Massive Northbank riverfront redevelopment underway
(http://photos.moderncities.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Neighborhoods/Northbank-Riverwalk/i-d3vkB6s/0/L/DSCF2145-L.jpg)
Downtown Jacksonville's most significant eyesore is about to receive a transformational makeover. In a city that's bent over backwards to accommodate the automobile since 1950, this project will return a full city block back to its natural state.
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2016-sep-massive-northbank-riverfront-redevelopment-underway
Are you certain that last picture is the "proposed final plan"?
It appears to be a cleaner version of the one submitted to the SJWMD (see below):
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Development/Coastline-Drive/i-jvfCVKr/0/XL/6279975-XL.jpg)
So Liberty street will still be built as a "bridge" over water? Is Market St on ground or over water too?
They show a bulkhead along market street so I'd assume from that it's land, I think the Hyatt itself is on land. I wonder how shallow it will be up by the old courthouse. It would be cool if marsh plants repopulated parts of this area.
Quote from: Bridges on September 30, 2016, 08:20:42 AM
So Liberty street will still be built as a "bridge" over water? Is Market St on ground or over water too?
Market Street and Courthouse Drive are on land. Coastline Drive and Liberty Street will be reconstructed as bridges.
Quote from: acme54321 on September 30, 2016, 08:22:55 AM
They show a bulkhead along market street so I'd assume from that it's land, I think the Hyatt itself is on land. I wonder how shallow it will be up by the old courthouse. It would be cool if marsh plants repopulated parts of this area.
There's a project in Baltimore's Inner Harbor to do something pretty similiar:
(http://www.trbimg.com/img-56aa955e/turbine/bs-ae-aquarium-jpg-20160128/750/750x422)
Full article: http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bs-ae-aquarium-20160128-story.html
Here's where things were, as of April 2016:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Baltimore-April-2016/i-3CmW2Wt/0/L/DSCF9789-L.jpg)
Yeah I've been that spot in Baltimore. a few batches a marsh grass and some trash sure didn't live up to those renderings. Unless that rendering is of something they haven't completed yet.
^They just started. The plants have to be given time to grow. The project is expected to be completed in 2019.
Quote from: thelakelander on September 30, 2016, 09:05:06 AM
^They just started. The plants have to be given time to grow. The project is expected to be completed in 2019.
That's good news then 8)
The USS Adams might have another option for a home....?
Quote from: acme54321 on September 30, 2016, 08:22:55 AM
They show a bulkhead along market street so I'd assume from that it's land, I think the Hyatt itself is on land. I wonder how shallow it will be up by the old courthouse. It would be cool if marsh plants repopulated parts of this area.
Dunno if they plan to remove much of the concrete rubble that is there now (I assume there would be some remediation once they dig up the existing pilings that support the current parking deck)... but it's pretty shallow underneath the existing parking deck now. Have been under there several times with a kayak (great fishing) and it seems to be only a few feet beneath the surface until you hit some kind of concrete structure.
With how swift the current moves in that part of the river, I think it would be really cool to attractively fence/rope the area off and create a combo recreational area that you could play around on a SUP, etc / living plant lab type of cove.
Quote from: fieldafm on September 30, 2016, 10:28:16 AM
Quote from: acme54321 on September 30, 2016, 08:22:55 AM
They show a bulkhead along market street so I'd assume from that it's land, I think the Hyatt itself is on land. I wonder how shallow it will be up by the old courthouse. It would be cool if marsh plants repopulated parts of this area.
Dunno if they plan to remove much of the concrete rubble that is there now (I assume there would be some remediation once they dig up the existing pilings that support the current parking deck)... but it's pretty shallow underneath the existing parking deck now. Have been under there several times with a kayak (great fishing) and it seems to be only a few feet beneath the surface until you hit some kind of concrete structure.
With how swift the current moves in that part of the river, I think it would be really cool to attractively fence/rope the area off and create a combo recreational area that you could play around on a SUP, etc / living plant lab type of cove.
Now that would be awesome.
^I agree. Love the idea of wrapping the Riverwalk around it, but I hope something is done to set that block of river apart and make it a mini-destination on its own.
This reminds me a lot of a project in my hometown, Fort Myers. The city removed a waterfront surface parking lot and replaced it with a detention pond surrounded by a riverwalk.
