Laura Street Business Center Renderings
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-2143-tod-north-view.jpg)
The Laura Street Transfer Station Business Center will potentially occupy a surface parking lot next to the Skyway's FCCJ Station in the near future.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/574
I'm happy that another parking lot may be developed.
Color me underwhelmed.
Im glad theyre redeveloping a dirt parking lot, but it totally turns its back on the street and has nothing to do with the Rosa Parks Transit Center.
It appears that the 'alternative' design, which is far superior, IMO, would provide MORE square footage between the two buildings.
The original design appears to reflect a thought process that the convenience store 'must' be a separate building all it's own, instead of merely integrated into a larger building.
Lets hope the DRC sees the wisdom of doing something better than the submitted design. To get the DT we all want, the standards have to be enforced, or else there is no point in having them.
Wow. Just wow.
its pretty hard to address all street frontages...so the question is which is more important....State/Union or Laura?
Good point. Right now, it looks like none are properly addressed. Overall, if you look at the context of the area, along with what's planned in the future, Laura becomes the most important from a pedestrian's standpoint, with Springfield, Klutho Park, Karpeles and FCCJ to the north and FBC, City Hall, Hemming Plaza and the main library to the south. For all intents and purposes, the amount and speed of traffic, along State & Union make them deadly zones for pedestrians.
With FCCJ's proposed campus expansion, a well layed out Laura Street business center offers the opportunity to create a little synergy in the area.
Which begs the question, will the convenience store sell BEER?
Nice fit as a Mission Adjacent Development
Ocklawaha
Probably so. It should give Shell and Scottie Stores a little competition, considering its next to the bus depot.
that has got to be one of the ugliest buildings i have ever seen. and a parking lot. and why not take up less space and put the convenience center UNDER the office or at least redesign it. why does it have a roof like that? this isnt the suburbs. cut the lot in half(or quarter), ditch the roof and parking lot, and then i would be able to look upon it without contempt. thats just my stupid opinion tho. and no, i dont think that its better than nothing.
oh, but there are people on the sidewalk in these pictures. that means it encourages pedestrian traffic on the sidewalks, right? a couple of them are even waiting to cross the street.
i guess if buildings like these start being built downtown, we might as well forget the concept of 'small city' and focus on 'huge sprawling suburb of itself'
I recall a building I saw once that was similar, it was the extended stay hotel in BFE, courtesy of the US Military. The only other one was the Striped Ass Ape enclosure at the Omaha Zoo... Urban? Hardly!
I am glad the convenience store will probably sell beer and 99 cent wine, I need both after looking at those photos again. Those people on the sidewalk in the photo are already drunk. There is one redeeming value to the building though, JTA in it's infinite wisdom hasn't placed it at the end of the Skyway route (thus blocking any future expansion) Does ANYONE know how they managed to mess up such an opportunity to be the JTA we all know and love?
Ocklawaha
Oh I get it! Everyone missed it except me. Let me explain. You see JTA is doing a replica of Mayberry and plan to bring a horse drawn carriage to compliment these 18th century buildings. The heck with urban revitalization.
what's a striped ass ape? is it an ass ape that's striped, or an ape with a striped ass?
st. louis has a completely bald chimp. it looks like a little old man that throws poo.
You guys have gone ape :)
What is a Striped Ass Ape?
How fast does it go?
It is the symbol of the 391St Fighter Squadron, a cartoon ape, riding a bomb (which sounds like JTA to me).
Ocklawaha
Here's another rendering. This image shows the wall along Laura. If the DRC is still involved in the approval process, its face and interaction with Laura Street definately needs to be addressed, seeing that this block of Laura is a vital link in reconnecting Springfield and Downtown on a pedestrian level.
(http://www.rendbg.com/pics/Laura-Street-Transfer-Stati.jpg)
But look Lake, it has pretty palm trees and a Lamborghini parked out front. That just screams "Welcome to the biggest city in Florida!!"
How many other major metro areas would built something like this in the core?
Quote from: copperfiend on November 20, 2007, 02:11:29 PM
How many other major metro areas would built something like this in the core?
more than you think!
While its not as dense as most of us would like, I think the uses and size of the development are fine. I think the most critical aspect is the treatment toward Laura Street. Taking the same building and turning it to face Laura, instead of Union, would do wonders, imo. However, this is something hopefully that our DRC or whatever its called now should pick up on.
Quote from: tufsu1 on November 20, 2007, 02:22:11 PM
Quote from: copperfiend on November 20, 2007, 02:11:29 PM
How many other major metro areas would built something like this in the core?
more than you think!
Looking on the bright side, it could be worse. A suburban Goodyear tire shop (2006) is last new building constructed between State and Union.
haha.. whats with the Lamborghini.. thats just silly.
Several JTA bus routes pass along State and Union, that should make this a TOD by JTA's own definition. As for the fast car? Haven't y'all ever seen the fiberglass kit car built on a 1970 Buick Opel frame before? What's with the GREAT WALL? Is this to keep the inmates in or the rest of us OUT? Sorry, but if the designers of this thing are reading this, my own feelings are...
Where's the shade?
What if it's raining?
What if I'm on Laura?
How ugly is a brick wall?
Salt box? Federal? New England? FORGET IT...
No entry?
No Balconies?
No color?
SOS... DIFFERENT DAY!
Ocklawaha
Ock may be right in regards to the car. I have never seen a Murcielago with that hood intake before. even before I saw the "Lambo", I noticed the Jaguar fleeing the scene on the right side. For a convenience center this place attracts a pretty high class crowd.
I think they polished and waxed the road as well ;)
It looks like you could eat off of that!!!
nah thats just because its wet from all the homeless people peeing on it.
oh my.....goodness....is that, a FENCE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! A brick one no less??? In a dt? please....just shoot me... i don't want to see this built...
