North Point Town Center to bring new look to Northwest Jacksonville

[Garden guy]

I'd just hate to see a billion dollar area be ruined by the neighbors...i hope security budges are paid and ready.

[Captain Zissou]

I'd just hate to see a billion dollar area be ruined by the neighbors...i hope security budges are paid and ready.

?

[vicupstate]

Does the developer have any signed leases?

[JaxJersey-licious]

It's been 5 years since this much ballyhooed project opened. Any opinions of it now? Is it close to fully leased? Is there a good mix of businesses? And has it made any impact in the community as far as encouraging any additional investment in the area?

[thelakelander]

From an article in today's paper:

Since the Better Jacksonville's Plan's infusion of money in 2001, the city has approved about 50 projects in northwest Jacksonville, using a combination of grants and loans that typically are "gap financing" for what private investment would not cover.

Among the successful projects are the Third & Main development that brought residences and the popular Uptown Kitchen & Bar to Springfield; the No More Homeless Pets shelter that expanded its low-cost veterinarian service to a second northwest Jacksonville location; and the farmer's market on Beaver Street that enlarged its space for vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables in an area with a shortage of groceries.

The Moncrief Plaza shopping center and the North Point Town Center, located a few blocks from each other, brought retail, restaurants and a children's dental clinic to the 32209 ZIP code, which U.S. Census dates shows is one of the worst in Florida for employment.

But some projects have fallen short. The planned $30 million HOPE Plaza, located off Interstate 95 on the Northside, received $3 million from the city in 2001. The property went to foreclosure auction in 2014 when a private investment company filed suit in connection with its loan for the project.

The Shoppes at Norwood — a Soutel Drive shopping center that got an $877,429 loan and a $584,952 grant from the city — likewise went to foreclosure auction when the private investor filed suit. The city went to court in July 2015 to seek repayment by the developers for the city's loan.

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2016-04-02/story/city-wants-jobs-northwest-jacksonville-taxpayer-investment-barbecue?utm_source=homepage_recommendations&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=cxense&cx_navSource=hptrending#cxrecs_s

[RattlerGator]

So, Ennis, in response to these questions from JaxJersey-licious (Is there a good mix of businesses? And has it made any impact in the community as far as encouraging any additional investment in the area?) -- seems as though the answer is trending toward no, correct?

A children's dental clinic ? ? ?

[thelakelander]

I don't know. I can't say. I haven't checked it out since it opened.

[JaxJersey-licious]

Yeah, I saw article about that and saw it was a successful project, but I remember there was so much hope what it possibly do for the neighborhood back then and I'd like to hear input from the area how it's affected it or not.

Having worked in the area from time to time and having family that resided there, I've always had a soft spot for that quadrant of town. Was delighted that the old Gateway Mall area now had a decent sporting goods store and a gym along with the always hopping Publix but if other long neglected pockets of town can get a catch of any spark from a new project then even better.