KBJ Just Doesn't Get It!

[thelakelander]

In downtown areas, when a building is destroyed it is often referred to as a "missing tooth". This is because in downtowns, the majority of buildings do not stand alone, but are generally part of a continuous wall of buildings fronting on the street. The missing tooth analogy is appropriate, given the unsightliness of a missing tooth and its overall impact on appearances. Such impacts are especially dramatic when the location of the missing building(s) is at a street corner, where the absence of the building is noticeable from four directions.

Unlike suburban areas, where buildings have little relationship to the street, downtown areas depend upon buildings to help create the "room" of the street. It is the presence of a continuous wall of buildings that creates a sense of place, as well as pedestrian comfort and interest along the sidewalk.

If this is the case, then why in the world would KBJ Architects have the audacity to destroy another integral part of the Northbank's urban fabric, for

[gatorback]

Is this on for real?

[Lunican]

Have they filed for demolition yet? I'm sure they will try to do it quietly.

[thelakelander]

Is this on for real?

As real as the 'homeless' park under construction on the corner of Main & Duval Streets.

[02roadking]

Is this on for real?

As real as the 'homeless' park under construction on the corner of Main & Duval Streets.

Speaking of that park. I've drove by there Tuesday and it seems to be a lot of hardscape. I'm hoping they will leave a little room for some grass & trees, otherwise, it will be a frying pan in the summer. Sorry, had to rant   

[gatorback]

I think I'm going to like that park.  It looks like the right thing for that spot.  Wonder if they will have food vendors there like they do in Hemming Plaze.

[hanjin1]

Well this afternoon as I was picking up my wife from downtown, I saw that the old church was being demolished. Looks like KBJ got what they wanted. Yet another parking space. This city is stupid.

[Lunican]

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/470/

[Driven1]

THIS is the path to progress.  AIA at it's best.  Jacksonville-style.  Look on the bright side, maybe they'll use the most current, cutting edge asphalt for their parking lot.

[thelakelander]

So what's next?  Did they or did they not get proper approval to destroy the building?  Do they have approval to construct a parking lot and has that design been approved by the DRC?

If not, this thing is not over by a long shot.  Losing the building was one thing, but that doesn't mean what has to rise in it's place can't be better than what it replaced. 

I'm in Toronto right now and you would be amazed with the amount of urban creativity being displayed in this community, regardless of what the intended use is.

Its time for Jacksonville and especially the DRC to demand better from deliquent land owners and poor urban designers like KBJ.  If they're moving forward with a parking lot and have not recieved approval, here are some things worth suggesting that the design incorporate.

1. All surface parking should be hidden.  Not by plants and shrubs, but by a building facade or a wall made to look like a building sits on the corner.  KBJ can cry all they want, but they're in the wrong on this one and surface parking lots on downtown corners go against the downtown master plan.  The building may be gone, but that doesn't mean the DRC and city need to roll over again.

2. Demand more.  KBJ just let a building go to hell with 26 years of neglect, then possibly demolished it without a permit.  What's the punishment for doing such?  If they really want a parking lot, demand that to allow the use, they also have to properly streetscape and landscape the rest of their horrible blighted block.....on their own dime.

3. New lot design should give back to the public.  Blasting another peice of downtown's building fabric, further reduces the overall prospect of having a true walkable urban core.   So in turn, that takes away from the public.  The new design of whatever goes there should give back.  In Toronto and some other progressive minded cities, you can't construct new projects in the core, without incorporating a little public space and artwork.  While we hate the word, a portion of that space should become a "linear pocket park", with a significant wall (made to look like an actual building), shielding the public space and view, from the surface lot.  That public space should also be designed to be interactive.

An example of this would be the wall having a few openings that could one day incorporate street vendors, making a space for small mom & pop operators to market themselves to the future courthouse crowd and residents starting to move in the area.

Anyway, those are just a few suggestions that I've noticed many of these Northern communities, I'm currently visiting, have pulled off with varying levels of success.  Just because KBJ is a poor architectural firm, when it comes to urbanism, who also doesn't play by the rules, doesn't mean this city has to settle for second class design work and uses.  Let's grow a little back bone and start demanding more, regardless of who's sitting on the other side of table.

[Lunican]

Apparently they filed for a demolition permit without future plans for the lot, so the DRC did not have to review it. The DRC only reviews things you are building, not tearing down. They would need approval from DRC to turn it into a parking lot, which they will probably get... because after all, its just an empty lot.

[thelakelander]

It figures.  It was always obvious that parking wasn't a real need, considering their half a block parking lot is never full.  This was basically a successful attempt to get rid of a building that a slumlord, in the form of an architectural firm, let decay for 26 years turning it into liability.   

The system is definately broken if all you need to do is declare that your structure is not a historic landmark to get it torn down in the heart of the urban core.  You can blame this one on the council, who overruled the historic commission's educated opinion.  This is one more reason why the council should never have full control of planning issues.

Also, don't be suprised if these so-called design professionals end up parking cars on this grass lot (assuming they don't do it on the foundation instead), with no penalty.  Let's see that smile of Downtown Jacksonville... 

[Lunican]

Yeah, it's not a parking lot, it's just empty land they park their cars on...

The city parks cars on the courthouse land. Why shouldn't KBJ.

[thelakelander]

So this leads to more questions.  

Its obvious that the majority of our leaders have no clue of how to proper design or plan a pedestrian oriented vibrant inner city (or will or motivation) and that we'll continue to waste millions of tax dollars in process of ripping the rest of the core to shreads.

So what's the next step?  How can we change the strangehold of foolishness?  Is it worthwhile to work to declare a portion of the Northbank as a national historic district?  What would be the pros and cons of such a move (ex. Springfield is a historic district, but buildings fall there faster than dominos)  Can we really expect Don Redman to step up to the plate and be a true leader for downtown?  Or is believing that Jacksonville can one day rise to it's potential, simply a lost cause?

[Noone]

5 years ago the same concerns and now the new proposed parking garage Downtown.