Downtown Construction Update - April 2009
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/505187270_pSa43-M.jpg)
A look at the status of various projects under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville during the month of April.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/1056
Wow it's odd to see the old Abernathy renovation, interior & exterior.
They sure did put up with me a hell of a lot when I was a kid, and were always very pleasant about it lol.
Will the lofts at 2111 Liberty be rental or for sale?
rental.
QuoteThe liberty loft building was recently bought by a developer from Riverside. SWM builders. He is gutting the second floor and is going to put 9 loft style apartments there. He is leasing out the bottom space to a business...but the offices that line liberty street with all the windows...he is talking about leasing those out (cheap) as artist studios. He is making some great headway! I'm excited he is moving forward with this project in this market...it is great for Springfield!
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,3355.msg47007.html#msg47007
River Oaks in Riverside slipped past me. Is this new housing construction or will it become rentals?
It is great to see Springfield continue to rehab even in the downturn. It makes me think that when the economy stabilizes we will see a major boom.
The lofts on liberty look great. Is anyone on this board familiar with the torpedo factory in Alexandria, VA? The place is awesome. It's an old torpedo factory that's been converted into a bunch of artist studios. In most the spaces the artists both work and sell their art, so you can meet the artist and get a chance to see them in the creative process. There's three floors of vendors and they even have classes and a section devoted to archaeological digs in Alexandria. Here's the link: http://www.torpedofactory.org/. This would be a great idea to implement in one of the other warehouses.
I forgot, the torpedo factory (see post above) even has a packet available with a lot of detailed information on how to start your own art center.
It's great to see a monument is being made on behalf of Tillie Folwer. Do you have what it will look like once it's done? She was a class act!
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NlBE9GgDiKc/SbmB5SjYtPI/AAAAAAAABLQ/OmQgEMNZdwE/s320/hatcher1.jpg)
for more information and renderings: http://artisntrocketscience.blogspot.com/2009/03/mighty-oak-for-steel-magnolia.html
Brooklyn Park was no shocker, I noticed it about 2 weeks ago.
Berkman Plaza being dropped from this lsit is no shocker either. I fully believe it has been abandoned pretty much.
River Oaks is a new Construction Project in Riverside, by SRG. It's okay looking, but a bit suburban in my taste.
Aweome pic of the Fowler memorial. The colors blend with the stormy skies.
I rode by River Oaks the other day, and it's totally gross. SO incongruous. The brick is all wrong, and, frankly, the buildings look cheaply constructed. Not loving SRG right now at all.
Reed, I would put a steak dinner at Ruth's or Morton's on it that BP2 has not been abandoned. Construction will resume.
Quote from: thelakelander on April 08, 2009, 09:51:14 AM
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NlBE9GgDiKc/SbmB5SjYtPI/AAAAAAAABLQ/OmQgEMNZdwE/s320/hatcher1.jpg)
for more information and renderings: http://artisntrocketscience.blogspot.com/2009/03/mighty-oak-for-steel-magnolia.html
I have to say this sculpture looks to me like the human brain :D , not an oak tree per the artist. (http://www.ipmc.cnrs.fr/~duprat/neurophysiology/images/brain2.jpg)
^ I thought that's what it was supposed to be. I guess I was out of the loop. :-)
Can anyone tell me what happened to the “renovations†at 20 West? I know they stopped work there a while back (yet again), but I just walked past there a little while ago during my lunch hour and there a vibrant orange sign on the boarded up font announcing that as of March 31, 2009, the property had been CONDEMNED and was unfit for human habitation. This is really strange in light of the fact that half of the windows in the building (the 2 bottom floors) have just recently been replaced with nice, shiny, new environmentally friendly Pella windows!
WTF?
I think the developer is out of money and the project has been abandoned or indefinitely delayed. Structurally, the building is as solid as a rock. However, in its current situation, its not a place for people to be wondering around in (ex. exposed elevator shafts, etc.).
QuoteI think the developer is out of money and the project has been abandoned or indefinitely delayed. Structurally, the building is as solid as a rock. However, in its current situation, its not a place for people to be wondering around in (ex. exposed elevator shafts, etc.).
Is this building directly in front of The Carling or the WA Knight Lofts?
Its the building in front of the Carling.
Well at least the AME church that was within the Brooklyn Park project area got their money out of Miles Development before they went under. I'm pretty sure the church gutted the inside of the building and took the stained glass windows when they left, so that much was spared.
Sounds like typical Cowford - wipe out historic buildings and replace with a big empty space. When will we get leadership with a clue?
Is anyone else confused about the Brooklyn Park project. The potential is enormous. With construction costs down, there has to be a way for a developer to break even on a development there. The location is perfect. Walking/biking distance to everything Downtown and Riverside has to offer. Easy access to I95, I10. Future Skyway station to link to commuter rail ;) Beautiful views of the river and downtown skyline. Riverwalk access, RAM, 5 points...the list goes on and on! I mean come on. How about a nice, yet affordable rental community near downtown. I'm talking rents comparable to those found in developments around Southside/Touchton, because let's face it, the Strand is unaffordable for most middle income folks. With a nice decent quality, not luxurious, affordable development, I would reserve a unit in a heartbeat! Am I out of touch with reality or can someone back me up?
Potential doesn't matter if the developer isn't in financial position to build it and the banks are hesitant to finance projects this size. I'm sure something will eventually happen with the site (it does have potential), but we'll probably have to wait for the market to come back.
If/When the Berkman2 restarts - will they have to replace all (most) of the drywall and insulation that has been exposed to the weather for the last couple years?
SRG is building River Oaks for another developer and is not responsible for the design or materials used. The same is true for The Lofts on Main. SRG is building multiple projects for others all around Jacksonville but focuses their own development in Springfield.
