Urban Core Construction Update - August 2010
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/978596333_Hwvcc-M.jpg)
A look at the status of various projects under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville during the month of August.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-aug-urban-core-construction-update-august-2010
So Farrah's at Bay and Liberty is now "What's Good". Will the menu or hours be different?
They're talking about extending the hours to better complement the bars and clubs along East Bay.
At the last HPC meeting the owner of Olio's was required to make some changes to his entry design. Hopefully that's the only reason construction has stopped.
Where is River Printing and Office Supply?
Anyone know what's going into the building with "Market Street Place" signage?
And finally, I recently noticed that one of the long vacant shops on Park across from 5 Points Theatre has been leased. Any information on that new business?
The River Printing and Office Supply building is on the NE corner of Hogan and Church Streets. However, I have no idea of what's going inside there.
The Market Street Place space will be a special events meeting facility.
Hawthorn Salon (across from the theater) opened in Five Points July. Vintage Recalled will be opening in the fall, around the corner on Lomax.
http://www.hawthornsalon.com/
http://www.vintagerecalled.com/Vintage_Recalled/Vintage_Recalled_-_Vintage_and_new_clothing_of_yesterday,_today_and_tomorrow%21.html
It's refreshing to see all these upcoming improvements to the core! ;D
Glad to see the Wolfson's construction moving along.
What is the estimated date of completion for the courthouse? Sometime summer/fall of 2011?
i saw that they are putting down the same cobblestone that is around the jackson statue on bay. is this cobblestone going all the way up laura? i just thought it was weird that they would put cobblestone there since so many people drive on bay.
Yes hanjin...and I agree.....the idea is to calm traffic at these intersections, but I think the City will get a bunch of complaints from folks who drive on Bay and Forsyth streets.
I love the streetscape improvements on Laura. The bump outs on either side of the parallel parking with trees look great. I imagine they're waiting for colder weather to plant anything, but the Landscaping around AJ and the medians as you approach AJ are pretty weak.
I still don't get those huge cut outs in the front of the courthouse. To me, they just look like a waste of 10,000 sf.
Semi-related, has the Venetia streetscape project already started?? I saw them doing some work in that area last night.
The cobblestone is just on the roundabout. It is a traffic calming design. They want that area to be largely pedestrian crossing. I have seen many a car go around it. It does cause them to slow down.
Quote from: Dapperdan on August 24, 2010, 09:30:48 AM
The cobblestone is just on the roundabout. It is a traffic calming design. They want that area to be largely pedestrian crossing. I have seen many a car go around it. It does cause them to slow down.
actually I think it will be in the middle of all the Laura Street intersections
what is the plan with the park in front of the new courthouse???
Quote from: TheProfessor on August 24, 2010, 11:12:46 AM
what is the plan with the park in front of the new courthouse???
there isn't a plan yet...
I do know the City will be studying the potential of closing the section of Monroe Street in front of the courthouse...which would effect any park design significantly
I do wish they would close that street off and put in a well designed park that compliments the courthouse.
Quote from: Dapperdan on August 24, 2010, 09:30:48 AM
The cobblestone is just on the roundabout. It is a traffic calming design. They want that area to be largely pedestrian crossing. I have seen many a car go around it. It does cause them to slow down.
No, I saw them installing the cobblestone on Bay this morning. That's when i was thinking "man, people are gonna bitch about this".
I don't think it will be a bad thing to have people slow down as long as it doesn't hurt your car.
I think the cobblestone will be great for slowing down traffic. Bad drivers will just have to get over it. It'll be much safer for pedestrians. I love the cobblestone, it will give the city some character, it reminds me of home a little bit.
Quote from: thelakelander on August 24, 2010, 07:21:43 AM
The River Printing and Office Supply building is on the NE corner of Hogan and Church Streets. However, I have no idea of what's going inside there.
Apparently a sandwich shop of some sort.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on August 24, 2010, 09:26:10 AM
I imagine they're waiting for colder weather to plant anything, but the Landscaping around AJ and the medians as you approach AJ are pretty weak.
That ivy in the median on Water is probably all you're going to see in those thinner median strips because they probably want the statue to be the focus. Also, I'd imagine it is because not much will do well with that limited amount of space for root growth.
