In collaboration with several art institutions and schools within the state, a group known as Metropolis has proposed an alternative vision for a long underutilized site being considered as the location of a new administrative headquarters for the JEA. Metropolis' plans call for the conversion of 337 West Adams Street into a community art incubator called La Rue des Arts.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Development/La-Rue-Des-Arts/i-Gqj9c4z/0/93910ba2/L/La%20Rue%20des%20Arts%20-%20337%20W%20Adam%20Street-4-L.jpg)
Full article: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/mini-arts-district-proposed-for-downtown/
Thanks Lake. I like what this proposal brings to the table, especially the re-use of the existing construction trailers. This should enable the developer to make affordable lease rates for artists and entrepreneur's who want to plant a seed in Downtown Jax. Can easily see another application of food trucks on the site, coming and going all day. I also noted the temporary aspect of the proposal, a sort of "trial balloon" to gauge the market for this type of development. One assumes if successful it could remain or be transplanted to a nearby vacant surface lot or parcel.
I'd sure love to see Haskell get on board as corporate underwriter. I believe this is the type of project Preston Haskell would enthusiastically embrace .
No problem. It's a pretty interesting proposal. It does sit on one of the properties JEA is considering but it appears they're being wooed by the Khan and Atkins mixed-use proposals further east of this location.
Quote from: thelakelander on August 17, 2018, 08:34:09 AM
In collaboration with several art institutions and schools within the state, a group known as Metropolis has proposed an alternative vision for a long underutilized site being considered as the location of a new administrative headquarters for the JEA. Metropolis' plans call for the conversion of 337 West Adams Street into a community art incubator called La Rue des Arts.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Development/La-Rue-Des-Arts/i-Gqj9c4z/0/93910ba2/L/La%20Rue%20des%20Arts%20-%20337%20W%20Adam%20Street-4-L.jpg)
Full article: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/mini-arts-district-proposed-for-downtown/
Thank you for preparing this article. I am all for re-using deadspace and making it a draw for pedestrians. May I ask - Why are there modular buildings on this site in the first place?
They were put there during the construction of the Duval County Courthouse. They've been there for over 10 years now. Too bad we thought the George Washington Hotel was out-of-style and blew it up shortly after it closed.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/2313579774_cKkzb7f-600x1000.jpg)
Quote from: thelakelander on August 17, 2018, 09:27:59 AM
They were put there during the construction of the Duval County Courthouse. They've been there for over 10 years now. Too bad we thought the George Washington Hotel was out-of-style and blew it up shortly after it closed.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/2313579774_cKkzb7f-600x1000.jpg)
On the one hand, I'm all for street activation in any form, and creative ways to engender pedestrian vitality. On the other hand, I'm wondering why a construction project left behind a trailer park in the heart of Downtown?
It was done by the City of Jacksonville!
The developer actually owns the trailers. So the proposal is an attempt to use them as opposed to scraping them. They are relatively clean and have a lot of life left in them. Combined over 10,000 square feet of air conditioned space. Pretty sure The Daily Record will be presenting the full development plans in a day or so......
Maybe I missed it in the article, but what about this project is French? Are French artists going to come and teach classes? Is one of the arts organizations French? Why are we giving this a french name for no apparent reason? It doesn't make it any more culturally significant. Is Al Emerick part of this?
Really interesting, low-cost, low-commitment way to test out an idea and activate that block.
Love it.
Quote from: KenFSU on August 17, 2018, 10:05:11 AM
Really interesting, low-cost, low-commitment way to test out an idea and activate that block.
Love it.
I'm not a huge fan of modular buildings, but I like what this project represents/symbolizes. It represents that the downtown we all want, is not a function of complicated projects and soaring high-rises and high-end architecture. The downtown we want encourages people to walk its sidewalks and to gather, and that can be done with a strip of 1 or 2-story buildings along a lengthy downtown corridor, or in this case, with a series of trailers.
Can we incorporate a beer garden?
Quote from: Captain Zissou on August 17, 2018, 09:46:27 AM
Maybe I missed it in the article, but what about this project is French? Are French artists going to come and teach classes? Is one of the arts organizations French? Why are we giving this a french name for no apparent reason? It doesn't make it any more culturally significant. Is Al Emerick part of this?
Yeah, I saw that. Just stupid and pretentious.
