Black Sheep Restaurant Group Planning New Restaurant for 5 Points

[urbanjacksonville]

Jonathan Insetta's restaurant group (Black Sheep) has an ambitious plan for building a modern, efficient infill project in the fast growing 5 Points district of the Urban Core. Insetta, of Chew and Orsay fame, is planning to open a new restaurant as the anchor of a three story commercial building which will feature a rooftop bar and gathering space.

The name has not be determined, but the location has. The group has been working hard to reach a complex set of goals, to place the restaurant at the corner of Margaret and Oak, next to Mossfire Grill. The flatiron lot where the restaurant will sit, presents a unique set of hurdles in terms of parking and some existing trees.

Black Sheep is proposing to add 23 new spaces on Oak Street and upgrade the 13 spaces on Margaret adjacent to the property.  All spaces will be open to the public with a 3 hour limit to encourage visitors to eat, walk and shop. You can bet there will be a sizable bike rack to support the large number of cyclists in the community.

As you can glean from the designs and scale model shown, the plan is an efficient use of space using true urban density design principles while also creating new parking. This project also creates new jobs and new street front retail which finishes a continuous retail link from Riverside Park to Memorial Park, one of the longest retail strolls in the city.



While urban development and the food and beverage industry are both fraught with risk, especially in today's climate, Insetta's experience and reputation from Downtown's Chew and Avondale's Restaurant Orsay (both in historic buildings) will be helpful. The neighborhoods of Riverside, Avondale, and Historic Five Points have been aware of and involved in the project for weeks.

There is much work left to do for the project to become a reality including the final city approval and a unique commercial zoning change called an Urban Transitional Area (UTA) added to HB 485 that would make this district much like downtown's with regards to seating capacity required.

HB 485


The addition of 5 Points to this well supported bill will make it easier for bona fide restaurants to survive and thrive in the spatially constricting spaces that a historic retail area presents.

The UTA â€" The Riverside Overlay set up the Urban Transitional Area (the Commercial area of 5 Points) to encourage this type of infill development â€" imagine, living, working and shopping all within a ½ mile radius.  As projects like this, Publix, 1661 and others are developed, the area can truly live up to it’s Urban name.

So not only is Black Sheep investing in the neighborhood it is also paving the way for the further proliferation of destinations in Five Points, opening an economic development zone that allows a more reasonable seating requirement for historic districts. See map below.

Should this change work, expect further developments, local restaurants, jobs, and foot traffic in from Historic Five Points all the way to the river. Our neighbors and co-workers seem galvanized at the idea of further local, sustainable development in 5 Points and hope that urban infill and historic development spreads with the success of this project.



A statement from Jon Insetta

"We at Black Sheep Restaurant Group are very excited for the opportunity to become part of the 5 Points neighborhood. At Chew and Orsay we pride ourselves in the symbiotic relationship we maintain within our surrounding community and hopefully we can be a force for positive change with this new project. As owner operator of both the restaurant and the building itself we bring a level of commitment to the community that few can match.

I also believe that we can act as a bridge between historic 5 Points and the newer commercial district to the south. The project will create more jobs as well as fit the spirit of the urban transition area overlay. We plan on being a part of 5 Points for many years to come and see ourselves as a very positive addition to an already amazingly diverse community of independent and national businesses. 5 Points has a synergy and identity that we feel right at home in.

What are your thoughts on the project and the design?



http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2010/08/10/black-sheep-restaurant-group-planning-new-restaurant-for-5-points-next-to-mossfire/

[fieldafm]

The name has not be determined, but the location has. The group has been working hard to reach a complex set of goals, to place the restaurant at the corner of Margaret and Oak, next to Mossfire Grill. The flatiron lot where the restaurant will sit, presents a unique set of hurdles in terms of parking and some existing trees.

That was the site of a pretty contentious fight in the past by RAP.  That's a SMALL site for such infill.

This could get pretty interesting.

How will this be different from the previous project planned for this space due to the unique size restrictions/concerns of the past?

