Urban Core Construction Update - May 2010
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/870966700_zyeEE-M.jpg)
A look at the status of various projects under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville during the month of May.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-may-urban-core-construction-update-may-2010
A couple Items.
What is the giant concave portion of the courthouse in the first picture??
I wasn't aware John Gorrie was going to be mixed use. What will be the breakdown of square footage of the residential and commercial components of the project?
It seems like the Laura street project has stalled. Any news?
I'm so excited about the Stockton area taking off.
The Laura St project is in full gear....workers were pouring concrete and laying cobblestone on Friday evening....I think they may be trying to get the road at least partially open for this weekend's Jazz festival.
Laura Street is still moving. You can see progress in the images because I included on that was taken a week after the main batch.
last weekend:
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/870967285_DrZ7y-M.jpg)
this past weekend:
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/875159330_fV6fZ-M.jpg)
Courthouse and Laura street looking good. I know many dont like the courthouse, but I think it will be very nice once finished.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on May 24, 2010, 09:12:57 AM
A couple Items.
What is the giant concave portion of the courthouse in the first picture??
A hallway and stairwells.
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/images/development/duval_county_courthouse_renderings_dec_2008/dec_08_ddrb_agenda_for_web_page_46.jpg)
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-dec-duval-county-courthouse-renderings
QuoteI wasn't aware John Gorrie was going to be mixed use. What will be the breakdown of square footage of the residential and commercial components of the project?
I'm not sure but here is a link to the John Gorrie conversion thread: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,4556.0.html
Courthouse looking good. Hope it spurs other developments both new and ressurection of dead or delayed developments. Maybe they should have built the landing where the Courthouse is (just kidding).
"HU"
If you didn't know the new courthouse was going to be a courthouse, you'd swear, at this stage of the game that it was going to be a major hotel like Ramada Inn or Holiday Inn or something. Construction looking good though and you can surely see it taking shape as per the renderings.
"HU"
Thanks for the info, guys. I saw the Laura street project Thursday night and it looked unchanged from 2 weeks ago. I guess I was just a day early in passing judgment. Glad it's still moving forward.
Does anyone know what's happening at 837 Stockton?? Last time I looked the entire roof of that small store-front was gone.
Also, what's the address (or general location) of the new thai place in avondale??
Ruan Thai Cuisine = 3951 St. Johns Avenue (Where Preservation Chop House was).
Quote from: blizz01 on May 24, 2010, 10:59:30 AM
Ruan Thai Cuisine = 3951 St. Johns Avenue (Where Preservation Chop House was).
Let's hope they don't suffer the same results, closing due to piss poor service and subpar cuisine.
Nice to see a couple Urban Facelift Projects seeing reality. Valerio's we worked with and knew it was being done. But it is a nice surprise to see 1636 main coming along similar to UFP #3:
http://www.contentdg.com/the-urban-facelift-project-3-1632-1636-main-street/ (http://www.contentdg.com/the-urban-facelift-project-3-1632-1636-main-street/)
Quote from: reednavy on May 24, 2010, 11:10:04 AM
Quote from: blizz01 on May 24, 2010, 10:59:30 AM
Ruan Thai Cuisine = 3951 St. Johns Avenue (Where Preservation Chop House was).
Let's hope they don't suffer the same results, closing due to piss poor service and subpar cuisine.
I've been there, and their food and service are both excellent! I can't wait to go back.
They are rebuilding that small one story connector at 837 Stockton Street. That section was not original to either of the two buildings and it was not constructed well so the owners obtained a COA a few months ago for the reconstruction of that section, the replacement of the windows, and various storefront improvements on the entire structure.
What kind of restaurant will be going in on e-bay street? I wish they would take that green awning down and put up some horizontal prefab. aluminum awnings with tie rods instead. That might allow room for signage above the windows.
It would be nice if the restaurant that's going into Churchwell Lofts has late late night hours. I know it's wishful thinking but it would nice to have other options than pizza and tacos after the bars close at 2am.
