Metro Jacksonville

Jacksonville by Neighborhood => Urban Neighborhoods => Murray Hill => Topic started by: thelakelander on June 04, 2019, 08:26:24 AM

Title: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: thelakelander on June 04, 2019, 08:26:24 AM
Quote(https://photos.moderncities.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Development/Murray-Hill-Self-Storage/i-5hrkJjK/0/b912707d/L/20190603_183755-L.jpg)

A three-story storage facility could be headed to a prime site on Murray Hill's Edgewood Avenue. After a month of speculation, renderings of the proposed mixed-use project were released at the latest community meeting facilitated by the Murray Hill Preservation Association to discuss the project. Here are a few of them. Let us know what you think!

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/renderings-released-of-murray-hill-storage-project/
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: FlaBoy on June 04, 2019, 10:03:06 AM
What does the Jones College building look like inside? Is there any historical significance to preserve in the building or has it been changed so much since it was a theater that there is no reason to save it?
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: jax_hwy_engineer on June 04, 2019, 10:57:56 AM
The corner storefront seems like it mixes well with the district, I am having a hard time understanding how this caught so much flak now...

Activating Plymouth street isn't likely to happen, but if this project activates the corner there (which as it stands is completely dead, Jones College is shut down...) it seems like this project is a net positive IMHO.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: vicupstate on June 04, 2019, 11:11:39 AM
Quote from: jax_hwy_engineer on June 04, 2019, 10:57:56 AM
The corner storefront seems like it mixes well with the district, I am having a hard time understanding how this caught so much flak now...

Activating Plymouth street isn't likely to happen, but if this project activates the corner there (which as it stands is completely dead, Jones College is shut down...) it seems like this project is a net positive IMHO.

I think these renderings were not available initially, perhaps not until the last day or two. I agree the corner building is fine.  There is a lot more that could be done to make the storage more acceptable, but the developer may not have the means or desire to jazz it up.   
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: Steve on June 04, 2019, 11:21:08 AM
Was the retail building the plan the whole time? Or was it added after some pushback?
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: jax_hwy_engineer on June 04, 2019, 11:30:16 AM
The original site plan released (and posted here) showed that part of the parcel as "future use" but in the other thread it seems that the retail space will be built concurrently and designed by a different architect than the storage facility.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: Live_Oak on June 04, 2019, 11:36:52 AM
They're not going to build the retail along Edgewood until they secure a viable tenant. Get ready for another grass field for the foreseeable future.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: acme54321 on June 04, 2019, 11:41:04 AM
Sounds like a great addition to Myrray Hill
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: Steve on June 04, 2019, 01:12:25 PM
Quote from: Live_Oak on June 04, 2019, 11:36:52 AM
They're not going to build the retail along Edgewood until they secure a viable tenant. Get ready for another grass field for the foreseeable future.

THAT's why I made the comment. To me, if approved this needs to be approved and developed concurrently. For example, the Parador Garage and two Vestcor garages downtown indicate "future retail use". If it isn't mandated, then it won't be done unless the economics show it can't miss.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: copperfiend on June 04, 2019, 01:19:48 PM
Quote from: jax_hwy_engineer on June 04, 2019, 10:57:56 AM
The corner storefront seems like it mixes well with the district, I am having a hard time understanding how this caught so much flak now...


A few things.

It caught a lot of residents by surprise.

There were (likely untrue) rumors of a grocery store possibly being interested

The idea of a storage unit in a retail corridor is not good

The company showed up to the meeting without renderings and with a not-so-great representative that did not answer questions well
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: copperfiend on June 04, 2019, 01:20:46 PM
Quote from: Live_Oak on June 04, 2019, 11:36:52 AM
They're not going to build the retail along Edgewood until they secure a viable tenant. Get ready for another grass field for the foreseeable future.

That should be a no-go, hopefully.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: JeffreyS on June 04, 2019, 01:51:35 PM
If they are willing to build to suit a new Tennant they can fill that spot as long as the rent is reasonable.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: JeffreyS on June 04, 2019, 01:52:36 PM
the rendering of the Edgewood frontage imo seems more Town center than first block.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: Adam White on June 04, 2019, 02:59:41 PM
I like it and think it's a massive improvement.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: thelakelander on June 04, 2019, 04:30:40 PM
"If" they built that retail building, it would be one of the better looking buildings on Edgewood, IMO.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: JeffreyS on June 04, 2019, 04:45:30 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on June 04, 2019, 04:30:40 PM
"If" they built that retail building, it would be one of the better looking buildings on Edgewood, IMO.

Would it fit in is more where I was going.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: thelakelander on June 04, 2019, 05:09:51 PM
Yeah, I think it would fit in pretty good there. Because it's not a historic district, the corridor has the opportunity to become a place with a mix of old and new that will give it a completely different sense of place than Jax's other walkable commercial districts. The big question to me would be if they'd ever build the retail and if so....when.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: Non-RedNeck Westsider on June 04, 2019, 05:45:17 PM
My biggest issue is that they don't have a tenant confirmed for either the retail OR the warehouse component.

They're planning on 'reaching out' to guys like Cubesmart. 

You couple that with the fact that the front retail at the first meeting was going to get some 'rent assistance to keep it comparable with what's currently available'  to last night's, 'the rent will definitely be higher due to it being new construction' and my warm-and-fuzzies are gone.

I personally think, if done correctly, it could be a great development and have been on board with it 100%.  But after last night I'm starting to see too many if/then's for me to feel like this is a great idea. 

Best case - everything gets built and occupied.
Probably case - we have an empty corner and a huge beige 'box' that has been VE'd to nothing to make the proforma work.
Worst case - we end up with with an empty corner and a half-built 'box' that they decided to walk away from when no potential tenant seems likely or the market tanks during construction.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: Captain Zissou on June 05, 2019, 09:30:09 AM
They have accommodated the asks of the neighborhood pretty well.  Looks better than half of what has been proposed in Brooklyn over the past year.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: pierre on June 05, 2019, 11:03:09 AM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on June 05, 2019, 09:30:09 AM
They have accommodated the asks of the neighborhood pretty well.  Looks better than half of what has been proposed in Brooklyn over the past year.

Sure, maybe if that is what they actually build.

I cannot help but think the retail portion does not end up being built to start.

And when/if it does, that it does not look like the rendering.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: Captain Zissou on June 05, 2019, 11:06:45 AM
If Ifs and Buts were Candies and Nuts, we'd all have a merry christmas.

If they follow all the proper legal processes, not much anyone can do.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: vicupstate on June 05, 2019, 11:34:55 AM
QuoteThey're planning on 'reaching out' to guys like Cubesmart. 

Ask them to 'reach out' to Life Storage.
Title: Re: Renderings Released of Murray Hill Storage Project
Post by: pierre on June 05, 2019, 12:09:14 PM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on June 05, 2019, 11:06:45 AM
If Ifs and Buts were Candies and Nuts, we'd all have a merry christmas.

If they follow all the proper legal processes, not much anyone can do.

Disagree.

I plan on walking by and shaking my fist at it every chance I get.