Downtown Update from Downtown Vision, Inc.

[urbanlibertarian]

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 8:46 AM

Hemming Plaza Ad Hoc Committee
Hemming Plaza
Jacksonville City Council Council member Denise Lee was appointed by President Stephen Joost to chair an ad hoc committee regarding Hemming Plaza.

The goal of the committee is to determine how to make Hemming Plaza more appealing to Downtown workers, visitors and residents.
The committee is also discussing the need to survey current users of the park as to why they use the park and also to survey surrounding office workers to determine what improvements need to be made to increase their use of the park.

In addition to Lee, the committee includes Council member Don Redman, Council member Bill Gulliford, city agencies including the Parks Department, JEDC and Special Events, and numerous Downtown businesses and property owners.

Downtown Vision, Inc. has attended the committee meetings and made recommendations, including programming the park with positive activities to attract Downtown workers, residents and visitors; improving park cleanliness; making the park more attractive; and providing security during park hours to ensure rules are enforced.

Downtown Development Update

There are currently seven projects totaling nearly $586 million under construction Downtown. They are the new Duval County Courthouse, JEA garage improvements, the Matthews Bridge painting and repairs, Farah and Farah renovations, the Wolfson Children's Hospital Adult Tower, the Park View Inn garage project and San Marco Boulevard reconstruction. In addition, there is a total of $527 million (18 projects) proposed for development.

 

Two projects were completed in the Downtown core in 2011: the reconstruction of Laura Street and the installation of new bus shelters. Other notable 2011 construction completions include improvements to Friendship Park and Treaty Oak Park, the construction of new floating docks adjacent to the Riverside Arts Market, grass and landscaping improvements to Metropolitan Park, the I-10/ I-95 interchange project, and the repainting and repair of the Hart Bridge.

 

Since 2000, 84 projects totaling $1.4 billion in investment have been completed Downtown. Nearly 30 percent of investment occurred in the Downtown core, while 23 percent occurred on the Southbank and 19 percent occurred at the Sports Complex. Major transportation projects by the Florida Department of Transportation accounted for 13 percent of total development, with the remaining projects completed on the periphery of Downtown. 



Click here for complete reports on Downtown development.

New Courthouse Parking Information 
The Jacksonville Bar Association recently hosted a presentation on parking options for the new courthouse.

Four vendors made presentations at the event:

MPS Parking offers parking at the the garage directly across the street from the new courthouse. The daily rate is a tentative maximum of $10 or a monthly rate of $85.60. Monthly reserved parking and valet parking will be available for $145 and $200, respectively.

The City of Jacksonville offers parking in the Water Street garage and the Ed Ball Building garage, both at a rate of $1 per hour up to a maximum daily rate of $6.96. The monthly rate for the Water Street garage is $50 and $80 at the Ed Ball garage.

UPark, of First Baptist Church, offers courthouse parking at the Beaver and Pearl Street garage for $35 a month. There is no daily rate.

JTA is offering a courthouse Park-and-Ride program where commuters can park at the King Street garage or the Convention Center Skyway Station. Commuters can then ride the Skyway to Hemming Plaza or take a direct-route trolley service to the new courthouse. The cost is $35 a month.

The current county courthouse is scheduled to close Friday, May 18, at 5 p.m., and the new courthouse will open Monday, May 29. Demolition has begun for improvements to the former Federal Courthouse building, which will house the State Attorney's Office.
Downtown Business News
CoWork Jax opens for business Downtown
Last month, Downtown's CoWork Jax opened its doors for business. Located at 5 W. Forsyth St. in a second floor space, CoWork Jax features conference rooms and individual work stations. Coworking is a concept in which professionals, entrepreneurs and freelancers work and collaborate in a community-focused environment. Already, the CoWork Jax space is being used by more than three dozen coworkers. For more information on CoWork Jax, visit www.coworkjax.com.

Ed Ball Building to undergo $1.3 million in renovations
Breaking Ground Contracting Co. received a building permit Feb. 3 for $1.3 million in renovations on the city-owned Ed Ball Building at 214 N. Hogan St. Renovations are planned for the basement as well as for the first, fifth and sixth floors. The architectural firm for the project is Jacksonville's TTV Architects, Inc.

duPont Center to be sold to Texas investment firm
Downtown Jacksonville's duPont Center on the Southbank is slated to be sold along with other Flagler properties to TPG Capital, based in Forth Worth, Texas. The total purchase package of 12 million square feet of developed office and industrial space includes several properties across Northeast Florida in addition to the duPont Center.

