Metro Jacksonville

Jacksonville by Neighborhood => Downtown => Topic started by: thelakelander on January 26, 2018, 12:00:09 AM

Title: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: thelakelander on January 26, 2018, 12:00:09 AM
An interesting proposal in the works for 170 Hogan Street:

https://www.moderncities.com/article/2018-jan-plan-to-add-floors-to-downtown-building-materializes
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: jaxjaguar on January 26, 2018, 12:36:35 AM
The eternal pesimist in me for projects like this says it'll never materialize... just like the neighboring building was never converted into 218 West Adams Lofts.

If they do end up going through with this though I'd prefer they made it into apartments. While they're at it they could renovate the neighboring building into the lofts it was proposed to be. This would instantly jumpstart that area. You'd get around an additional 50 apartments right next to the Barnett / Trio projects / FSCJ Dorms, all completed around the same time. This would further bolster that area and give a nice boost to the density there since you already have The Carling, 11 E nearby + the lofts that are above Volstead.

The more places to live in that area the better. It's one of the better blocks in the city for bars, restaurants nightlife and skyway access.
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: jaxjaguar on January 26, 2018, 12:56:48 AM
Speaking of that strip along Adams, the Burrito Gallery Parking lot is priiiiime. If I were an investor I'd put a statement building there. Something with a footprint similar to the Suntrust building would fit. If I had a billion dollars, I'd build something like the Absolute Tower, below, to minimize the footprint, but maximize the views of downtown and the river... It wouldn't need to be a super tall building either. You could make it 30-40 stories and it would complement the existing BoA and WF buildings without compromising sitelines. It'd also nicely fill in the skyline from all sides of downtown. Finally at 30-40 stories it wouldn't be as insanely expensive as the modern high rises we're seeing in other cities... Sorry for the tangent :P

(http://mycoreo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/19903_1_Absolutetowers.jpg)
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: acme54321 on January 26, 2018, 05:51:51 AM
That would be awesome.  That atrocious facade has to go.  Whoever did that should have been criminally charged.
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: acme54321 on January 26, 2018, 07:27:44 AM
Quote from: jaxjaguar on January 26, 2018, 12:56:48 AM
Speaking of that strip along Adams, the Burrito Gallery Parking lot is priiiiime. If I were an investor I'd put a statement building there. Something with a footprint similar to the Suntrust building would fit. If I had a billion dollars, I'd build something like the Absolute Tower, below, to minimize the footprint, but maximize the views of downtown and the river... It wouldn't need to be a super tall building either. You could make it 30-40 stories and it would complement the existing BoA and WF buildings without compromising sitelines. It'd also nicely fill in the skyline from all sides of downtown. Finally at 30-40 stories it wouldn't be as insanely expensive as the modern high rises we're seeing in other cities... Sorry for the tangent :P

Then where would Chuck and Eddie park?
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: vicupstate on January 26, 2018, 08:23:24 AM
Interesting. I wish they would add all the floors though, not just a couple.
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: Papa33 on January 26, 2018, 09:01:47 AM
Quote from: jaxjaguar on January 26, 2018, 12:36:35 AM
The eternal pesimist in me for projects like this says it'll never materialize... just like the neighboring building was never converted into 218 West Adams Lofts.

If they do end up going through with this though I'd prefer they made it into apartments. While they're at it they could renovate the neighboring building into the lofts it was proposed to be. This would instantly jumpstart that area. You'd get around an additional 50 apartments right next to the Barnett / Trio projects / FSCJ Dorms, all completed around the same time. This would further bolster that area and give a nice boost to the density there since you already have The Carling, 11 E nearby + the lofts that are above Volstead.

The more places to live in that area the better. It's one of the better blocks in the city for bars, restaurants nightlife and skyway access.


Pessimist or Realist?
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: FlaBoy on January 26, 2018, 10:28:21 AM
Quote from: jaxjaguar on January 26, 2018, 12:36:35 AM
The eternal pesimist in me for projects like this says it'll never materialize... just like the neighboring building was never converted into 218 West Adams Lofts.

