Bostwick Building To Be Demolished?

[ben says]

I also value simms' contributions and the good points he makes, though I do wish he didn't insist on making them in the most obnoxious possible way.

Getting back to the topic, who is supposed to tear down the building? Who would pay? And what are these masked men going to do with site?

For the love of god, third time asking: is this still for sale, and if so, what's the asking price?!

[cline]

Getting back to the topic, who is supposed to tear down the building? Who would pay? And what are these masked men going to do with site?

Doesn't the city usually pay for the demo and then bill the owner?  That was my impression.

For the love of god, third time asking: is this still for sale, and if so, what's the asking price?!

I'm pretty lake mentioned it was 360k.  I'm sure if you handed the owner a check for around that much they'd take it at this point.

[ben says]

Getting back to the topic, who is supposed to tear down the building? Who would pay? And what are these masked men going to do with site?

Doesn't the city usually pay for the demo and then bill the owner?  That was my impression.

For the love of god, third time asking: is this still for sale, and if so, what's the asking price?!

I'm pretty lake mentioned it was 360k.  I'm sure if you handed the owner a check for around that much they'd take it at this point.

Thanks. Yeah, I saw Lake mentioned the 360k figure, but I can't find it anywhere online, and was wondering when that figure was quoted.

[thelakelander]

New Orleans Audobon Park, Chicago's Lincoln, Grant, and Millennium Parks, Boston Commons.

Savannah's Forsyth Park, San Diego's Balboa Park, Baltimore's Patterson Park, Seattle's Carl Anderson Park, Phoenix's Encanto Park, etc.  Tons of cities have them.  We have/had one in the park system lining Hogans Creek.  Let's get it back!

Thanks. Yeah, I saw Lake mentioned the 360k figure, but I can't find it anywhere online, and was wondering when that figure was quoted.

The $360k figure was in the email sent to me. 

[simms3]

I always envisioned a nightclub for the building.  What is the footprint, something like 11,000 SF?  I think that would make a sizable club.  In fact, it would be near the other bars, near parking, between the Landing and the Bay St district, and if it were a club, the wallks could be sealed and touched up and the Jaguar mural potential kept.

What's the name of that owner of some of the Bay St buildings?  Chris Hionedes?  Does he have any opinions on this building and does anyone have his contact information?

PS: I am a really emotional and loud person.  I stick out like a sore thumb on this site and in Jacksonville and for that I don't apologize.  Just know that I get my own up here all the time.

Another idea:  If not a nightclub, perhaps it could be a really large restaurant/event space with a bar where the windows roll up on pleasant evenings and the inside opens up to the outside.  Get some high tops near the windows and a recessed area in the center, perhaps an open kitchen in the center with a bar at one end.

If retail were possible, I would say because of its location on a prominent corner someone would scoop it up for that purpose.  The advantages to the site are the abundant parking across the street, especially at night.  It's part of one of the only if not the only intact block in the CBD, and Bay St has already been streetscaped.  Relatively speaking there is foot traffic in that area, and it is convenient to office buildings by day and to nighttime destinations like the Florida Theater and Bay St bars.  It really is one of the most prominent buildings with the most potential in the city.  If someone can't figure out something to do with it, I don't think that bodes well overall.

I really do see restaurant with windows that open up by day and evening, and bar/club at night with the ability to do events/catering.  I see it very strongly without even touring the building.

[aclchampion]

I always envisioned a nightclub for the building.  What is the footprint, something like 11,000 SF?  I think that would make a sizable club.  In fact, it would be near the other bars, near parking, between the Landing and the Bay St district, and if it were a club, the wallks could be sealed and touched up and the Jaguar mural potential kept.

According to Property Appraiser it has a base area of 3,825 sq feet. Its only 75' by 51'.

[simms3]

simms you are a valuable and appreciated voice on here, whether or not any of us agree with you all the time.

Im curious though---in a completely irrelevant and pedestrian way---what do you mean by this?:

Just know that I get my own up here all the time.

If we are to know this, I, for one, would like to know what it means.

