Hemming Park Changes may effect Laura Street Corridor
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/images/hemming_park/closed_by_six/next_for_hemming.jpg)
For several months now there has been serious discussion of the development of the Laura Street Corridor to provide an initial street traffic creating backbone from whence to spread a vibrant city center development.The idea that the creation of a strip featuring destinations that are open after sundown will create walking traffic and pedestrian life at street level by giving the public a variety of things to do in a relatively compact area.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/394
Good depictions, but it appears you are showing the Main Library as closing at 6pm as well. I thought they were open until at least 8pm. And they are building a coffee shop/cafe.
Great article, but I would have also included that the city should lease out the ground floor space of the Haverty building. It's still not too late, although time is quickly running out.
Sounds more like an excuse to me. Its not like a retail space on that corner would have to be 20,000sf. The point is about following your own rules and putting something in place that complements the cultural attractions across the street and adds life to the park outside of weekday work hours.
If space is truly a concern, design a spot to take advantage of the super large sidewalk on the corner of Duval and Laura. Something as small (roughly the size of a storage room) and simple as a newsstand or a true sidewalk cafe would do wonders for that area.
Seriously, how much space does Einstein Bagels take up in the Hyatt? Would something like that not be a benefit to or complement the existing uses in and around Hemming Plaza?
Nobody is talking about putting in a Macy's here. Even a news stand is better than nothing.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/urbanjax7816/newsstand-600pixel.jpg)
First Vestcor is allowed to opt out of ground floor retail for it's garage, now the city does the same.
Rules that get ignored are useless. This is how it happens folks. The little decisions that get made that totally undermind the intentions of the 'master plans' . Where the rubber meets the road, a detour is taken. No wonder we never reach our destination.
Imagine how much cooler it would be if you could start out at MOCA Jax on a Saturday morning, lunch at Quizno's, and then visit a cultural festival in Hemming Plaza. A quick stop at the ice cream shop in City Hall Annex, a performance at Boomtown and then walk across the street for an evening of coffee and books over at Chamblin's.
For the Hemming Plaza area to ultimately succeed, there has to be activity opening up to it on all four sides. Unfortunately, with City Hall and the Federal Courthouse, two sides have been permanently shuttered. That's why its important that ALL the remaining corners (Synder, City Hall Annex, and the old restaurant on the corner of Duval/Hogan) be converted into uses that stay open outside of 8 to 5 during weekdays only.
Don't have much factual basis for this, but with city in St. James and Ed Ball buildings, does it seem like city's plan is to form some type of "Government Square" in Hemming Plaza?
Maybe this is the ultimate plan so the retail develops somewhere else in the core. Then the wave of vagrants that traverse downtown (on a path that leads right through Hemming Plaza) every day could just have it, as all the city workers would leave by 5:00.
I often sell those "vagrants" hot dogs, soda, and chips. I notice most spend at Scotty's as well. You want to pick who buys and spends and where they do it???
The second you have any evening success you would likely see Subway and Quiznos stay open later.
What is the status on the Barnett Bank building?
Really, the only thing that's changed here is Sweet Pets's.
QuoteActivating the Snyder would still be a game changer for the Laura Street Corridor.
If there were ever a building in need of revitalization, this is it.
Quote from: Steve on December 21, 2015, 04:06:40 PM
Really, the only thing that's changed here is Sweet Pets's.
That has still made a big difference. During programmed events I see people coming and going between Sweet Pete's and Hemming. That adds foot traffic to one of the most dead corners of Hemming. If all sides had that kind of activity, we'd be in great shape.