Urban Construction Update - January 2012

[JeffreyS]

I was told they will reopen as a tapas bar.

Good we could use more tapas concepts here. Perhaps that would make more room at 13 Gypsies.

[Noone]

I think the northbank riverwalk is kept up pretty well...and there are partnerships with companies like Haskell, Everbank, DuPont Trust, and Fidelity....that can be clearly seen when looking at the gardens and landscaping at the western end.

They are kept up because Nooney was in the water pulling garbage out by himself yesterday. I am just saying (because when I am down there I ask visitors what they would like to see) add something of interest, we have the most boring public spaces I have ever seen. Why can't we have the most stimulating public spaces I have ever seen?

Another partnership that was arriving when I was leaving was a community service jail detail.

And CG7 is right. We should have the most stimulating public spaces. MJ'ers, Does anybody care that it took me hours to finally find a spot where I could legally participate in a Downtown Destination River activity.

At the end of the Peyton administration the fences were taken down and moved. And now the expanded and ever far reaching boundries of the new Authority are being stretched out. None of this was in Waterways. Are our Regional Partners getting excited about this leadership to restrict economic opportunity and Public Access to our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative? Shipyards III

At last weeks gathering with the commissioners of FIND appointed by the governor and representing the east coast of the state of Florida and a new year with a new administration and new city council, commissioners were asking me about Jacksonville and now a good solid 3 years later I still don't have one sponsor (city councilmember) for a pocket pier that I could bring back to the commissioners of FIND.

And I want to be very clear that this is in no way a reflection of former FIND commissioner Mike Messiano or current commissioner Aaron Bowman

One of the biggest Urban Construction Updates for Jacksonville in January 2012 is that the Historic Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier is NOT on the FIND list. SHIPYARDS III. The Public Trust has been just totally destroyed in this community.

Palms Fish Camp?

Councilman Redman?       

[blandman]

Is Pulp Juice Bar really not open yet?  Does it still plan to?  Seems like it's been "under construction" for well over a year, no?

[fieldafm]

Apparently I missed that Walker's closed?
What happened?

He is putting a kitchen in.

Is Pulp Juice Bar really not open yet?  Does it still plan to?  Seems like it's been "under construction" for well over a year, no?

You should start see movement on it shortly.  The building took a total gutting.  At issue now is that the ceiling beams need to be replaced.  This requires adjacent Petal to have to temporarily close in order for the work to be completed.  No retailer wants to go on vacation over the holiday season.  Now that the holidays are over, work should start late Jan or early Feb with Pulp hopefully open for the busy Spring season.

[cline]

You should start see movement on it shortly.  The building took a total gutting.  At issue now is that the ceiling beams need to be replaced.  This requires adjacent Petal to have to temporarily close in order for the work to be completed.  No retailer wants to go on vacation over the holiday season.  Now that the holidays are over, work should start late Jan or early Feb with Pulp hopefully open for the busy Spring season.

I had heard Pulp was completely dead.

[fieldafm]

You should start see movement on it shortly.  The building took a total gutting.  At issue now is that the ceiling beams need to be replaced.  This requires adjacent Petal to have to temporarily close in order for the work to be completed.  No retailer wants to go on vacation over the holiday season.  Now that the holidays are over, work should start late Jan or early Feb with Pulp hopefully open for the busy Spring season.

I had heard Pulp was completely dead.

I talked to him last week.

[goldy21]

CoWork Jax info: http://coworkjax.com/

[Tacachale]

What is Sweet Lady Blue exactly?

[thelakelander]

I think its going to be a southern/soul food restuarant and bar.

http://www.sweetladyblue.com/

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1645982/restaurant/Urban-Core/Sweet-Lady-Blue-Jacksonville

http://jax-dining.com/

[ben says]

You should start see movement on it shortly.  The building took a total gutting.  At issue now is that the ceiling beams need to be replaced.  This requires adjacent Petal to have to temporarily close in order for the work to be completed.  No retailer wants to go on vacation over the holiday season.  Now that the holidays are over, work should start late Jan or early Feb with Pulp hopefully open for the busy Spring season.

I had heard Pulp was completely dead.

I talked to him last week.

I'm not businessman, but I can't imagine Pulp brings in much profit....

[comncense]

It would be great if Sweet Lady Blue ended up being like Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint in Atlanta. That place has GREAT food. http://www.sweetgeorgiasjukejoint.com/

[floridaforester]

Does anyone know what's going on at Derby on Park?  I haven't seen any activity there since they did some initial tear out.  I'm going to be upset if they've closed my neighborhood breakfast spot and nothing comes of this new establishment.  I was under the impression it was supposed to be open at the beginning of the year but nothing has happened.   I had high hopes for this place.  Maybe they'll get it together one day.

[thelakelander]

It would be great if Sweet Lady Blue ended up being like Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint in Atlanta. That place has GREAT food. http://www.sweetgeorgiasjukejoint.com/

Their menu looks pretty good.  I'll have to try them out next time I'm in Atlanta. 

[Ocklawaha]

I think the northbank riverwalk is kept up pretty well...and there are partnerships with companies like Haskell, Everbank, DuPont Trust, and Fidelity....that can be clearly seen when looking at the gardens and landscaping at the western end.

I think the trouble with fishing from the river walk between the railroad bridge and Berkman, is the usual filth that ends up on the walkway along any popular fishing zone. Imagine the river walk smelling like dead fish! STINK, abandoned bait buckets, fish guts and scales and stray tackle are actually pretty good reasons to contain this activity at certain points along the downtown riverfront.
We could for example allow it between the Riverside Art Market and somewhere near the FEC bridge. A new stretch from Berkman to Metropolitan park would work just as good. The Southbank is somewhat tougher, access in San Marco, and perhaps the area of the school board (which already has a 'fishy' smell).

I agree with TUFSU on this, the river walks are fairly well maintained, at least on the north bank. Now if we can just keep the 'wipe out the homeless Nazi's,' from taking away the benches, trash cans, bike racks etc... we'd be doing quite well.

As for the walks being boring public spaces... REALLY?  Everyone I've ever taken to visit the river walk loves it, the landing not so much, I always hear that the landing and the Skyway smell like urine.

How about we all embrace THE JACKSONVILLE STARS concept.  Tinted bronze statues of all of our famous, or infamous people scattered all along the walk would be an immediate hit, and allow us to touch more of our history. Imagine a teacher walking along with his/her 4Th grade class and introducing them to Babe Hardy, Tom Mix, or the boys from Ray Charles to the Allman Brothers. Have lunch with Al Capone the Barker Gang or Machine Gun Kelly. Doc Holiday, or our very own 'butcher shop owner' none other then John Wesley Hardin, from Bob Hayes to Mitchell Alonzo, Baseball GREAT from the Jacksonville Red Caps, WE COULD DO THIS.

The statues cost around $8,000/10,000 each and I bet we could raise the money and volunteers to place them.

Consider this an invitation to the JACKSONVILLE STARS ON FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/223676907645678/

[CG7]

Not everyone who visits the Riverwalk loves it. I make that statement from actually asking people (local and tourist), and the overwhelming response is they hear Riverwalk and think of something like the San Antonio Riverwalk, and think there will be something to do or see that is worth the trip. Say what you want, there isn't anything. SO IT'S BORING!