Urban Construction Update - March 2012
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/1754760819_p2tjw9h-M.jpg)
A brief look at the status of various projects under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville during the month of March 2012.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-mar-urban-construction-update-march-2012
Not one picture of the super dredge of Hogans Creek or Bay St. Pier Park? Field could you post the pics you took Sat. when we were out there on Hogans Creek? Gary Anderson with the Jacksonville Waterways Commission was there as well. Good or Bad this will have a huge impact as it relates to Public Access and Economic opportunity to our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative. That is a fact.
What's going on in Hogans Creek and the Shipyards? I wasn't aware. If you have them, send some images over and I'll add them to the article.
Edit: Now that I think about it, they are extending the riverwalk between the Shipyards and Berkman II to Bay Street. Anything else?
why were the Bisbee's windows removed?
What I have noticed with this update and with the last update is not a lot of construction, but a paradigm shift in neighborhood businesses to ones that are useful to residents.
For instance in the Shoppes of Avondale most of what was there was not necessarily useful to your average nearby resident. You had a bunch of shops selling overpriced trinkets. Now you have some regular businesses opening up that more people can utilize. I'll miss have R. Roberts Gallery there on the corner, but Jax is fairly poor and without all of that home equity many people simply can't afford all that expensive art. However, having a Sherwin Williams, which is a store selling a product anyone can afford and use to me is a sign that young people are moving to the area and demanding paint for their home projects. I think it signals something. I can tell you that many a house in the area needs a paint job, and with more people sticking around perhaps these paint jobs are getting done.
I also think this organic re-adaption of the intown neighborhoods of Avondale, Riverside and San Marco works well with the density and the fundamentals already in place. I still believe downtown needs something more than just a piecemeal improvement. It needs the organic bit by bit growth as well as a major catalyst or two as well as policy changes.
The Bisbee Building's windows have been removed?
they were falling out, a few Saturdays ago when it was super windy, one fell out onto the sidewalk. Not sure how much longer the buildings will make it and yes, us po folk here in Jacksonville can't afford expensive art work!
QuoteWhat's going on in Hogans Creek and the Shipyards? I wasn't aware. If you have them, send some images over and I'll add them to the article.
Edit: Now that I think about it, they are extending the riverwalk between the Shipyards and Berkman II to Bay Street. Anything else?
The Riverwalk is being extended to connect to the sidewalk on the Berkman II property(not the Shipyards property. Seems like a waste as that money could be spent at a later time to fill in the bulkhead work on the pier/Shipyards future Riverwalk instead of putting down a concrete path near a building that is starting to show bad damage to the rebar/concrete work closest to the new 'Riverwalk path'. Especially considering that the Riverwalk ALREADY connects to the Bay Street sidewalk by way of the Berkman Plaza(there's even a water fountain feature there.
The overland bridge has been removed and the mouth of Hogans Creek is being expanded as part of a flood mitigation plan. Again, the work is not being coordinated with the remediation efforts or future Hogans Creek Greenway upstream... once again proving that a clearing house that can coordinate a holistic approach to Hogans is sorely needed. Things continue to be piecemealed... and that leads to waste.
Furthermore, the removal of the bridge is curious as it completly seperates the two land masses of the Shipyards property... yet the parcels aren't legally seperated. Makes you wonder what the plan is there?
On a bright note, the boons at the mouth of Hogans have kept some debris from floating upstream. Over the last two weeks, you can start to better understand how much trash is being left from the homeless camps, versus what floats into Hogans from tidal currents. The downside is the construction site is full of more trash than you would like... especially on a site in an environmentally sensitive area of the river, where very little wind resistance measures have also not been employed(meaning more silt and debris can fall into the river_you would think the City learned its lesson on the I-95 Overland Bridge projects near McCoys Creek... or the debris issues during the removal of the Fuller Warren Bridge).
Quotebut Jax is fairly poor
Might want to check your demographics ;)
BTW, R Roberts (smartly) now curates private shows instead of maintaining an expensive gallery.
Also, M Shack isn't a rumor. They are indeed converting TAG into an M Shack.
The Panera bread development on Hendricks signed a second tenant a few weeks ago (ATT&T or Metro PCS, can't remember-it's some kind of cell phone company).
The sushi place in Avondale opens this week(Thursday I believe).
The sign at the site advertising Panera bread's arrival also notes Boost Mobile as a new tenant.
Anyone know if Murphy/Anderson is taking up both floors of the new building? Would be interesting if they used the second floor but rented out the first for mixed use or retail.
Thanks for the updates to M Shack and Boost Mobile. The article has been modified to reflect this information.
When is the San Marco streetscape project scheduled to be completed?
I see that one zillion palm trees have been just planted around the I-295/Butler Blvd interchange. I can't say they did a great job placing them (unnatural rigid straight lines on the tip tops of the ramps--looks awkward) but was glad to see something. Any word on the 95-I-10 interchange? It looks really bare. It'd be nice to have a natural, local forest feel in the spaces that are large enough to accomodate them.
Were those palm trees at the JTB/295 interchange worth $2 million spent to purchase and plant them?
What is going on with the MLK expressway area between phoenix and Buckman?
Quote from: thelakelander on March 19, 2012, 11:46:21 AM
Were those palm trees at the JTB/295 interchange worth $2 million spent to purchase and plant them?
My thoughts exactly. I personally think they look awful, but I'm sure there are some that enjoy them. Who approved that expenditure and where did the money come from. That money could be much better spent somewhere (almost anywhere) else.
Quote from: Heynorm on March 19, 2012, 11:50:45 AM
What is going on with the MLK expressway area between phoenix and Buckman?
