DDRB to Evaluate Revisions to Brooklyn Retail Project

[thelakelander]

^^ Fix it one more time.

LOL, I don't know where my brain is this morning!

The Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB) meeting will be held Thursday, May 2, 2013 - 2:00pm at City Hall (117 West Duval Street).

[JeffreyS]

I can not make the meeting today. I did email all of the members to express that the current design is unacceptable and pasted your first suggestion Lake as an alternative that could make the project into a real positive for Brooklyn and the surrounding areas.

[JeffreyS]

Here is the list if anyone else wants to reach out before the DDRB meeting today.

'ericl@coj.net'; 'roland.udenze@thehaskellco.com'; 'andy.sikes@bmcjax.com'; 'selimm@bellsouth.net'; 'rink@designcooperativefla.com'; 'tmiller@elm-plan.com'; 'jfischer@marandbuilders.com'; 'jgarza@garzabuilt.com'; 'JBailey@baileypub.com'; 'cflagg@flaggdesignstudio.com'

[thelakelander]

I can't make the meeting but I sent an email as well.

[jaxjags]

I also sent an email to all members. I encourage all to do the same. It may be the only chance to change this development.

[thelakelander]

If anyone can attend today, it would be good to say a few words during the public comment session.  It is believed that it would be insightful for board members and help strengthen the argument for a more pedestrian level, street sensitive design.

[Dog Walker]

Why do the developers want to stick with a suburban, auto-centric layout?  There are lots of examples out there including our own Publix Plaza that show that more pedestrian oriented layouts work just fine.

Does anyone have any insight into the motives?

[L.P. Hovercraft]

Urgh--just sent an email.

[spuwho]

Brooklyn doesn't have the density to support a pedestrian focus. If more people worked/lived nearby, then they wouldn't need cars to get there.

I am no fan of another cookie cutter strip, but if the planned tenants can't justify their existence without some sort of drive up ability, then they won't come.

That is why a lot of urban centers have mixed use developments to kick start renewal in a transition space. High density living driving pedestrians into the retail mix that came with it. That would usually bring in surrounding retail etc.

Don't ask these guys to build a garage, the psf costs to support the higher CAM would scare away the prospective tenants.

You can't have it both ways. But you have to start somewhere.

[JeffreyS]

Yes but should Brooklyn be developed as a dense walkable neighbor hood? If you answer yes then that is the way it has to be developed. IMO Density isn't a litmus test it is a goal for walk-ability, transit and urban design to achieve.

[thelakelander]

Spuwho, this project doesn't happen without the 600 residential units surrounding it.  Factoring those in, you will have more foot traffic then what exists today, when this thing opens.  You also have to expect additional infill development in close proximity.  Within a block of this site alone, there's room for a second phase of 220 Riverside and mixed-use project at the YMCA site.

Anyway, I don't think anyone has asked them to build a garage.  However, speaking from experience (I've designed site plans for guys and projects like this for years) you can make these pedestrian friendly pretty easy.  The Publix in Five Points is a great example.  However, if you lay down and don't require better, you'll always get rolled over with the worst plan out there.

[Tacachale]

So did anyone go today? Any updates?

[JeffreyS]

So did anyone go today? Any updates?

Seriously what happened?

[thelakelander]

I was told by someone in attendance yesterday that Fuqua will get what he wants.  Heard CM Jones even showed up to support the project "as is" for the sake of getting it built. At this point in time, we're too desperate to demand anything that we believe may cause the developer to abandon the project.  However, this isn't surprising, considering something like the Parador garage got approved without any retail.

[fieldafm]

I was told Roland said 'If they don't build this thing now, nothing will get built there for a very long time'.

LOL at that one!

Conceptual was approved, parking deviation was either denied or deferred.

Also heard that Hallmark did not want a grocery building's wall facing their apartments.  Personally, Id rather look at a building instead of a parking lot.