Just wondered if anyone had a chance to browse the 2017 State of Downtown Report. It paints a very rosy picture of downtown and I'm extremely optimistic about the direction Downtown is heading. Any interesting note was that they plan by 2025 to have over 6,000 residents in downtown. I was hoping for a larger push to get that magic 10K number that spurs other developments.
http://downtownjacksonville.org/Media/Publications.aspx
^ the 6,000 figure is based on units under construction or planned - it seems likely that additional units will be proposed over the next 7 years - and also likely that some of the units planned will never be built.
My favorite stats:
1) 96% occupancy for downtown residential.
2) Of the 5,000 residents living downtown, 86% are satisfied or very satisfied with downtown Jacksonville living.
3) Even better, of the 55,000 who come downtown for work, rather than by choice, nearly 80% of them either like or love working downtown.
These are the type of stats that drives development.
Quote from: tufsu1 on July 25, 2018, 08:03:37 PM
^ the 6,000 figure is based on units under construction or planned - it seems likely that additional units will be proposed over the next 7 years - and also likely that some of the units planned will never be built.
I believe this is in reference to units, not number of residents. Probably average of 2 residents per unit, and they're projecting a doubling of units by 2025. With an average of 250 units per project, that's like 12-13 projects by 2025, which is reasonable. I agree the more residents, the better. I believe downtown Jax should aim to be the residential preference for the majority of apartment/condo-dwelling newcomers to Jacksonville. That would take a major re-branding campaign, to at least create the impression that downtown is trendy and alluring to sensibilities of the region's innovators and cognoscenti
Quote from: KenFSU on July 25, 2018, 08:15:43 PM
My favorite stats:
1) 96% occupancy for downtown residential.
2) Of the 5,000 residents living downtown, 86% are satisfied or very satisfied with downtown Jacksonville living.
3) Even better, of the 55,000 who come downtown for work, rather than by choice, nearly 80% of them either like or love working downtown.
These are the type of stats that drives development.
2 and 3 are almost unbelievably good.
^I can say that I love working in downtown Jax. My only complaint is I wish we had a small grocer down here with prepared foods. If you're stuck in a meeting until 2 and can't get away for lunch, you're pretty out of luck for food. At least 2 days a week I find myself wishing for a grab and go place in the afternoon
An observation: 200 Riverside is listed as under construction
Quote from: Captain Zissou on July 26, 2018, 09:26:28 AM
^I can say that I love working in downtown Jax. My only complaint is I wish we had a small grocer down here with prepared foods. If you're stuck in a meeting until 2 and can't get away for lunch, you're pretty out of luck for food. At least 2 days a week I find myself wishing for a grab and go place in the afternoon
Me too, I wouldn't want to work anywhere else.*
*Though I'd settle for the beach if I had to :D
And I'm totally with you on the complaint.
At least once or twice I week, I end up getting in my car and driving over to the Brooklyn Fresh Market or Riverside Publix.
The bodega at the Trio will be a very welcome addition to the neighborhood.
44,000 parking space and 2.3 miles of walk/bike trail. That sums up the problems facing downtown Jax.
Quote from: sanmarcomatt on July 26, 2018, 01:21:13 PM
Quote from: KenFSU on July 26, 2018, 10:12:55 AM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on July 26, 2018, 09:26:28 AM
^I can say that I love working in downtown Jax. My only complaint is I wish we had a small grocer down here with prepared foods. If you're stuck in a meeting until 2 and can't get away for lunch, you're pretty out of luck for food. At least 2 days a week I find myself wishing for a grab and go place in the afternoon
And I'm totally with you on the complaint.
At least once or twice I week, I end up getting in my car and driving over to the Brooklyn Fresh Market or Riverside Publix.
This reminds me of of my youth 20 years ago when my coworkers were enjoying sweet lunches while I brown bagged it with cheap,healthy meals and got the eye rolls when I said the savings went into the stock market.
Of course, It is different now as I had the advantage of being able to shop ahead of time and they made things that allowed you to keep things warm and cool :)
Yeah, it's delicious, but you start to feel guilty spending like $11-$20 a day for lunch at Bellwether, Olio, Cowford, Candy Apple, Indochine, Burrito Gallery, etc. Even Toss Green, you put any kind of protein on that salad, you're spending like $13.
Seems like downtown has a nice variety of higher end lunch spots, a couple of super cheap lower-end spots that routinely get closed by the health inspector (Courtyard Cafe, Big Pete's etc.), and a pretty meager selection of those clean, mid-range places where you can get a decent, healthy meal for like $7-$9.
People hate chains, but I'd gladly take a Chipotle, Panera, Al's, Jason's Deli, Tijuana Flats, etc. to fill in that sweet spot where you can run in, grab something, not have to tip, and be out the door in 20 minutes.
I guess for decent mid-range places, there's Super Food & Brew, Azucena, Happy Grilled Cheese, Magnificat, Zodiac. I guess Happy Grilled doesn't fall into the healthy category.
FYI a freakin' Starbucks downtown could help with that. They offer some excellent healthy choices for $7.00 or less.
Still cannot believe not one landlord downtown has not been able to bring in a Starbucks. Name another town our size without one SB in it's urban core.
Quote from: MusicMan on July 26, 2018, 02:11:13 PM
FYI a freakin' Starbucks downtown could help with that. They offer some excellent healthy choices for $7.00 or less.
Still cannot believe not one landlord downtown has not been able to bring in a Starbucks. Name another town our size without one SB in it's urban core.