A new interchange with 21st Street.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-mar-major-urban-interchange-project-underway
Quote from: Captain Zissou on March 19, 2012, 12:40:27 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on March 19, 2012, 11:46:21 AM
Were those palm trees at the JTB/295 interchange worth $2 million spent to purchase and plant them?
My thoughts exactly. I personally think they look awful, but I'm sure there are some that enjoy them. Who approved that expenditure and where did the money come from. That money could be much better spent somewhere (almost anywhere) else.
FDOT...the new Secretary (with the blessing of our Governor) announced last year that they would be "enhancing" the landscaping at many key gateways.....the landscaping budget for the 95/10 interchange got beefed up as a result and installation should be happening soon.
they might not be finished with the landscaping project, planting the palms is the first thing they will do.
I see a Mary's is being built here. I have heard alot of good things about the one in Tampa's Ybor city. Good to see some good things happenings. Hope they do well here.
I have seen the architect's renderings for the Julia's organic grocery, and they have some really interesting ideas for the building. I hope the project moves forward in a timely manner!
What more information can you share about the former store at 1553 Market (corner of 6th/Market)? Gots any?
I haven't seen those particular palms. They are likely Pheonix palms brought over from Saudi. So much for landscaping with native plants.
Lake,
you wrote something awhile back about improving the exposure of the AT&T(EverBank) Building to street-level. While that's certainly something they NEED to do to help draw business, is that something EverBank could do on its own, or does the City have to be involved?
It's something the property owner of the building would have to allow. At a minimum, better signage would be a huge improvement at an affordable cost. If they wanted to toss some money into the concept, then better exposure at the pedestrian level by modifying some of the facade (ex. transparent windows, awnings, etc. were feasible) to indicate that there are businesses there can be considered. From a city standpoint, it would help if there were encouragement from the public sector to better integrate private properties at the pedestrian scale.
Since you mentioned Murray Hill, what in the world is going on with Roosevelt Bv between McDuff Ave and the Roosevelt expressway. Parallel with the CSX railroad. And parellel with the JEA substation. Its totally torn up and has been that way for almost a month.
Anyone know when Jersey Mikes will open?? It looks like it could be any day now. I live about a half mile from there now and I'd love to add it to my list of dinner options.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on March 22, 2012, 04:13:28 PM
Anyone know when Jersey Mikes will open?? It looks like it could be any day now. I live about a half mile from there now and I'd love to add it to my list of dinner options.
Next week.
QuoteSince you mentioned Murray Hill, what in the world is going on with Roosevelt Bv between McDuff Ave and the Roosevelt expressway. Parallel with the CSX railroad. And parellel with the JEA substation. Its totally torn up and has been that way for almost a month.
That stretch of Roosevelt Blvd was part of the reconstruction of the road. There are also parts around the Edgewood Avenue ramp that will be torn up and rebuilt, as they are showing severe cracks in the roadway. The area torn up was a really rough road and needed to be rebuilt.
Nice to see that the contractor has smoothed out the US 17 roadway as well. It really is a comfortable road to travel now.
Quote from: thelakelander on March 19, 2012, 05:39:26 AM
What's going on in Hogans Creek and the Shipyards? I wasn't aware. If you have them, send some images over and I'll add them to the article.
Edit: Now that I think about it, they are extending the riverwalk between the Shipyards and Berkman II to Bay Street. Anything else?
Lake,
I'll do you one better. Low tides all next week in the am. Bring your camera. Sit in the front and we can do a wirlwind paddle of the Northbank and you can post the super dredge of Hogans Creek next to Bay St. We can capture a sunrise from under the Hyatt parking lot and emerge next to Khan's yacht.
Will put in at the only kayak launch on the Northbank and I'll bring a fishing pole and fish under the brand new no fishing signs. We'll paddle by the Historic Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier Shipyards/Landmar 2010-604, 2011-560 and you can explain to me what is the plan. Because I'm not seeing it. We can do this in just over an hour and then you can post the pics for all to see.
We both want to say.
Visit Jackonville!
Especially Downtown.
Quote from: thelakelander on March 19, 2012, 05:39:26 AM
What's going on in Hogans Creek and the Shipyards? I wasn't aware.
This is right next to the Maxwell House Plant and the Jacksonville Historical society! Field you took pics! This is a massive, HUGE dredge. They are still digging. Anyone with rising tides want to see this in a kayak? Springfield where are you?
Low tides this week in the am.
City council meeting in two days. Waterways in 3. Redman, Gaffney do something.
The Public Trust just totally destroyed. I'll show you the legislation and then you tell me.
Visit Jacksonville
or
Don't Visit Jacksonville
I am Downtown.
And why you aren't.
Its going to be a beautiful morning on the river who wants to celebrate it?
It should be noted that the new restaurant at 1534 Oak Street will not be called Chew. It will be The Black Sheep or something similar.
Quote from: simms3 on March 19, 2012, 07:02:02 AM
I'll miss have R. Roberts Gallery there on the corner, but Jax is fairly poor and without all of that home equity many people simply can't afford all that expensive art.
Jen moved her art gallery over to the Riverplace Tower on the southbank. http://jenjonesart.com/ (http://jenjonesart.com/)
Honestly, I'm not impresses with Baptist's color scheme and the signage is not what was originally portrayed. The renderings, that were posted a while back, showed much better looking signage along I95 and on the opposite side as well.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-dec-baptist-medical-center-seeks-signage-exception-
The colors of the building do not seems to be as vibrant as portrayed either.
Nonetheless, I've loved watching the building grow!
I wish the baptist tower would have done more with the crown. Granted, it's a wide building so it won't have a pyramid like BoA, but something a little more ornamental to house the utilities on the top would have been nice. As it is, I think it looks like somebody hacked off the top.