Urban Construction Update - August 2012

[fieldafm]

Didn't realize they were doing work on the Riverwalk, but same question as Captain. Its hard to tell from the pics where its headed. It heads along the marina in front of the unfinished Berkman...and then there is another path up to Bay at Catherine St? I'm assuming it doesn't tie into the bulkhead on the Shipyards property, but isn't that property somewhat open to public access now (with the trees and all). Seems like it would be pretty easy to just tie into the pacement on the bulkhead (granted, there wouldn't be railings and such, and humans can't be trusted to not jump in the river).

Frankly, it's a waste of money.  It picks up where the Riverwalk ends at Berkman II and then connects it to the sidewalk on Bay Street.  It does not extend on to the bulkheads along the shipyards property (meaning that if the Riverwalk finally extends all the way to Metro Park, which is the plan, this will have been an unneccessary sidewalk).  Furthermore who wants to walk besides an empty, detoriating shell of a building?  Want another reason it's a waste of money?  Well here's the biggest reason... you can already connect to the Bay Street sidewalk from the Riverwalk about 60 feet earlier at Berkman Plaza(aka Berkman I). 

Btw, the bulkheads are not accessible to the public.  There is a fence along the waterway that seperates the concrete bulkheads to the rest of the sodded property.

[thelakelander]

I agree with fieldafm.  We would have been better off spending that money on actually extending the riverwalk over the completed bulkhead and making a connection to the existing pier as originally planned.

[PeeJayEss]

Frankly, it's a waste of money.  It picks up where the Riverwalk ends at Berkman II and then connects it to the sidewalk on Bay Street.  It does not extend on to the bulkheads along the shipyards property (meaning that if the Riverwalk finally extends all the way to Metro Park, which is the plan, this will have been an unneccessary sidewalk).  Furthermore who wants to walk besides an empty, detoriating shell of a building?  Want another reason it's a waste of money?  Well here's the biggest reason... you can already connect to the Bay Street sidewalk from the Riverwalk about 60 feet earlier at Berkman Plaza(aka Berkman I). 

Btw, the bulkheads are not accessible to the public.  There is a fence along the waterway that seperates the concrete bulkheads to the rest of the sodded property.

Thanks for the clarification Field. I couldn't recall if the part in front of Berkman II had already been done or not, but yea, thats a bit silly to just extend it up to Bay. It would only take a couple feet of walkway to get it on the bulkhead...

Continuing on the Riverwalk, Bayshore Blvd in Tampa claims to be the world's longest continuous sidewalk at 4.5 miles. While a dubious distinction, what is the possibility of Jax's Northbank Riverwalk giving this one a run for its money? As it currently exists, it is just a hair under 2 miles long (not counting the extra of twirly-whirly on the east of the railroad overpass - also I'm not sure how this might effect the 'continuity' of the 'sidewalk'). If you extend it through the shipyards property and connect into Met Park ,that puts it a bit over 3 miles.

I don't know the status of the land beyond Met Park, but I'll say its private for arguments sake. At the other end, you also have private river-fronting property. It starts with Cummer, which doesn't seem like it would be too hard to bring into the fold. You've got the hospital at the far end, which is already done, Memorial Park in the middle (already done), then River Blvd and Lancaster Terrace where the bulkhead should be pretty easy (right of way-wise) to continue the riverwalk. Beyond this it is 5 condo towers, 1 apartment tower, a couple commercial business (offices), and 1 private property (right next to Villa Riva). I would think you can make a pretty compelling argument for the benefit of the riverwalk to the condos and apartments and even the offices. Villa Riva may be a difficult one. And I'd imagine the residence wouldn't want 'the people' walking through their 'front yard,' but isn't that front yard held in place by publicly maintained bulkheads? All you'd have is some slightly less-private docks at the condos, apts, and house (and its pretty easy to put a locked gate on these. In fact, they already have them for the most part.

Voila! You have a riverwalk that is about 4.5 miles, and connects Riverside up to King St to Downtown past the stadium, and gets us a little blurb for besting Tampa if we come in over 4.5. Maybe its naive or pie-in-the-sky, but...think its possible?

[Captain Zissou]

I don't know that you will ever get beyond memorial park with the R-Walk.  Villas of St Johns, A hedge fund, Villa Riva, and that private residence would probably take issue with the riverwalk passing through their backyards.  My hope is Memorial Park to Metro Park and a line down Hogan's Creek to Springfield.  We could have bike and kayak rentals at the 3 points and develop our eco-tourism and recreation offerings.  If the sidewalk is shaped like a Y that is 5 miles in total does that count?

[Ocklawaha]

We're all playing 'sidewalk supervisor' here, but for the sake of argument what if we (the city) laid out the Riverwalk from the edge of the shipyard under the Hart Bridge, all the way to St. Vincent's. In those area's where private property prevents a landslide walk, we show it (in drawings at least - if you get my drift) circling out over the water like a bridge, with lights, benches, and a gazebo or two, right around those private properties. We could tell the land owners 'Hey such a deal... you'll be allowed to build out and connect to the bridge portion and install a privacy gate. Don't want to do that? Okay, option 2 is we build it above the seawall across your lot and it costs you NOTHING, and you get a portion of a few million dollars in landscaping for free.

