Plan to lure 1,000 Everbank jobs downtown

[BigGuy219]

I may be the only pro-Sleiman member of MJ. He's trying to make the Landing a draw to downtown Jacksonville. When I moved here a couple of years ago I remember driving over the Acosta Bridge for the first time and seeing the Landing on the Riverwalk. It captured my attention immediately. It can be a big part of getting downtown some legitimate retail.

I hope he gets his parking area. I know he's not popular, but letting the Landing rot to spite someone just hurts us all. Let's get this thing done and I'm confident it will draw some high profile tennants. It has the potential to be one of the premier venues in the city.

Personally, I'm still annoyed at Sleiman as one of his people gave me the 55-45 Hogan numbers in the leadup to the elction, which made me look like quite the fool on MJ. Nevertheless, I'm with him 100% on the parking issue. I can't finance it, but I can get a shovel.

[danem]

I may be the only pro-Sleiman member of MJ. He's trying to make the Landing a draw to downtown Jacksonville. When I moved here a couple of years ago I remember driving over the Acosta Bridge for the first time and seeing the Landing on the Riverwalk. It captured my attention immediately. It can be a big part of getting downtown some legitimate retail.

I hope he gets his parking area. I know he's not popular, but letting the Landing rot to spite someone just hurts us all. Let's get this thing done and I'm confident it will draw some high profile tennants. It has the potential to be one of the premier venues in the city.

The Landing was the first thing I remembered from my first visit to Jacksonville, and it was not our primary destination. We walked across "that blue bridge over there" to get to it. My amazement may be because I grew up in the Ocala National Forest, not being used to city things, but after years of being well-traveled and moving here later, I still am very fond of the Landing. I hope it stays put and only gets better from here on out--whatever it takes for it to get there.

That's a perspective of someone who doesn't know any of the politics involved.

[chipwich]

I am not sure the Landing has really gotten any better since he took it over.  In fact it looks, feels and downright smells worse.  Sleiman is a really talented developer. He can make the Landing work, but so far he hasn't.  It has become an eyesore and an embarrassment to the city.

In regards to visitors who stay downtown: If an empty, yucky orange building blasting cheap 70s music was my main impression of my visit, I can guaranty you I would not be returning to that city.

[BigGuy219]

I am not sure the Landing has really gotten any better since he took it over.  In fact it looks, feels and downright smells worse.  Sleiman is a really talented developer. He can make the Landing work, but so far he hasn't.  It has become an eyesore and an embarrassment to the city.

In regards to visitors who stay downtown: If an empty, yucky orange building blasting cheap 70s music was my main impression of my visit, I can guaranty you I would not be returning to that city.

The tree lighting and fireworks shows they do throughout the year are huge draws. He's put on some great free concerts too. He's doing the best he can with what he's been given. He's lost tennants (Blue Martini for one) and is trying to recruit, but he needs the parking.

If it smells, perhaps you went during Yappy Hour? 

[acme54321]

In regards to visitors who stay downtown: If an empty, yucky orange building blasting cheap 70s music was my main impression of my visit, I can guaranty you I would not be returning to that city.

X2.  The building could use a makeover for sure and the music is aweful.

[thelakelander]

I am not sure the Landing has really gotten any better since he took it over.  In fact it looks, feels and downright smells worse.  Sleiman is a really talented developer. He can make the Landing work, but so far he hasn't.  It has become an eyesore and an embarrassment to the city.

It was worse before he took it over.  Around 2002-2003, it was really empty.  Things improved a bit during the boom years and things have began to decline again with the Laura Street construction limiting access, downtown losing thousands of jobs and the poor economy.  Nevertheless, out of all the fixes downtown needs, I think the Landing is one of the easiest to do.  However, it's going to require getting away from partisan politics and leaving personal feelings about certain individuals out of it to move forward.

[iluvolives]

I think it should be a priority to get the Landing the dedicated spots it needs if for no other reason than so Sleiman can stop using it as an excuse for why he can't get tenents. Once thats done we will see who he draws in and I hope they are game changers for downtown- but we won't know till he has the spots.

[tufsu1]

However, it's going to require getting away from partisan politics and leaving personal feelings about certain individuals out of it to move forward.

sure..but that is a two-way street

and the reality is the parking thing is somewhat of a cop-out excuse...I know retailers want dedciated parking...and guess what....the Landing has it!

Fact is that lot is only full on weekend nights and that's usually only if something special (like a concert) is going on...and again, the lease agreement in effect with the City requires payment WHEN the Landing CONSTRUCTS additional parking.

