Publix in San Marco project on hold

[billy]

How does the Mobility Fee process work?
When was it implemented?

[Tacachale]

It hardly seems like this will have much of an impact on their plans, the thing has been dead in the water for long enough that the construction could hardly go off according to their original plan.

[dougskiles]

It hardly seems like this will have much of an impact on their plans, the thing has been dead in the water for long enough that the construction could hardly go off according to their original plan.

When you say 'this' do you mean the mobility fee?  It would be a pretty big hit for a project of this size.  They invested quite a bit in design and the PUD is very specific about the development.  So for them to do something different at this stage would take a while.  They might make some changes in unit size and phasing, but I beleive they will stick pretty close to the original plan.

What I would love to see them do is incorporate a boutique hotel into the plan.  With San Marco Square basically one block away, it would be a great location.  Even better with a Skyway extension to Atlantic that would come within 2 blocks of the eastern boundary of the project.

[Dashing Dan]

Interesting article in this week's Economist about the retail sector and struggling strip malls...seemed relevant here or under the Walmart thread.

I especially thought this was interesting: "Mr. McMahon recently observed two Barnes & Noble outlets close to each other in Maryland. The one in a strip mall did less well than the one with no dedicated parking, but near a cycle path and the train."

Here's a link: http://www.economist.com/node/18178507

Not at all relevant to this thread but simply weird - 

The dateline for this Economist article is my own hometown: Freeport, Long Island. 

As far as I can tell there isn't anything in the article that would account for that dateline.

[thelakelander]

Regarding the mobility fee and how it will impact this project, from my understanding existing grandfathered projects like this will have the option of staying under the old concurrency numbers or going with the mobility fee.

If they are doing what they are because they are scared of the mobility fee, I'd suggest they study this thing a little more in detail before potentially locking themselves into a higher concurrency number.  The mobility fee is intended to reward developers for good urban design, especially within the urban core.  My initial suspect is that they may be looking at a general mobility fee number before applying the credit adjustments for their urban site and design.  This site should get mobility fee credit adjustments for a number of things.  Off the top of my head, these include:

- Trips that were approved for previous uses of the parcels that make up this site.
- Surrounding street intersection density
- Surrounding bicycle network completion
- Surrounding sidewalk network completion
- household density (both within this development and the surrounding neighborhood)
- Number of employees within this development
- For having a mix of uses
- Being near existing and proposed transit corridors

Once they apply the URBEMIS adjustments, they may not be paying much of a mobility fee at all.  My advice to this group would be to make sure they understand and apply the credit adjustments to their project and determine what that mobility fee number is before locking themselves into a potentially higher concurrency amount.

[tufsu1]

Interesting article in this week's Economist about the retail sector and struggling strip malls...seemed relevant here or under the Walmart thread.

I especially thought this was interesting: "Mr. McMahon recently observed two Barnes & Noble outlets close to each other in Maryland. The one in a strip mall did less well than the one with no dedicated parking, but near a cycle path and the train."

Here's a link: http://www.economist.com/node/18178507

Not at all relevant to this thread but simply weird - 

The dateline for this Economist article is my own hometown: Freeport, Long Island. 

As far as I can tell there isn't anything in the article that would account for that dateline.

the guy quoted in the story, Ed McMahon, will be here in Jacksonville on Wednesday for a ULI event...he is also a luncheon speaker at the APA Florida conference in Palm Beach this September.

[Dashing Dan]

Here's the flier for that ULI event with Ed McMahon.  

It's at UNF this Wednesday June 8, starting at 1 PM.

Registration costs $35 in advance or $40 at the door.

https://netforum.uli.org/iWeb/upload/InfrastructurePromoFlierJAX.pdf

McMahon is quite good and the rest of the panel looks good too.

[Ocklawaha]

Have any of our esteemed planners or CofC types even bothered to inform Publix of the proposed Skyway extension to their front door in San Marco? That would be a game changer but shhh... we're asleep at the wheel.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz



OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

Probably not.  However, such a project, along with that proposed commuter rail line would also lower their mobility fee.  If something like that happened, they could probably get away with less on-site parking as well because they could make an argument that they're a TOD.

[dougskiles]

They have a CRC now but it will expire soon and I suppose they are in fear of not getting the extension.  The CRC meant no payment for any trips.  But that brings an interesting question - if you are supposed to get credit for existing trips reserved from previous proposed uses - how do you keep that credit active?  If nothing is required, then you're right, the development agreement may be a waste of time.

I forwarded the link to the development manager for the project hoping that he will jump in the conversation and explain.

[tufsu1]

State concurrency rules (and this part is still in law) require 110% trip credit of existing uses for redevelopment sites....BUT....local governments can decide when that credit expires based on how long it has been since the previous use was in operation.....this tends to be flexible, but most municipailities around FL have used 1-2 years...anything more and the credit expires (since the old trips aren't in the traffic counts anymore).

