This week's Jax Biz Journal has a feature on downtown development. Here's a few project updates from the article:
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/04/07/focus1.html?page=3
1. 200 Riverside - Hallmark Properties:
This project will break ground this summer. The residential portion of this development has been eliminated and replaced with a 2,500 room hotel.
2. The Landing:
Humana Inc., the city and Sleiman have reached an agreement to build a 1,000-space parking garage on the Landing's east lot.
3. The Library:
Construction will begin this summer. Tenants include City Market grocery store, an Italian restaurant, a wine bar by San Marco's The Grotto, Folio Weekly, a billiards parlor and offices for a law firm.
4. Chamblin's Uptown Bookmine:
Opened on March 30, 2008
5. Downtown has $388 million worth of projects under construction and $2.2 billion proposed in 2007, down from $405 million under construction and $3.4 billion proposed in 2006.
A 2,500 room hotel??? I wonder if they meant 250 room hotel?
Exactly, got to be a typo.
The paper says 2,500, but now thinking about it, the market can't support a hotel that large. 250 units is much more realistic.
Chamblin's is open? They were closed during Art Walk.
2,500 would be larger than all of the other downtown hotels COMBINED. 250 Makes a lot of sense on that site actually.
Quote from: Lunican on April 04, 2008, 09:29:51 AM
Chamblin's is open? They were closed during Art Walk.
Yes, I went by Wednesday during the day. They had the softest of soft openings. It looks like what they did was when they started to unload the first box and put the books on the shelves, they opened the doors. The upstairs is supposed to open April 13th, and the coffee shop in 2-3 weeks.
Great update Lake.
I wonder how many more hotel units Jax will now have as compared to when the Superbowl was in town.
If this is completed, then 250
What about the Kings Ave and the Brooklyn Park projects?
Quote from: Jason on April 04, 2008, 10:30:34 AM
What about the Kings Ave and the Brooklyn Park projects?
And you're talking about hotels in the city as a whole i'm assuming, i'm sure with the towncenter and other sprawling developments around town we've added at least a couple hundred since 2005, not counting this one.
I guess Kings Avenue Station counts, even though it's technically outside of downtown. Add another 220 then.
To be honest, until I see concrete getting poured at Brooklyn Park, I'm not holding my breath on that one, but it would be another 150.
So, if everything here broke ground, it would be 620.
However, if we are going to talk "proposed numbers, my guess based on the square footage would be 400 rooms for Bay St Station, between the two hotels. That brings the total to 1020 rooms.
I don't see this happening, because it would be the equivalent of opening another Hyatt, and I don't think we can support this with our current craptacular convention center.
And yes, if you are talking about the city as a whole, I'd say someting in the 2500 range between proposed and built since 2005 in the metro area.
Quote from: Tony Bowlasoupa on April 04, 2008, 10:39:59 AM
Quote from: Jason on April 04, 2008, 10:30:34 AM
What about the Kings Ave and the Brooklyn Park projects?
And you're talking about hotels in the city as a whole i'm assuming, i'm sure with the towncenter and other sprawling developments around town we've added at least a couple hundred since 2005, not counting this one.
The Sheraton near the Town Center is almost done and they are supposed to be starting on the Westin at the Town Center soon. I'd like to see some of these higher end hotels near the core. The Hampton Inn on the Southbank is embarassing.
I said it before and I'll say it again: I'll believe it only when I see it.
I'd love to share everybody's excitement and enthusiasm every time new projects are announced on this board, but .... my rosy glasses are simply nowhere to be found. Not just that, but my pessimism is slowly turning into rage because I'm starting to feel like a fool when I read terms like "live-work", "pedestrian friendly", "walkable", "urban" etc. The projects that actually do happen are parking garages and ... and parking lots. Oh, wait .... and windowless office buildings!
But .... don't take my word for it! ;-)
I agree this has to be a typo...QuoteThe paper says 2,500, but now thinking about it, the market can't support a hotel that large. 250 units is much more realistic.
But:
You youngsters don't recall this as some of us might, they said the same thing when Peachtree Plaza went up in Atlanta. "Dreamers", "Fools", "Delusional" etc... Hummm?
"IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME!"Ocklawaha
Quote from: Steve on April 04, 2008, 10:41:07 AM
I guess Kings Avenue Station counts, even though it's technically outside of downtown. Add another 220 then.
To be honest, until I see concrete getting poured at Brooklyn Park, I'm not holding my breath on that one, but it would be another 150.
So, if everything here broke ground, it would be 620.
However, if we are going to talk "proposed numbers, my guess based on the square footage would be 400 rooms for Bay St Station, between the two hotels. That brings the total to 1020 rooms.
I don't see this happening, because it would be the equivalent of opening another Hyatt, and I don't think we can support this with our current craptacular convention center.
Thanks Steve. I was referring to the core versus the entire city.
620 additional units downtown should be easily absorbed and offer some descent options. The competition may also help to keep the rates reasonable a well.
Quote from: Ocklawaha on April 04, 2008, 01:46:29 PM
I agree this has to be a typo...
QuoteThe paper says 2,500, but now thinking about it, the market can't support a hotel that large. 250 units is much more realistic.
But:
You youngsters don't recall this as some of us might, they said the same thing when Peachtree Plaza went up in Atlanta. "Dreamers", "Fools", "Delusional" etc... Hummm?
"IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME!"
Ocklawaha
Yeah! 250 rooms sound kind of small. Maybe if they do 500 rooms can be better! :D
How tall would that be, for 250 rooms? Has anybody seen a site plan showing the footprint? Of course, the height depends on the number of rooms per floor - small footprint, few rooms, taller building, and vice versa.
Depends on the footprint and the type of hotel. For example, Kuhn's Riverwatch was +30 stories with around 200 rooms, but there are two story hotels out in the suburbs that have just as many units. Original renderings had a residential structure in the 10 to 15 story range. Unless they have altered the office building plans, the hotel is probably in the same height range.
Here is an idea of what could be in downtown Jacksonville... Also compare our tourist draw with some of these places!
(http://static.flickr.com/84/279846725_63acd02e6f.jpg)
100 Room failure. The historic Failingers Hotel Gunter, built in 1896 by William R. Percy and his son-in-law Gladstone Hitchens, opened New Year's Day 1897 as the Hotel Gladstone. This grand hotel boasted 100 rooms, a cafe, a barbershop, and a sample room for displaying traveling salesmen's wares. Guests were attended by bellboys in brown uniforms with smoked pearl buttons and a chef from New York. Tennis courts were located behind the hotel along with a petting farm where a tame fawn was kept. And from the 5th floor observatory, guests could scan the beautiful countryside.
(http://www.tech-utopia.biz/Hotelvenecia.JPG)
Plan for the 500 room New Utopia Hotel in Germany. (it must be all of those palms and that tropical beach music?)
(http://static.flickr.com/55/217872880_cbf47c354f.jpg)
1,000 Room Hotel: The Copper Square hotel in downtown Phoenix, AZ. (garden spot of the world = 2 feet from HELL)
(http://static.flickr.com/12/88486162_07f6a67b18.jpg)
But of course, until now, we've been a bit slow to develop this pot of gold under our noses. Perhaps those days are over now... Bring on the high rises!
Ocklawaha