Old Fuel space

[SunKing]

Whats the story here?  Why has this space remained empty?  Is it the owner or is something really wrong with it?

[ubben]

I think it would be a great place for an Apple store.

[Dog Walker]

The interior and mechanics inside are totally shot and need a complete (expensive) rebuild.  There would need to be all new wiring, all new floors, all new bathrooms and plumbing To use the upstairs, an elevator or lift needs to be installed (expensive!) as well as a sprinkler system (also expensive).

For a long time the owner didn't want to sell for sentimental reasons.  Her grandparents built the building for Woolworth's.  She is now willing to sell.

What could be done with that large a building that would make the investment worthwhile?

[AKIRA]

"What could be done with that large a building that would make the investment worthwhile?"...and existing parking spaces could support the customer base? 

Mojos in avondale is around that size .  How has their demand on parking effected the strip?

A music instrument store downstairs and music studio upstairs would be neat but I don't know how profitable they are.

[Jumpinjack]

Riverside needs some kind of hardware store with the stuff for making common household repairs.  Love those local hardware stores. Used to go to Southside Curry Thomas and get almost everything for home or yards plus great service and helpful advice.

[SunKing]

I think it would beta good live music venue. Something more upscale than fuel but that's just me. It actually used to be Petersons not sure about the woolworths. Who's the owner?

[John P]

Same reasons why half of main street is vacant. Buildings in bad shape and owners wont put any money in to them.

[ben says]

Riverside needs some kind of hardware store with the stuff for making common household repairs.  Love those local hardware stores. Used to go to Southside Curry Thomas and get almost everything for home or yards plus great service and helpful advice.

Normally I'd agree (huge fan of independent hardware outlets), but I feel like I have enough local options for hardware stores. Edgewood/Murray Hill has a great one. The one in Avondale/Herschel area. Curry Thomas in St. Nicholas...

[Jumpinjack]

Ben, you are right that it would seem like we have enough stores (sort of like adding another sushi or pizza restaurant) but dedicated D.I.Y.-sters like me find some of those stores pretty lacking.  Plus, I really hate going to the big box stores.

Edgewood store is dark, customer service is bad, limited inventory. Only store in Avondale on Herschel that I know is Ray Ware. Have you been inside this store and tried to buy wood screws, plumbers putty, or lawn fertilizer?  Prices on decorator hardware is jaw dropping. Agree about Curry Thomas in St. Nick but it's over there.

Anytime I visit a small town, like Black Mountain, NC, where my sister lives, I check out their local hardware to see how thriving the town is. You can learn a lot by what's for sale in the hardware store:

[ben says]

Agree with you, especially on the Black Mountain, NC store (I've actually been there). Just wish we could get something...different, i guess, in that Fuel space. How receptive will a hardware store, even a 'cool one', be to Riverside residents?

[AKIRA]

I'm liking the hardware store idea more and more.  I miss the Adkinson's hardware that was on Westconnett.

[jaxlore]

I cant imagine a hardware store being able to pull the numbers to make that space work. But it's interesting the fast pace of places opening up around town, so who knows what the next year or so will bring to a space that big, hopefully not another pizza place I like the live music venue idea but it almost seems the town is a bit saturated with them at the moment and its not big enough for a HOB style venue. I remember when Fuel first opened it was pretty awesome, good food, coffee and people. Spent many a year there, heck even dj'd there for a good spell.

[Tacachale]

^Jacksonville is certainly not saturated with live music venues. It's quite the opposite - even 5 Points has lost virtually every one of its music venues. But you're right - our biggest gap is in mid-sized/upper-mid sized venues such as the House of Blues, and that space (presumably) isn't big enough for that.

[floridaforester]

I have been wondering about this building for quite a while and was discussing with someone the other day while at Birdie's.  I understand there are some serious roof issues and the owner is not addressing them.  I will be damned if I watch another historically significant building allowed to deteriorate to the point where the out of state investor cries poor mouth that "its not financially feasible" to save the building.

I was going to write the owner and ask them to sell so that someone can invest in the neighborhood by renovating and putting in a viable business.  In my research I discovered that the City has this building that is almost 11,000 sq feet is assessed at $270,000!! Can you believe this crap?  No wonder the owner has no incentive to do anything... THEY'RE ONLY PAYING $5000 IN TAXES ANNUALLY!!!   My god, I pay that much for my 2500 sq ft residential home with a homestead exemption.

It is unconscionable that the City allows this to happen.  Seriously, the 2300 sq ft building next door at 1043 Park is on the market for $500k and the City is only assessing this 11k sq ft building @ $270,000.  It absolutely disgusts me.  They would easily ask over $1M for this property if they ever sold it.  I contacted the property appraiser's office regarding the discrepancy and they are supposedly looking into it.  How many years have they been overlooking what they can charge these absentee owners because its more expedient to balance the budget on the backs of residents?  Doesn't make any sense at all.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

It may be on the market for 500K, but it's only assessed at 144K