San Marco Station Project Takes Shape

acme54321 · August 17, 2012, 10:20:39 AM

http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=537267

QuoteSan Marco Train Station gearing up for construction

08/16/2012
by Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor

It might not be long before Panera Bread rises again in San Marco.

Pending permits outline a building shell that would be renovated to accommodate a 4,061-square-foot Panera Bread Bakery at the San Marco Train Station project at 1440 Hendricks Ave.

Last week, developer Ed Ash invited providers of brick, stucco, roofing and concrete services to contact him for work on the project, which includes renovation of an existing 5,000-square-foot building. That structure is an old city waterworks and electric building.

Ash also plans to develop the new building for Panera Bread.

The site fronts Hendricks Avenue and is bordered by Cedar Street, Naldo Avenue and train tracks.

Ashco Inc. is the developer and its www.ashcoinc.net website defines the location as â€œJacksonvilleâ€™s newest upscale hotspot.â€ Panera operated nearby but closed about year-end 2009.

The rendering of the new Panera site looks rather "Blah," just a box. Hopefully they do some detail that complements the two existing structures.

mtraininjax · August 17, 2012, 10:24:19 AM

QuoteThe rendering of the new Panera site looks rather "Blah," just a box. Hopefully they do some detail that complements the two existing structures.

Forget the looks, where do you park?

fieldafm · August 17, 2012, 10:28:12 AM

Quote from: mtraininjax on August 17, 2012, 10:24:19 AM
QuoteThe rendering of the new Panera site looks rather "Blah," just a box. Hopefully they do some detail that complements the two existing structures.

Forget the looks, where do you park?

In the large shared parking lot in the back.

Riverside and Avondale can learn a lot from all the new development (especially in how SMPS and the Councilperson works with developers) in San Marco.

acme54321 · August 17, 2012, 10:30:35 AM

Quote from: mtraininjax on August 17, 2012, 10:24:19 AM
QuoteThe rendering of the new Panera site looks rather "Blah," just a box. Hopefully they do some detail that complements the two existing structures.

Forget the looks, where do you park?

I park in my driveway, I'll just ride my bike there.

mtraininjax · August 17, 2012, 10:46:34 AM

QuoteIn the large shared parking lot in the back.

Riverside and Avondale can learn a lot from all the new development (especially in how SMPS and the Councilperson works with developers) in San Marco.

Oh, I get it, use the EXISTING parking lot and EMPTY field as parking. Gotcha.

How exactly will Riverside/Avondale learn from this? Do we have empty parking lots now and fields we can tap into? Just curious....for parking reasons, of course. By the way, nothing is stopping restaurants under 150 seats from opening in our area, in fact a new one is coming to Avondale.

fieldafm · August 17, 2012, 11:04:17 AM

Quote from: mtraininjax on August 17, 2012, 10:46:34 AM
QuoteIn the large shared parking lot in the back.

Riverside and Avondale can learn a lot from all the new development (especially in how SMPS and the Councilperson works with developers) in San Marco.

Oh, I get it, use the EXISTING parking lot and EMPTY field as parking. Gotcha.

How exactly will Riverside/Avondale learn from this? Do we have empty parking lots now and fields we can tap into? Just curious....for parking reasons, of course. By the way, nothing is stopping restaurants under 150 seats from opening in our area, in fact a new one is coming to Avondale.

Parking supply outweighs demand in the district, despite what certain people will lead you to believe. The amount of hidden supply is truly eye opening. Allowing for shared parking agreements b/w complementary uses is one (of several) tried and true solutions to better parking management.

Please refer to my posts in the Kickbacks and Mellow Mushroom threads.

It's also refreshing to see how SMPS and Councilwoman Boyer strive for workable solutions based on common sense approaches, as opposed to...

thelakelander · August 17, 2012, 11:08:59 AM

QuoteBy the way, nothing is stopping restaurants under 150 seats from opening in our area, in fact a new one is coming to Avondale.

In what space? I also agree with fieldafm. The existing parking supply in Avondale is underutilized....especially the alleys.

Captain Zissou · August 17, 2012, 11:49:35 AM

Boyer has done a great job since she was elected. I wish the other Council members would take notice and learn from her.