I agree, Professor. That building is wonderful, but I don't like the awning. If it wasn't just one continuous awning it might look better, but It looks dated. Aluminum would work well, or even just broken up canvas awnings like on the Stockton building.
Quote from: comncense on May 24, 2010, 12:17:12 PM
It would be nice if the restaurant that's going into Churchwell Lofts has late late night hours. I know it's wishful thinking but it would nice to have other options than pizza and tacos after the bars close at 2am.
Hot dog vendor on Bay Street, Kickbacks, Sweet Pete.... Plenty of late night options. It would be nice if the Churchwell restaurant had late night though. I wish it was a carbon copy of kickback's, that would save me the drive.
Hot dogs fall in the same category as pizza and tacos in my book. Bad decisions... Though I do find myself at the hot dog stand pretty often. All of those other options require me to drive elsewhere, I'd rather just be able to walk somewhere in the vicinity and sober up off of some late night food. Yup, I'm whining and being picky but at least I realize it. :)
I was in downtown the other day, and at first glance the new Courthouse looked like a huge new office building going in. However I knew what it was.
Laura street is starting to look good too.
So what else should we expect to migrate to that area (the new Courthouse) by default? Surely there will be supplementary offices and/or lunch spots (?). Maybe Worman's will resurface? And, if so, does that then create a void where the current location is?
(http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/articles/04_15_10/7a.jpg)
Just to complete the cycle, the restaurant at the Jacksonville Farmers Market featured last month in this series, Andy's Farmers Market Grill, is now open. Same "Andy" as Andy's Sandwich Shop on Lane at I-10. Open for breakfast and lunch, Monday through Saturday.
From last month, in the Jax Daily Record:Quote
New restaurant to open at farmers market
04/15/2010
by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
A restaurant returns to the Jacksonville Farmers Market in about three weeks as food service veterans Andy and Jack Akel open Andy’s Farmers Market Grill.
The brothers will use the fresh produce at the West Beaver Street farmers market on the menu. They plan to open May 3 and will serve breakfast and lunch seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The new cinderblock building sits just inside the entrance to the farmers market, not far from where Sandy’s Steer Room operated years ago. It can seat up to 30 people.
There are few restaurants with such close access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
“That’s one difference customers will really be able to taste and appreciate,†said Andy Akel, 43, who will own the restaurant with his brother, Jack, 42. “We focus on good food fast at a quality price, and the fresh produce will help us provide the best dishes we can.â€
Andy has been working in the food service business for about 25 years. He and his brother own Andy’s Sandwich Shop at Lane Avenue and Interstate 10, so the new restaurant will be their second.
“It’s great work,†said Andy. “My favorite part is meeting different people.â€
Akel will have the chance to meet more people at the new restaurant, which joins one of Florida’s oldest farmers markets. The Jacksonville Farmers Market offers produce from about 200 farmers and year-round vendors and attracts thousands of visitors who stop by the market each week.
The Akel brothers will staff the restaurant with another four to five people.
The restaurant is one of many improvements planned for the Jacksonville Farmers Market. Another building for vendors is in future plans, as well as converting a former grocery store, Premier Foods, for use by vendors at the market.
“It’s just part of the plan to continue to improve the market,†said Jeff Edwards, CFO of Beaver Street Fisheries, owner of the farmers market. “It’s a great opportunity for them and helps us provide a variety of products.â€
Akel’s goal is to provide good food fast at a good price. A sneak peek at the menu revealed a listing for eggs, sausage, grits and toast, with coffee, going for $3.99 plus tax.
“We plan to keep the menu reasonable,†said Akel. “We expect to see a mix of blue-collar and white-collar customers. There are vendors and farmers working at the market, but there are also offices located nearby and we expect to get some traffic from them.â€
I just drove by yesterday and was wondering what was that building.
Does anyone know why watermelons are small this year?
Quote from: heights unknown on May 24, 2010, 09:48:42 AM
If you didn't know the new courthouse was going to be a courthouse, you'd swear, at this stage of the game that it was going to be a major hotel like Ramada Inn or Holiday Inn or something. Construction looking good though and you can surely see it taking shape as per the renderings.
