Riverside YMCA Plans to be Released Friday

[Captain Zissou]

Via Jacksonville.com;  Riverside YMCA to announce expansion and redevelopment plans this Friday afternoon at an invite only lunch.

The YMCA of Florida’s First Coast will announce plans Friday for a new facility to serve the Riverside area.

The announcement about the project will be made at an outdoor invitation-only luncheon at the existing YMCA in Riverside, according to a media advisory.

Design details will be presented, as well as a progress report on a capital fundraising campaign



Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-10-15/story/ymca-go-public-plans-riverside#ixzz29OySS3sP

More info here: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-10-15/story/ymca-go-public-plans-riverside

[Adam W]

Via Jacksonville.com;  Riverside YMCA to announce expansion and redevelopment plans this Friday afternoon at an invite only lunch.

The YMCA of Florida’s First Coast will announce plans Friday for a new facility to serve the Riverside area.

The announcement about the project will be made at an outdoor invitation-only luncheon at the existing YMCA in Riverside, according to a media advisory.

Design details will be presented, as well as a progress report on a capital fundraising campaign



Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-10-15/story/ymca-go-public-plans-riverside#ixzz29OySS3sP

More info here: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-10-15/story/ymca-go-public-plans-riverside

I hope they don't tear down the existing building. Any word on that?

[Bill Hoff]

One of the architects is my neighbor - from what she describes it'll be more interactive with the Riverwalk.

[funwithteeth]

I'm just going to assume that because of this they're never going to fix the myriad leaks the Riverside Y has.

[duvaldude08]

The old one is coming down

YMCA to confirm new Riverside facility
Jacksonville Business Journal by Ashley Gurbal Kritzer, Reporter
Date: Monday, October 15, 2012, 3:40pm EDT
Enlarge Image Natalie Kennedy

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Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Reporter- Jacksonville Business Journal
Email  | LinkedIn  | Twitter  | Facebook The Yates Family YMCA will announce its “new Riverside Y project” at a luncheon Friday, according to a media advisory.

Earlier this year, the Y started putting together a fundraising campaign for a new facility closer to the river and hiring an architect for the project, The Business Journal reported in February.

“In the current plan, that [current] building would remain operational while the new building is constructed,” Y spokesman Nikos Westmoreland said at the time. “At some point that building would be demolished.”

Westmoreland said the current building may become a surface parking lot. If there’s interest in developing that land, it could become a parking garage with another building on top of it.

In March, Mayor Alvin Brown told a crowd at the First Coast Real Estate Economic Outlook conference that he opposed the idea.

“I’d rather that property be used for new development on the water,” Brown said at the time. “The Y will not generate new tax revenue for the city. ... If [Jacksonville Jaguars owner] Shahid Khan wants to build a mixed-use [development] there ... which would you rather have? That or the Y? Clap if you want the $100 million development!”

The Y’s new building would be the latest development in that area of Riverside.

Hallmark Partners Inc. has said it intends to break ground soon on an apartment complex in Brooklyn, and Fresh Market Inc. is also eyeing a site along Riverside Avenue

[SunKing]

Why does this Mayor oppose a community service that is funded privately by the community?  if its to create more tax revenue then why not focus on the over 100 acres of DT waterfront land currently under city ownership?  Unbelievable!

[thelakelander]

I don't mind them being on the river as long as the structure actually interacts with the riverwalk.  However, I'd be more concerned with what happens with the frontage along Riverside Avenue.  I'm really not a fan of surface parking there.

[Adam W]

I actually like the look of the existing building, though I have never been in it and I understand from many that it has issues and is apparently not fit for purpose or isn't really getting the job done.

I don't oppose the demolition of the building because it's historical or anything - I just like the way it looks from the street.

It would really suck if they turn it into a parking lot, though.

[ben says]

I don't mind them being on the river as long as the structure actually interacts with the riverwalk.  However, I'd be more concerned with what happens with the frontage along Riverside Avenue.  I'm really not a fan of surface parking there.

This is my main issue, too.

[MEGATRON]

I don't mind them being on the river as long as the structure actually interacts with the riverwalk.  However, I'd be more concerned with what happens with the frontage along Riverside Avenue.  I'm really not a fan of surface parking there.

This is my main issue, too.

Where would the parking be placed then?  Don't want it on the river. Don't want it on Riverside. There is only so much room.

[thelakelander]

It's a four acre urban site.  Parking could be under the building like Haskell next door, on the roof like the Urbana retail strip at Jax Beach or in the middle of the site, like the Publix shopping center down the street in Riverside.  You have a lot of options, so the default suburban alternative should be avoided at all costs.

[vicupstate]

Why does this Mayor oppose a community service that is funded privately by the community? 

Because it doesn't represent the highest and best use of this very high potential property. A 1-2 story building with surface parking is a total waste for a large waterfront parcel on the water.

if its to create more tax revenue then why not focus on the over 100 acres of DT waterfront land currently under city ownership

Why not do both?

[thelakelander]

It wouldn't be a bad idea for these guys to team up with one of the other projects in the immediate vicinity and consolidate development sites.  Someone mentioned this in the thread about the retail development across the street. I don't know if it's feasible, given the multiple property owners, but I think its worth exploring.

[Captain Zissou]

Since the land naturally slopes down from Riverside Ave to the Riverwalk, it would be easy to conceal parking behind whatever fronts the street.  I'd like to see a mid-rise building fronting the road with retail, then at least 3 levels of parking integrated into the front building and utilizing the slope of the land for an extra level like at FNF, then the Y can do what it wants on the riverfront, but a cafe or smoothie shop fronting the riverwalk would be a great addition.  It would be benificial to YMCA to sell off part of the land to help fund construction and to partner with a company to share the costs of parking.  It would benefit the company to have that view and a great asset for employees to use next door. It would benefit the city to generate some tax revenue out of that site and avoid any mess over trying to force the Y out hoping for a buyer that may not materialize. 

[SunKing]

Why does this Mayor oppose a community service that is funded privately by the community? 

Because it doesn't represent the highest and best use of this very high potential property. A 1-2 story building with surface parking is a total waste for a large waterfront parcel on the water.

Sooo, maybe they should do nothing?  The Y currently occupies a 2 story building with waterfront surface parking.  Would that be the highest and best use?

if its to create more tax revenue then why not focus on the over 100 acres of DT waterfront land currently under city ownership

Why not do both? 

Exactly, promote both.