LaVilla's Two Million Dollar Homeless Camp

[Lunican]

It must be depressing working for the city.

[thelakelander]

Fullwood said he remains convinced the site is well-placed for a restaurant, and the city will eventually recover what was spent on the construction loan. He said the next restaurant probably needs to be part of a national or regional chain so it has built-in name recognition to attract diners.

Dear God - does the idea of connectivity occur to anyone here?  How is it possible that we can be so bad at urban development

I'm still trying to figure out how the DRC could approve a suburban building at that location.  Seriously, as far as urban land planning goes, its one of the worst to rise in LaVilla since the city leveled the entire neighborhood in the 90s.  Right across the street, two buildings are right up against the street corner, giving the intersection an urban street edge.  Then this trash goes up with a surface parking lot on the corner and the building set back over 60' from the corner's sidewalks.

[Ocklawaha]

Then this trash goes up with a surface parking lot on the corner and the building set back over 60' from the corner's sidewalks.

But Lakelander, why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel??

Ocklawaha

[fsujax]

Then this trash goes up with a surface parking lot on the corner and the building set back over 60' from the corner's sidewalks.

But Lakelander, why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel??

Ocklawaha

Lake I couldn't agree with you more. Suburban development right in the middle of Downtown, what a shame!

[copperfiend]

It must be depressing working for the city.

Why would it be? You're surrounded by friends.

[copperfiend]

Fullwood said he remains convinced the site is well-placed for a restaurant, and the city will eventually recover what was spent on the construction loan. He said the next restaurant probably needs to be part of a national or regional chain so it has built-in name recognition to attract diners.

Dear God - does the idea of connectivity occur to anyone here?  How is it possible that we can be so bad at urban development

I'm still trying to figure out how the DRC could approve a suburban building at that location.  Seriously, as far as urban land planning goes, its one of the worst to rise in LaVilla since the city leveled the entire neighborhood in the 90s.  Right across the street, two buildings are right up against the street corner, giving the intersection an urban street edge.  Then this trash goes up with a surface parking lot on the corner and the building set back over 60' from the corner's sidewalks.

Sad but true.

[fpj]

Fullwood said he remains convinced the site is well-placed for a restaurant, and the city will eventually recover what was spent on the construction loan. He said the next restaurant probably needs to be part of a national or regional chain so it has built-in name recognition to attract diners.

Dear God - does the idea of connectivity occur to anyone here?  How is it possible that we can be so bad at urban development

I'm still trying to figure out how the DRC could approve a suburban building at that location.  Seriously, as far as urban land planning goes, its one of the worst to rise in LaVilla since the city leveled the entire neighborhood in the 90s.  Right across the street, two buildings are right up against the street corner, giving the intersection an urban street edge.  Then this trash goes up with a surface parking lot on the corner and the building set back over 60' from the corner's sidewalks.

Sad but true.

Hey, come on now.  It worked in Suburbia, it'll work in downtown.  An Applebeesesque building isn't threatening to the masses of tourists getting off of I-95 in search of eats.  Plus, after they eat their 2,500 calorie double cheeseburger and fries, they can wobble over to the Ritz Theatre and La Villa Museum for some culture...

[JeffreyS]

Changing developers is a great sign this little project has dragged on for long enough. 

[Timkin]

SO,,,,,this new building... never used ... houses homeless people , and now is sitting and deteriorating.....In a mostly VACANT area of town     Brilliant!

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

This thread is over two years old. Has anything changed since then, or is this (ugly) building still sitting there rotting away amidst a forest of weeds?

[Jaxson]

This site would have been brilliant for the restaurant.

The truth is, the Department of Planning was on an active crusade against the project.

I personally sat in the CPAC meeting (for the newbies, CPACs are kind of like regional neighborhood leadership groups that the city consults with to make decisions and spread policy) while Brad Thoburn's representative came in to enlist everyone at the meeting to oppose the opening of the restaurant by cancelling it's right to sell alcohol.

He painted a lurid picture of drunks and whores hanging out across the street from La Villa School of the Arts.

Doug Vanderlaan and I just kept exchanging glances.  Finally we spoke up against this kind of interference much to the distress of the do goody gogglebox from Planning.

What kind of logic is that?  Having lived in Riverside, I neglected to notice all of the drunks and whores marching straight from European Street to West Riverside Elementary to raise hell...

[ESHC]

FYI...with $2 million actually spent on housing the homeless you get 100 people off the streets and in supportive housing for 2 years. 

[Timkin]

What other use could this building possibly serve in the future?  Is it going to be one of those that sit until its beaten to pieces, then demolished ?  Great 2 million Investment.

[Bativac]

What other use could this building possibly serve in the future?  Is it going to be one of those that sit until its beaten to pieces, then demolished ?  Great 2 million Investment.

If the city is going to blow money like this, why don't they use it to maybe subsidize small business to open in vacant storefront spaces downtown? When I say subsidize, I really mean cover rent and utilities for, say, 6 months. Maybe even a year. Request regular updates, sales info, etc to determine the viability of the business and whether it makes sense to continue subsidizing it beyond the 6 month period. After 6 months, they can gradually wean the business off of the subsidy by reducing it by 20% a month.

Maybe that would help solve part of the downtown problem (the perception that "there's nothing to do downtown"). Then quit enforcing parking meters and run a marketing campaign. "Downtown... It's Not Just For Bums and Jags Game Parking Anymore!"

Of course I know 98% of Jacksonville taxpayers will never, ever support such a plan. But I can dream.

[thelakelander]

This site would have been brilliant for the restaurant.

The truth is, the Department of Planning was on an active crusade against the project.

Personally, I think the restuarant still would have died.  After years of demolitions in the area, it's pretty isolated and there aren't enough events at the Ritz to create any real synergy in that spot without additional projects being a part of the scene.  My guess is it would have closed just like the LaVilla Grill restaurant that was across the street a couple of years ago.