Jacksonville Landing Says Garage Not Enough

[finehoe]

....what will be the impact of being known as a public government that reniges on multimillion dollar deals with the private sector?

It's about 25 years too late to be worrying about that.  If this situation has indeed caused the city to have this reputation, building the garage now is hardly going to remedy it.

[thelakelander]

So you're saying if we walk, you don't think it will have a negative impact on current desires to attempt to revitalize downtown?

[Jaxson]

This is a shameful situation for both the city and the Landing.  I remember back when the Landing had tenants such as Banana Republic, Laura Ashley, Sharper Image and others.  Nearly 25 years later, we are looking at a city that continues to fail in putting forth a good faith effort to support the Landing.

[cline]

Question:  Exactly how many spaces does he need to attract these "top-grade mall tenants"?  The garage would offer him 500.  The city is required to provide 300-375.  The article also mentions that the location doesn't meet the needs of these "top-grade mall tenants".  What is the location that would?

[finehoe]

So you're saying if we walk, you don't think it will have a negative impact on current desires to attempt to revitalize downtown?

I'm saying that the parking should be built/dedicated/whatever based on the environment that exists in 2011.  Yes, it wasn't a good thing that the city made a commitment and didn't keep it, but any damage to our reputation is done.  I can't see how following through two decades later is going to change that.

I suppose we could change the city motto to "Better Late Than Never".

[RiversideLoki]

You know what, Sleiman? Shut up.

Seriously.

You sit here and support the Tea Party, then beg city government for money to support your private enterprise? I've never had a problem parking and going to the landing. Either in the Landing parking lot, or parking somewhere near and walking a couple of blocks (at the most). If you want better tenants, parking isn't the problem. You are. You know the biggest reason that I don't go to the landing?

Here's a hint: There's no reason to go.

[duvaldude08]

Where is the Mayor on this one? He needs to begin to start delivering on Downtown promises. I am not going to have much patience with him on this promise! I am also beginning to believe Tony is jerking us around. I really do not believe he has any national tenants lined up!

Mayor has only been in office for only a few months. Chill out. And he also forgot his magic wand today. We have more pressing issues right now. We have  city council of clowns that can even balance a budget. And plus this issue just resurfaced. Im sure he was give his input when the time comes.

[thelakelander]

Question:  Exactly how many spaces does he need to attract these "top-grade mall tenants"?  The garage would offer him 500.  The city is required to provide 300-375.  The article also mentions that the location doesn't meet the needs of these "top-grade mall tenants".  What is the location that would?

The garage offers zero dedicated spaces from what I've read.

[duvaldude08]

So you're saying if we walk, you don't think it will have a negative impact on current desires to attempt to revitalize downtown?

I'm saying that the parking should be built/dedicated/whatever based on the environment that exists in 2011.  Yes, it wasn't a good thing that the city made a commitment and didn't keep it, but any damage to our reputation is done.  I can't see how following through two decades later is going to change that.

I suppose we could change the city motto to "Better Late Than Never".

If we kept letting the city off the hook for everything, nothing will never change.

[fsujax]

Magic wand or not, I voted for him soley on his stance regarding Downtown. I am not going to be chill too long on the issue.

[duvaldude08]

Magic wand or not, I voted for him soley on his stance regarding Downtown. I am not going to be chill too long on the issue.

As did I. However, im realistic about the situation. (regarding the mayor) As much as I loved Godbald, he needs to be whipped for this. This should have been taken care of 20+ years ago. when he was in office. Since the Landing was his project, I think he should weigh in out in and speak about the details of the proposal that was made for the parking.

[finehoe]

If we kept letting the city off the hook for everything, nothing will never change.

True enough, but constructing a parking garage for a half-empty failed retail center hardly seems like the best use of scarce city funds.  These 'festival marketplaces' are a thing of the past anyway.  What may have been a great idea in the 80s often seems stale and tired in the 10s.

I've said it on MJ before and I'll say it again:  You could build a suburban-style parking lot right flush against the Landing so that people never had to walk more than a few feet and it wouldn't change a thing.  The city could construct a garage twice as big as the one it committed to, and the place would continue to be dead, and some other excuse would be trotted out on why no one wants to go there.

[cline]

Question:  Exactly how many spaces does he need to attract these "top-grade mall tenants"?  The garage would offer him 500.  The city is required to provide 300-375.  The article also mentions that the location doesn't meet the needs of these "top-grade mall tenants".  What is the location that would?

The garage offers zero dedicated spaces from what I've read.

What about location?  Since this proposed spot is not acceptable, where exactly does it need to be?

[thelakelander]

That location stuff is BS. The site is the same as the dead Kuhn garage deal.

[manasia]

I guess I have two thoughts about this.

1. Does a current administration have to live up to the promises of the previous one? If their is no legislation supporting this parking garage, then in my opinion it is a moot point. Is it fair, no it is not, but I'm saying, administrations promise a lot of stuff that never get's done.

2. If I had Tony Sleiman's money, I would have bought me some land built my own parking garage and would not have waited for the city. If the parking garage was that detrimental to my bottom line, I would have figured out a way to do it myself. Obviously this is easier said than done, but Im Just saying. This guy been waiting on the city since 1987, I mean really?