If they do end up going through with this though I'd prefer they made it into apartments. While they're at it they could renovate the neighboring building into the lofts it was proposed to be. This would instantly jumpstart that area. You'd get around an additional 50 apartments right next to the Barnett / Trio projects / FSCJ Dorms, all completed around the same time. This would further bolster that area and give a nice boost to the density there since you already have The Carling, 11 E nearby + the lofts that are above Volstead.

The more places to live in that area the better. It's one of the better blocks in the city for bars, restaurants nightlife and skyway access.

Is it just me or do the renderings look like the 218 Building next door is also renovated? That would make sense.
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: Downtown Osprey on January 26, 2018, 10:30:55 AM
I don't see why this wouldn't materialize. Seems like a more realistic (and much needed) project than what we see with other proposals.
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: thelakelander on January 26, 2018, 10:35:51 AM
To me it looks like the rendering is from another place with Hogan and BB&T text photoshopped on it. I suspect this proposal will look very different by the time it gets to the DDRB. As for being realistic, they're supposed to close on the property within the next few weeks. If that happens, it immediately becomes more realistic than more well known proposals like the Shipyards and The District.
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: Tacachale on January 26, 2018, 10:50:06 AM
It looks cool, but I don't know how there's possibly a market for more office space downtown, given current vacancy rates. Perhaps there's some niche this will tap into. I also don't see what they're doing with that second floor: essentially removing it entirely and replacing with glass and steel walls?
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: thelakelander on January 26, 2018, 11:50:06 AM
The rendering looks more conceptual and visionary. It's clearly a different site in a different city. The surrounding buildings don't match and the column structure isn't the same as the Akers-Cody Building. That's why I believe it will look completely different by the time it makes it to the DDRB.
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: heights unknown on January 26, 2018, 01:07:07 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on January 26, 2018, 12:00:09 AM
An interesting proposal in the works for 170 Hogan Street:

https://www.moderncities.com/article/2018-jan-plan-to-add-floors-to-downtown-building-materializes
Yes, that is interesting; but I see only 5 stories total? Will they add more than that or is the photo just a rendering giving us an idea of what it may look like with the added floors?
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: heights unknown on January 26, 2018, 01:10:02 PM
Quote from: jaxjaguar on January 26, 2018, 12:56:48 AM
Speaking of that strip along Adams, the Burrito Gallery Parking lot is priiiiime. If I were an investor I'd put a statement building there. Something with a footprint similar to the Suntrust building would fit. If I had a billion dollars, I'd build something like the Absolute Tower, below, to minimize the footprint, but maximize the views of downtown and the river... It wouldn't need to be a super tall building either. You could make it 30-40 stories and it would complement the existing BoA and WF buildings without compromising sitelines. It'd also nicely fill in the skyline from all sides of downtown. Finally at 30-40 stories it wouldn't be as insanely expensive as the modern high rises we're seeing in other cities... Sorry for the tangent :P

(http://mycoreo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/19903_1_Absolutetowers.jpg)
Sorry; but that's one ugly building, and if I had a billion dollars, I would never, ever build any scraper that looks like that. It reminds me of a slinky toy that we used to play with when I was a kid.
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: heights unknown on January 26, 2018, 01:14:58 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on January 26, 2018, 10:50:06 AM
It looks cool, but I don't know how there's possibly a market for more office space downtown, given current vacancy rates. Perhaps there's some niche this will tap into. I also don't see what they're doing with that second floor: essentially removing it entirely and replacing with glass and steel walls?
I was wondering about the high office vacancy rate as well, but, maybe they know something that we don't and are planning ahead and hoping for "BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME OR OCCUPY." I am not into construction or an architect, but common sense tells me that when you're adding more floors to a building that has been in existence for some time, you have to take the top floor off to add to it; you can't leave the top floor on, i.e., how will you add elevators, stair wells, etc. if you don't take the top floor off? Just think if they were adding 20 floors to the Wells Fargo building; there is so much on that top floor, so, you have to take the top floor off with air conditioners, and other things up there, and build from there; just common sense. If we have any construction guru's in the forum, please elaborate on my theory and supposed common sense.
Title: Re: Project to add offices on top of Akers-Cody Building proposed
Post by: thelakelander on January 26, 2018, 01:30:09 PM
I believe if they're willing to buy the place, they know something we don't know.