Downtown Development: Proceeding with caution

[Ocklawaha]

I agree this has to be a typo...

The paper says 2,500, but now thinking about it, the market can't support a hotel that large.  250 units is much more realistic.

But:

You youngsters don't recall this as some of us might, they said the same thing when Peachtree Plaza went up in Atlanta. "Dreamers", "Fools", "Delusional" etc... Hummm?

"IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME!"

Ocklawaha

[Jason]

I guess Kings Avenue Station counts, even though it's technically outside of downtown.  Add another 220 then.

To be honest, until I see concrete getting poured at Brooklyn Park, I'm not holding my breath on that one, but it would be another 150.

So, if everything here broke ground, it would be 620.

However, if we are going to talk "proposed numbers, my guess based on the square footage would be 400 rooms for Bay St Station, between the two hotels.  That brings the total to 1020 rooms.

I don't see this happening, because it would be the equivalent of opening another Hyatt, and I don't think we can support this with our current craptacular convention center.

Thanks Steve.  I was referring to the core versus the entire city.


620 additional units downtown should be easily absorbed and offer some descent options.  The competition may also help to keep the rates reasonable a well.

[jeh1980]

I agree this has to be a typo...

The paper says 2,500, but now thinking about it, the market can't support a hotel that large.  250 units is much more realistic.

But:

You youngsters don't recall this as some of us might, they said the same thing when Peachtree Plaza went up in Atlanta. "Dreamers", "Fools", "Delusional" etc... Hummm?

"IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME!"

Ocklawaha

Yeah! 250 rooms sound kind of small. Maybe if they do 500 rooms can be better!

[Charles Hunter]

How tall would that be, for 250 rooms?  Has anybody seen a site plan showing the footprint?  Of course, the height depends on the number of rooms per floor - small footprint, few rooms, taller building, and vice versa.

[thelakelander]

Depends on the footprint and the type of hotel.  For example, Kuhn's Riverwatch was +30 stories with around 200 rooms, but there are two story hotels out in the suburbs that have just as many units.  Original renderings had a residential structure in the 10 to 15 story range.  Unless they have altered the office building plans, the hotel is probably in the same height range.

[Ocklawaha]

Here is an idea of what could be in downtown Jacksonville... Also compare our tourist draw with some of these places!


100 Room failure. The historic Failingers Hotel Gunter, built in 1896 by William R. Percy and his son-in-law Gladstone Hitchens, opened New Year's Day 1897 as the Hotel Gladstone. This grand hotel boasted 100 rooms, a cafe, a barbershop, and a sample room for displaying traveling salesmen's wares. Guests were attended by bellboys in brown uniforms with smoked pearl buttons and a chef from New York. Tennis courts were located behind the hotel along with a petting farm where a tame fawn was kept. And from the 5th floor observatory, guests could scan the beautiful countryside.




Plan for the 500 room New Utopia Hotel in Germany. (it must be all of those palms and that tropical beach music?)



1,000 Room Hotel: The Copper Square hotel in downtown Phoenix, AZ. (garden spot of the world = 2 feet from HELL)


But of course, until now, we've been a bit slow to develop this pot of gold under our noses. Perhaps those days are over now... Bring on the high rises!

Ocklawaha