Intuition Ale Works looking for second site

[acme54321]

How awesome would this be!

[Noone]

Considering how isolated the Ford Plant is, I say the existing Shipyards site offers far more bang for the buck... right down the street from the Bay Street Entertainment District and certainly adjacent to land with similar zoning characteristics.



If Ben is looking to build from scratch, the city can seperate a specific-size parcel from this property that would fit in with the developers needs.  The sale of this land could then help to pay for the extension of the Riverwalk and the buildout of a very simple but flexible public pier (the city has already repaired the sidewalk along this stretch of Bay Street and has started to work on flood mitigation issues at the mouht of Hogans Creek).  Jim Love had an idea about selling private monuments and bricks to also offset some of this cost with private funds (Landmar already did a good chunk of the work by repairing the bulkheads).

This would be in line with the previous suggestions offered here of emulating the Columbus Commons model of downsizing the land by splitting it up and letting the site evolve naturally with builtin public amenities surrounding the property (pier, riverwalk, Hogans Creek)... instead of relying on a big-idea, risky mega-development 'savior' that has already failed not once, but twice on this very same land. 

This is a great idea.  Councilman Love mentioned using signed bricks as a fundraising tool when I was speaking with him along with Aaron Bowman the Duval county representative with FIND who we're also at the press conference at Tillie Fowler Regional Park for Mayor Alvin Brown's new People and Parks connection program.

Councilman Love asked me who's district is the pier in and I told him that it was in councilman Redman's district. Councilman Redman here is an opportunity again to legislatively protect the pier for the people of Jacksonville. Shipyards III Restore the Public Trust. Mentioned to commissioner Bowman about 2012-402. We are a joke.

The highlight of the press conference for me was When Mayor Brown after his statements opened it up for questions and I asked him about being one of his biggest cheerleaders and working with him and the commissioners of FIND for the upcoming 2013 FIND grant application and how the Pier could be part of his Parks connection. The pier would go a long way in making Downtown a Destination and not a pass through. I'm believing in Mayor Brown on this one.

Mark Middlebrook with the SJRA was there and I should have asked him if the Alliance would support a resolution to that effect for the pier that could then be presented to the Jacksonville city council. The board is meeting later this month and this is another huge opportunity. The last time I attempted this the other counties representing the Alliance were supportive but it was our own city that was opposed. Not good. Anyone going to the meeting?

I think this would be a super location for Intuition Ale. Would they support the first 25-50' of the pier as a canoe and kayak launch? How about some bicycle racks?

My first reaction is that the group that is wanting to bring the USS Adams 2010-675 has expressed interest in this location numerous times for either a permanent or temporary basis. Ben, How would you like to have the Adams next door? The Adams group has said they can live with a canoe and kayak launch on the first 25-50' of the pier. Just to emphasize the number one reaso to have a canoe and kayak launch at this location is safety.

The plan for this city moving forward is an expanded Entertainment District. I'm All In. Do we have a choice?

[thelakelander]

I didn't get great shots of it on Saturday but here's Columbus Commons (the place in Field's post above).  There was a festival going on and the area was blocked off.  Nevertheless, you can make out where they've designed their permanent green space and temporary lawns that will one day be developed into complementing private uses.

[mtraininjax]

Ben, is this the old spot where Prudential used to have a trailer to sell Shipyard properties? I believe it is, great spot either way, guess you would not need the party in Lot H any longer, would be nice to boat to the games, instead of parking in Lot J.

[thelakelander]

^It looks like the spot just east of where the trailer used to be.  I believe this is where the first Trilegacy Shipyards condo building was under construction when the city pulled the plug.

[Rynjny]

Guess the shipyyard plan is pretty much dead..

http://jacksonville.com/business/2012-07-15/story/sunday-notebook-intuition-still-looking-downtown-site

[strider]

Guess the shipyyard plan is pretty much dead..

http://jacksonville.com/business/2012-07-15/story/sunday-notebook-intuition-still-looking-downtown-site

What bothers me most is the comment about just brewing at the airport or westside ...