Quote from: Adam White on August 17, 2018, 10:47:19 AM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on August 17, 2018, 09:46:27 AM
Maybe I missed it in the article, but what about this project is French? Are French artists going to come and teach classes? Is one of the arts organizations French? Why are we giving this a french name for no apparent reason? It doesn't make it any more culturally significant. Is Al Emerick part of this?
Yeah, I saw that. Just stupid and pretentious.
I cringed a little typing that name in the Facebook post this morning. Of course, I'm the one who came up with the name "The Jaxson" which is, shall we say, not universally liked. At any rate, it shouldn't distract from what they're trying to do.
Quote from: Tacachale on August 17, 2018, 10:54:15 AM
Quote from: Adam White on August 17, 2018, 10:47:19 AM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on August 17, 2018, 09:46:27 AM
Maybe I missed it in the article, but what about this project is French? Are French artists going to come and teach classes? Is one of the arts organizations French? Why are we giving this a french name for no apparent reason? It doesn't make it any more culturally significant. Is Al Emerick part of this?
Yeah, I saw that. Just stupid and pretentious.
I cringed a little typing that name in the Facebook post this morning. Of course, I'm the one who came up with the name "The Jaxson" which is, shall we say, not universally liked. At any rate, it shouldn't distract from what they're trying to do.
Although I have never accepted the term "Jaxson" (I prefer the unwieldy "Jacksonvillian"), I think the website name is actually quite good. And as you point out, a good project should be able to rise above a silly name!
Nod to the Huguenots?
Quote from: jaxnyc79 on August 17, 2018, 11:52:49 AM
Nod to the Huguenots?
That's the ticket. La Rue de Laudonierre
Seems to be emulating the Phoenix Arts District, in Springfield.
Art district wars?
Pretty sure Rue St Marc is still a restaurant in San Marco with a hint of French cuisine, correct? I mean Hoptinger is about as Bavarian as First Baptist Church. Folks still go.
The Landing. No one lands there.
This is actually one of the better ideas for downtown. Very little start up costs and it also plays off the 'murals' toward the river (not sure what block that is.) Last time I checked (today) the Burro bar space was still vacant. Artists always need an affordable space to lease and show their work. Ultimately this can provide that space. And it's not too far a walk to some of the other interesting blocks downtown.
Quote from: MusicMan on August 17, 2018, 06:10:26 PM
Pretty sure Rue St Marc is still a restaurant in San Marco with a hint of French cuisine, correct? I mean Hoptinger is about as Bavarian as First Baptist Church. Folks still go.
The Landing. No one lands there.
Clever. Methinks you missed my point, but since you brought it up...
Rue St Marc bills its food as "French".
Is Hoptinger meant to be a Bavarian word? I don't speak the language, but I'd be shocked to learn it was.
There are places to dock a boat at the landing. So...
Here's one we can both agree on:
Hooter's
Quote from: thelakelander on August 17, 2018, 09:21:13 AM
No problem. It's a pretty interesting proposal. It does sit on one of the properties JEA is considering but it appears they're being wooed by the Khan and Atkins mixed-use proposals further east of this location.
Interesting indeed that you have this prime development-ready location actively being marketed for over a decade now suddenly have these ambitious plans for artist at streetscape improvements just when interest is heating up on this plot of land finally being developed. The concept of reusing old construction trailers for this purpose is not new so why is there a sudden interest to take this on now? And there is no shortage of organizations and individuals in the area promoting art development in the city, so where did this mysterious Metropolis arts group come from? Who are these unnamed partners with these splashy plans from out of the blue? Do they have a track record of any other projects of this scope? Were they actively raising money in any noticeable way? How are they being bankrolled? This to me would be the perfect blueprint for a land developer to squash competition.
QuoteInteresting indeed that you have this prime development-ready location actively being marketed for over a decade now
Just to clarify, as this is an important point.... this is the site where the City (unnecessarily) tore down a building just to use as a staging area for the Courthouse construction. This site has NOT been marketed for sale since then. This is one of the many properties COJ owns downtown that sit empty without any real effort to be brought back into the private marketplace.
