Downtown Construction Update - December 2008
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-8141-p1180063.JPG)
Despite the slumping economy, construction continues on several projects in downtown Jacksonville. Here is a look at the status of various projects under construction in and around Downtown during the month of December.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/957
Brooklyn Park ?
2111 Liberty Street (Chevy Parts Depot Lofts)?
Brooklyn Park is not a construction site. They just tore down all of the remaining historic buildings.
We missed 2111 Liberty Street. The next time I'm in the area with my camera, I'll make sure I snap of couple of pictures to share in this thread.
Can someone tell me what the demolition on San Marco Blvd. is all about? Thanks
Yeah, what happened to the Gold Nugget and Diamond Dolls? My friend used to go there and brag to the strippers about how she makes 30,000 a year! Memories......in the corner of my mind.
As a heads up, at 3:11pm today, there was a "construction fire" inside of the residential area of the "The Lofts at 3rd & Main" project (also called The Bill Cesery Project). I spoke to an officer and a few of the firemen and they all confirmed that it was just on the 3rd floor of the loft area (not the front part of the project) and that no one was hurt. Wanted to pass on the details before any speculation started to surface.
Let me make sure I'm being respectful here because it could be worse in a City the size of Jacksonville, and I don't want anyone slamming me for being disrespectful.
Very nice to see some projects still going on in these hard awful economic times; however, this listing, compared to other major Florida cities is very austere, minimal, and below average to say the least.
However, as I said, I must be respectful because it could be worse...and, what do we expect during such hard financial times as these? But what bothers me is that it seems that other cities in Florida and around the nation are taking chances and building anyway, and Jax is being more cautious or the developers are pulling out with caution and red flags.
I would guess that this is because our market was slow and lackluster before the development and construction boom; so to chance it would be a big gamble in the Jax market.
Heights Unknown
QuoteYeah, what happened to the Gold Nugget and Diamond Dolls? My friend used to go there and brag to the strippers about how she makes 30,000 a year! Memories......in the corner of my mind
Now THAT is funny, back in my freak days, I had a live-in girl friend who often bragged about working in "Hollywood". Well, that part was true enough, she was - how would she put it? Professionally unemployed!
Oh my, what a lover!
Perhaps that is what Jacksonville needs.... We already have the professionally unemployed but we don't have the "Hollywood" factor. Maybe a HARD ROCK complete with it's own version of REHAB would be bee's knee's. Just dreaming I guess - Back to my SOCO...OCKLAWAHA
I don't think this is related, but if you do a search on "1463 San Marco" using the Jacksonville.com pipeline web tool, some information comes up regarding a 6-8 story office building at the corner of San Marco and Cedar St. The last activity was a water management review about a year ago.
As for the demolition, it would not surprise me to see some medical offices go up on those two corners. It's a good location for that type of thing. I think that part of town is seeing expansion in the medical field.
I know that there was street flooding in that area during the hurricane season. That may have forced the nightclub out of business.
The new courthouse was suppose to start construction by now. Do you know the timeframe of when they will start on it? And please...give it to me straight. Give us some good news! 8) Keep the faith!
^ Hell, it was supposed to be FINISHED by now, based on the original plans.
Where can I find out more information on the Kings avenue station project? Thanks!
It's probably not "construction" but does anybody know what's going at the police building? They've had one lane of Liberty closed for a few weeks, and there's been various construction stuff there, and other spots around the building.
Hopefully they are tearing it down and relocating to the west side of downtown. ;D
When is the Irish pub in 5 points opening?
Gee Riverside G maybe they will tear it down and leave a surface parking lot the for next 30 years.
Not the route I would take. I would tear it down after building a new police HQ elsewhere and then do an RFP for housing on that site.
Quote from: MattnJax on December 12, 2008, 10:47:23 AM
When is the Irish pub in 5 points opening?
I walked by last night and the place is almost fully functional. They have their signs up, as well as TVs and speakers set up. The menu is also outside the door now, and below it is a schedule for the next week. Their tentative opening to the public is this coming Wednesday from 4:30 to ????. It looks great inside, it will be a great addition to this area.
They have been putting on a new roof for the police building. What once was a pretty park like setting up there was torn down after 9/11 and looked awful is now being replaced with what looks to be a standard black tar roof. (Or whatever they put up there)
I think relocating the police head quarters and the jail would be a good idea, if they want to revitalize that area for entertainment and condos. I don't see how people would want to pay for a high priced condo that over looks a prison. I do not see how in the long term that is going to help the value of those areas.
Exactly. The long run solution will be the relocation of the jail and the PMB to the western side of downtown to make it closer to the new courthouse, give it room to expand and to free up the land there for its highest and best use which would be mid to highrise residential.
My point was, we continue to tear down and always have an excuse or bad leadership to replace. The moment the city starts talking about building a new police station, our dear citizens will start screaming their heads off about replacing a "perfectly good facility."
The tax watchdog groups will be foaming at the mouth, just the way they will be if the city spends a dime on repairing the stadium. They can only see whats here and now, not what benefits the city and all taxpayers in the long run. We lose money every moment the jail and police station sit on prime property.
And although this is not about the Jags and the stadium, imagine the foaming mouth watchdog groups and how most of them would love to see Wayne Weaver take his team and move it out of town so we wouldn't have to maintain the stadium and spend another dime.
That sounds so appealing since the stadium sits empty most of the year and the city STILL has to maintain the facility since we own it.
And who needs the revenue generated, the impact on the fringe groups who make money from the Jaguars, the priceless national exposure, surely we don't since we have so much to offer on a national level other than the Jaguars. We benefit so much from all the tourism money that flows through Florida.
Heck I think we need less. We could be more like Lake City and we wouldn't have to worry about all that pesky spending. Just think, we could then rally around our designation as the "Murder Capital of the State."
I fear we will be too old too care until the new courthouse is built. And we can continue to be embarrassed about the acres of overgrown lots that litter the landscrape.
By the way I have a great idea.
Let's not worry about a new courthouse and turn the blocks put aside for the project and all the rest of La Villa into one big park.
Or maybe a theme park.
It would be a little wacky, but less embarrassing and maybe a lot more fun.
Quote from: RiversideGator on December 12, 2008, 11:40:40 PM
Not the route I would take. I would tear it down after building a new police HQ elsewhere and then do an RFP for housing on that site.
and where would you suggest the City get the $ to build a new police headquarters/prison?
Plus...I wouldn't hold my breath on an RFP for housing...its not as if there's a huge market for that these days!
This is obviously a multi-year plan. The new courthouse comes first. The jail though is already at capacity from what I understand and the police building is 30+ years old. They will need to be replaced at some point in the next 10-20 years. The logical replacement would be housing of some sort.