Details:
QuoteThis urban stormwater retrofit project features a 1.3-acre wet detention area on a site formerly used for surface parking. The primary purpose of the basin is to treat stormwater in the City's historic downtown area before discharging to the Caloosahatchee River, ultimately flowing to the Gulf of Mexico.
Other benefits include creation of valuable waterfront property for private investment and development opportunities, resulting in an expected regional economic impact of up to $67 million and up to 870 local permanent jobs. The basin serves as a focal point for public gatherings and events which utilize the available public spaces. The basin's pathways provide public access, offering connectivity to the waterfront, along with passive recreation and healthy living benefits. Educational components help make the community aware of the natural resources, impacts humans have on water quality, strategies to improve the existing conditions, and how this affects the environment.
Here's the block in 2008, prior to construction:
(https://s15.postimg.org/95ypywty3/2008.png)
Here's the block in 2016, post-construction:
(https://s15.postimg.org/ugwa36c2j/2016.png)
(https://s18.postimg.org/63i5w31yx/aerial.png)
(https://s18.postimg.org/c5psmkqex/aerial2.png)
That detention pond is amazing. As others above have stated I think it'd be best if the water was usable for paddle boats, sup, etc. Give people something to do and make the space usable. It could be a like a mini lake eola park.
Really the better decision the city could have made. The open water will be so nice. What are the chances the city will allow fishing? Not very good I'm guessing.
The only draw back I see is the private road in between the Annex and the Hyatt. I don't understand the need for that. There is a nice tree lined pedestrian walkway there now
Quote from: lastdaysoffla on September 30, 2016, 09:40:20 PM
Really the better decision the city could have made. The open water will be so nice. What are the chances the city will allow fishing? Not very good I'm guessing.
The only draw back I see is the private road in between the Annex and the Hyatt. I don't understand the need for that. There is a nice tree lined pedestrian walkway there now
I wouldn't hold your breath for the city to allow people to fish off of the riverwalk. I don't think legally they have the jurisdiction to stop you from fishing on a boat.
$31 million? Is that correct? $31 million dollars on this one block? Is that the best use of that much money?
I agree it needs to be done but not sure I'd put this particular project in front of all the other things that need to be done downtown.
^Particularly when you consider the fact that the city went through the whole Shipyards dog and pony show, put out an RFP for development of the property, and then effectively mothballed remediation of the site entirely because they couldn't afford the $35 million to clean it up ($17 million of which is already set aside for this purpose). I do wonder why this particular $31 million project was chosen to be put on the fast track (was there a short term risk of collapse?) Don't get me wrong, love this project - especially if interaction with the river will be a component and if it's part of a larger master plan developed with consideration of future Shipyards, Metro Park, and District development - but you're right, it is a lot of money.
Quote from: MusicMan on October 01, 2016, 11:29:28 AM
$31 million? Is that correct? $31 million dollars on this one block? Is that the best use of that much money?
I agree it needs to be done but not sure I'd put this particular project in front of all the other things that need to be done downtown.
Don't forget that roadway infrastructure is one of the most expensive things you can spend money on. Considering they are demolishing and rebuilding two structurally deficient bridges, plus taking out a block of concrete parking structure and associated pilings underneath, $31 million isn't so high. It would cost a lot more to replace what was there before. With that said, I'm not sure how this one is being funded. FDOT typically does projects like this, so perhaps COJ isn't the only funding source?
Quote from: KenFSU on October 01, 2016, 12:42:24 PM
I do wonder why this particular $31 million project was chosen to be put on the fast track (was there a short term risk of collapse?)..
I'd argue that it should be a higher priority than anything dealing with the Shipyards. The road is literally falling into the river and access to your largest downtown hotel and waterfront residential development is blocked by this eyesore. This is something that should have been addressed over a decade ago, is closer to the heart of the Northbank and adjacent to city owned property that a redevelopment plan should have been created and implemented as soon as we knew the courthouse would move to LaVilla.
The name of the road should be changed. I guess it became Coastline Drive after a predecessor company to CSX, which was once Seaboard Airline Railroad, merged with Atlantic Coastline Ry, to become Seaboard Coastline Ry. And finally CSX.
While we're at it, why not get rid of Independent Drive and Peninnsular Place, just like we did with Gulf Life Drive. Those companies abandoned us, so why perpetuate their names? Ditto - soon - Everbank Field.
But I vote against changing Coastline Drive to Lenny Curry Blvd.