It's surreal to have watched the metrojax construction updates over the years go almost exclusively from major construction projects in the immediate downtown area to mostly small business renovations/openings in the surrounding neighborhoods. At least with our own little Ryugyong Hotel (Berkman Plaza II) it at least LOOKS like downtown's still a part of the action. I'll at least take illusion! :P
Quote from: rainfrog on August 24, 2010, 08:31:19 PM
It's surreal to have watched the metrojax construction updates over the years go almost exclusively from major construction projects in the immediate downtown area to mostly small business renovations/openings in the surrounding neighborhoods. At least with our own little Ryugyong Hotel (Berkman Plaza II) it at least LOOKS like downtown's still a part of the action. I'll at least take illusion! :P
We will know when things pick for sure when we see those jackup cranes back in operation! That will mean all projects on hold right now, will be moving forward once again! Might take a year or three, but wil happen again! 8)
I drove that Laura Street roundabout earlier this week. At about 5 mph, it's still a very bumpy ride. More like a rutted out dirt road. Taking bets on how long before they are forced to rebuild this. Through traffic will crawl to a near stop. This goes way beyond traffic calming to traffic inhibiting. Imagine a thousand cars leaving the TUPAC shows headed for the main street bridge. Not a pretty picture.
Also, noted the arch posts on either side of Laura. It may be an optical illusion as I viewed out of the corner of my eye as I rode by, but they didn't appear to square with each other. One seemed skewed. Not sure I see the iron arch fitting in but will wait for completion.
Looks like biggest project in Jax this past year other than the courthouse may have been completely missed here: Atlantic Coast High School, first new HS in Jax in 20 years. I know its not urban core but looks like we are desperate for something significant. ;)
stjr.............know all about it! My School District, which is 2, was gerrymandered out by the School Board. I can thank Nancy Broner for this one.............the whole DCSB voted for this to take place, vote was unanimous! Districs 2,7 and 13 were gerrymandered out and this is after the Citizens Committee made suggestions which the School Board made the number two option and the Boards option was made number one! Option one was passed which kinda irritated the Citizens Committee.........why go to the trouble to do the work and have the Board ignore what was suggested? I spoke at one of the meetings to no avail..........this still irritates me!
Quote from: stjr on August 24, 2010, 08:55:00 PM
Imagine a thousand cars leaving the TUPAC shows headed for the main street bridge. Not a pretty picture.
I assume you're talking about concerts at The Landing....might want to be careful with the racial assumptions
I think TUPAC is just a short way of saying Times Union Performing Arts Center.
Sadly, as relates to the court house, it seems like BLOB update is more appropriate.
Regarding the Olio restaurant that is supposed to be going into the Churchwell building, I was shocked to see that they destroyed the original tin ceiling in the entire retail section. You can see where its still being destroyed. I would have felt better if I thought that someone was at least salvaging it. Why spend additional money when it was perfectly usable. It probably would have been noisy, but they make acoustic baffles for that.
Either way, I got sidetracked. Does anyone have any additional info on this restaurant and what the concept is supposed to be? Thanks!
Quote from: stjr on August 24, 2010, 08:55:00 PMAlso, noted the arch posts on either side of Laura. It may be an optical illusion as I viewed out of the corner of my eye as I rode by, but they didn't appear to square with each other. One seemed skewed. Not sure I see the iron arch fitting in but will wait for completion.
They aren't square to each other, I noticed it also. They are built perpendicular to the sidewalk instead. I think it looks a little odd.
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 24, 2010, 09:50:09 PM
Quote from: stjr on August 24, 2010, 08:55:00 PM
Imagine a thousand cars leaving the TUPAC shows headed for the main street bridge. Not a pretty picture.
I assume you're talking about concerts at The Landing....might want to be careful with the racial assumptions
TUFSU, TUPAC is a relative of yours right? LOL. :D Only one who needs to be careful of assumptions is you.
Quote from: stephendare on August 24, 2010, 09:55:31 PM
The Times Union Performing Arts Center changed its name because they were terrified of having somethin 'black sounding', TUFSU. I personally think its cool that the name of the place should be TUPAC, and I personally use every opportunity to call it that.
As I recall, you are also fully aware of the background on the name change. I thought the reasons were swinish, personally.
Actually I wasn't at all aware...the name change occurred with the renovations which were before I moved here....and I thought it was called the Times Union Center for Performing Arts.
My bad...sorry stjr!