Ha, for a variety of factors I feel confident to speak up on this board.  I don't enjoy the same confidence in the environment in which I am.  I am a somebody down in Jacksonville, and I have a history there.  I am an anonymous person, 1 of 6 million, here in Atlanta, and I work for a firm and for people who could just about own Jacksonville (our chairman who lives in Germany is a billionaire).  I am relegated to being more of a listener and an observer to people who are like the 35-45 year old versions of myself on this board.  Of course, we are merely referring to discussions revolving around development, cities, economic development, etc.

Also, on this point, being that it is a quieter, smaller town, it is much easier for someone to be somebody in Jacksonville.  It doesn't take much.  Get to a larger city, and it gets more competitive.  Pedigrees run much deeper.  Everyone went to a top 20 college, and has an MBA from a top 5 b-school.  Blue blood society runs much thicker and it is harder to join the club.  Transplants are people who had influence in even larger cities.  For me, coming from humble Jacksonville, I'm less outspoken in daily life than I am on this board, where I feel like that big city guy in a small town.

I'm sure you can relate since you have lived in San Francisco and Seattle (and if I remember correctly Atlanta back in the day).

[simms3]

I always envisioned a nightclub for the building.  What is the footprint, something like 11,000 SF?  I think that would make a sizable club.  In fact, it would be near the other bars, near parking, between the Landing and the Bay St district, and if it were a club, the wallks could be sealed and touched up and the Jaguar mural potential kept.

According to Property Appraiser it has a base area of 3,825 sq feet. Its only 75' by 51'.

That stinks.  Thought it was larger.  Well it is still possible to do something creative with it; it still occupies a busy corner with foot traffic (relatively speaking), and it still has all the same advantages (convenience to office population, nighttime destinations, parking, etc).

[ben says]

Ha, for a variety of factors I feel confident to speak up on this board.  I don't enjoy the same confidence in the environment in which I am.  I am a somebody down in Jacksonville, and I have a history there.  I am an anonymous person, 1 of 6 million, here in Atlanta, and I work for a firm and for people who could just about own Jacksonville (our chairman who lives in Germany is a billionaire).  I am relegated to being more of a listener and an observer to people who are like the 35-45 year old versions of myself on this board.  Of course, we are merely referring to discussions revolving around development, cities, economic development, etc.

Also, on this point, being that it is a quieter, smaller town, it is much easier for someone to be somebody in Jacksonville.  It doesn't take much.  Get to a larger city, and it gets more competitive.  Pedigrees run much deeper.  Everyone went to a top 20 college, and has an MBA from a top 5 b-school.  Blue blood society runs much thicker and it is harder to join the club.  Transplants are people who had influence in even larger cities.  For me, coming from humble Jacksonville, I'm less outspoken in daily life than I am on this board, where I feel like that big city guy in a small town.

I'm sure you can relate since you have lived in San Francisco and Seattle (and if I remember correctly Atlanta back in the day).

Simms, well said. One of the main reasons I remain in Jacksonville, and won't move to NYC (where my fiancé is from). I love ATL, have a few connections there, but my drive and desire to work for a city remains here in Jax. Very well put.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Ha, for a variety of factors I feel confident to speak up on this board.  I don't enjoy the same confidence in the environment in which I am.  I am a somebody down in Jacksonville, and I have a history there.  I am an anonymous person, 1 of 6 million, here in Atlanta, and I work for a firm and for people who could just about own Jacksonville (our chairman who lives in Germany is a billionaire).  I am relegated to being more of a listener and an observer to people who are like the 35-45 year old versions of myself on this board.  Of course, we are merely referring to discussions revolving around development, cities, economic development, etc.

Also, on this point, being that it is a quieter, smaller town, it is much easier for someone to be somebody in Jacksonville.  It doesn't take much.  Get to a larger city, and it gets more competitive.  Pedigrees run much deeper.  Everyone went to a top 20 college, and has an MBA from a top 5 b-school.  Blue blood society runs much thicker and it is harder to join the club.  Transplants are people who had influence in even larger cities.  For me, coming from humble Jacksonville, I'm less outspoken in daily life than I am on this board, where I feel like that big city guy in a small town.

I'm sure you can relate since you have lived in San Francisco and Seattle (and if I remember correctly Atlanta back in the day).