Quote from: Ivegotasecret on October 02, 2016, 06:39:28 PM
While we're at it, why not get rid of Independent Drive and Peninnsular Place, just like we did with Gulf Life Drive. Those companies abandoned us, so why perpetuate their names? Ditto - soon - Everbank Field.
EverBank is merging into a TIAA banking subsidiary, TIAA Direct. EverBank dwarfs that entity so this is dissimilar to more typical bank to bank acquisitions. The combined bank will be headquartered in Jacksonville and a number of EverBank's senior leaders will stay on. I'd expect the new bank to have a very substantial presence in Jacksonville moving forward.
Quote from: lastdaysoffla on September 30, 2016, 09:40:20 PM
Really the better decision the city could have made. The open water will be so nice. What are the chances the city will allow fishing? Not very good I'm guessing.
The only draw back I see is the private road in between the Annex and the Hyatt. I don't understand the need for that. There is a nice tree lined pedestrian walkway there now
The road between the Hyatt and the Annex was a temporary access road only during construction. It was to be restored as it is now at the end of the project. I believe that this has been removed from the project at this point.
The city originally said this project would be completed in early 2019. Now they say it will be finished a full year earlier. What's the over/under on that?
^Major work set to begin next month, per Curry.
Great news. 8)
Quote from: lastdaysoffla on September 30, 2016, 09:40:20 PM
The open water will be so nice.
Yes it will. Jacksonville signature downtown waterway landscape aspect restored/enhanced.
Weird to have paddled and explored underneath.
Didn't realize just how big this newly exposed space will be until I saw the aerial.
That's a legit full city block, carved out and replaced with an artificial micro-harbor.
(https://snag.gy/XjWlgJ.jpg)
From your ModernCities article, Ennis:
QuoteFinally, what about the new exposed riverfront itself? What fun is water if you can't play and interact with it?
Any ideas or successful examples from other cities?
Would be nice to have water feature in the middle something like what Orlando has in there lake
Waterfront spaces handled in different ways, from past trips I've taken over the years.....
Toronto
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Learning-From/Toronto-June-2007/i-Bt9vTgz/0/L/P1010739-L.jpg)
Baltimore Inner Harbor
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Learning-From/Baltimore-2014/i-bhFB4pV/0/X2/P1720506-X2.jpg)
Miami Bayside Marina
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Learning-From/Downtown-Miami-2015/i-DDpTd9t/0/X2/DSCF7253-X2.jpg)
Chattanooga Riverfront
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Learning-From/Chattanooga-Next-City-Vanguard/i-WPtzPCX/0/X2/DSCF1643-X2.jpg)
St. Petersburg
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Learning-From/St-Petersburg-2012/i-C88tQBV/0/X2/P1600877-X2.jpg)
Nassau, Bahamas
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Learning-From/Nassau-Bahamas/i-TXMWTNr/0/X2/DSCF0523-X2.jpg)
West Palm Beach (growing wetland plant life)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Learning-From/West-Palm-Beach-September-2011/i-9McvBmQ/0/X2/P1500415-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Learning-From/West-Palm-Beach-September-2011/i-9MFjfrc/0/X2/P1500409-X2.jpg)
Quote from: KenFSU on December 13, 2016, 02:13:13 PM
^Major work set to begin next month, per Curry.
Yes, divers are already working on the utilities, etc, under the parking lot. Demo begins right after the holidays, per Public Works.
Ennis, Have you been to Washington DC lately? They have a really cool kayak and canoe thing going on in the Potomac, about 1 mile upstream from the Kennedy Center. Was there 2-3 summers ago and had a blast.
Problem here with that sort of thing is the current. It could easily carry an inexperienced paddler away. You would need someone in a jet ski to patrol for safety.
Link here: http://www.boatingindc.com/ I went in at the Key Bridge/Georgetown location.
Quote from: MusicMan on December 14, 2016, 10:50:05 AM
Ennis, Have you been to Washington DC lately? They have a really cool kayak and canoe thing going on in the Potomac, about 1 mile upstream from the Kennedy Center. Was there 2-3 summers ago and had a blast.
Problem here with that sort of thing is the current. It could easily carry an inexperienced paddler away. You would need someone in a jet ski to patrol for safety.
Link here: http://www.boatingindc.com/ I went in at the Key Bridge/Georgetown location.
You are 100% right about that. Not to mention the very dangerous eddies in the deeper water.
How deep is it under that lot?