[Captain Zissou]

THANK GOODNESS!!!!! That is a prime piece of real estate that has been sitting dormant for nearly a decade.  RAP was saying that it was too dense for that area, causing a 'canyon effect' with 1661 next door.  I think this is a perfect use.  Will they be able to borrow parking from 1661 or have a valet service?  I would hate for parking to kill this, as it is in a very walkable and urban neighborhood, but in Jacksonville it's very possible.

The design isn't perfect, but I love the scale of the building and how it fits into the area as a whole.  I wish them great success and a speedy development.

[stjr]

I would hate for parking to kill this, as it is in a very walkable and urban neighborhood, but in Jacksonville it's very possible.

Good thing it's walkable because that's what visitors will have to do! There already is a shortage of parking in this area, especially at meal times, and this little bit won't make much difference.  Add a new, sure to be successful restaurant, and the area is going to be packed.

[fieldafm]

I would hate for parking to kill this, as it is in a very walkable and urban neighborhood, but in Jacksonville it's very possible.

Good thing it's walkable because that's what visitors will have to do! There already is a shortage of parking in this area, especially at meal times, and this little bit won't make much difference.  Add a new, sure to be successful restaurant, and the area is going to be packed.

I can concur with that statement.  The last 5 times I went to Larrys I had to park North of 5 Pts Theatre and walk to get my sandwich to-go, lol.

That was RAP's concern before.  Im very interested to see how Mr Insetta's plans will improve on previous plans.

[rjp2008]

Nice! Let the Renovation of Five Points keep moving NORTH!

Keep going and redo that whole strip of Mossfire, the Dental place and this Black Sheep thing, Global Alarms, Sake House, etc. similar to what they did just a block south with the Publix area.

[Captain Zissou]

Nice! Let the Renovation of Five Points keep moving NORTH!

Keep going and redo that whole strip of Mossfire, the Dental place and this Black Sheep thing, Global Alarms, Sake House, etc. similar to what they did just a block south with the Publix area.

I'd say that's one of the nicest blocks in the area.  O'brother's was recently redone, the dentist is absurd nice, Mossfire is ok....  Maybe the place on the corner could use a touch up, but that's it.  Do you mean turn that area into a strip mall, or what?

[RiversideLoki]

Knowing the trees in the area, it's going to be interesting. There's a lot of low hanging oaks and stuff at this corner. I wonder how this rooftop bar is going to work out? Are they going to be taking out trees?

[acme54321]

I really hope they don't cut down those oaks for this, but from that model it looks like they will.

I don't know how well this building will blend in with surrounding structures either.  It looks a little office park-ish.  Interesting.

[fieldafm]

Knowing the trees in the area, it's going to be interesting. There's a lot of low hanging oaks and stuff at this corner. I wonder how this rooftop bar is going to work out? Are they going to be taking out trees?

On an unrelated note... were u in the Times Union today???

[rjp2008]

I'd like it if more buildings in the area would look like what this will look like I'll just say that.

[copperfiend]

I would like to see some restaurants open up in the empty spaces in Five Points.

[acme54321]

I'd like it if more buildings in the area would look like what this will look like I'll just say that.

I think that's what the southside is for?

That model is pretty bland right now and I am sure the buidling will have some colors/detail to brighten it up.

[RiversideLoki]

Knowing the trees in the area, it's going to be interesting. There's a lot of low hanging oaks and stuff at this corner. I wonder how this rooftop bar is going to work out? Are they going to be taking out trees?

On an unrelated note... were u in the Times Union today???

Why, yes! Yes I was.

I'd like it if more buildings in the area would look like what this will look like I'll just say that.

I agree to an extent. I like the idea of EXISTING vacant lots being home to modern architecture. But I don't want our neighborhood to turn into a scenario where you have developers/owners knocking down buildings just to put in modern architecture.

That being said, I'm really excited to see this come to fruition. Here's hoping!

[TheProfessor]

They need to make sure they fragment that massive white solid gesture.  Perhaps with metal paneling, as this is durable enough to be used at street level.