this.
My problem with the sign ordinance is the unequal treatment. If you're some mega-Corp, you can do whatever you want. 40 foot high lighted letters? No problem! Joe Schmo wants to put a sandwich board out on the sidewalk to attract one of the pathetically few people Downtown? $200 fine.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on December 25, 2010, 11:35:33 AM
My problem with the sign ordinance is the unequal treatment. If you're some mega-Corp, you can do whatever you want. 40 foot high lighted letters? No problem! Joe Schmo wants to put a sandwich board out on the sidewalk to attract one of the pathetically few people Downtown? $200 fine.
The same rules apply for everyone...seek a variance...like Baptist is doing
Quote from: ricker on December 14, 2010, 05:16:24 AMuhm sign ordinance.
A certain business owner (Jim's bicycle shop) is not allowed to finish freshening the painted facade of his enterprise even though he wasn't making any real changes. It now reads "Jim's Bic" on Timothy Ln next to the OrientalFOODstore and TeaRoom.
RIDICULOUS
This is the kind of crap I'm talking about. I remember when a friend of mine re-did the singage for his bookshop, he had to be extremely careful not to exceed the square footage allowed by the sign ordinance, or face fines. The hoops businesses have to jump thru to try to promote themselves on the sides of their buildings are absurd. It's not that I think getting rid of the sign ordinance is going to magically transform Jacksonville, but it will at least remove one of the hurdles businesses face when trying to operate in Jacksonville.
To the poster who mentioned Rick Scott, I'm not sure what he has to do with anything. We aren't talking about defruading Medicare here. We're talking about allowing businesses to advertise themselves on their buildings, particularly in downtown Jacksonville. Talking about the architectural quality of the buildings is all well and good but I think we all realize that ain't nobody building anything in downtown Jax anytime soon that doesn't involve the words "court" and "house."
If people are concerned about billboards contaminating the pristine vistas of Jacksonville, then write a billboard ordinance. Regulate freestanding billboards. But get rid of the existing sign ordinance. Or at least put it to a vote and let us younger people, who are interested in seeing downtown Jacksonville become an interesting place to be, make our voice heard.
Quote from: Bativac on December 27, 2010, 09:50:53 AM
The hoops businesses have to jump thru to try to promote themselves on the sides of their buildings are absurd.
well Bativac...it is quotes like this that relate to Rick Scott....just check out the brainstorming of his his economic development and regulatory reform teams.
Let's have some signs...
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_16463535
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_16632214
http://www.livedowntowndenver.com/LDDBlog/?p=1713
http://www.ellmanco.com/denver.aspx
Ralph W, I found this hilarious comment from one of your linked articles:
"Chip Fu wrote:What's up with all the Debbie Downer comments? Jeez. You all need to find some joy in your lives. The screens will be fun and make downtown more lively. This is another small move of many that is helping to revitalize downtown and change Denver from the asphalt parking lot wasteland of the 1980's that was a ghost town at 5 PM on Friday into something more bright and interesting."
I don't think there could be a better, more direct parallel to the Jacksonville of the 80s and 90s (and today??).
On the other hand, many of the other comments sound like what Jacksonville residents must have sounded like back when the sign ordinance was passed. I guess it isn't just Jacksonville.
Quote from: tufsu1 on December 26, 2010, 07:16:34 PM
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on December 25, 2010, 11:35:33 AM
My problem with the sign ordinance is the unequal treatment. If you're some mega-Corp, you can do whatever you want. 40 foot high lighted letters? No problem! Joe Schmo wants to put a sandwich board out on the sidewalk to attract one of the pathetically few people Downtown? $200 fine.
The same rules apply for everyone...seek a variance...like Baptist is doing
That's the problem, not only does Joe Schmo's sandwich shop lack the resources to hire Paul Harden, but COJ always grants variances for megacorps and rarely for everyone else. Unequal.
The answer is to vote out the current leadership.
Quote from: urbaknight on December 28, 2010, 09:37:03 AM
The answer is to vote out the current leadership.
