Ambassador Hotel Project Seeks Conceptual Approval
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/1567023436_T9cHqVt-M.jpg)
After being directed to go back to the drawing board in March, Birmingham-based Arbour Valley Development is back with more detail on their plans for the restoration of the Ambassador Hotel. Here is a look at the presentation they'll be giving at today's Downtown Development Review Board meeting.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-may-ambassador-hotel-project-seeks-conceptual-approval
Looks solid to me.
I sure hope they can get this done. Parked in front of the building yesterday, while walking the street thought to myself what a sad, desolate, looking part of downtown. I cant believe the old Independent Life Building is still sitting there unused.
^Julia Street is like a scene out of 28 Days Later. I hope they can pull this off as well.
^^good analogy Lake. haha
It's just sad to walk up Julia to eat at Justin's in City Place. This seems like the beginning of the turnaround the street needs.
Ditto, fsujax. I do wish the federal rehab tax credit for historic buildings didn't just apply to income producing properties. I wish it could apply to people who rehab buildings for condos too. I think you only have to maintain it as apartments for five years, but it would be nice to be able to have some loft/condo conversions coming online in historic buildings.
That said, bring on the apartments! It would be amazing to have this building rehabbed.
Almost a year ago, I profiled the Ambassador Hotel and Julia Street http://youtu.be/r3wUavybhIw
I like this. Looks solid.
Debbie, The John Gorrie got some type of tax credit good for the first 10 years of ownership, and they are condos. There are a lot of hoops to jump through, from what I've heard.
This is a deduction in property taxes. Not "Federal." However, would still be an incentive for developers and end users, it would seem.
The property tax relief helps the buyers. The federal tax credit helps the developers/rehabbers. You get a tax credit (not deduction...a credit) for rehabbing an historic building into income producing property. So it has to be rentals. Unless I'm mistaken, which is entirely possible. :-)
Not sure why, but look what popped up on LoopNet last Tuesday. Apparently, the Ambassador Hotel is once again for sale ($6,000,000). Guess these plans were dropped?
Listed by Wayne Sanderson with Easton, Sanderson and Company
http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Profile/Profile.aspx?LID=18070035&SRID=3322621891&StepID=101
Not sure. I don't believe the property was ever purchased. The Birmingham group could still be performing their due diligence and evaluating the project's feasibility. Assuming it's feasible, projects like this typically still take years to go from conceptual planning to construction and completion.
Learn something new everyday. Hope that is the case, because I really like this design and concept.
Something has been going on here for the past few days. Last week there was some sort of construction going on inside. I could here table saws and drills. Today the boards were removed from ALL of the windows and doors. I asked the guys if they knew what was going on. They said they couldn't tell me anything other than all of the windows are being replaced and a security system / cameras are being installed. Anybody know if this is a good sign for it's re-development?
It's a good thing if windows are being replaced and a security system is being installed.
Quote from: thelakelander on January 19, 2014, 03:30:24 PM
It's a good thing if windows are being replaced and a security system is being installed.
Depends on whether they are replacing original windows (ideally would restore) and what they are replacing them with. A lot of crappy windows that don't do justice by old buildings get put in.
I saw something online a letter dated 12/16/13 to the state of Florida where they were protesting the agents ineligible determination Application 2014-117c with regard to RFA 2013-02 with regard to the Arbours at Ambassador Place. Of course I have no idea what this means but definite recent activity.
Quote from: edjax on January 19, 2014, 03:49:26 PM
I saw something online a letter dated 12/16/13 to the state of Florida where they were protesting the agents ineligible determination Application 2014-117c with regard to RFA 2013-02 with regard to the Arbours at Ambassador Place. Of course I have no idea what this means but definite recent activity.
You lost me at 2014-117c haha. But I'll get some pictures once they're finished if you guys would like?
Yea me too on being lost. The RFA appears to have been the sales agreement between owner to the Alabama company. The protest letter is due to them being ruled ineligible for some aspect of the RFA. Again I have no idea but just it was some recent activity on this location so thought I would share as figured others here may know more about it.
Beautiful building, I hope it can be faithfully restored and put to use. I think it had a lounge at one time called the 'Downtowner'? Back in the Seventies, early Eighties.
Quote from: Kay on January 19, 2014, 03:47:37 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on January 19, 2014, 03:30:24 PM
It's a good thing if windows are being replaced and a security system is being installed.
Depends on whether they are replacing original windows (ideally would restore) and what they are replacing them with. A lot of crappy windows that don't do justice by old buildings get put in.
The existing windows in that building are not original anyway. They're pretty bad vinyl (or maybe aluminum) replacement windows.
Quote from: JaxArchitect on January 20, 2014, 01:06:21 PM
Quote from: Kay on January 19, 2014, 03:47:37 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on January 19, 2014, 03:30:24 PM
It's a good thing if windows are being replaced and a security system is being installed.
Depends on whether they are replacing original windows (ideally would restore) and what they are replacing them with. A lot of crappy windows that don't do justice by old buildings get put in.
The existing windows in that building are not original anyway. They're pretty bad vinyl (or maybe aluminum) replacement windows.
I have seen the Historic department, the organizations and the HPC give maybe ten minutes to the determination of a demolition but then spend hours on what windows to use. Perhaps it is time to worry more about keeping the building and getting it back into use rather than loosing the forest for the trees.
They don't need to reinvent the wheel.
All over the country are historic boilings will energy efficient windows that look like they look original to the building.
The windows thing is something I've never understood. We'll get someone who wants to restore a building and then nitpick them over the type of windows they want to use.
100% agree. The HPC hearings regarding the John Gorrie really did it for me. They put Mrs Weaver through the ringer regarding the window restoration (on a property which she will lose money on, think of how that would be if you were like the rest of us and actually had to turn a profit).
Has there been any new info on this project?