The alleys are definitely underutilized. I drove through there on the south side of St Johns on a Sunday at abou 1 and there were two dozen spots at least, but they all had tow away signs up. They should open those spaces up to relieve some of the parking problems on St Johns. They are anti-competition and apparently anti-customer too.

Tacachale · August 17, 2012, 11:52:22 AM

SMPS also understands the importance of alternative modes of transit and planning for the future, not just how things are currently. The rest of the city could learn a lot from them.

dougskiles · August 17, 2012, 02:56:45 PM

I am most excited about the outdoor seating plaza between the existing building, new buildings and Hendricks Avenue. Getting the parking behind the development took some convincing at first, but now Mr. Ash appears to be very pleased with how the design took shape. That layout will be complimented by the Aardwolf Brewery across the street.

About a year ago, one of the local papers did an article about how dead the Hendricks Avenue corridor had become. It hasn't taken long to completely turn it around. The stretch between Lasalle and the RR tracks is becoming one of best spots in the neighborhood.

The closer the retail development grows to the Kings Avenue garage, the more that facility will be seen as a parking resource for the area and we can encourage even more density. It isn't a very far walk from the garage to the new Panera (less than 1/4 mile) - but because of the empty commercial stretch, it feels like it is too far to walk.

fieldafm · August 17, 2012, 03:39:00 PM

QuoteI am most excited about the outdoor seating plaza between the existing building, new buildings and Hendricks Avenue. Getting the parking behind the development took some convincing at first, but now Mr. Ash appears to be very pleased with how the design took shape. That layout will be complimented by the Aardwolf Brewery across the street.

QuoteThe closer the retail development grows to the Kings Avenue garage, the more that facility will be seen as a parking resource for the area and we can encourage even more density. It isn't a very far walk from the garage to the new Panera (less than 1/4 mile) - but because of the empty commercial stretch, it feels like it is too far to walk.

Exactly the kind of forward thinking I was talking about.

We need more Doug Skiles' in this town! When people get discouraged about certain things in Jacksonville, just look to the kinds of exciting things happening b/c of people like him.. I know I do, and it motivates me even more.

Tacachale · August 17, 2012, 05:25:57 PM

Quote from: fieldafm on August 17, 2012, 03:39:00 PM
QuoteI am most excited about the outdoor seating plaza between the existing building, new buildings and Hendricks Avenue. Getting the parking behind the development took some convincing at first, but now Mr. Ash appears to be very pleased with how the design took shape. That layout will be complimented by the Aardwolf Brewery across the street.

QuoteThe closer the retail development grows to the Kings Avenue garage, the more that facility will be seen as a parking resource for the area and we can encourage even more density. It isn't a very far walk from the garage to the new Panera (less than 1/4 mile) - but because of the empty commercial stretch, it feels like it is too far to walk.

Exactly the kind of forward thinking I was talking about.

We need more Doug Skiles' in this town! When people get discouraged about certain things in Jacksonville, just look to the kinds of exciting things happening b/c of people like him.. I know I do, and it motivates me even more.

+1.

dougskiles · August 17, 2012, 06:19:29 PM

^No need for a PR team when I have you guys. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Tacachale · August 17, 2012, 06:45:43 PM

^There's no better PR than doing a great job. I'd say you have that all covered already.

mtraininjax · August 18, 2012, 10:00:29 AM

QuoteAbout a year ago, one of the local papers did an article about how dead the Hendricks Avenue corridor had become. It hasn't taken long to completely turn it around. The stretch between Lasalle and the RR tracks is becoming one of best spots in the neighborhood.

It is amazing what can happen when the road is fixed! The debacle of removing the old rails under Hendricks almost killed the retail traffic along the street, but now finished, it is nice to see the area taking off, because people are now coming down and travelling the area. San Marco square will too come back, but they need to finish the road construction!

QuoteIn what space? I also agree with fieldafm. The existing parking supply in Avondale is underutilized....especially the alleys.

What alleys are you talking about? The one-way alleys, the dead-end alley behind the Brick? Why would anyone park in an Alley to be boxed in? They could be used, I guess. Why not ask Steve, owner of the Brick to set the example and ask all his employees to park in the alley behind John Valentino's garage (AKA MM)? See what response you get.