"HU"
Huh?
I don't know too many hotels with "greek temple like" columns
I really have some high hopes for that area surronding the Courthouse once it is completed. I was down there at lunch today, parked on Pearl St, pulled right into an empty metered spot. Just seeing all the vacant retail space on the ground floors of those garages (new and old ones) depressed me. I remember when there was a Schlotskys Deli and Dunkin Donuts in those spaces. I hope the Courthouse can spur something...guess only time will tell.
Quote from: tufsu1 on May 24, 2010, 02:14:00 PM
I don't know too many hotels with "greek temple like" columns
Key word there is 'temple LIKE'. I don't think the Greeks used tilt up and pre fab concrete. It's a vast improvement over the current court house, but unfortunately I saw the Cannon renderings and other proposals back in the day. If only I was blissfully ignorant of those superior designs.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on May 24, 2010, 02:25:52 PM
I don't think the Greeks used tilt up and pre fab concrete.
that's what you get for $220 million (cost of new building itself)
Quote from: happical on May 24, 2010, 10:35:20 AM
Does anyone know what's happening at 837 Stockton?? Last time I looked the entire roof of that small store-front was gone.
As of Saturday afternoon, 873 Stockton is completely gone.
Quote from: stjr on May 24, 2010, 01:13:32 PM
(http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/articles/04_15_10/7a.jpg)
Just to complete the cycle, the restaurant at the Jacksonville Farmers Market featured last month in this series, Andy's Farmers Market Grill, is now open. Same "Andy" as Andy's Sandwich Shop on Lane at I-10. Open for breakfast and lunch, Monday through Saturday.
From last month, in the Jax Daily Record:
Quote
New restaurant to open at farmers market
04/15/2010
by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
A restaurant returns to the Jacksonville Farmers Market in about three weeks as food service veterans Andy and Jack Akel open Andy’s Farmers Market Grill.
The brothers will use the fresh produce at the West Beaver Street farmers market on the menu. They plan to open May 3 and will serve breakfast and lunch seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The new cinderblock building sits just inside the entrance to the farmers market, not far from where Sandy’s Steer Room operated years ago. It can seat up to 30 people.
There are few restaurants with such close access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
“That’s one difference customers will really be able to taste and appreciate,†said Andy Akel, 43, who will own the restaurant with his brother, Jack, 42. “We focus on good food fast at a quality price, and the fresh produce will help us provide the best dishes we can.â€
Andy has been working in the food service business for about 25 years. He and his brother own Andy’s Sandwich Shop at Lane Avenue and Interstate 10, so the new restaurant will be their second.
“It’s great work,†said Andy. “My favorite part is meeting different people.â€
Akel will have the chance to meet more people at the new restaurant, which joins one of Florida’s oldest farmers markets. The Jacksonville Farmers Market offers produce from about 200 farmers and year-round vendors and attracts thousands of visitors who stop by the market each week.
The Akel brothers will staff the restaurant with another four to five people.
The restaurant is one of many improvements planned for the Jacksonville Farmers Market. Another building for vendors is in future plans, as well as converting a former grocery store, Premier Foods, for use by vendors at the market.
“It’s just part of the plan to continue to improve the market,†said Jeff Edwards, CFO of Beaver Street Fisheries, owner of the farmers market. “It’s a great opportunity for them and helps us provide a variety of products.â€
Akel’s goal is to provide good food fast at a good price. A sneak peek at the menu revealed a listing for eggs, sausage, grits and toast, with coffee, going for $3.99 plus tax.
“We plan to keep the menu reasonable,†said Akel. “We expect to see a mix of blue-collar and white-collar customers. There are vendors and farmers working at the market, but there are also offices located nearby and we expect to get some traffic from them.â€
Oh great. Just what I need. More reason to hang around there than I already do.
interesting
873 Stockton - Yes, they tore out that section which was basically only one small storefront that was originally an alleyway that was built in to connect the two buildings into one. There were constant problems with roof leaks and other things from what I understand, and it was cheaper to just tear out that section and rebuild it. Im sure when its completed it will look the same as before from the street.