Downtown Construction Update - March 2009
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/485153739_EuoAF-M.jpg)
A look at the status of various projects under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville during the month of March.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/1028
Let's get a new project on this list... Has there been anything breaking ground in the last 4 months (besides small restaurants)?
It is a monthly "update," meaning you get to see projects evolve through the construction process. Nevertheless, don't hesitate to give us a hand by pointing out projects we may be missing. We'd love to cover them.
Hell I'm happy to be seeing small restaurants coming out of the ground.
Hey, can you make a 50 story skyscraper appear on the downtown construction update for April?
Just something to snazz it up!
Thanks
Heck, I'm just really happy the 5 Points restaurant isn't that tacky Green anymore! :P
City Hall Annex should be done very soon. Can't wait for that corner to open up again, it makes walking around that block kinda tricky w/traffic.
And just to clarify, has construction resumed on Berkman II?
Construction has not resumed on Berkman II.
Quote from: David on March 10, 2009, 09:04:30 AM
Hey, can you make a 50 story skyscraper appear on the Downtown construction update for April?
Just something to snazz it up!
Thanks
Anything is possible for April Fools!
At least there is some progress in this down economy! 3rd and Main could end up being a catalyst for more projects in Springfield.
3rd and Main is coming along nicely. It is going to be a great addition to the neighborhood. It's a good example of an infill project. There are plans for a pizza restaurant on the ground floor. I am hoping for a Pizza Palace!
Quote from: David on March 10, 2009, 09:04:30 AM
Hey, can you make a 50 story skyscraper appear on the Downtown construction update for April?
Just something to snazz it up!
Thanks
I can help you. It's only about 40 stories - sorry to disappoint - but it helps downtown by freeing up 4 or 5 city blocks - it's called a VERTICAL County Courthouse!
Amen to that!
Quote from: fsujax on March 10, 2009, 09:58:55 AM
3rd and Main is coming along nicely. It is going to be a great addition to the neighborhood. It's a good example of an infill project. There are plans for a pizza restaurant on the ground floor. I am hoping for a Pizza Palace!
Too bad you can't cross main street to get to it.
maybe we can work on getting some of those medians opened up!
Off topic, but did anyone go on the modern architecture bus tour at the Beaches last weekend?
If so, how was it? What houses were on the tour besides the Milam House and William Morgan's place
at Atlantic Beach?
I was there for the free portion. The program for the event is phenomenal just like last year. An extra handout covering tour details listed 25 properties. They could not possibly have stopped in to tour each. Some had to be drive by only. Copies of each brochure can be viewed in Special Collections at the Main Library.
Is it possible to order copies?
I'm in Atlanta.
I hope that some of the Main St businesses can try to make another go @ profitability after the west side of the st has opened back up. It was really coming along until DOT made it almost impossible to access these businesses. The 3rd & Main project is looking good (should be nice views of the skyline from the south balconies) and I'm glad to see the main st bakery bldg with an establishment again.
On another note, is it just me or is the new name of the food court in the old "Applejax" bldg awfully ironic? Just curious.
BTW, Great post, I really appreciate the updates on the projects. Is there anything going on in St. Nicholas or San Jose (Old San Jose on the river)?
Quote from: floridaforester on March 10, 2009, 11:10:48 PM
On another note, is it just me or is the new name of the food court in the old "Applejax" bldg awfully ironic? Just curious.
You're not alone. A lot of us had a field day with the name in the original thread:
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,4212.0.html.
Bike Jax, fsujax - I was back channeled by someone on another forum that putting in walkways for the odd streets on Main was in the works. I don't have more details but they work for the city. They stated that "I worked with SPAR, Public Works, and FDOT in getting the stamped crosswalks put in. Normally they are not allowed at non-signalized intersections, but the state was willing to forego that policy since this is a 'Town Center' corridor." They will be at 3,7,9. That's all I know.
I wonder why 5th was left out?
Billy: Re Modern Classics at the Beach 2009
There were bunches and bunches of brochures available. You should contact the events key planner and Docomomo/US FL Board Member, Richard Sheildhouse. His contact information from the Docomomo/US FL web page, http://docomomofl.org/, is shieldhouse@docomomofl.org. I am sure he will be very helpful. When I look back at the program, I see they physically visited 5 of the Modern Classics including Morgan's Dune House where they concluded their tour with a wine and cheese reception. I can't wait to see what they'll do next.
I would have jumped on the tour but I definitely needed to be in Avondale to see Peter Max, at the R. Roberts Gallery, who was making a second trip to town in as many years, alas I was out of town last year! By the end of the day, all my synapses were still firing and I had a tough time falling asleep. (I might add Saturday's weather was a spectacular, sunny 80 degree day.) That's Jacksonville for you, when there's nothing much to do there is nothing, period. But at other times, there is so much going on you are forced to make choices and compromises.
Thanks!
I almost forgot, in between engagements above, I stopped to see a Florida Highwayman exhibit at the Beaches Museum & History Center, http://www.beachesareahistoricalsociety.com/. Too cool! Sorry last post off topic. I do live/work in the Urban Core!
I wondered why 5th was left out too. Plus they're going to need one at 2 eventually.