[thelakelander]

However, it's going to require getting away from partisan politics and leaving personal feelings about certain individuals out of it to move forward.

sure..but that is a two-way street

and the reality is the parking thing is somewhat of a cop-out excuse...I know retailers want dedciated parking...and guess what....the Landing has it!

Fact is that lot is only full on weekend nights and that's usually only if something special (like a concert) is going on...and again, the lease agreement in effect with the City requires payment WHEN the Landing CONSTRUCTS additional parking.

The Landing does not have enough dedicated parking for a center its size, if the goal is to fill it with a couple of national chains as anchors.  The amount of people parking in the small lot they do have to visit a half empty retail center has nothing to do with the "dedicated" parking situation.  Parking availability on nights and weekends in regular short term lots also has nothing to do with dedicated parking.  Its been this way since the Rouse days.  Its time to free ourselves of giving blame (on all sides) and work to develop a resolution that leaves downtown as the winner.

[duvaldude08]

I knew this Landing Issue was going to strike up an old nerve. The topic went from Everbank to the Landing.   

[chipwich]

Well, I think the two issues are quite connected.  Bringing 1,000 daytime workers to downtown is a really big deal for downtown.  Now, the City is looking at a portion of the parking lot they promised Sleiman as a place to park them.  This may set up a bit to a tussle as Sleiman keeps saying he needs the lot for the Landing (in order to draw in tenants).  I do not doubt he actually needs the parking and Sleiman is correct when he says that the dedicated lots are needed to bring in national retailers. 

However, it is time to address the real elephant in the room.  The Landing is functionally and structurally obsolescent.  A good part of it needs to be demolished or significantly reworked if anyone hopes to draw in new, desirable retailers.  ....and Sleiman knows this.  That is probably why he isn't putting any money into the place.

My honest opinion is that in its current state, the Landing is just aweful.  I work across the street and won't even go there for lunch (except for Village Bread).  The Landing's leasing staff has a nearly impossible task of trying to lure in good tenants into blighted mall with nothing better than a river view. 

Here is the litmus test I propose to anyone trying to analyze this situation.  In you mind, move the Landing into Regency Square with a big parking lot.  What kind of retailers will go in then? I think you will find that no amount of parking in the world could bring in the crowd pleasing tenants that we all so desperately want.

...Meanwhile, A growing local company is coming in to inject downtown with an unheard of 1,000 jobs and they need to be able to park them.  Do you chase a pipe dream in an obsolete mall whose owner is purposefully withholding improvements (for good or bad reasons) or do you go with the company that wants to bring in 1,000 jobs now?

Retail follows rooftops and daytime traffic.  Bring in the jobs and you will stimulate demand for housing and both will stimulate the need for new retail.  "Build it and they will come" simply  doesn't work for the Landing at this time.

[duvaldude08]

It has never been a "build and they will come" thing with the landings parking issue. The issue is that the city has not honored a 20 year old obligation to the Landing, and that is very sad. And I am sure parking is an issue for luring major teanets. They want to make sure their patrons have somewhere to park. Being that we owe them parking, we cant argue about that. What we can argue about is how they are BS'ing about the situation. The new proposed garage solves nothing in regards to the parking we owe the Landing. I am actually shocked that is has been such a tough issue. Its as simple as this. We owe them parking for 20 years ago and and we need to give it to them. PERIOD. They need to figure something out. Because the plan thats on the table right now is not going to work.

[chipwich]

Good point duvaldude, but if you owned the Landing, I think you would want to faciliate a huge wave of employees coming into downtown and let someone else operate your dedicated parking spaces.  You could land a whole lot more tenants and make more money that way than nickel and diming in a parking lot.  

[duvaldude08]

Let's not get this confused, Everbank Relocation and the proposed parking Garage are not linked. They are two seperate items. The landing parkings issue surfaced some years ago now. There is PLENTY of parking DT for Everbank to relocate 1000 employees. The AT&T building has never had a parking issue so Im sure they have that covered.

However, the Landing parking issue is a beast of its own. If done correctly, this injection of of employees DT and DETICATED Landing parking will be a thumbs up for the Landing. But the City has been playing patty cake with this for too long. I bet you one thing, they will never make a promise they cant keep ever again, thats for sure.

[tufsu1]

The issue is that the city has not honored a 20 year old obligation to the Landing, and that is very sad.

not entirely true...as has been stated here ad naseum, the agreement between the City and Landing owners has been amended several times...the version currently in effect requires the City to pay JLI $3.5 million WHEN they CONSTRUCT additional parking.