Retail Development Proposed for Brooklyn

[simms3]

The kind of retailers this will attract (Fresh Market, Walgreens, etc) are very formulaic and don't like to test their more difficult concepts in iffy markets.

I do have to ask, though, what the master plan for Brooklyn is?  It seems one thing always missing in Jacksonville is a defined master plan with the full backing of the city and developers looking to take part.  I think if there were such a thing and real and tangible guidelines to follow and an obvious drive by the city to get it done, then everyone - retailers, developers, lenders, sponsors' investment committees, etc - would be more excited to take more risks and to just do more.

[simms3]

Even here in SF it seems every neighborhood has a really strict masterplan, created over multiple years by a bunch of former private sector guys and phDs.  I know NYC has very strict, comprehensive master plans, as well.  Seems if the two most urban cities in the country are still designing their city and creating enthusiasm for private money to come in and make the plans reality, that Jacksonville should be doing the same.  It almost seems that these developers are coming in completely on their own, devising their own plans for individual approval by the city with a master set of codes to follow rather than a very comprehensive and thoroughly well-planned specific set of guidelines for the specific area.  That just creates noise and a lack of cohesiveness.

[thelakelander]

I'm not sure there is a strict master plan that the city actually follows.  My guess is the DIA's CRA plan, that they must create, will be the master plan for the entire downtown core, including Brooklyn, LaVilla and Southbank.

[thelakelander]

A few parcels must be acquired from FDOT and a landowner not motivated by money before this project can move forward:

“It has been a challenge,” she said. “[The owner] is not motivated by money, so it’s very difficult to get them where we need to be. We thought we had them last week, and they threw a curve ball, but Pope & Land has been very tenacious.”

Second Riverside Avenue apartment development faces more challenges
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/morning-edition/2013/04/second-riverside-avenue.html

[PeeJayEss]

What kind of sick individual is not motivated by money?

[Tacachale]

It's also nice to see the taxpayers getting more for the land than it's probably worth right now for once.

[PeeJayEss]

It's also nice to see the taxpayers getting more for the land than it's probably worth right now for once.

It sounds like the city is purchasing the land at that inflated rate and selling it back to the developer for the same price, so there's no money being made. If anything, the city will lose money for the time the property is held and for the necessary public listing. Where there is a will to lose money, there is a way, and Jacksonville will find a way.

[duvaldude08]

Okay Im very confused. How can proceed with clearing the land and all this other stuff, but has not actually bought it yet? Somebody enlighten me on the process because I am now lost 

[Tacachale]

It's also nice to see the taxpayers getting more for the land than it's probably worth right now for once.

It sounds like the city is purchasing the land at that inflated rate and selling it back to the developer for the same price, so there's no money being made. If anything, the city will lose money for the time the property is held and for the necessary public listing. Where there is a will to lose money, there is a way, and Jacksonville will find a way.

The city's buying it from FDOT (ie the taxpayers) to transfer it to the private owner at the rate they paid. I don't know why Pope and Land couldn't just buy it from FDOT, but if this helps the project move forward I ain't complaining.

[duvaldude08]

It's also nice to see the taxpayers getting more for the land than it's probably worth right now for once.

It sounds like the city is purchasing the land at that inflated rate and selling it back to the developer for the same price, so there's no money being made. If anything, the city will lose money for the time the property is held and for the necessary public listing. Where there is a will to lose money, there is a way, and Jacksonville will find a way.

The city's buying it from FDOT (ie the taxpayers) to transfer it to the private owner at the rate they paid. I don't know why Pope and Land couldn't just buy it from FDOT, but if this helps the project move forward I ain't complaining.

I was more so speaking of the parcel that is own by a private owner.

[Ocklawaha]

Watch the grocery... N.C.-based Earth Fare Inc. or the Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Markets LLC both have connections with other Fuqua Developments.

http://sprouts.com/stores

https://www.earthfare.com

[fsquid]

Watch the grocery... N.C.-based Earth Fare Inc. or the Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Markets LLC both have connections with other Fuqua Developments.

http://sprouts.com/stores

https://www.earthfare.com

I liked Earth Fare when I lived in Charlotte.  Pretty much the same thing as Whole Foods.

[thelakelander]

An update on this development from the Times Union:

Karen Nasrallah, redevelopment manager with the city’s Office of Economic Development, said she expects final city approval in June or July. Jeff Fuqua, the developer of the retail center, said he expects to start construction in August and opening the summer of 2014.

Fuqua, who developed the Riverside Publix shopping center when he was with Sembler Co., said he’s working with a national grocery chain that he can’t announce yet. But he said the grocery store will take about half the commercial space. (The project’s plans call it a “natural grocer.”)

He said there will also be fast casual and sit-down dining, with outside tables along Riverside Avenue. A national drugstore chain with a drive-through will be on the east side of Stonewall.

Fuqua said he hoped to be able to announce the specific tenants within 60 days or less.

Nasrallah said that some members of the review board were concerned the retail development looked too much like a suburban shopping center.

“People don’t realize how many site constraints are on that property and how hard it was to place the buildings,” she said.
For example, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority has an easement running along Riverside Avenue, she said. And there are underground utilities that can’t be moved or built over.

full article: http://jacksonville.com/business/2013-04-19/story/new-mixed-development-next-220-riverside-final-approval-stage

[Charles Hunter]

Interesting, I thought the underground utilities were in the same easement that JTA has.  Sounds like trying to double-count drawbacks to justify the suburban design.

[thelakelander]

Their site plan indicates utilities are still under May Street.