[ben says]

Have any of our esteemed planners or CofC types even bothered to inform Publix of the proposed Skyway extension to their front door in San Marco? That would be a game changer but shhh... we're asleep at the wheel.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz



OCKLAWAHA

Excuse my general ignorance, but what are "CofC" types? I can't help but to think you mean College of Charleston???

[tufsu1]

Chamber of Commerce

[iMarvin]

Remember the plans for a Publix supermarket in San Marco?

Merchants and residents of the neighborhood sure do.

After city signs went up informing passersby of an upcoming public hearing for the property, San Marco business owner Forrest Brewer got five calls that day from people wanting to know what he'd heard.

"They were just hoping it meant they were going to get started with building it," said Brewer, who owns the Wardroom and is a member of San Marco's merchant association and its preservation society. "This has been going on for a long time and people are really ready."

As it turned out, the reason for the signs offered both disappointment and reassurance.

The developer, a partnership led by St. Joe, is asking the City Council to approve an agreement that would give East San Marco LLC the right to reserve some traffic capacity on nearby roads for the project. The plan still calls for a Publix plus space for other retailers, along with 160 condominiums at the corner of Hendricks Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard.

But dirt won't be turned any time soon.

The development agreement would give East San Marco LLC seven years to get the first phase - containing 57,000 square feet of retail space and 125 condominiums - designed, permitted and ready for final development approval. East Marco LLC would have nine years to reach the same benchmark for the second phase with the remaining condominiums.

City officials also fielded phone calls after the signs went up with questions about what it meant for the planned Publix.

The city approved a zoning change for East San Marco in 2006, and a Wachovia bank was built at the site, but the recession stalled the rest of the project.

"The neighborhood and the merchants are very much in support of a Publix coming and continuing to drive traffic to the neighborhood," said Desiree Bailey, owner of San Marco Bookstore and president of the merchant's association.

Chris Kuhn, director of development for St. Joe, said the timeline remains highly dependent on the real estate market. He said East San Marco LLC is exploring ways to advance the project.

City Councilman Art Shad, whose district covers San Marco, said based on conversations he's had with the developers, he's convinced that when the real estate market improves, the development will move forward.

The Publix would be built on the first floor of a multi-story building with condominiums over the grocery store.

Publix spokesman Dwaine Stevens said the company remains committed to East San Marco, which he noted is dependent on being able to sell condominiums.

Read more at: http://jacksonville.com/business/2011-06-08/story/finally-some-movement-publix-san-marco-catch

[duvaldude08]

Remember the plans for a Publix supermarket in San Marco?

Merchants and residents of the neighborhood sure do.

After city signs went up informing passersby of an upcoming public hearing for the property, San Marco business owner Forrest Brewer got five calls that day from people wanting to know what he'd heard.

"They were just hoping it meant they were going to get started with building it," said Brewer, who owns the Wardroom and is a member of San Marco's merchant association and its preservation society. "This has been going on for a long time and people are really ready."

As it turned out, the reason for the signs offered both disappointment and reassurance.

The developer, a partnership led by St. Joe, is asking the City Council to approve an agreement that would give East San Marco LLC the right to reserve some traffic capacity on nearby roads for the project. The plan still calls for a Publix plus space for other retailers, along with 160 condominiums at the corner of Hendricks Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard.

But dirt won't be turned any time soon.

The development agreement would give East San Marco LLC seven years to get the first phase - containing 57,000 square feet of retail space and 125 condominiums - designed, permitted and ready for final development approval. East Marco LLC would have nine years to reach the same benchmark for the second phase with the remaining condominiums.

City officials also fielded phone calls after the signs went up with questions about what it meant for the planned Publix.

The city approved a zoning change for East San Marco in 2006, and a Wachovia bank was built at the site, but the recession stalled the rest of the project.

"The neighborhood and the merchants are very much in support of a Publix coming and continuing to drive traffic to the neighborhood," said Desiree Bailey, owner of San Marco Bookstore and president of the merchant's association.

Chris Kuhn, director of development for St. Joe, said the timeline remains highly dependent on the real estate market. He said East San Marco LLC is exploring ways to advance the project.

City Councilman Art Shad, whose district covers San Marco, said based on conversations he's had with the developers, he's convinced that when the real estate market improves, the development will move forward.

The Publix would be built on the first floor of a multi-story building with condominiums over the grocery store.

Publix spokesman Dwaine Stevens said the company remains committed to East San Marco, which he noted is dependent on being able to sell condominiums.

Read more at: http://jacksonville.com/business/2011-06-08/story/finally-some-movement-publix-san-marco-catch

Well atleast it will happen buy the time Im 38. I am currently 29 .LOL Hopefully they find some creative ways to get it done faster.