Jessie Ball duPont Center (Haydon Burns) Renderings
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/2975953610_FDHDz3L-M.jpg)
Going before the Downtown Development Review Board today to request Conceptual Approval, plans for the conversion of the old Haydon Burns Library into the Jessie Ball duPont Center continue to advance. Here is a look at plans to renovate the iconic downtown building, at 122 Ocean Street, into a regional philanthropic and nonprofit center.
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-dec-jessie-ball-dupont-center-haydon-burns-renderings
Very nice. I appreciate that structure more and more.
This is a good project.
Am I reading that right? They are going to expand the 2nd floor to fill most of what is now the open space above the first floor. It looks like the only "open to 2nd floor" area is a small section along the Adams Street side.
Also, still hoping for a cafe along the Forsyth Street side.
I, too, think it's a good project. However, as they renovate, they will need to think about what to do with the homeless people who have gravitated to that building for many years.
I'll be interested to see what "retail" goes into the building. The rest of it seems kinda #yawn in my opinion. However, anything is better than an empty building.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on December 19, 2013, 07:03:22 AM
Am I reading that right? They are going to expand the 2nd floor to fill most of what is now the open space above the first floor. It looks like the only "open to 2nd floor" area is a small section along the Adams Street side.
Also, still hoping for a cafe along the Forsyth Street side.
yes...from what I understand, they wish to fill in the "balcony" space so that the second floor (or third floor depending how you see it) has maximum available office space.
As for retail, I hear there will be one storefront space....but it will mainly be for pop up retail/dining kinds of things
Palm trees?????
The retail space is the small box on the NE corner at the intersection of Ocean and Adams. It will include an outdoor seating area, were the old library's main entrance used to be.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Development/Jessie-Ball-duPont-Center/i-JLQRxZ3/0/XL/DDRB%20Agenda%2012.19.2013_Page_024-XL.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Development/Jessie-Ball-duPont-Center/i-FrH5wdp/0/XL/DDRB%20Agenda%2012.19.2013_Page_081-XL.jpg)
tufsu1 is right. It probably won't be a traditional retail/dining space that is open every day and night.
This is the kind of stuff DT needs, not super tall space needle pie in the sky taxpayer subsidized gimmicks.
It'll be nice to get that thing occupied again. The impact will be beneficial.
Quote from: acme54321 on December 19, 2013, 09:32:49 AM
This is the kind of stuff DT needs, not super tall space needle pie in the sky taxpayer subsidized gimmicks.
This. An occupied building that is ugly as sin is better than that trainwreck waiting to happen.
This is one of my favorite buildings downtown and in a fairly important location. I think everyone probably has their personal preference for what they want there, but I'm just glad they are restoring it and will bring a lot more activity to that area.
Restoring this building, getting quality projects built on the surface lot next to BG and the surface lot between Burro and Dos Gatos>>>The Shipyards
Quote from: CityLife on December 19, 2013, 10:37:40 AM
This is one of my favorite buildings downtown and in a fairly important location. I think everyone probably has their personal preference for what they want there, but I'm just glad they are restoring it and will bring a lot more activity to that area.
Restoring this building, getting quality projects built on the surface lot next to BG and the surface lot between Burro and Dos Gatos>>>The Shipyards
If someone developed those lots, and actually rehabbed the laura trio that steetch of adams and forsyth would be a hotspot.
Exactly. You've already got existing restaurants, bars, and music venues in the area. Success there is potentially a lot more achievable than on an island.
I also wonder if the worthless 3 story parking garage that takes up the entire block between Main and Ocean could structurally support something above, or if it could be repurposed to have street front commercial/retail space.
Quote from: CityLife on December 19, 2013, 11:04:55 AM
Exactly. You've already got existing restaurants, bars, and music venues in the area. Success there is potentially a lot more achievable than on an island.
I also wonder if the worthless 3 story parking garage that takes up the entire block between Main and Ocean could structurally support something above, or if it could be repurposed to have street front commercial/retail space.
Yeah that grage is a piece of junk, I think it's only 2 story too. It looks like a prengineered steel throw together structure, I doubt it could support anything more than itself. Biggest waste of space in the core.
Yea as is I doubt it can handle anything on top of it, but I was wondering more about the ability to add the necessary structural support to the exterior. Tight space though, so it may be a longshot.
Ideally, the market will be strong enough some day that its worth more for new construction than as a parking deck.
They must have missed Jeff Speck's presentation last week....palm trees are not appropriate street trees. My guess is that this is what's in the city streetscape standards for this street.