Quote from: Deuce on March 11, 2009, 09:22:46 AM
Bike Jax, fsujax - I was back channeled by someone on another forum that putting in walkways for the odd streets on Main was in the works. I don't have more details but they work for the city. They stated that "I worked with SPAR, Public Works, and FDOT in getting the stamped crosswalks put in. Normally they are not allowed at non-signalized intersections, but the state was willing to forego that policy since this is a 'Town Center' corridor." They will be at 3,7,9. That's all I know.
There should be no need to go back and put crosswalks in a gridded street system. Those intersections should never have been closed up. We (Bike Jax) are also working to have not just the odd streets opened up. But all the streets opened up they way they were originally designed to be.
Do you really think anyone is going to walk up to 7th or down to 3rd to cross at the intersecting roads between? No they are not. Rest assured the death rate for pedestrians will rise on Main St. once construction is done and traffic gets comfortable and complacent with the ability to reach speed once more.
How far is a handicapped individual now required to travel just to across the street? I'm sick of hearing that this design is part of livable streets design. "Yipeee, Springfield has plants in the middle of the road." "It's so pretty." The only thing the current design does is speed up traffic. There is nothing livable about faster traffic. What you got is Baymeadows with plants.
And what do we do if Berkman II doesn't make it? Any ideas?
Berkman school of Construction Skills?
Berkman multi-level Convention Center?
Berkman BRT/TOD Bus Station?
Multi-Level Publix - bread is located at 10 - Aisle 3, Milk at 4 - Aisle 8?
Berkman Zeppelin Terminal?
What say you?
OCKLAWAHA
A highrise monument of the boom gone bust?
^^They have on of those on the Vegas Strip.
Berkman Urban Climbing and Base Jumping Emporium
^ Nice!
I wouldn't think that building would be suited for anything other than residential or hospitality. Surely, it'll be finished some day.
NO NO NO, i hate the new vomit color on the Fu Hao Bistro, the green was a hell of a lot better.
yeh bc we really needed another asian cuisine within a 5 min radius... ??? i mean dont get me wrong i could eat sushi all day long (wasabi buffet on southside blvd 9.99 all u can eat sushi/hibachi), but couldnt we have thought a little more outside the box... say maybe a men's store like Armor was in avondale? american apparel like the one in gainesville would be awesome.
What, no artist's market opening first week in April under I-95 in betweeen Brooklyn/Riverside? ???
We'll feature a comprehensive thread about the artist market before and after the grand opening.
The stalled residential highrise in Vegas: St. Regis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/06/greathomesanddestinations/06vegas.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=escapes&adxnnlx=1237364612-tQ3W9wz4dS88UHxyJloqZQ
Looks like the Brewster Hospital renovation will be put to good use shortly.......
Jacksonville prepares to find tenant for restored Brewster Hospital
Jacksonville is about to hang a “for lease†sign on the historic Brewster Hospital, which hasn’t been occupied for four decades but recently went through a $2.3 million renovation.
The two-story building, which the city owns, dates back to 1885 and left its mark on Jacksonville history by providing medical treatment and nurse training to African Americans from 1901 to 1966.
The former hospital, located at 843 W. Monroe St., in the downtown-area LaVilla neighborhood, is just three blocks from where the new county courthouse is rising. LaVilla has gained several new office buildings in recent years.
Karen Nasrallah, redevelopment manager for the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, didn’t miss a beat today when asked why the Brewster Hospital would attract tenants who otherwise might move to a newer building.
“When you walk into it, it’s got so much ambience and history,†Nasrallah said. “It’s got such a fascinating history and it’s been renovated to pristine condition.â€
The city would give preference to occupants that carry on the building’s legacy by providing medical services and treatment, according to a project summary prepared for the JEDC. But the city isn’t limiting the proposals to just that field, and officials hope the building attracts a large number of offers, Nasrallah said.
The JEDC is scheduled to vote Wednesday on seeking proposals from prospective tenants. If the JEDC approves, the city’s Professional Services Evaluation Committee would next call for proposals and rank them, setting the stage for negotiations and eventually a lease agreement. Nasrallah said that process will take several months and the city hasn’t set any deadline yet for interested business or organizations to submit their proposals.
The city would score the proposals based on what tenants are willing to pay in rent, whether they will need taxpayer financial incentives, their financial strength, their qualifications and experience, how their projects would promote downtown redevelopment, and how quickly they can move into the building.
The city would work with the tenants on constructing and maintaining a high-visibility memorial saluting the service of nurses who went through Brewster Hospital.
The JEDC will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday at its office, 1 W. Adams St. in downtown.
http://jacksonville.com/business/2009-12-07/story/jacksonville_prepares_to_find_tenant_for_restored_brewster_hospital
You can't put new projects on that don't exist or are not being planned (I'm sure everyone knows this). Hopefully as the economy improves we'll see a couple of 40 or 50 story pinnacles rising into the clouds (wishful thinking).
"HU"
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on March 18, 2009, 04:25:26 AM
The stalled residential highrise in Vegas: St. Regis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/06/greathomesanddestinations/06vegas.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=escapes&adxnnlx=1237364612-tQ3W9wz4dS88UHxyJloqZQ
Marketing to Gay Men and Lesbians? Nothing wrong with that but the way they worded it appears they are "scraping the bottom of the barrel."
"HU"