Yep.  The cat is either dead or it's really dead, Schrodinger Simms.  You should have never opened that box.

[Kay]

Thanks. Yeah, I saw Lake mentioned the 360k figure, but I can't find it anywhere online, and was wondering when that figure was quoted.
[/quote]

Val Bostwick is the owner if you want to try to find a number for him.  Is there a for sale sign with a number to call on the building?  Are you prepared to put a roof on it so that Code Enforcement pulls the fines (if they start fining)?

[ben says]

Ha, for a variety of factors I feel confident to speak up on this board.  I don't enjoy the same confidence in the environment in which I am.  I am a somebody down in Jacksonville, and I have a history there.  I am an anonymous person, 1 of 6 million, here in Atlanta, and I work for a firm and for people who could just about own Jacksonville (our chairman who lives in Germany is a billionaire).  I am relegated to being more of a listener and an observer to people who are like the 35-45 year old versions of myself on this board.  Of course, we are merely referring to discussions revolving around development, cities, economic development, etc.

Also, on this point, being that it is a quieter, smaller town, it is much easier for someone to be somebody in Jacksonville.  It doesn't take much.  Get to a larger city, and it gets more competitive.  Pedigrees run much deeper.  Everyone went to a top 20 college, and has an MBA from a top 5 b-school.  Blue blood society runs much thicker and it is harder to join the club.  Transplants are people who had influence in even larger cities.  For me, coming from humble Jacksonville, I'm less outspoken in daily life than I am on this board, where I feel like that big city guy in a small town.

I'm sure you can relate since you have lived in San Francisco and Seattle (and if I remember correctly Atlanta back in the day).

Yep.  The cat is either dead or it's really dead, Schrodinger Simms.  You should have never opened that box.

Think he's being honest...+1 for that alone.

[Timkin]

Thanks. Yeah, I saw Lake mentioned the 360k figure, but I can't find it anywhere online, and was wondering when that figure was quoted.

Val Bostwick is the owner if you want to try to find a number for him.  Is there a for sale sign with a number to call on the building?  Are you prepared to put a roof on it so that Code Enforcement pulls the fines (if they start fining)?

Is a total roof replacement all that would be required , to keep the wrecking ball away from it?

Just from Google images and the pictures Lake provided on it, seems like it might need rafters and of course modern code requirements just for the roof replacement. That said, Id rather see a roof on the existing , than another vacant lot...even if the building is not used any time soon.  I don't know whether doing that is less or more expensive than demo.

[fieldafm]

I did well socially while I was there, but to be honest I think that Atlanta exemplifies everything that is callow, vulgar and damnable about the new south and despised the soullessness and materialism of every day society there.

In all my travels, the two warmest cities that I have ever experienced have been Boston and Jacksonville, and it's impossible to overlook that social warmth when considering the quality of life in a city.  I suspect that like all jacksonvillians you miss that about your home as well.

SPOT ON!

My time in Atlanta was characterized by drinking lots of $7 bottled beers.  Being told about how old my BMW was and that I should really considering being respectable and get at least a new 5 series.  Dabble that in with expensive business lunches that weren't even good half the time and lots of time spent in Buckhead where apparently my Raymond Weil watch was not a Rolex, and therefore inferior.  I also dated a girl that was obsessed with working out, so much so that she didnt like to sit down half the time(preferring to instead keep some kind of movement giong so as to further burn calories).  It was vapid and shallow, when really... it didn't need to be.  Buckhead isn't Manhatten and Tuxedo Park isn't Beverly Hills.  I was glad to get out.   

If Jacksonville suffers from an inferiority complex(probably the worst I have seen other than perhaps St Louis), Atlanta has an even bigger superiority complex. 

I love Boston specifically because the people are so nice(it doesn't hurt that the city is also filled to the brim with young people-good looking ones too, as long as you don't miss the southern blondes).  You'd think you were in Savannah if their accents weren't so distinguished and they talked about the Red Sox less.  I have family in Beantown and always enjoy visiting.  Going to a conference there next month actually.   

If you can make it in Jacksonville, I think you can literally make it anywhere.

Agreed.  You don't need a family name to make it anywhere.

[jcjohnpaint]

Wow Atlanta really seems like a wonderful place to live!