More details will be made public very soon. The developer is a Jacksonville resident who sits on one of the downtown review boards, and who has made many proposals for abandoned and empty buildings and parcels in Jax. Also owns a half block of downtown property plus a half acre with a warehouse on it near the Cathedral District. Not a stranger.... Also please note the proposal is for a 2 year lease in order to test the feasibility of the project. Since the trailers are mobile, the project could be relocated to another parcel if the idea works or left in place. The parcel is big enough to allow more build out in the near future.
Quote from: fieldafm on August 20, 2018, 07:51:39 AM
Just to clarify, as this is an important point.... this is the site where the City (unnecessarily) tore down a building just to use as a staging area for the Courthouse construction. This site has NOT been marketed for sale since then. This is one of the many properties COJ owns downtown that sit empty without any real effort to be brought back into the private marketplace.
Fair enough but I was under the impression that the city hoped the new courthouse would attract all kinds of office/commercial/residential development synergy and why the city would hold on to that unutilized parcel for so long - well that's the city for you I guess.
To be clear, I'm totally in support for this type of project and that it gets some public momentum behind this. It's just the timing seems suspect.
Quote from: Tacachale on August 17, 2018, 10:54:15 AM
Of course, I'm the one who came up with the name "The Jaxson" which is, shall we say, not universally liked.
Really? Damn good suggestion.
Quote from: RattlerGator on August 20, 2018, 11:39:29 AM
Quote from: Tacachale on August 17, 2018, 10:54:15 AM
Of course, I'm the one who came up with the name "The Jaxson" which is, shall we say, not universally liked.
Really? Damn good suggestion.
Thanks RG and Adam! I like to think it's fitting, but it's one of those things where we get comments with some regularity along the lines of "Jaxson is a name for people from Jacksonville? I've lived here for 1200 years and I've never heard that!" It definitely goes to show that not everyone will like your name, and you've just got to hope your product is good enough to rise above it!
Quote from: Tacachale on August 21, 2018, 09:49:15 PM
Quote from: RattlerGator on August 20, 2018, 11:39:29 AM
Quote from: Tacachale on August 17, 2018, 10:54:15 AM
Of course, I'm the one who came up with the name "The Jaxson" which is, shall we say, not universally liked.
Really? Damn good suggestion.
Thanks RG and Adam! I like to think it's fitting, but it's one of those things where we get comments with some regularity along the lines of "Jaxson is a name for people from Jacksonville? I've lived here for 1200 years and I've never heard that!" It definitely goes to show that not everyone will like your name, and you've just got to hope your product is good enough to rise above it!
Everything sounds weird until it suddenly doesn't.
Google. Facebook. Spotify. Uber. Venmo. Publix.
Love the name!
More info here:
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/arts-and-cultural-district-proposed-downtown
Devil is in the details, but I really like the concept.
In the very recent past, when a similar temporary concept was proposed along the Northbank Riverwalk near the TUPAC and along the Southbank Riverwalk near MOSH... the DIA squashed those efforts. Hope DIA is amenable to these kinds of things going forward. Maybe you just have to be the 'right person' to have your proposals looked upon more favorably.
More info here:
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/jacksonville-based-development-company-wants-to-bring-arts-cultural-district-to-downtown/820010223
This site would also allow for a multitude of Jax's finest food trucks as well to create a "Mobile Food Hall."
My one request would be to find a way to let them plug in, no loud generators. They tend to ruin the food truck experience for me.
Quote from: MusicMan on August 26, 2018, 07:18:18 PM
This site would also allow for a multitude of Jax's finest food trucks as well to create a "Mobile Food Hall."
My one request would be to find a way to let them plug in, no loud generators. They tend to ruin the food truck experience for me.
Luckily, there is a food truck court two blocks away... that already bans loud generators.
Yes, but last I checked that was lunch only? This site is definitely looking to 'operate' at nights and on weekends as well.
We have been open in the evenings and on the weekends in the past. When hotel construction starts next door, we will hopefully have stage two of the food truck court ready to break ground... which will include more night and weekend services.
I must be thinking of the wrong one. Where is it?
There is only one... along Hogan Street.
https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/hyatt-place-plans-show-power-of-public-persuasion/ (https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/hyatt-place-plans-show-power-of-public-persuasion/)
OK I do eat there on occasion. It's close to Symphony Hall, and last year I parked in that garage.
Still would love to see one at the proposed Rue de Arts site, as it is only natural that it would be there as part of the draw and a necessity for the patrons and artists...