It'll be nice to see this building inhabited again. Although I understand it (maximizing space efficiency), it's too bad what they're doing to the interior. Those open 2-story spaces and southern balcony as they currently exist are much nicer than the typical office floors they'll be left with after the renovation and elimination of the monument stair.
I've got to admit, I'm underwelmed but remaining hopeful.
I walked around that building last Sunday morning, peering into what windows I could and imagining what the library was like in its mid-century heyday & what it will look like within two years.
I don't know how it was in its mid-century heyday but I remember what it was like in the final years before the new library opened. Cramped and dingy.
I remember it from its mid-century heyday when I was a child. It was roomy, colorful, bright and open to the outside. I hope they preserve those elements. It's a very unusual piece of architecture, very 'Florida' in my opinion.
Quote from: thelakelander on December 19, 2013, 04:39:39 PM
I don't know how it was in its mid-century heyday but I remember what it was like in the final years before the new library opened. Cramped and dingy.
Yep. During the 90s I spent many a summer day in there working on my summer reading list.
Generally, I'm not a big fan of '60s architecture, but I've always like the HB library. I remember when it opened. It was sleek and bright and felt important. The colorful tiles on the outside really grabbed your attention. It was a busy place as was all of downtown. It's great to see it repurposed for the future.
only one retail space, c'mon!
According to this article, the proposed retail space at Ocean and Adams will be the only in the building and leased to a coffee shop or restaurant.
QuoteDeveloper plans no profit from nonprofits
The renovation of the former Haydon Burns Public Library will make Downtown architectural development history when the building opens as the Jessie Ball duPont Center, a three-story office building with ground-floor retail space.
The project also will make history in that the organization behind the project, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, is approaching the $21 million project with the intent to make no profit, even after the 90,000-square-foot complex is fully leased.
"Our plan is to offer below-market rents," said Sherry Magill, president of the fund, which purchased the building in June for $2.2 million.
full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2014-01-06
QuoteHaydon Burns renovation to help spark Downtown revival
The second life of the Haydon Burns Library building in Downtown Jacksonville is about to begin.
When the building reopens in mid-2015, it will be known as the Jessie Ball DuPont Center, and serve as a focal point for Jacksonville's non-profit community. It is anticipated that 250 people will work there, and as many as 20 nonprofits will call it home.
The renovation of the former main library on Ocean Street will begin in a couple of weeks, and Thursday morning the principals gathered to celebrate the $21 million project.
full article: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/01/16/haydon-burns-renovation-to-help-spark.html
Two of their latest renderings:
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Development/Jessie-Ball-duPont-Center/i-g5Ff7rv/0/M/DDRB%20February%206.2014%20Agenda_Page_25-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Development/Jessie-Ball-duPont-Center/i-PNhqj3m/0/M/DDRB%20February%206.2014%20Agenda_Page_22-M.jpg)
Just saw article on JBJ that nearly six months out from completion they are almost completely leased for space. 11 Non Profits already signed letters of intent. Will be good to see the additional foot traffic generated.
^^ JBJ Article on leased space in the refurbished building:
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/10/23/jessie-ball-dupont-center-names-tenants-almost.html (http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/10/23/jessie-ball-dupont-center-names-tenants-almost.html)
So no street level retail space now?
^^ perhaps the unnamed tenant?
Quote from: thelakelander on October 23, 2014, 08:38:28 PM
So no street level retail space now?
it was always going to be more of a pop-up/incubator retail space
JBJ has some photos of the interior work. Must say, big fan of the job they've done so far. Looks fantastic.
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/gallery/179841?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bizjournals.com%2Fjacksonville%2Fnews%2F2015%2F04%2F16%2Fits-coming-a-look-inside-downtowns-soon-to-be.html
Quote from: CityLife on April 16, 2015, 04:53:58 PM
Must say, big fan of the job they've done so far. Looks fantastic.
Indeed. Very impressive.
They have done a fantastic job so far. Looks great!
Oh wow. They've done a very impressive job with that space.
Is the list of non-profits tenants public?
Just absolutely stunning. Can't say enough about how faithful this beautiful rework is to the original, and still incorporates modern technology and materials. I remember this library from many trips as a child, and this looks familiar and nostalgic to me. I would love to see it, I hope some public access will be allowed.
Congratulations to all involved with this.
Lakelander, time for a Metro Jax photo tour!
Totally. I'm really impressed with how it looks. There are some things about the building I still don't like (mostly the brick wall on Forsyth), but overall it looks good. Down the road, I'd love them to take what wall out and do retail space.
That would be really cool. Maybe at some point that can be added.
Quote from: Bill Hoff on April 16, 2015, 10:47:24 PM
Is the list of non-profits tenants public?
List in T-U this morning.