....including student housing, culinary & arts venues.
Read up: http://floridapolitics.com/archives/186387-fscj-downtown-immersion-project-is-on-the-table
Very cool!
Could the building in question on Church St. be the Ambassador?
If it's that one on the corner, where Farah's Deli is/was, it's the same building the Sweet Pete's owners had their sights on, presumably to tear down for another parking lot.
Look forward to hearing more
Hmm, 502 Nort Hogan is the Farah's building. There's also a 5 story building further up Church. Would they be buying two?
Nice. Hopefully, things work out.
I believe the 5 story building to possibly convert to student housing is 218 West Church Street.
From Wikipedia:
Quote
The Florida Baptist Building (also known as the Rogers Building) is a historic building in Jacksonville, Florida. It is located at 218 West Church Street, and was designed by New York architect Henry John Klutho. On January 12, 1984, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Adding some student housing to this area while restoring a Klutho building is in my mind a win-win for everyone. If Curry is serious about his support for downtown, these are the types of projects he should be fast-tracking.
Yeah, it sounds like Klutho's Florida Baptist Convention Building.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/875177881_y4ZLs-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/875178091_Ldvcq-M.jpg)
This would be one of the best things that could realistically happen for downtown. FSCJ just has to be willing to open up a little more to its surroundings, rather than maintain the fortress of walls around it.
What other buildings/spaces near the potential student housing would work as an alternate for the building at 502 North Hogan? Didn't Lemonis already close on this making it unavailable for FSCJ?
Quote from: stephendare on July 11, 2015, 01:35:03 PM
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on July 11, 2015, 01:33:00 PM
This would be one of the best things that could realistically happen for downtown. FSCJ just has to be willing to open up a little more to its surroundings, rather than maintain the fortress of walls around it.
Its not just FSCJ thats going to radically alter the north end of downtown. The good fruit of bridge building and public discussion of urban vibrancy that we've all invested in with our time and energy is going to pay off over there shortly.
I can't wait! ;D
Wonderful news. Good to see FSCJ moving into the heart of DT. It would be nice to see State and Union made two-way again, which would make pedestrian crossing and public access in general easier to and from their large downtown main campus.
Quote from: IrvAdams on July 11, 2015, 03:36:34 PM
It would be nice to see State and Union made two-way again
that won't be happening.....heck, some folks just wanted a lane to be removed from each side to provide wider lanes and a buffered bike lanes....and FDOT took about 2 seconds to say no way!
Quote from: brainstormer on July 11, 2015, 02:22:20 PM
What other buildings/spaces near the potential student housing would work as an alternate for the building at 502 North Hogan? Didn't Lemonis already close on this making it unavailable for FSCJ?
I don't think 502 North Hogan would be used for housing. It sounds like the First Baptist Convention Building is the 5-story structure mentioned for potential housing. Other nearby buildings that could work include the Ambassador Hotel and the old Jones Furniture Building.
Sorry Lake, my question was confusing. The article mentions they want to create an FSCJ Culinary enterprise and office/meeting space for the FSCJ Center for Civic Engagement in addition to the housing project. They originally wanted the Farah building but I'm pretty sure that is no longer an option since Lemonis bought it to support Sweet Pete's. So my question is, what other building in that part of town could they use for their Culinary Enterprise and Center for Civic Engagement? My hunch is they want to be close to city hall but not too far from the Downtown campus.
Did he actually buy the building? I thought he just had it under contract or something.
Here is an update on how sweet petes and FSCJ will be moving forward to redevelop this section of DT http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=545825 (http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=545825)
^Wow! That's great news! It's like they read this forum or something haha.
I am becoming a big fan of Lemonis. He seems very hands-on and is bold, yet respectful about what he expects of others. I would love to see him tackle some other downtown businesses and buildings.
FSCJ is set to open its first phase of student housing in August! Awesome.
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2016/02/23/fscj-housing-in-downtown-to-open-in-august.html?ana=twt
So I guess The Loop is not opening here? lol.
Great to see this get off the ground, but with the thousands currently attending, the increasing number of programs FSCJ offers, plus the growing number of international students enrolling, will 60 total beds of student housing suffice? I know its a start but at least there seems to be plenty of available stock nearby waiting to refurbished.
This will never happen but FSCJ should move to lavilla and become a state university
FSCJ student housing capitalizes on larger trends
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/morning-edition/2016/02/fscj-student-housing-capitalizes-on-larger-trends.html