"...These things must be done delicately...or you hurt the spell!." (M. Hamilton AKA: The Wicked Witch of the West)

[thelakelander]

That's what Peyton basically proposed a few years ago when he wanted to extend the riverwalk to Memorial Park.  The couple of residents on the river didn't want anything to do with it.

[RockStar]

Regarding the "tattoo shop" at the Landing, I'm financing the project, so let me clear a couple of things up. A more accurate description would be that it is more of an art gallery and retail space with tattooing as well. It's easy to see "tattoo" shop, and imagine a traditional, flash on the wall shop, but that's not it. What we're trying to do is fill a void at the Landing; the lack of anything cool or edgy. We'll be selling local art, having showings and bringing in guest artists as well.

Is it a gamble? Sure. I'm not delusional about the challenges involved with the Landing, but you'd be surprised at the changes going on there. Besides, if we don't try to make it better, it won't just happen magically. It's the independent businesses that will save downtown, not Fuddruckers.

Wait to see what we do, then tell me it's not a good addition to the Landing.

~j.

[thelakelander]

^Good luck, RockStar.  I wish you success on your new endeavor.

[Tacachale]

+1. Good luck RockStar.

[JFman00]

Regarding the "tattoo shop" at the Landing, I'm financing the project, so let me clear a couple of things up. A more accurate description would be that it is more of an art gallery and retail space with tattooing as well. It's easy to see "tattoo" shop, and imagine a traditional, flash on the wall shop, but that's not it. What we're trying to do is fill a void at the Landing; the lack of anything cool or edgy. We'll be selling local art, having showings and bringing in guest artists as well.

Is it a gamble? Sure. I'm not delusional about the challenges involved with the Landing, but you'd be surprised at the changes going on there. Besides, if we don't try to make it better, it won't just happen magically. It's the independent businesses that will save downtown, not Fuddruckers.

Wait to see what we do, then tell me it's not a good addition to the Landing.

~j.

That's a lot more exciting than what I had in mind when I heard "tattoo shop at the Landing". Best of luck.

[Overstreet]

My cousin, Debbie,  used to get paid very well for her original art designs for tattoos.  The proof pages she did would qualify as art.

[duvaldude08]

Regarding the "tattoo shop" at the Landing, I'm financing the project, so let me clear a couple of things up. A more accurate description would be that it is more of an art gallery and retail space with tattooing as well. It's easy to see "tattoo" shop, and imagine a traditional, flash on the wall shop, but that's not it. What we're trying to do is fill a void at the Landing; the lack of anything cool or edgy. We'll be selling local art, having showings and bringing in guest artists as well.

Is it a gamble? Sure. I'm not delusional about the challenges involved with the Landing, but you'd be surprised at the changes going on there. Besides, if we don't try to make it better, it won't just happen magically. It's the independent businesses that will save downtown, not Fuddruckers.

Wait to see what we do, then tell me it's not a good addition to the Landing.

~j.

Great to hear!

[Adam W]

Regarding the "tattoo shop" at the Landing, I'm financing the project, so let me clear a couple of things up. A more accurate description would be that it is more of an art gallery and retail space with tattooing as well. It's easy to see "tattoo" shop, and imagine a traditional, flash on the wall shop, but that's not it. What we're trying to do is fill a void at the Landing; the lack of anything cool or edgy. We'll be selling local art, having showings and bringing in guest artists as well.

Is it a gamble? Sure. I'm not delusional about the challenges involved with the Landing, but you'd be surprised at the changes going on there. Besides, if we don't try to make it better, it won't just happen magically. It's the independent businesses that will save downtown, not Fuddruckers.

Wait to see what we do, then tell me it's not a good addition to the Landing.

~j.

Good for you. People can talk shit about it, but it's good to see you're opening a business in the Landing. It's great news and might really add something to the mall.

[Noone]

Regarding the "tattoo shop" at the Landing, I'm financing the project, so let me clear a couple of things up. A more accurate description would be that it is more of an art gallery and retail space with tattooing as well. It's easy to see "tattoo" shop, and imagine a traditional, flash on the wall shop, but that's not it. What we're trying to do is fill a void at the Landing; the lack of anything cool or edgy. We'll be selling local art, having showings and bringing in guest artists as well.

Is it a gamble? Sure. I'm not delusional about the challenges involved with the Landing, but you'd be surprised at the changes going on there. Besides, if we don't try to make it better, it won't just happen magically. It's the independent businesses that will save downtown, not Fuddruckers.

Wait to see what we do, then tell me it's not a good addition to the Landing.

~j.

Man, I wish you all the best.

Do you think you could ink up my kayak if I brought it in to you?

On a side note check and see if you get free parking. Like the TU Metro headline today says. "Panel balances city budget - with tricks"