Its a cool looking building ,,,but how did they render glossy streets ??? :D
Quote'Let's meet for lunch at the transit station' gets green light
06/13/2008
by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
A mixed-use development project that will anchor the north end of Laura Street got a step closer to reality Thursday when the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC) approved a development agreement for Laura Street Station, LLC. The developers will construct a single-story restaurant building and a three-story retail and office building on the half-acre unpaved parking lot adjacent to the Rosa Parks/FCCJ Transit Terminal and bordered by Laura, State and Union streets. When complete, the project will include 5,700 square feet of retail space and 6,000 square feet of office space.
Full Article:
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=50229
1 parking lot gone,, 56 more to go,,,,,,,,,
I wonder if the site plan changed in a way that would make Laura Street more walkable. The old plan had a three story building facing Union Street a surface parking lot along Laura Street and a one story building on State Street.
(http://www.rendbg.com/pics/Laura-Street-Transfer-Stati.jpg)
The narrow sidewalk with the brick wall is Laura Street.
Quote from: Beloki on June 13, 2008, 02:16:38 PM
1 parking lot gone,, 56 more to go,,,,,,,,,
LOL Beloki; but you know what, you are absolutely correct! Let's fill them all up and in and get some supertalls on some of them! Jacksonville.......the next Seattle of the East Coast!
Heights Unknown
Alright.....another Southside Office Park building.....and a lovely wall facing a main street....
Will the mold ever be broken?
That site plan doesn't make sense. They are promoting their closeness to the Skyway/Bus station, just across Laura, then building a blank wall facing Laura. Am I missing something here?
Quote from: Charles Hunter on June 13, 2008, 11:20:39 PM
That site plan doesn't make sense. They are promoting their closeness to the Skyway/Bus station, just across Laura, then building a blank wall facing Laura. Am I missing something here?
The site is on the same block as the Skyway/bus terminal. From reading the article, it sounds like the plan may have changed somewhat, but the original layout had an 11,000 square foot three story office building facing Union Street and a 2,700 square foot retail space facing Union. There was a 24 space parking lot in the middle, opening up to Laura Street. The original layout seemed to be pretty poor in relating to both the skyway station and Laura Street.
original layout(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-2144-tod-plan.jpg)
The cluelessness remains. What direction is this city going in?
Weird!
Oh, thanks. I thought it was on the east side of Laura.
But where will the First Baptists park on Sunday? if that lot is taken up?
The already have a ton of garage parking and they can parallel park on downtown's streets. FBC should be alright.
Quote from: avonjax on June 13, 2008, 11:10:48 PM
Alright.....another Southside Office Park building.....and a lovely wall facing a main street....
Will the mold ever be broken?
Better than nothing or a Parking lot!
I agree, the mold needs to be broken, but probably won't until we're dead and gone; so.......be happy with what will go up there now.
Heights Unknown
Quote from: Jason on November 20, 2007, 01:02:38 PM
But look Lake, it has pretty palm trees and a Lamborghini parked out front. That just screams "Welcome to the biggest city in Florida!!"
Biggest City in Florida with nothing to do or no where to go; but I still love Jax and feel it is the best City in Florida!
Heights Unknown
Quote from: heights unknown on June 15, 2008, 02:02:39 PM
Quote from: avonjax on June 13, 2008, 11:10:48 PM
Alright.....another Southside Office Park building.....and a lovely wall facing a main street....
Will the mold ever be broken?
Better than nothing or a Parking lot!
I agree, the mold needs to be broken, but probably won't until we're dead and gone; so.......be happy with what will go up there now.
Heights Unknown
It doesn't have to be this way. This can change for the better by highlighting the overlooked connectivity issues with these types of inill projects. If we stay silent, things won't.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on June 14, 2008, 10:54:03 PM
Oh, thanks. I thought it was on the east side of Laura.
But where will the First Baptists park on Sunday? if that lot is taken up?
Well...they sure don't park in Skyway Park and Rides!! he he he he he...money on the table.
From JEDC Downtown Development Brief- June 2008
QuoteLaura Street Transfer Station
• The JEDC approved the first Downtown development project subject to new Transportation Concurrency Exception Area (TCEA) standards and obligations. The proposed project consists of two buildings: a 2,920 sq. ft. convenience store and an 8,780 sq. ft. office building with restaurant space. Located adjacent to the Rosa Parks ASE Terminal End Station on Laura Street between State and Union Streets, the proposed project will provide ASE and transit pass information and sales. Both buildings will be designed to engage the pedestrian by including architectural awnings to protect pedestrians from the elements and large windows and doorways that face the sidewalk to enhance the security of pedestrians. The adherence to the proposed TCEA mitigation standards by the developer will promote transit and walkability in Downtown. The project will also provide patrons of the ASE Terminal End Station with restaurant and retail opportunities within close walking distance.
Convenience store? Let me guess, cheap beer and cigarettes?
What's wrong with cheap beer?
What's wrong with cigarettes?
What's wrong with cheap?
I dont think we need a carbon copy of Adam Street's "Scottie Store"... dear god..... Im afraid to go to Chew half the time.
Quote from: Jason on June 17, 2008, 02:45:19 PM
What's wrong with cheap beer?
I think the last poster said it.
In my opinion the building looks good, o.k. mind you, but it is a rendering of a building that should have been built say in Baymeadows, Murray Hill, or somewhere on the Southside. They could have built something with a much more urban feel with a Jacksonville "taste" within it (whatever that is). The building's o.k. I guess; at least it's filling up a dirt parking lot (providing infill) but something much more better and creative could have been built.