If you are at a concert at TUPAC and you drive for the Main Street Bridge you deserve to be slowed down. Most folks in the know would drive for the Acosta and other bridges. Going for the Mainstreet from any of the parking lots adjacent to the center would cause you to drive through the pedestrians and traffic. You want to drive away from all that. That was a constant now and then.
Todays Daily Record: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2010-08-25
Three Downtown projects are on Thursday’s agenda of the Downtown Development Review Board.
The board, part of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, is scheduled to:
• Conceptually review the proposed TRIO buildings renovations Downtown;
• Consider final design review for the proposed Bahri gas and convenience store, including a special sign exception; and
• Consider conceptual and final review for renovations to the Burger King restaurant
Quote from: 02roadking on August 25, 2010, 10:18:46 AM
Todays Daily Record: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2010-08-25
Three Downtown projects are on Thursday’s agenda of the Downtown Development Review Board.
The board, part of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, is scheduled to:
• Conceptually review the proposed TRIO buildings renovations Downtown;
• Consider final design review for the proposed Bahri gas and convenience store, including a special sign exception; and
• Consider conceptual and final review for renovations to the Burger King restaurant
Wow renovations to burger king? Its about time! Being thats the only Fast food resturant downtown, it can atlest look nice. No matter how major or minor, this is all good news to me.
Quote from: stephendare on August 25, 2010, 10:25:04 AM
lol. no doubt duval dude!
Although don't forget one of TUFSU's top 10 late night restaurants downtown.....Winn Dixie.
LOL Yess!! I forgot about good ole Winn dixie! LOL
you know that Burger King actually isnt too bad. There is this one lady who works at the window, she has got to be the nicest person I have seen working at a fast food establishment outside a Chic-Fil-A. Don't knock the BK...it's the only fast food restaurant we have DT.
Quote from: fsujax on August 25, 2010, 10:55:40 AM
you know that Burger King actually isnt too bad. There is this one lady who works at the window, she has got to be the nicest person I have seen working at a fast food establishment outside a Chic-Fil-A. Don't knock the BK...it's the only fast food restaurant we have DT.
I actually was referring to the apperence, not the service. Service has always been pretty there. Although in the morning and at lunch time they get pretty packed and the wait can be long. But thats expected with such a large crowd.
Does anyone know if they will try to make the BK restaurant more urban friendly?
yeah. i agree the appearnce could be modernized! I wonder what the sign exception is for the gas station?
nevermind on the sign exception. it's a monument sign that needs an exception. Odd our DT sign code seems so screwed up.
Quote from: stephendare on August 25, 2010, 10:25:04 AM
lol. no doubt duval dude!
Although don't forget one of TUFSU's top 10 late night restaurants downtown.....Winn Dixie.
yep...the same Winn Dixie that spent $3+ million on a renovation several years ago....and I also happen to support the Burger King, since it is less than 3 blocks from my house.
These guys are just too cool for Winn-Dixie.
QuoteDoes anyone know if they will try to make the BK restaurant more urban friendly?
No. The main part of the renovation is to get rid of that glass atrium portion. I didn't see it in the proposal but it would be good if they replaced that area with some outdoor seating.
Quoteyeah. i agree the appearnce could be modernized! I wonder what the sign exception is for the gas station?
You should check out the gas station renderings and plans. They did a great job on that one.
Renderings and plans of all these proposals can be seen by clicking on this link and then clicking on the August 2010 agenda.
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Jacksonville+Economic+Development+Commission/Downtown+Development/DDRB+Meeting+Information.htm
The renderings are great.
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 25, 2010, 07:58:22 AM
My bad...sorry stjr!
Tufsu, no problem. Happens to the best of us. :D
The Trio/Barnett proposal looks awesome. It would do so much to tie in the surrounding buildings.
I am too see so much going on downtown. And these are pipe dreams projects, these are things that are acutally coming to pass! Very exciting to see were gaining SOME momentum. Still have a long way to go. We need another good fast food chain downtown, that has extended hours for the bar hoppers. Like a Checker;s that stays open to atleast 3:00 am.
It looks like Burger King is just doing a paint job and removing the glass enclosure. That is disappointing. I see a cafe patio in the gas station and a potential roof top lounge above the Barnett Building. That will be cool.