New signage coming to Aetna Building with Baptist Health move
A new Baptist Health sign will soon adorn Downtown's Aetna Building on the Southbank. Baptist Health System is moving its corporate and administrative staff from the suburbs to an 58,000-square-foot office space in the Aetna Building. The new signage is intended to differentiate the Baptist Health business operations from the health care facilities nearby.

Bank of America TowerBank of America Tower receives LEED certification
The Bank of America Tower was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The tower, built in 1990, is a 42-story building approximately 661,000 square feet in size. With initiatives such as using green cleaning items, the addition of new aerators for faucets and light sensors, and the recalibration of the heating and cooling systems, the building has reduced utility costs by 20 percent.

Downtown currently has five Energy Star buildings and two LEED-certified buildings. When the North Florida chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council brings their Sustainable Resource Center to Downtown, we hope to add to these energy-conservation numbers.
Downtown Retail News 
The Jacksonville Bank Building welcomed two new tenants this month, one located directly above the other:

Midtown Deli and CafeMidtown Deli and Cafe
100 N. Laura St. (entrance on Forsyth)
Ground floor
904-350-2600
www.midtowndelijacksonville.com

    This popular lunch spot on Jacksonville's Southside moved Downtown this month. The restaurant, open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., serves both breakfast and lunch. The breakfast menu features an array of omelets, pancakes, French toast and more. Available for lunch are pananis, soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps. Coffee, beer and wine are also available for purchase, and the restaurant delivers for a $20 minimum purchase, as well as caters.


BodyPlex FitnessBodyPlex Fitness
100 N. Laura Street
Second Floor
904-359-0408
Facebook page

    Located in the former Gold's Gym location, BodyPlex Fitness takes up the entire second floor of the building, complete with a main workout room and smaller training rooms. The gym offers both group and personal training classes, as well as annual and monthly memberships.

Coming Soon to Downtown

    1904 at 19 N. Ocean St. near LIT will be a live music venue and bar, with the stage near the front entrance.
    Secrets Wine Bar is slated to open at 521 W. Forsyth St.
    The Pink Cupcake, a cupcake and sweets shop, and A.J. Reese Clothiers, a men's boutique, will soon come to The Jacksonville Landing.
    Sweet Lady Blue, a Southern cuisine restaurant with live jazz and blues music, will open at 331 W. Forsyth St.
    Two 7-Eleven convenience stores are coming soon, one at the corner of Julia and Forsyth streets and the other on Main Street between Union and State streets.

Downtown JTA Service Changes
JTA SkywayThe Jacksonville Transportation Authority's Skyway is now free for a 90-day period that began Jan. 30. This is so JTA can ensure customers have a seamless transfer during the implementation of new fare equipment. Since Jan. 30, the ridership of the Skyway system has more than doubled.

In addition, JTA now charges for trolley service. Fares are $1.50 or $25 per month for a Downtown Star Card, which provides unlimited trolley and Skyway use. JTA also launched the Downtown Star Park and Ride Program. For $35 per month, users can park at the Convention Center Skyway lot or the Kings Avenue Garage with unlimited trolley and Skyway use.

For more information about these programs, contact JTA at 904-630-3100, or visit the JTA website at www.jtafla.com.

   
DVI Happenings

DINE WITH US DOWNTOWN   


Dine with Us Downtown Feb. 23, where you're invited to make reservations at b.b.'s restaurant and bar on the Southbank between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Join us for a celebration of Downtown as a dining destination!





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FIRST WEDNESDAY ART WALK



February's First Wednesday Art Walk was a huge success! Make sure to check out the next Art Walk March 7. The theme is "Art Shook Up." Click here for more details.

JAX Boldest
Love Jacksonville? Tell JAX Boldest what you think is Jacksonville's best company, best nonprofit and best 2011 project. This contest is designed to recognize Jacksonville's creators and innovators who make our part of the world a better place. Visit www.jaxboldest.com for nominations or more information.





The Downtown Ambassadors will receive your request and will resolve the issue within 24 hours.  Services include graffiti, human/pet waste, litter and odor issues, spills, tree falls and weeds.


Little-Known Downtown 
Atlantic Bank Building Vault
Did you know there's a tunnel underneath the streets of Downtown? The tunnel was used by banks to transfer money safely from bank to bank. While a few original vaults remain under the Atlantic Bank Building (seen above), some former vault spaces now house offices and restaurants, such as Benny's Sandwich Shop.