No plans and counting for the space to be vacated by construction crews on the old Southern Bell building space? Nice to know that Mayor Peyton's administration thought so little of the 1913 constructed building that would have been 100 next year. So now, no one in the City has a plan for the space. So I cannot wait for the pocket park of the future, or perhaps an expensive parking deck or as we see across from the new courthouse, weeds in a field?
QuoteAfter spending millions of dollars to buy the old Southern Bell Building and tear it down in 2003, Jacksonville doesn't have a plan for how to use the land in the heart of downtown.
The city purchased the six-story building, which dated back to 1913, for $3.2 million while acquiring land for the new county courthouse complex. But nothing was ever built on the Southern Bell parcel, one city block in size at the corner of West Adams and Julia streets.
Today, the leftover property is mainly dirt and gravel, occupied by temporary construction trailers used by contractors working on the courthouse.
The property is a prime spot for new development, said Terry Lorince, executive director of Downtown Vision, a nonprofit that represents downtown property owners and advocates for more businesses and residences in the core.
"It would be great to see anything built there that would activate downtown," Lorince said. "If that's residential, if that's a school, if that's an office building â€" anything that brings people downtown."
Emily Lisska, executive director of the Jacksonville Historical Society, said it's a shame the building was torn down. She said completion of the county courthouse could have pumped new life into the building for use by law firms and legal-related businesses.
She said the city has preserved historic buildings such as turning the old St. James Building into City Hall, but it's also let historic structures fall by the wayside.
"The city of Jacksonville has been the best friend and the worst enemy to preservation and saving our historic buildings," she said. "It's as simple as that."
Paul Crawford, acting director of the city's Office of Economic Development, said a decision on the land will be up to the Downtown Investment Authority proposed by Mayor Alvin Brown.
The City Council is still considering Brown's proposed creation of an appointed board that would focus solely on downtown development.
The old Southern Bell Building wasn't in the way of either the original design or the final design for the courthouse that just opened.
But at one time, the city expected the Southern Bell property could become the site of a new First Court of Appeals annex in Jacksonville. Northeast Florida lawmakers secured state funding to build a $16 million, 70,000-square-foot annex to the Tallahassee-based appeals court.
But in 2001, the Florida Supreme Court called the annex unneeded and said the money should instead help close a state budget shortfall.
The site became part of an eight-block campus that includes the old federal courthouse, which will be renovated for use by the State Attorney's Office.
Jacksonville Bar Association President Michael Freed said he'd like the city to use the former Southern Bell site for a judicial-related building. He said that some ideas to consider would be a downtown annex for Florida Coastal School of Law or an agency that has a critical role in the judicial branch.
"That would certainly make sense rather than putting some use there that doesn't serve that core function," Freed said. "Obviously, that's subject to budgets and economics and everything else, but if I had a magic wand, it [the property] would be put to use in the administration of justice."
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-06-20/story/what-plans-leftover-land-near-duval-courthouse#ixzz1yKOjJaty (http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-06-20/story/what-plans-leftover-land-near-duval-courthouse#ixzz1yKOjJaty)
Real shame. Any idea why no progress has been made through the CC on Alvin Brown's proposed DIA?
^Can't blame the CC on that one. The proposal was withdrawn for rewriting and so nothing further has been submitted.
It's amazing that we still continue with this idea of "tear it down and we'll figure out what to do with it later". See old court house discussion.
Something tells me whatever happens with this site will never match what was once on it.....
(http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/spottswood/sp00289.jpg)
Quote from: Tacachale on June 20, 2012, 08:57:19 AM
^Can't blame the CC on that one. The proposal was withdrawn for rewriting and so nothing further has been submitted.
I thought it was resubmitted at the end of May?
What's the big deal? It's already been developed to the highest standards.
It's a surface parking lot! What else would you do with downtown real estate?
What a fantastic location for a parking garage! You know, the kind where cars from all across the city could come and commune together...
OCKLAWAHA
Typical Jacksonville. " If you tear it down, and they will come." And there are numerous properties that still sit empty using this theory. How about having a concreate plan in place before you bulldoze the existing property.
Like the article mentions. It would have been a great lawyers office building or a extenson of the Law School.
Why not use this land for the courthouse retention pond?
Haven't you heard there is a mega highrise planned for that site. Oh wait, nevermind.
She said the city has preserved historic buildings such as turning the old St. James Building into City Hall, but it's also let historic structures fall by the wayside.
"The city of Jacksonville has been the best friend and the worst enemy to preservation and saving our historic buildings," she said. "It's as simple as that."
its all about perspective.
What a new concept, ground floor retail, and business together.
It isn't just downtown, either. They tore down the old Horne's restaurant and motel, and the adjacent motel at I-95 and University for a new Home Depot, which never materialized. It's now a weed strewn vacant lot too.
It would take someone with real INTUITION to discover the right use for the site;)
So... why was it torn down in the first place? Were there structural issues or something?
It was actually in pretty good shape and occupied. It was torn down to make way for the new courthouse, which ended up a block away. This demo was one expense with the courthouse project that was a complete waste.
Quote from: thelakelander on June 20, 2012, 02:57:01 PM
It was actually in pretty good shape and occupied. It was torn down to make way for the new courthouse, which ended up a block away. This demo was one expense with the courthouse project that was a complete waste.
That's unbelievable. And stupid.
I haven't even been here a year yet, and I'm just astonished at the active malice the city seems to have against it's history and historical structures. In major cities across America, citizens and their elected representatives fight tooth and nail to at least preserve buildings like this. Her,e the government seems most responsible for these buildings coming down and by the comments section in the TU, people here can't be bothered and would probably cheer if all of 32202 was bulldozed and turned into a parking lot.
Charlotte doesn't fight tooth and nail. They've destroyed most of their historical fabric. Of course, they are ready with infill on those demolitions.
Quote from: downtownjag on June 20, 2012, 02:27:57 PM
It would take someone with real INTUITION to discover the right use for the site;)
That's a great idea!
INTUITION is looking for a place to build a new brewery. An integral tavern will draw in the three martini (beer) lunch crowd from the courthouse and all those lawyers offices.
But will there be enough parking?
Yet ANOTHER historic Jacksonville building thoughtlessly demolished in the name of progress.
In hindsight this was a terrible decision, but you do have to remember the context. During the early 2000's the energy DT was the opposite of the downturn it is experiencing now. The courthouse was coming and the BJP was spurring a lot of new investment both public and private. This building was the ONLY one in the whole block. With it gone, it was a blank canvas. It seemed highly likely that it would be put to some new use.
Actually, the original courthouse plan showed a park-like square in front of the Cannon design courthouse. for this block.
Quote from: thelakelander on June 20, 2012, 09:59:53 AM
Something tells me whatever happens with this site will never match what was once on it.....
(http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/spottswood/sp00289.jpg)
A 13 floor hotel ... no wonder it didnt last & got demolished ;)
On a serious note: My mom graduated from high school here in 1952. She told me she & the family loved it because it was air conditioned. Their house at the time was not.