That is certainly part of the answer. But if the new leadership hears the same griping from people that they "don't want no big ol' signs" downtown and caves, then we'll be in the same boat.
I wish there was a way to magically change the mindset of some of the local residents. Or, un-consolidate and let Mandarin and the Southside pass their own sign ordinances. (Yeah, that'll happen.) This isn't even a conservative versus liberal issue, like so many things are turned into. At least I don't think it is. There's no funding involved. This is just wanting local government to ease restrictions on people being able to build a sign and advertise their business, whether it's a Christian bookstore or a gay dance club (or both).
What ever happened to just plain old common sense? I don't have a problem with anyone advertising for whatever, but Code appears to have a different take on things! This is due to disconnected government ,not really the taxpaying public! I could point out the bus's with their advertising platered all over...........yeah we get lots of money from that........something like 3% of JTA's revenue stream, but nothing is said about that! Gotta have advertisments on any "Bus Stop" to pay for the silly things and since there are only 10% with add's that only leaves the other 1800 stops with just a sign post............good job JTA.....did you enjoy your Christmas Bonus's? If this is government for the people, time to round file them all and start over!
Good point, CS I hadn't thought about that...
Why doesn't JTA's advertising-supported bus shelter proposal violate the signage ordinance?
Why can't a merchant put up a sign or a sandwich board, but JTA can put up bus shelters plastered with advertising from stem to stern in the same location? Anybody?
JTA's proposed shelters do violate the sign ordinance; that is why JTA fought for - and got - an exception, and Brinton fought against it.
I guess in lue of fancy neon signs that all cities have, the assholes at Clear channel has decided to have 6 minuet commercial breaks.
I don't know about all of you but, I'd rather get my propaganda by looking at signs on buildings and/or in front of shops, not to be bombarded by ads on tv.
At least with signs, we have no real interruptions or inconvenience. We have a choice not to be interrupted with the ad, we can just keep on going on with our lives, unlike tv, where we have to sit through that crap!
Quote from: Bativac on December 27, 2010, 03:03:47 PM
Ralph W, I found this hilarious comment from one of your linked articles:
"Chip Fu wrote:What's up with all the Debbie Downer comments? Jeez. You all need to find some joy in your lives. The screens will be fun and make downtown more lively. This is another small move of many that is helping to revitalize downtown and change Denver from the asphalt parking lot wasteland of the 1980's that was a ghost town at 5 PM on Friday into something more bright and interesting."
I don't think there could be a better, more direct parallel to the Jacksonville of the 80s and 90s (and today??).
On the other hand, many of the other comments sound like what Jacksonville residents must have sounded like back when the sign ordinance was passed. I guess it isn't just Jacksonville.
In a semi-related note. When Denver was redoing their sports complexes in the 90's, they gave small businesses grants to develop in their downtown so that patrons of the complex would have reasons to be and stay downtown outside of games. An entrepreneur used the grant to open a microbrewery (Great Divide Brewing Company) in the heart of downtown Denver. That brewery now produces 20,000 barrels a year (more than 10 times the capacity of Bold City) and is internationally known and respected company. Imagine if we had done that during the BJP, we'd have far more than the revolving door building next to the Arena that can't keep a tenant. That's just the difference between progressive leadership and....Jacksonville 'leadership'.
I was just in Denver last week and spoke to an employee of the brewery, who said the only reason they exist was that grant. Imagine how many great businesses could be in DT Jax if they had an opportunity like that.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on December 31, 2010, 02:43:43 PM
JTA's proposed shelters do violate the sign ordinance; that is why JTA fought for - and got - an exception, and Brinton fought against it.
I thought about this as I sat in the rain this weekend at the "picturesque" corner of Atlantic and University Boulevards. Two people sat on a bench, getting soaked, waiting for the bus. Surrounding them were crooked utility poles pockmarked with nails and old staples; overgrown sidewalks strewn with litter; and pickup trucks blasting some kind of angry growling music as if trying to compete with the engines of nearby motorcycles for "most aggressive loud noise."
