A Day in The Southbank
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/471905582_oz33Q-M.jpg)
Originally developed as a part of the City of South Jacksonville, the Southbank is a mix of suburban and urban oriented development within a compact setting.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/1010
Spectacular images, thanks!
I like the southbank. Great photos! The southbank may have been a forgotten part of downtown. I could be wrong, though.
I think Welton Becket was the design architect of Independent Life.
My current stomping grounds(workwise) very nice.
The Southbank does have more of a suburban feel to it as there's not a lot to create foot traffic. Most of the workers do seem to go straight from the parking garages to their work buildings without venturing out too far for lunch or after work, but it is a scenic place to work in. It's easy on the eyes!
I really enjoy looking at all those old photographs.
Nice shots. I randomly went on a walk about of a lot of the Southbank with my camera last week, though I did jump over the main street bridge for a bit - my set on flickr http://flickr.com/photos/chrisolberding/sets/72157613788569213/
I cannot stress enough how much I hate that Hampton Inn. How ridiculous that such a suburban design was used.
Every time I have a chance to eat at The Chart House I can't help but admire the low slung architecture & design of the building. Last I heard, Radisson owned the land, but if things ever tick up on that side of the river, it would be a PERFECT building to house a Rainforest Cafe considering they're in the same ownership group (Landry's) as The Chart House - would be a nice compliment to MOSH, the Naval ship if it ever happens & and dare I say Kids Kampus (NOT a proponent, btw).
Great shots Chris... please keep adding to the collection! Welcome!
If Jacksonville had an Uptown, Midtown...I guess South Bank and North Bank would be two different districts. But people do not really use those terms, they just lump them all under downtown Jacksonville.
Yep that's true for the most part. Whenever I refer to the Southbank I usually get a "where's that?" response.
That is why you say Downtown Southbank.
I think that if the South Bank gets maybe 5 or 6 more high rises its identity will be known. Maybe there needs to be another bridge between the 2 that exist. I am just thinking out loud here. Downtown = South Bank, Midtown = North Bank, Uptown = Springfield.....I guess lol.
Surprised I didn't see a picture of South Jacksonville City Hall at the RR and Hendricks!
That is because it is south of I-95 in San Marco. You can find an image of it in the San Marco photo thread:
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-7165-p1130698.JPG)
San Marco: A Walking Oasis in an Unwalkable City
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-7188-san_marco_map.jpg)
full photo thread: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/907/117/
OK, Lake. I didn't know the Southbank was so being formally defined here. I was actually keying off the historical references to the city of South Jacksonville. But, nice picture anyway. Thanks.
Nice photo thread. I like the shots in between the buildings.
Quote from: stjr on February 23, 2009, 06:04:26 PM
OK, Lake. I didn't know the Southbank was so being formally defined here. I was actually keying off the historical references to the city of South Jacksonville. But, nice picture anyway. Thanks.
I should have included a map of what is known as the Southbank
or the Southside neighborhood.
I haven't been down there in awhile, but looking at all those highrises just east of the Gulf Life Tower (see, I told you it's been a long time :D ), how do you get to the Southbank Riverwalk? I used to park where the residential towers are now.
By the way - great pics!!
Its difficult. I typically park in the parking lot behind MOSH, next to Friendship Fountain. If you're on foot, you can access the riverwalk from the MOSH area, Wyndham Hotel or the public space between the Strand and the Peninsula.
The Southern Grill has really great food. Just wish they would open on the weekends!
I love the Riverwalk but the wooden planking needs to be replaced as it is warping and showing wear and tear. The walk from RCB to the School board building is great... Imagine it going another half mile past that...
Just curious - what's a half mile past the Shool Board building?
When will the school board building be moved? That thing is an eyesore.
To the east of the DCPS is the old JEA power station brownfield site, and then Bishop Kenny. The DCPS building will be moved when the JEA site is developed. Don't hold your breath on that one!
Yeah it is all kind of pie-in-the-sky fantasy... move the school board and develop tax generating property and extend the riverwalk into the JEA sight. I cannot remember what the proposals have been for for both of those sites...
Refer to this write-up for some dead projects. 2 of them were for the old JEA site.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/908/122/
One was the San Marco Riverfront District, absolutely spectacular proposal. The other being San Marco Village, consisting of 6 towers.
The whole area is great for biking. Just watch out for those deft and cunning security guards along the riverwalk, protecting the innocent from vicious cyclists.
QuoteJust curious - what's a half mile past the Shool Board building?
QuoteTo the east of the DCPS is the old JEA power station brownfield site, and then Bishop Kenny. The DCPS building will be moved when the JEA site is developed. Don't hold your breath on that one!
See this thread for my thoughts on what the JEA and School Board sites should be conidered for. With all the development proposals wiping out, now would be a good time to consider this:http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,4434.0.html
Here is an interesting view of the Southbank (1973) I just came across:
(http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/commerce/c680370.jpg)
and another:
(http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/rfisher/RF00011.jpg)
QuoteHere is an interesting view of the Southbank (1973) I just came across
Lake, are you sure of the picture dates, especially the bottom one? The Gulf Life Tower was completed in 1967 and is not pictured in the bottom picture where it should be! These pictures certainly are from different times as the the bottom one was taken at a much earlier date than the top one. Note that the generating plant site improvements were in a finished state in the top picture, but apparently not so in the bottom one.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Quote The Auchter Company, Jacksonville’s oldest general construction contractor, built the 542,000sf "Gulf Life Tower" for the Gulf Life Insurance Company in 1966. It was designed by the notable local firm, KBJ Architects. When completed in 1967, it was the tallest precast, post-tensioned concrete structure in the world. It held that distinction until 2002, when it was surpassed by the 425-ft.-tall Paramount Apartment Tower in San Francisco.[2]
In the bottom right of the top picture, just under I-95, were a group of old FEC railroad sidings that can be seen if you look carefully at the sandy area depicted. This is now the site of the JTA parking garage at the end of the $ky-high-way line. I remember they use to park the Ringling Brothers Circus trains on those sidings when they came to town.
The first is filed as being taken in 1973. The second appears to be from an earlier date.