The MOCA gift shop spot at the corner of Duval and Laura would have been perfect.
I'm surprised there is this much trouble finding something to eat. The report says there are 107 places to eat across downtown.
Quote from: KenFSU on July 26, 2018, 01:57:47 PM
Yeah, it's delicious, but you start to feel guilty spending like $11-$20 a day for lunch at Bellwether, Olio, Cowford, Candy Apple, Indochine, Burrito Gallery, etc. Even Toss Green, you put any kind of protein on that salad, you're spending like $13.
The emperor bowl at Tossgreen is my go to lunch at 1:30 when the line dies down. $9.09 for chicken, black beans, rice, pico de gallo, corn, peppers, cheese and sauce. Delicious, filling, and no tip needed. (Please see this Tossgreen and give me a sponsorship)
Quote from: Captain Zissou on July 26, 2018, 03:07:06 PM
Quote from: KenFSU on July 26, 2018, 01:57:47 PM
Yeah, it's delicious, but you start to feel guilty spending like $11-$20 a day for lunch at Bellwether, Olio, Cowford, Candy Apple, Indochine, Burrito Gallery, etc. Even Toss Green, you put any kind of protein on that salad, you're spending like $13.
The emperor bowl at Tossgreen is my go to lunch at 1:30 when the line dies down. $9.09 for chicken, black beans, rice, pico de gallo, corn, peppers, cheese and sauce. Delicious, filling, and no tip needed. (Please see this Tossgreen and give me a sponsorship)
That's actually not bad.
ON IT next week.
Next week: 130 , line out the door.
Captain Zissou: DAMNITT!!!!!
Quote from: RatTownRyan on July 26, 2018, 03:27:29 PM
Next week: 130 , line out the door.
Captain Zissou: DAMNITT!!!!!
And price for the Emperor Bowl has been raised to $13.
New special:
Peasants Bowl...everything above NO Chicken....$9.09
Quote from: KenFSU on July 25, 2018, 08:15:43 PM
My favorite stats:
1) 96% occupancy for downtown residential.
2) Of the 5,000 residents living downtown, 86% are satisfied or very satisfied with downtown Jacksonville living.
3) Even better, of the 55,000 who come downtown for work, rather than by choice, nearly 80% of them either like or love working downtown.
These are the type of stats that drives development.
I'm super curious on how these polls of DT Jax stack up over the last ten years. Is this the typical cheerleading of those vested in downtown's success or is public opinion about downtown really turning a new optimistic corner that hasn't been seen in years? Either way its great to see this downtown excitement seems to have some momentum behind it finally.
BTW I was talking to a friend who will be moving to the new VyStar HQ downtown. She is over the moon excited about it and can't wait to once and for all give the old headquarters on Blanding the bird.
Quote from: KenFSU on July 26, 2018, 04:01:43 PM
Quote from: RatTownRyan on July 26, 2018, 03:27:29 PM
Next week: 130 , line out the door.
Captain Zissou: DAMNITT!!!!!
And price for the Emperor Bowl has been raised to $13.
Don't you put that evil on me!!
I totally agree on the lack of late afternoon quick food options. Just yesterday our office worked through lunch time and had another meeting at 4:30. There are almost no cheap, healthy food options downtown after 3PM.
Having said that, I love working downtown. I wouldn't want to work anywhere else in the city, especially since I live one mile away in Springfield.
7/11 grab n go
Quote from: MusicMan on July 26, 2018, 02:11:13 PM
FYI a freakin' Starbucks downtown could help with that. They offer some excellent healthy choices for $7.00 or less.
Still cannot believe not one landlord downtown has not been able to bring in a Starbucks. Name another town our size without one SB in it's urban core.
The building I worked at in Seattle had 3 Starbucks. Thats 3... in one friggin building.
Quote from: Lostwave on July 27, 2018, 09:11:51 AM
The building I worked at in Seattle had 3 Starbucks. Thats 3... in one friggin building.
Isn't that part of the zoning code in Seattle, one Starbucks per X number of employees - kinda like Jax requires parking spaces? ;)
Quote from: Lostwave on July 27, 2018, 09:11:51 AM
Quote from: MusicMan on July 26, 2018, 02:11:13 PM
FYI a freakin' Starbucks downtown could help with that. They offer some excellent healthy choices for $7.00 or less.
Still cannot believe not one landlord downtown has not been able to bring in a Starbucks. Name another town our size without one SB in it's urban core.
The building I worked at in Seattle had 3 Starbucks. Thats 3... in one friggin building.
Around a decade ago, DT Jax had two. When I wrote this article in 2015, Tucson, Tulsa and Rochester were other large cities without a SB in their downtowns:
https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2015-jun-americas-largest-cities-without-a-downtown-starbucks/page/
Quote from: Lostwave on July 27, 2018, 09:11:51 AM
Quote from: MusicMan on July 26, 2018, 02:11:13 PM
FYI a freakin' Starbucks downtown could help with that. They offer some excellent healthy choices for $7.00 or less.
Still cannot believe not one landlord downtown has not been able to bring in a Starbucks. Name another town our size without one SB in it's urban core.
The building I worked at in Seattle had 3 Starbucks. Thats 3... in one friggin building.
I don't drink coffee.. and with that being said.. I don't think a Starbucks should be the measuring stick for a successful downtown. Perhaps it would be better to promote the coffee shops that are already here and operating. I'm sure they're good too.
The ability for businesses to put up more/better signage for downtown office buildings would certainly help.