JTA making progress on transportation center

[Dog Walker]

I guess it would make sense for Everbank to want all of its people in one location, but I really like having them where they are since I can walk there to make deposits and they give my dogs treats when we go in.  Sharp, nice people in that branch.

There are a lot of other tenants in the Riverside Ave. building including the owner, an investment firm.  Paul Hardin's office is there too.

[fsujax]

I have not heard they be relocating their Brooklyn tenants, only the ones from Southside.

[stjr]

The NY Bus Terminal in Manhattan isn't exactly a thing of beauty either but it's not stopping development from coming in around it.  At least the Greyhound block has activity which is a far cry better than another vacant lot or parking garage.

No one is going to want to build another structure on that property anytime soon given the state of the economy or downtown.  The best outcome would be to renovate the complex into a multi-use facility of retail and entertainment.  The building might make for a great urban grocery store .  The outdoor bus parking would, with a small amount of landscaping, make for a nice outdoor eating area for a food court or outdoor venue for a music based club/bar given it's already got an enclosure around most of it.  I'm sure others could come up with a few more ideas rather easily.  The building is a downtown icon and we sure can't afford to lose any more of those.

[Dog Walker]

Just talked with Debbie, Greg Anderson's executive assistant in the Riverside office.  He is out of the office this week for obvious reasons.  She says that the people in the offices of EverMortgage, their home mortgage division, will be moving downtown, but that there are no current plans to move the executive offices or branch there from the building in Brooklyn.

[thelakelander]

Once again, great points Stjr.  DT Jax has a ton of problems but that Greyhound station isn't one of them.  However, when they do relocate, there are a number of adaptive reuse ideas worth considering for the building.

[L.P. Hovercraft]

Was just about to say the same thing about the Greyhound station.  Convert it to something else and preserve the sign, and make it an iconic location, like the "Union Station - Travel By Train" sign in Denver et al.  As excited as I was about Everbank's downtown relocation, tearing down the station is an awful idea.

+1
Do NOT tear down the Greyhound station!  I like the big sign too.

As an aside, although I'm sure it's probably not the original building or even the same location, if anyone has seen the classic 1930's Frank Capra screwball comedy "It Happened One Night" with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, the Jacksonville Greyhound bus station has a pretty prominent scene in it, which was a pleasant surprise the first time I watched it a few years ago.  Great movie to check out if you've never seen it--and another reason to preserve the downtown station from an historical standpoint.

[duvaldude08]

Just talked with Debbie, Greg Anderson's executive assistant in the Riverside office.  He is out of the office this week for obvious reasons.  She says that the people in the offices of EverMortgage, their home mortgage division, will be moving downtown, but that there are no current plans to move the executive offices or branch there from the building in Brooklyn.

Thanks

[Captain Zissou]

To clear things up:

Everbank is not moving any employees out of the Brooklyn office.  The plans to move the southside employees are still not yet finalized.  Even if they moved everyone, it still wouldn't be enough to overtake AT&T for naming rights.

Ceree Harden's office is in the Everbank building.  I don't believe that Paul Harden's office is.  Ceree is the President of Harden & Associates, an insurance and employee benefits company.  They occupy the top floor.

[Dog Walker]

To clear things up:

Everbank is not moving any employees out of the Brooklyn office.  The plans to move the southside employees are still not yet finalized.  Even if they moved everyone, it still wouldn't be enough to overtake AT&T for naming rights.

Ceree Harden's office is in the Everbank building.  I don't believe that Paul Harden's office is.  Ceree is the President of Harden & Associates, an insurance and employee benefits company.  They occupy the top floor.

Thanks, Capt.  Just saw Hardin & Associates and assumed Paul.

Still good to see someone move from a Southside office park to downtown.

Who has any input about whether or not this move is connected to the Greyhound Bus terminal relocation.

[CS Foltz]

Don't know about that Dog Walker! But would bet a cup of coffee at Three Layers, there will be atleast one "Consutling Study" to look at the viability of said proposal!

[urbanlibertarian]

A few things that Larry missed about this subject.

According to Alan Mosely, the Florida Department of Transportation just delivered the kabosh on JTAs incredibly self serving plan to build another office complex adjacent to the site.  The original plan for the massive sprawling transit ranch included a jointly occupied office structure designed to hold more JTA offices, the TPO and more FDOT offices.

With downtown office occupancy at its shocking vacancy rate and short budgets being what they are, the FDOT is refusing to fund such nonsense.  Allegedly the TPO has already pulled out and found office space elsewhere.

This leaves the relocation of Amtrak and Greyhound as the only possible funding source for a regional transportation system.

Has the Tea Party infiltrated the FDOT? 

[RWNeal]

Once again, great points Stjr.  DT Jax has a ton of problems but that Greyhound station isn't one of them.  However, when they do relocate, there are a number of adaptive reuse ideas worth considering for the building.

The Kennel Club could buy it and turn it into a downtown OTB place. 

[Coolyfett]

What the F is up with all the people in Jacksonville that are against the city becoming a better CITY??? When you read the TU comments you just want to hit someone across the head with a blunt object...what is with Jacksonville people???

[jcjohnpaint]

uh yeah I can't read those comments.  Very depressing indeed!   

[Coolyfett]

Was just about to say the same thing about the Greyhound station.  Convert it to something else and preserve the sign, and make it an iconic location, like the "Union Station - Travel By Train" sign in Denver et al.  As excited as I was about Everbank's downtown relocation, tearing down the station is an awful idea.

Naw man I say tear it down and build something taller.  If not maybe someplace or several places to eat.