Quote from: fsujax on August 25, 2010, 10:55:40 AM
you know that Burger King actually isnt too bad. There is this one lady who works at the window, she has got to be the nicest person I have seen working at a fast food establishment outside a Chic-Fil-A. Don't knock the BK...it's the only fast food restaurant we have DT.
I know who you're talking about. The lady with a smile. She's been there for dozens of years.
Quote from: TheProfessor on August 25, 2010, 01:07:18 PM
It looks like Burger King is just doing a paint job and removing the glass enclosure. That is disappointing. I see a cafe patio in the gas station and a potential roof top lounge above the Barnett Building. That will be cool.
That may actually make a huge different. Removing that greenhouse atrium still will call for some slight remodeling on the inside as well. That thing is kinda big. IT may not look "urban", but it will definately look alot better.
I guess we should be happy they are not closing at least.
Nice renderings. The signage looks nice. It appears the monument sign at the corner of Main and Union is going to take out that Washingtonian Palm! :-(
Not the Washington Palm! Maybe they can move it.
interesting. The HS is it a public school. I am assuming they are pulling from Fletcher & First Coast or Sandlewood?? Where is this school going? More high schools means the student body is growing. Bring on those Nuke Carriers!
Does anybody know what's going on around the Lisbon and Gary street (guess based on driving and looking at a map) area of san marco/downtown area? When you take the main street bridge south you see a large crane directly in front of you doing something.....just curious. Maybe CSX working on the track. idk. I'll try to take a picture of it this afternoon.
It's something at JOI. They are doing a couple things to remodel the facility. They're putting in a new awning on the north side, but I'm not sure what they're doing on the east side.
well that's good too. I guess i was hoping it would have been something new and exciting.
Quote from: Coolyfett on August 30, 2010, 12:15:02 PM
interesting. The HS is it a public school. I am assuming they are pulling from Fletcher & First Coast or Sandlewood??
Here's a link to ACHS's location. It's already showing up on Google Map's satellite views.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=on&ie=UTF8&ll=30.202689,-81.505895&spn=0.003375,0.006845&t=h&z=18
The new school will draw from Sandalwood south of Beach Blvd. as well as Englewood & Mandarin east of I-95. Fletcher won't be affected other than the fact that it will take a few kids east of San Pablo but west of the ditch.
That school looks awesome. I don't like that we're starting to encroach on that area of wilderness.
I just looked out the window at my job, and CSX new signage is a mess. I can not believe they hard screwed up our skyline. The signage is so small you cant even read it from a distance. I wonder whose bright idea this was?
I noticed that yesterday the words look really small. maybe when lit up at night it will be easier to read.
The sign is a busy mess. More suited for a billboard or print ad, not your corporate HQ's building. That sign should be dignified and understated, especially for one of America's largest railroads. Go study logos by other Fortune 500 companies. Most are far more elegant than this. I thought the old sign was fine. This marketing campaign or graphic will be dated within a few years. Then what, change the sign to something else? A waste of money, especially in this economy.
It's a Fortune 500 admin HQ's, not a walk-in store for the man-on-the-street. CSX needs a new image adviser.
What? I haven't seen it yet. I can't wait to look for it.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Development/Urban-Construction-Update/P1390879/978592927_GbYar-L.jpg)
There was significant work being done at this building this morning when I drove past. 2 or 3 work trucks, a concrete truck, and about 10 workers. I still don't know what they're doing, but they're moving right along. I may stop and ask next week.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on September 10, 2010, 11:33:48 AM
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Development/Urban-Construction-Update/P1390879/978592927_GbYar-L.jpg)
There was significant work being done at this building this morning when I drove past. 2 or 3 work trucks, a concrete truck, and about 10 workers. I still don't know what they're doing, but they're moving right along. I may stop and ask next week.
There is that for sale sign to the west of the building on Atlantic.... but I'm not sure if it belongs to this building. It would really be nice if they did something good with it, that green tile facade under the concrete stuff looks interesting. That stretch could use a little fixing up to help connect San Marco and St. Nick better.
Property Appraiser says it is owned by Southside Assembly of God, purchased in 86. Built in 1929, the lot looks a lot larger than the building. Maybe they are trying to fix it up to sell?
http://apps.coj.net/PAO_PropertySearch/Basic/Detail.aspx?RE=0815310000
It used to house a photography studio. Studio City was the name. There's a good bit of parking on the west and south sides. It doesn't have much around it, but this could be a great location for a business.