QuoteBy Larry HannanStory updated at 7:05 PM on Monday, Mar. 8, 2010
A four-lane road that would connect Youngerman Circle to Collins Road may end up being partially built by a developer.
Under a plan going to the Jacksonville City Council today, developer Thomas Dumas would help build Parramore Road â€" currently a two-lane dirt road â€" and then would be allowed to build two shopping centers nearby.
The plan concerns the Council Auditor’s Office, which objects to Dumas only building a portion of the roadway, for $4.7 million. The rest, which would connect to Youngerman Circle and is expected to cost $2.1 million, is unfunded.
Councilman Daniel Davis said the council, at today’s meeting, will try to figure out a way to find the extra money.
Under the proposed agreement, Dumas would build Parramore from Collins Road south to where one of his developments will end. In return, Dumas would be allowed to build a 285,000-square-foot shopping center on 41 acres of land south of Collins Road and a 150,000-square-foot shopping center on 13 acres of land north of Collins Road, between Interstate 295 and Rampart Road.
The city also would pay the developer $375,000 to settle an eminent domain lawsuit over the land and waive about $4.4 million in fair-share money â€" meant to pay for infrastructure work â€" the developer would normally have to pay for building permits to build the shopping centers.
Auditor Kirk Sherman said the roadway construction would not offset the extra traffic that would be on Parramore and Collins if the road doesn’t go to Youngerman Circle. Building the entire road would ease his concerns.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-03-08/story/developer_to_build_road_if_city_oks_shopping_centers
In all honesty, if the developer does foot half or more of the $s, I'm for it.
It would add another road at the already busy blanding/295 area.
But it wouldn't add any extra traffic, as this route is already in a heavy congested area, so only those in this area would even use it.
Why not.
Go for it if they foot the bill.
I agree Jandar. It may actually increase connectivity in that area.
The only complications I see are the housing developments between Parramore and Youngerman. The road would have to head north off of Youngerman (next to Keith Pierson Toyota) towards I295 and then snake around the residential area to connect with Parramore.
Unfortunately, look where Parramore comes out at on Collins, right at the new interchange they're going to construct.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Youngerman%20Cir%2C%20Jacksonville%2C%20Duval%2C%20Florida%2032244&aql=&oq=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl
Do we really need more retail space in that area? There is lots of vacant space all around I-295 and Blanding.
I know. I guess I just do not get it. Why build new when we have so much unused.
Cant this land be used for a skyway extension?
The new interchange will be handy for those mega-shopping centers.
^and so will the road. It will serve the new shopping centers and associated outparcels by opening poorly accessible land to both Collins and Blanding. Smart move on the developer's part.
And it would have 295 frontage for advertising your location, great sell to businesses.
Seriously, although it might create another strip mall, it could open a way for locals to get to/from collins to youngerman.