KBJ Just Doesn't Get It!

[thelakelander]

Again look at this image.  This is what we call the downtown of the 12th largest city in the US.  It didn't get this way overnight.  All those surface lots and craters are the end results of plans, like KBJ's to replace building fabric with parking.

[RG]

This just confirms in my mind that KBJ is a horrible firm.  They have done far more harm than good downtown with their ugly buildings which do not address the street.  And now, to add insult to injury, they wish to add another surface parking lot downtown, which is the last thing our city needs.  Have these people ever visited other cities to see how things are done better in places much smaller than us??  Unbelievable.  Sell the structures and more to the suburbs, or better yet Orlando.    :(

[vicupstate]

There were published intentions to redevelop the Ambassador Hotel, as well construct a new buildings for that entire block just a few years ago.  The Courthouse impasse put an end to that.  Some incentives from the city probably would have been required, but that is no different from the Carling or 11E.  Those buildings (esp. Carling) had severe damage, as well.  The city is putting 2.5mm into the Historic Trust Fund at this very moment (proceeds from selling the old Library).  That could help make the numbers work.

As for 3-4 condos, obviously, you don't get out of town much, because in Charlotte or a whole host of cities there are 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000 sq. ft condos in large numbers.  Any architect worth his salt could get at LEAST 6 units from 7145 sq. feet.  As for the parking, you might want to ask Mike Langton how he got 12 apartments (Knight Lofts) without any on-site parking approved.  It can be done.  

Why not give Bill Cesary, Tony Allegretti, Cameron Kuhn or anyone a chance to see what can be done with the site?  Oh I forgot, this is Jacksonville, we can't dream big, we can't do difficult things, we can't do things that other cities do.   It's just an oversized blue-collar town, we have to accept that.    Well I for one, don't.      

As for becoming a developer, that is precisely what I am trying to do and my first project is under construction now.  Therefore, I understand the importance of the bottom line.  I  also know from experience that contractors/developers/property owners  will make a lot of statements they can't back up, to get a demo permit.   It's calling blow smoke up someone's ass.  

As for where we all were 30 years ago, I was in 7th grade, I was mostly worried about Algebra and such things, what's was your point exactly??  

[Jeremiah]

So that I may affect some real change.  So that I can add to the Urban Fabric rather than blight it with surface parking.  The thing all of you are forgetting here is that I agree with you all.  I do not agree, however, that simply bitching about the new parking lot that's going in over on Church and Julia is constructive.  You want things to change, DO SOMETHING about it.  Get together, as Toni did (everyone loves Toni, even me, he's doing amazing work for the Core), pool some money, buy some property and build the next hot development of mixed use residential/condo/grocery/shopping center/boutique.  This is how we change our city, by being the ones to throw the dice and BUILD BUILD BUILD.  
Oh, and for the random guy who mentioned the Ambassador...again, I know there was a proposal for that block.  I helped design it 3 years ago (a KBJ project that died on the boards because the owner couldn't get enough money to renovate the thing, plus the courthouse didn't help you're right).
So, if everyone is done attacking me, perhaps you would like to retaliate by hiring me as your Architect and we'll get to building the most amazing Urban Core this side of the Pond.   ;D

[Lunican]

We are opposing the decision by the LUZ to ignore the Historic Commissions recommendation. .

[vicupstate]

Both Lakelander and I are BUILDING, and trying to do more, but we want this city to stop taking one step forward and one step back....


This city simply MUST start supporting it's own  POLICIES (master plan) with it's own ACTIONS (stopping this KBJ nonsense and putting first floor retail in it's OWN [Haverty] building).    

You obviously either work for or did work for KBJ.  Can you DO SOMETHING and initiate a meeting on this topic?  

[Jason]

You want things to change, DO SOMETHING about it. Get together, as Toni did (everyone loves Toni, even me, he's doing amazing work for the Core), pool some money, buy some property and build the next hot development of mixed use residential/condo/grocery/shopping center/boutique. This is how we change our city, by being the ones to throw the dice and BUILD BUILD BUILD.

