(http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/15537/2289875390104969885S600x600Q85.jpg)
Hopefully somebody running for office is looking...
It's quick, it's fairly cheap---hell someone reading this might even donate the move, or perhaps the Governor - Mayor could ask the National Guard to do it as an exercise (has been SUCCESSFULLY done before BTW). The building hooked up to utilities could then be leased out as a ____________________ to whomever until such time as the Brooklyn-Riverside Skyway line reaches this point.
The Corner is VERY important, and the land ALREADY belongs to the CITY-JTA for Skyway use. JTA's streetcar study would send a line right around this corner, perhaps even through the corner under the Skyway, likewise the BRT to the Westside could also pass right past, making this a great little TRANSFER STATION-TOD.
It could also set a national precedence as a way to recycle old historic buildings for a new life.
FIDELITY? If you read this THINK OF THE BAY AREA... Think of the progressive cities... THINK before you rip this historic building down... How about a give away? How about a move? I'm asking.
(http://cdn.wn.com/pd/83/a2/0a6fbe6d492e8d75f597dbc8cb8c_grande.jpg)
This is, BTW, totally within the Florida National Guards talents.
OCKLAWAHA
I love it. let's do it.
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bQsuhPJduqQ/TUHTfbKT3NI/AAAAAAAAEBk/yOG7C67nJWc/s800/FIRE_STATION_5.JPG)
I'm sure one of you could do a super cool rendering, showing the Skyway AND buses or streetcars, but this little scribble at least gives you an idea.
Your right Captain, we need to light a fire under someone, I wonder where RAP is on this?
OCKLAWAHA
That is similar to the last proposal put forth... but it also had the city giving away very valuable land for free AND covering very expensive relocation expenses.
Hell, If I could get that deal(that land has a premium value)... I'd open a Subway franchise and lease out the top floor as office space in that building tomorrow. And by tomorrow I mean this afternoon.
Sounds a lot like that failed restaurant attempt in LaVilla if you ask me.
If the city were willing to cover moving expenses and Fidelity would donate the building, you could probably get someone to pay fair-market for the land. Fair-market being slightly depressed at the moment. At least put an RFP out there and see. The moving expenses could be covered by the city's Historic fund.
The land across the street shown in the little satellite view was given to the city by FDOT when Riverside AV was widened. It was surplus and JTA plans to use it for the Skyway.
So there is NO LAND TO BUY.
OCKLAWAHA
I think fieldafm was referring to the VALUE of the land, not the fact that the city already owned it. Giving away a valuable asset is a subsidy. In this case the city received it for free, but some public entity FDOT or COJ had to pay for the land at some point.
Yeah, my understanding was it was a unused or unusable corner of a full lot that got chopped off with the Forest-Riverside Avenue improvements. It was probably purchased under those rules, and now is a remnant of something bigger. I would put that "Subway," shop in there tomorrow with the understanding that when the Skyway comes, it's going to get messy. However, the whole idea of having a building rather then just covered elevated platform between two tracks is to develop TOD and make the stations draw their own crowds. How many people would leave the Omni, Wells Fargo, ATT-CSX Building etc each day for a SUBWAY in Riverside if it was that close to the Skyway? JTA making rent money from a station, how novel is that?
OCKLAWAHA
(http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/4709/metro9.jpg)
This is a photo taken in the MEDELLIN METRO, note the toy store built into the station, there are also restaurants, snack bars, fruit stands, high end clothing, shoes, and at least one pharmacy. Another station at the University houses a planetarium and a full multi-screen theater complex, which has made the metro the place to go on a date! Recycling the fire station is the same idea on a smaller scale and it also achieve PRESERVATION.
OCKLAWAHA
If the cost is about the same that the Historical Society wants from the City to buy the Old St. Lukes Hospital, I would rather use the funds for the Historical Society and their plans for the hospital and casket building.