Is downtown fading?

[urbanlibertarian]

I wonder if Sleiman is still interested in buying the land underneath from the city.

[thelakelander]

The upstairs needs to emptied out.  It's a waste of leasable space as a food court.  On the other hand, the interior mall needs to revamped to allow the stores to face Laura Street and Independent Drive.  A good start would be tranforming the west mall to a new food court that opens up to the courtyard where the Jackson statue used to be.  That would allow the upstairs food court to be leased to a restaurant/entertainment anchor that would be willing to pay higher leasing rates for riverfront views.  In the end, there would be less common area to heat and cool and more space being leased to revenue generating businesses.

[downtownjag]

A good start would be a crane with a wrecking ball after bubble-wrapping MacCools.... Possibly Chicago's Pizza as well

[acme54321]

Agreed.  It needs a complete revamping.  I like the plan of opeinging up the center to Laura St.

[Anti redneck]

Agreed.  It needs a complete revamping.  I like the plan of opeinging up the center to Laura St.

I seriously doubt that will ever happen.

I wonder if Sleiman is still interested in buying the land underneath from the city.

I don't think the city will sell it to him. It's like they know what they're doing and want to drive it in the ground.

They really need some serious remodeling done for the Landing!. Really felt uncomfortable in that place.

Like I said, I just don't think that'll ever happen.

Well, the city does owe the Landing a parking deck.....

They will never give it to him.

Went to the Landing Sat around 8pm. The place was dead. Only 4 restaurants left in the upper section. Very sad.

I think Sleiman just about gave up on it. It doesn't look any different now than when he first bought it.

Might not look like it did when Sleiman bought it, but at least now the elevators smell like urine.

So it's gotten worse. That's good to know.

[Anti redneck]

They really need some serious remodeling done for the Landing!. Really felt uncomfortable in that place.

The place needs a complete gutting. It is terrible. The inside is terribly outdated and the westside is a real dead zone. I give it a chance a few times a year and always leave thinking what a waste.

Very outdated. Yet, nothing has been done about it, nor has anything even been tried. Sad.

[Rynjny]

Shad Khan needs to buy the Landing!!!

[jcjohnpaint]

I have no problem with it.  I think it is a beautiful place that is mismanaged.  I do like the idea of opening it up. 

[dougskiles]

I am interested to know - if you go to the Landing regularly, why?  If you don't, why not?

My answer is that I don't frequent the place.  Why not?  In the evening, I would be driving past San Marco Square which has more to do - better food, movie theater, wine bar, and the high probability I will see friends.  In other words, I am more likely to frequent my neighborhood commercial area.  For shopping on the weekend - well there isn't anything there that sells what I'm interested in.  And on top of that, I perceive it as a pain to park.  It may not be, but I just can't get that out of my head.  Plus I remember having to pay for parking which I loathe to do (funny that I will gladly pay to ride a train or bus).  I don't even know if you still have to pay, or if you can get vouchers to waive the fee - it still seems like a pain.

I don't have a solution for the woes.  But it seems that with more people working DT and better connection to where people live (by reliable frequent transit service) it would improve.

[mtraininjax]

Shad Khan needs to buy the Landing!!!

Actually, I'd rather he buy and manage the southbank riverwalk, before Alvin allows it to fall into the river. Alvin claims they are working with businesses to make sure they have access to the Riverwalk while it is being repaired, but HEY, what if there is NO RIVERWALK, will it really matter?

Khan is the best thing to happen to Jax, too bad our idiot politicians say whatever it takes to get elected and continue to do NOTHING!!!!!

[thelakelander]

I am interested to know - if you go to the Landing regularly, why?  If you don't, why not?

I work three blocks away but I don't visit on a regular occasion.  There's simply nothing I can get from there that I can get from the businesses scattered throughout the Northbank during the weekdays.  Every now and then, I'll stop for some food if I'm visiting Wells Fargo or Suntrust but typically, I'd rather order from Burrito Gallery, Chamblin's, Chomp Chomp, Zodiac Grill, Midtown Deli, Justin's, etc. than the food court.

[Anti redneck]

Shad Khan needs to buy the Landing!!!

Actually, I'd rather he buy and manage the southbank riverwalk, before Alvin allows it to fall into the river. Alvin claims they are working with businesses to make sure they have access to the Riverwalk while it is being repaired, but HEY, what if there is NO RIVERWALK, will it really matter?

Khan is the best thing to happen to Jax, too bad our idiot politicians say whatever it takes to get elected and continue to do NOTHING!!!!!

My thoughts exactly. Whether it be Khan or anyone else interested in upgrading the southbank. Then build a crosswalk across the river that connects into the landing.

[BigGuy219]

I go to the landing 3-4 times a week. Usually around early dinner time.

I always see people and I always have a good time.

I don't have a negative thing to say about the place.

The new Irish pub that opened is great.

[Debbie Thompson]

I don't go that often, but really it's because of limited funds for entertainment.  One can usually find a parking place fairly close by...within a block or two generally.  It's not that hard, and it's free after 6:00, remember.  The City doesn't enforce parking meters after 6:00 pm.  I enjoy eating outside at Koja Sushi on nice days.  The river is beautiful.  There are usually people inside the Landing.

The food court leaves a lot to be desired.  When I worked downtown, we often brought our lunches and ate in the conference room that faced the river.  Best lunch room in town!  If we ate out, we went to Zodiac Grille, the sandwich shop in the Bank of America Tower, the 42nd floor cafe, or sometimes Koja Sushi or Burrito Gallery.

[Anti redneck]

I go to the landing 3-4 times a week. Usually around early dinner time.

I always see people and I always have a good time.

I don't have a negative thing to say about the place.

The new Irish pub that opened is great.

You see, I try to look at things from a visitor's standpoint. More along the lines of, where would I take a visitor around Jacksonville. With that being said, the landing does not look appealing. I agree that it's structure is very outdated. If visitors came to the landing, how many of them would come back? Would a visitor be attracted? This statement to me sounds like Jacksonville has a "locals only" attitude.