City considers various uses for 2 tracts there
By LIZ FLAISIG, The Times-Union
The evolution of Jacksonville's LaVilla district into a mixed-use neighborhood all but stopped with the 1999 opening of its restored theater and museum.
Restaurants, stores and housing envisioned in the Downtown Master Plan for the historic African-American area never materialized despite the lure of low land prices and city-sponsored incentive deals.
But LaVilla's stagnant existence could be on the verge of changing.
Jacksonville Economic Development Commission members voted unanimously on Thursday to consider private offers to develop 3.5 acres across from LaVilla School of the Arts and near the Ritz Theatre.
Developers may submit plans within city guidelines for 816 Union St. and a two-block area bounded by Union, Jefferson and Beaver streets.
Commissioners agreed the city should consider a variety of uses for both sites, though 816 Union St. has a 6,089-square-foot building that developer Jax Casual Dining LLC did not complete.
The former restaurant site, now back in the city's possession, was due to come before commissioners so the $2.4 million investment in loan and grant money could be recovered with a new development agreement.
A national retailer's interest brought the adjacent two blocks of city-owned land into the forefront for private development bids.
JEDC Executive Director Ron Barton declined to comment on the identity of the company interested in the two blocks.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/031408/bus_257681791.shtml
Watch it be Wal-Mart
:o
Quote from: Steve on March 14, 2008, 12:26:45 AM
Watch it be Wal-Mart
D'OH! Either that or a McDonald's ::) For the sake of downtown and LaVilla, let's hope it's a Publix or Whole Foods (we need another grocery store out that way), or even a casual dining restaurant like Applebee's wouldn't be bad. I can't believe I'm condoning the establishment of national chain restaurants in a historic area, but what the hell. It's either that or an empty shell sitting there.
Too bad it couldn't be some sort of mixed use development with a national chain establishment located on the ground floor. In that case I wouldn't care of it were a Mc Donalds or Target or whatever! just as long as we fill in those vacant lots.
I don't care what it is, as long as the DDRB doesn't roll over and forces them to develop a pedestrian friendly structure that shields parking from the sidewalks. By the way, for those who want national retailers in downtown, State & Union are most likely the best two streets. They combine to carry a ton of traffic and are centrally located between Downtown, LaVilla, Durkeeville, Springfield and East Jax.
We did a story on this issue over a year ago:
Urban Connectivity: State & Union
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/images/urban_stores/UrbanTarget2.jpg)
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/281/119/
Why do I not think that whatever is going there will look like that.
Quote from: Steve on March 14, 2008, 09:01:30 AM
Why do I not think that whatever is going there will look like that.
Because it's Jacksonville of course! ;)
Lake, why do you have to get my hopes up? then I just get let down when I realize we are dealing with Downtown Jacksonville. We can't even get signage done properly.
I believe if we keep pounding them over the head with good examples, they'll eventually latch on for the ride. Besides, if sprawlbugs like Atlanta, Orlando and Charlotte can force developers to start designing their structures in this manner, there's no reason Jacksonville can't.
I'm guessing CVS. One block for the store, its dumpsters and surface parking. The second block is for a few more surface parking spaces and the retention pond since there's no master stormwater retention downtown.
Probably. But this is where the DDRB is supposed to step in and demand better. Even CVS has an urban plan on stock. Its up to us to make sure they build it.
You might be right about CVS. With that said, here are some intersting articles about their urban developments:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3374/is_n5_v17/ai_16784056
http://www.downtownkc.org/content.aspx?pgID=875&newsID=488&exCompID=82
This shows that CVS is willing to do the urban thing, if they have to. What does this mean, the DDRB needs to hold strong on the master plan, and hold them to an urban development, unlike the recent crap that they have approved.
Right now I can't picture any big retail store, without more people living downtown. Am I on the wrong track where do the customers come from? CVS makes sense.
State & Union are streets that could draw from a much larger market. If all the Northbank neighborhoods were marketed as a single under utilized market, State & Union are the two streets that would be the most viable, due to the heavy east/west traffic flow.
I work so close to LaVilla any thing would be good.
this has been bartons mantra since 1999. i like the no comment part
Quote from: JeffreyS on March 14, 2008, 05:30:55 PM
Right now I can't picture any big retail store, without more people living downtown. Am I on the wrong track where do the customers come from? CVS makes sense.
We all due respect, there ARE people living in downtown. I for one would love to see something changing on LaVilla. A small version of The St. John's Town Center with an apartment complex, a Best Buy (or Circuit City), and maybe a Sears would look perfect on that area!
here is my guess of what it will be...
(http://www.raproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/strip_mall.jpg)
If the DDRB does their job, the nasty image above won't become reality on that particular site....unless parking is hidden in the middle of the block, meaning that image represents the back of buildings facing State & Beaver Streets.
Quote from: jeh1980 on March 18, 2008, 03:13:00 PM
Quote from: JeffreyS on March 14, 2008, 05:30:55 PM
Right now I can't picture any big retail store, without more people living downtown. Am I on the wrong track where do the customers come from? CVS makes sense.
We all due respect, there ARE people living in downtown. I for one would love to see something changing on LaVilla. A small version of The St. John's Town Center with an apartment complex, a Best Buy (or Circuit City), and maybe a Sears would look perfect on that area!
Yes but enough for much retail? I hope the answer is yes. This is the area I work inand everything builds on everything else.
Quote from: JeffreyS on March 18, 2008, 07:13:26 PM
Yes but enough for much retail? I hope the answer is yes. This is the area I work inand everything builds on everything else.
i would think that there is more population concentration for retail there than there is is the SJT area. think of the density and surrounding neighborhoods. i think it would do well if it were a huge project like a mall. the only setback would be for some reason people have a negative image of downtown...
How about a Gate gas station, a McDonalds or a Waffle House? After all it is on a heavily traveled street near I-95, in an area lacking these types of places.
Quote from: thelakelander on March 18, 2008, 09:38:53 PM
How about a Gate gas station, a McDonalds or a Waffle House? After all it is on a heavily traveled street near I-95, in an area lacking these types of places.
We could also use an orange stand, fireworks store and a rest area in Lavilla.
Panera, Steak and Shake, Chipotle or let there be a Jason's deli.
Quote from: copperfiend on March 18, 2008, 10:08:31 PMWe could also use an orange stand, fireworks store and a rest area in Lavilla.
wow
Quote from: JeffreyS on March 18, 2008, 10:45:12 PM
Panera, Steak and Shake, Chipotle or let there be a Jason's deli.
How did you know I had my sights on LaVilla?
Quote from: JeffreyS on March 18, 2008, 10:45:12 PM
Panera, Steak and Shake, Chipotle or let there be a Jason's deli.
I would love for a Jason's Deli to be closer to downtown....
Panera Bread would likely go in one of the office towers. The Tower Mall in AT&T Building could really use a Panera Bread, and a real gym, not this Curves for Women bullshit. ::) They should really expand Tower Mall to almost the street, leaving enough room for at least some small, tasteful foliage I.E. anything but Live, Laurel or Water Oak. They should do what they are doing to 999 Peachtree St./Wachovia Tower in Midtown Atlanta. Which is, demolish your plaza and build retail.
Maybe we can plant a few more hot dog carts out there, and move the I-10 Flea Market to the site..
It's more the city's style.
After all, the courthouse site is steps away from becoming a new site for Jax Raceways.
Hot Dog Carts, Flea Markets, Dirt Track Racing..... yup, thats Jacksonville. Bold new city of the south.