Apparently you're not aware of the Metro Jacksonville group (many of the members you've been debating with) are a VERY VERY VERY active group of individuals making changes in Jax.  Come on down to Boomtown on a tuesday night and meet the group that's doing a lot more than "bitching".

[Jeremiah]

Alright.  I'll be at Boomtown after a meeting with John Allmand.  By his suggestion.  No guns or sharp objects allowed!

[Steve]

Actually Tonight, some of us will be at Boomtown AFTER the hearing on the bill for Demolition

[Jeremiah]

yeah we should be there around 730 or so.

[thelakelander]

Sorry we missed you Jeremiah.  We all were looking forward to getting to know each other better.  I ended up leaving the rest of the guys and city hall at 8:30pm and they hadn't even reached the discussion on the KBJ demolition request.  While we definately had someone there to represent our view on the topic at hand, according to Suzanne Jenkins, the only thing up for discussion right now is whether the building should be considered historic or not.  

If landmark, then game over for the demoliton request.  If not, then the request must then gain the approval of the DRC before the wrecking ball can come over to the site.

[avonjax]

The city council passed the bill to demolish the church 13-1....
The Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission was trampled on again....
Now the whole block will be empty expect for their building...
Thanks KBJ?
And a special thanks to the city councilPAST AND PRESENT WHO spend tons of money on Master Plans and Overlays that are worth less than the paper their printed on....
La Villa has already been transformed into a Southside Office Park. Who even bothers to go there?
Now let's see if we can turn the whole city into a handful of buildings, some parking garages and a ton of surface parking lots....
Sorry for the sarcasm......

[thelakelander]

Well considering the LUZ committee is the council, it was pretty much a given which way that vote was going.  Decisions are made up well before public hearings are held.  However, this only means the building will not be recorded as a local historical landmark.  According to Suzanne Jenkins, before any demolition can take place, it along with the design, must be approved by the DRC.  So now's the time to start lobbying, because you can bet your bottom dollar, KBJ already has.

[thelakelander]

Membership

Roland Udenze, Chair
Downtown Development Committee Board Member Designee

James F. Bailey, Jr., Bailey Publishing and Communication, Inc., Property Owner Representative

Oliver J. Barakat, CB Richard Ellis, Inc., Property Owner Representative                            

Chris Flagg, Flagg Design Studio, LLC, Landscape Architect                    

Jonathon Garza, W.G. Mills, Inc., Contractor/Developer/ Realtor Representative

Eric Lindstrom, Downtown Development Committee Staff    Designee                                      

Andy Sikes, Baptist Health, Urban Planner      

William A. Stanley, CSX Corporation, Property Owner Representative

Rose Zurawski, AIA, GS&P, Architect


 

Meeting Times and Staff Contact

The DRC meets at 2:00 P.M., on the last Thursday of each month in the Police & Fire Pension Building, 1 West Adams Street, Suite 200. Contact Jim Klement, Principal Planner at (904) 630-2679 or (904) 630-1212, ext. 1877 or e-mail at jklement@coj.net to confirm meeting dates and times, questions, or placement on the agenda.

Design Review Process

DRC projects are classisfied as follows:

(1) Staff Review Only
     (a)  landscaping
     (b)  streetscape elements
     (c)  minor structural changes
     (d)  signage

(2) DRC Review
     (a)  new construction
     (b)  structural change to exterior facade of existing  structure(s)
     (c)  other projects deemed appropriate by staff for review by the DRC

The process requiring Staff Review is a one-step procedure whereby DRC staff will review and approve, approve with conditions or deny based upon the development guidelines in the Downtown Zoning Overlay or Downtown Signage Overlay within 10 working days of submittal of a complete application. Staff will notify the applicant of an incomplete application within five working days.

The vote last night is unfortunate, but lets not kid ourselves.  This thing was held under wraps for nearly a month and the decision had been made by the council long ago, before the story came out publicly yesterday.  The idea of a parking lot at that site, goes against the development guidelines in the Zoning Overlay.  If this is what the DRC will base their decision on, then this is where the fight now stands.

[Pavers]

Who was the one vote against in the 13-1 vote, out of curiosity?