I thought, "why would anyone want to spoil the native beauty of all this with a BUS SHELTER that included ADVERTISEMENTS? For BUSINESSES?!"
Quote from: Captain Zissou on January 03, 2011, 12:31:38 PM
In a semi-related note. When Denver was redoing their sports complexes in the 90's, they gave small businesses grants to develop in their downtown so that patrons of the complex would have reasons to be and stay downtown outside of games. An entrepreneur used the grant to open a microbrewery (Great Divide Brewing Company) in the heart of downtown Denver. That brewery now produces 20,000 barrels a year (more than 10 times the capacity of Bold City) and is internationally known and respected company. Imagine if we had done that during the BJP, we'd have far more than the revolving door building next to the Arena that can't keep a tenant. That's just the difference between progressive leadership and....Jacksonville 'leadership'.
Wait -- you mean small business grants? To encourage creative-minded entrepeneurs to locate in Downtown, instead of out in the suburbs? Perish the thought!!! Don't you think that money is better spent providing incentives for builders to construct half-finished condo towers or perhaps half-finished seafood restaurants.
I've said this before and I'll keep saying it: the city would do wonders if it would subsidize just the rent and utilities of a few small businesses for the first 6 months of their operation. Or, provide assistance with opening costs. Small grants of $5 to $10k, or even loans to be repaid after the first year. Nothing more than that. This thing of putting all the eggs into one basket isn't working. Pass some of those eggs out to us would-be entrepeneurs.
Some of us are trying to get something going business-wise and aren't even considering Jacksonville as an option. A little help getting started would sweeten the pot.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on December 25, 2010, 11:35:33 AM...........My problem with the sign ordinance is the unequal treatment. If you're some mega-Corp, you can do whatever you want. 40 foot high lighted letters? No problem! Joe Schmo wants to put a sandwich board out on the sidewalk to attract one of the pathetically few people Downtown? $200 fine............
The problem is Joe Schmo wants to put out a temporary sign and "A-Frame" sign specifically mentioned in the ordinance.
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Planning+and+Development/Building+Inspection/Sign+Laws.htm#11
In the burbs the small businesses get around this by hiring a sign holdern(person) to hold the sign. Seems like in the 30s and 40s sandwich boards used to be worn by "sign holders". They's stand in-between the boards and walk the streets or stand outside the business.
Here is a very interesting/telling photo thread that details Denver's downtown signs in their LoDo District.
Urban Denver - 16th Street Mall Signs (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=187620)
Apparently there is a law requiring 3-dimensional signs for businesses in that area. It looks very good.
Nice link, simms3. Can we all agree that the signage shown in those photos are NOT visual pollution?
Quote from: urbaknight on December 28, 2010, 09:37:03 AM
The answer is to vote out the current leadership.
I don't think enough people in this city actually care about downtown or don't even know we have one.
"Downtown? Downtown? You mean the St. John's Town Center, right?"
nice signs...I think the Town Center actually has signage like that! maybe one day DT Jax will too!
here's your sign.
(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTVUfONw7L7uCeN_3jTo5XlYZWjc_AW2_6mt3RAvvGzcNqKUEF7)
Has this building topped out? I've noticed they haven't added any floors in a few weeks, but the cranes just extended up considerably. It needs a few more floors...
If I remember correctly, it was only going to be 8 floors and their are only finishing the first 4. The rest are to remain as shells until they need the space.
As of this morning, the steel skeleton was pushing up higher...it looked like at least two more floors. They added several vertical beams. yea!
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-5379-slide35.JPG)
The tower will be 12 floors when its all said and done.
Quote from: ubben on June 28, 2011, 11:26:42 PM
Has this building topped out? I've noticed they haven't added any floors in a few weeks, but the cranes just extended up considerably. It needs a few more floors...
Top out is end of the month. West crane needed to be tied to the building at 10th floor and jumped to full height. You can see the columns for 10th thru 12th starting in the center. There are shell spaces, but not very many.
(http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx24/GrumpyOldBakerman/7-1-11.jpg)
Look for more precast to go up the building. Curtainwall will follow once precast gets several floors up.