The Springfield warehouse district can be utilized for this.  I know that a few buildings can be had for peanuts.  Even if they do not have the needed ceiling height, the roofs can be raised for less than the cost of new. As light industrial, they can have 10% retail so they may not need to get a PUD.  The area is mostly outside of the Historic District so less costly to modify the building. 

Think of the old Coca Cola building with the complete block of empty one story buildings behind it.  The old one story buildings could be utilized by raising the currently nonexistent roofs. A little bit of creativity and one could probably have a great complex for a very affordable price. Just an example, I do not know what issues those particular properties may have.

They were a pioneer in an area before, hopefully they will decide to do it again.  Springfield is still pretty much downtown and the warehouse district certainly meets all of their needs - zoning, transportation and future potential.

[Charles Hunter]

Very distressing that the City still seems to be hoping for some developer to hit Home Run and do the whole site.  That has worked so well so far.  Go for a single!  Having Intuition on the west end should spur more development to the east.

[thelakelander]

Yeah, if they can't find a suitable downtown site, I'd hate for them to end up in a random industrial park. Something in the Springfield Warehouse District, Lavilla, Myrtle Avenue, or Beaver near the farmer's market, would be cool. I'd love to see this project be the catalyst that energizes another urban district.

[Charles Hunter]

An additional thought ... was it that the city said "no, we don't want to break up the Shipyards"? or that - as seems to be the norm with this administration - they never got an answer?

[jcjohnpaint]

Yeah well I think the article made it clear.  I guess a f'n carnival on the site sounds better.  I wonder if our cities administers really take pride in doing such a shitty job.  Sorry for the profanity, but this crap is getting old. 

[Rynjny]

Yeah well I think the article made it clear.  I guess a f'n carnival on the site sounds better.  I wonder if our cities administers really take pride in doing such a shitty job.  Sorry for the profanity, but this crap is getting old. 

+1000

[Bativac]

Yeah well I think the article made it clear.  I guess a f'n carnival on the site sounds better.  I wonder if our cities administers really take pride in doing such a shitty job.  Sorry for the profanity, but this crap is getting old.

Don't you understand? Angel Financiers might come and buy the entire site and build a giant mixed-use megaplex that will draw millions of visitors AND residents to Downtown Jax. We can't sell any part of it to an actual business who wants to do something with it. Better to let the whole thing sit than part of it find use, which might lead to other businesses wanting to move there.

The Westside or the airport area. God bless those guys for wanting to stay in Jax because I would just flat-out be ready to leave.

[Noone]

An additional thought ... was it that the city said "no, we don't want to break up the Shipyards"? or that - as seems to be the norm with this administration - they never got an answer?

Remember that the new plan is the creation of a new Downtown Authority. Total Govt. control over an expanded Entertainment District. What is existing in this yet to be identified boundaries of this District? Parking will be a primary revenue source to fund this new Authority.

The Shipyards/Landmar 2010-604 site is a central and primary control point of this Entertainment District.  If Intuition Ale a local success story in their own right wanted to build and create economic opportunity on what has been failed attempts in the past on this west part of this property then the city should be jumping up and down and supporting this attempt.

Look at the existing skeletons that line this area. Adam St. Station 24 empty railroad cars under an FDOT overpass. The Bay club that has been sitting empty for how long. Do they just open during special events?

Intuition Ale if it was their decision to attempt a business at this location should be given the green light by the city. The business centers around providing a product for Entertainment. If they have asked and have been told no that should be a huge red flag. 
We are so LOST.

[jcjohnpaint]

Another thing that really bothers me is that there are no reader comments on this article in the TU.  People just don't seem to care.  When Mayor Brown wants to fire 300 people to prevent taxes from going up, everyone is in comment celebration.  People have to understand that issues are not always black and white.  The site was small (probably would be out of site if a developer came from the sky for this parcel).  The brewery would have added so much vibrancy and revenue to a wasteland.