Urban Infill: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

[Metro Jacksonville]

Urban Infill: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly



Metro Jacksonville highlights a selection of recently constructed projects in the Urban Core of Jacksonville and ranks them by their ability to help create a walkable environment.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/821

[copperfiend]

The hotels on the southbank make me sick everytime I see them. What a waste. As for a positive, the Everbank Building is one of my favorites.

[Jason]

Everbank and the Parks at the Cathedral ar my two favs.

Great article Ennis and thanks for pointing out the positives as well as the negatives.

[tufsu1]

Props to Parks @ the Cathedral....I'll let them know   

[Ocklawaha]

after the laughter died down last Tuesday, Stephendare and I took another look at SAX SEAFOOD. Thinking "Anchor of the Trolley System". This building is suited well to becoming a first class museum, with gift shop, bistro, car shop and storage yard. Tracks could pull out onto Beaver to Davis, and hence South and help recreate one of the most exciting streets of the former Harlem District of LaVilla. Davis is small, quiet, yet fairly dense with some pretty cool places on both sides.

The Sax place is plenty tall enough, either in the kitchen? or the dining room areas. Lots of parking would make it a park and ride site for a host of historic venues. Beaver and Davis streets may still have streetcar tracks in them as both are historic Jacksonville Traction routes. The Sax location would do something else for our Streetcar operation. We would trump New Orleans, Memphis, Little Rock, Tampa, Ft. Smith or Dallas in having the museum/carbarn located just a block off the interstate with it's own exit/entrance. Moreover, we would have the only on with a brand new - turn key - exhibit space. Toss in a "World Class" hobby shop with internet/mail order and a focus on trolleys - railroads - highway systems - buses - air - ships - Navy and we would boost the operating income and offer yet ANOTHER spot for some family fun.

I invite all of you to head down there and take another good look for yourselves. Look at that high ceiling or roof. Look at the size of the place. Look at the location in relation to Water - Union Station - downtown. Look at it and tell me you don't hear bells!

If this city had just one visionary political type in a leadership position we could be all of that...

Ocklawaha

[thelakelander]

What ever happened to the idea of using the old Claude Nolan Building for this same purpose?

Anyway, there was an RFP out on this property and it just closed.  I wonder who's going to get it.

816 West Union Street (partially completed restaurant site)

Responses are currently being reviewed by staff.  Please check back soon for more information.

http://www.coj.net/Departments/Jacksonville+Economic+Development+Commission/JEDC+Information/Real+Estate+RFPs.htm

[rjp2008]

I'm not feeling the plain, blockish red brick designs of that area at all- this is Florid after all - showcase some beauty!

I don't see people taking an interest unless a more modern, creative architectural space is created there. Jacksonville has plenty of "historic (old!)" to it already. Showcase some new creativity!

[xian1118]

Apologies, but I have to insert shameless plug. EverBank Plaza is currently looking for retail tenants to occupy the amazing space along Riverside Avenue.  I have attached some photos to show the great space. If you know someone who is interested, contact me at mcharden@hardenassociates.com. We have trolley stops at both sides of Riverside Avenue and 1,000 of employees in our building, BCBS, and FIS. Thanks for the nice comments.

[Ernest Street]

Thanks for a great article Ennis! As a student of the FCCJ advanced campus..and always passing by I have always wondered why Lavilla School took up so much historic space? Why hasn't anyone thought of bringing back a block or two of the old school entertainment Venues?The Ritz just doesn't cut it..Imagine dragging old Blues Legends back to perform to the crowd that has always loved them.(Me too!) Didn't Ray and Leadbelly and Bo and ,  More than I can mention play in LaVilla before? I don't think we should be satisfied with the Ritz as the "Premier" LaVilla Entertainment venue. I  Hope my Fine City has a worthy Private entertainment investor to step up to the plate. they would have to build new due to the "Demolition and figure it out later" mentality that is the usual Jax. A Serious Blues club in LaVilla could excite some of us....

[heights unknown]

The EverBank Plaza is a beautiful building/complex; would have been even more awesome looking with about 15 more stories added; but anyway, can't have your cake and eat it too; still a superb and beautiful building.

Heights Unknown -

[Ocklawaha]

Lakelander, Claude Nolan would work great if it could be restored to Prairie Style and the East side of the area used for park and parking. Some of the warehouse annex stuff might have to come out, but the main buildings could stay. On the other hand I had no idea that the Sax building was a possibility or that it was as big as it is. The location is certianly great, making every tourist visit an easy on/easy off deal. Otherwise, some other building may have to do. I figure the entire Park Street row from Union Station to 5-Points is threatened. There are only a couple hidden within downtown, or NE side of Springfield. While they might have some attraction, neither would be easy to find. Maybe the RFPs will come back duds and we can offer something exciting.

Ocklawaha

[ormolu611]

The Main Street "pocket park" really irritates me more than any other examples provided. Walking by it the other day, it quickly becomes apparent that it is completely useless. It is as if it is designed to be looked at and not actually used for anything. What were they thinking with this one?

[thelakelander]

It is as if it is designed to be looked at and not actually used for anything.

I think you answered it.  If the high priority was to design a public space to be used everyday by a diverse collection of pedestrians, it would have never been built in that configeration or location.

[RiversideGator]

The Main Street "pocket park" really irritates me more than any other examples provided. Walking by it the other day, it quickly becomes apparent that it is completely useless. It is as if it is designed to be looked at and not actually used for anything. What were they thinking with this one?

Agreed.  The park was clearly designed by amateurs, i.e. the Peyton administration.  BTW, what is the photo in your avatar of?  It is an interesting looking structure.

[thelakelander]

It looks like a brownstone.