Good to see some general movement around town despite the economic climate.
Agreed on River Oaks, Steve and others, but infill is rarely as good looking as the real thing. These are par for what they are.
The Ceasry project is also bland, suburban, and cheesy looking. If that's the grand vision for replacing the historic fabric of Main St....<sigh>. It's boring to look at, but let's hope the apartments rent out and its ground floor retail does amazingly well!
I like the Tillie monument.
I saw a sign for the Hendrix avenue station coming soon in San Marco yesterday any idea what that is?
Never have I been more depressed about downtown construction than now. I remember back in the day stuff was happening everywhere and it seemed like a new high rise was announced every day. Jacksonville faired much better than most cities since many of these towers were never built, but this list is pathetic. I hope it picks up sooner than later
Quote from: JeffreyS on April 09, 2009, 10:34:15 AM
I saw a sign for the Hendrix avenue station coming soon in San Marco yesterday any idea what that is?
Is that the TOD hotel that was built close to the skyway, but can't be used because of the fire?
I contacted Berkman Plaza 2, and the guy told me the developer was going to complete the project soon* and the only reason it was stalled was because of the construction accident.
QuoteI contacted Berkman Plaza 2, and the guy told me the developer was going to complete the project soon* and the only reason it was stalled was because of the construction accident.
Would you rather they tell the truth and tell you its because of the economy?
Peninsula is letting people out of their deals for half their money down, since the building was not completed in the 2 year state mandated time frame. Now the Ocean Grande folks across from Serenata have declared bankruptcy. Not good.
The Hilton Hotel next to the Skyway isn't finished, so fire repairs at the next station over have nothing to do with the hotel. It looks like they've started repairs on that station, so the south leg should be back in operation soon.
BTW, anyone have any thoughts about my earlier question on the need to replace much - if not all - the drywall and insulation that has been exposed to the weather for a couple years now?
^I'm not sure on if the insulation would have to be replaced or not. However, I would not be suprised if it does. It would seem that there could be mold issues with that product being exposed to the elements for an extended period of time.
Can't we get Goldman Sachs to open an office downtown so that we get some tax money returned to us?
Quote from: finehoe on April 12, 2009, 10:41:14 PM
Can't we get Goldman Sachs to open an office downtown so that we get some tax money returned to us?
GS already paid back their TARP $$$...
Only one so far.
Quote from: Dapperdan on April 09, 2009, 03:19:31 PM
Quote from: JeffreyS on April 09, 2009, 10:34:15 AM
I saw a sign for the Hendrix avenue station coming soon in San Marco yesterday any idea what that is?
Is that the TOD hotel that was built close to the skyway, but can't be used because of the fire?
NO it was on a different property.
It's not the banks not willing to fund the project, it's the developers not wanting to build office and retail space when business are downsizing and subleasing their own spaces. With the economy the way it is nobody is looking for new or expansion space. At least that is what I'm hearing from the developers in town.
Just as a note. The improvements to Bay St started on Monday. Reversible lanes are coming...this should be interesting. I recall when I lived in Atlanta, GDOt removed reversible lanes in Gwinnett County because they didn't work. Also, Laura St should be starting in October. I have heard that there will major uplighting of the buildings, fiber optic lighting in sidewalks, lights in trees, image projectors, projecting images on blank side walls of buildings. If this is the case Laura St could really become something special.
Regarding Laura Street, its good to see something we advocated in 2006, go from concept to reality over a short period of time. Its too bad, that Kuhn was not able to finish the Barnett and Lauro Trio projects. That would have been the icing on the cake.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/52/119/
The icing would have been the Riverwatch Tower going vertical.
I forgot about that one. That would have been nice. I wonder what happen with the plan to move forward with the garage? I wonder if it died too. If so, we're right back to where we began with the Landing parking situation.
The next thing probably to get going is going to be the new Riverplace Tower parking garage and base for a future tower.
I'm pretty sure the Riverwatch garage is as dead as the tower.
Quote from: fsujax on April 16, 2009, 10:01:39 AM
Just as a note. The improvements to Bay St started on Monday. Reversible lanes are coming...this should be interesting.
well, many on this site did not seem too pleased with the median idea...so instead we spend $2 million putting up new signals and widening the road by 3 feet to allow as many as 6 lanes for reversible flow before and after major events....which is about 15 times a year!
at least this design would still allow for future streetcar tracks.
QuoteI'm pretty sure the Riverwatch garage is as dead as the tower
As is pretty much all development downtown during this year and probably into next.
mtraininjax - I don't know where you get your information from, but it is wrong. The Peninsula is actually very healthy. The developer closed approx. 180 of the original 230+ contracts and the remaining buyers walked away from their 20% down, which the developer has since retained. Hence, the prices in that building still being listed and sold at $300 / sq. ft. Buyer's were not allowed to walk with their binders and your information is far from what is truly going on over there.
BP2 has been stalled by litigation, but I am sure the developer has not minded the delay enlight of the current economy, especially if he is ultimately awarded damages in his lawsuit file against the responsible parites.
it does appear that BP2 may have started up again...someone posted about activiy there the other day...and I rode by this evening and it looked a bit different
I really hope they complete that tower. Once it's done, though, there will no more cranes in Downtown!
QuoteOnce it's done, though, there will no more cranes in Downtown!
Get ready for the courthouse next month (& 36 months following):
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-04-28/story/duval_courthouse_could_break_ground_soon_cost_224_million
Maybe by the time they get it complete, banks start lending money again. Because, that is the only holdup on the BMC children's hospital tower project. Cranes will also have to be assembled for the courthouse project, later this year, if it breaks ground next month.