Southside Construction Update - June 2013

[ProjectMaximus]

I'm at work so I can't post it again, but there are 3 potential garages on the site plan for SJTC. Go to the markets at town center website and find the regional map. There is an aerial plan of that whole complex with dashed lines and labels for the garages. IMO, they should put in a garage with retail by target, behind urban Outfitters, and up by Costco, shut down parking directly in front of the shops and put more restaurants with patio seating in there, and run a fixed rail circulator around the complex. In my opinion that would give the place some real staying power.

That would be ideal...I mean, aside from back in time and starting over.

Also wonder in the meantime if there's a way to get a bus circulator to connect several parts of the town center, to the apartments by tapestry park, to tapestry park itself, to tinseltown, to UNF, and back to the town center. I think it would be great but I'm having a hard time finding the overlap of simple enough to actually be realistic vs complex enough to be most effective and usable. It just may not be feasible.

[ProjectMaximus]

I'm somewhat on the same page. It seems like the popularity of this suburban (with somewhat contrived urban elements) area is pushing it in a more urban direction. There's certainly a lot of asphalt and retention ponds, but if they don't look out, they're going to end up turning some asphalt into structures and become a little mall city. Aside from a total lack of park/greenspace, The Esplanade probably has one of the highest walkscores in the city. That is, if you can survive getting in and out of your "driveway."

That said, when built 5000 Town will be bounded by JTB, 295, a retention pond, and two grass plots, at least one of which will be a surface parking lot. Its not the best scenery ever.

yeah, this is all true. I think it's actually an interesting study one way or another, if only it didn't happen in my city lol!

I checked out a unit at Esplanade years ago, but I'm pretty sure I would have found it more convenient to drive to the Publix had I decided to live there.

[PeeJayEss]

I'm at work so I can't post it again, but there are 3 potential garages on the site plan for SJTC. Go to the markets at town center website and find the regional map. There is an aerial plan of that whole complex with dashed lines and labels for the garages. IMO, they should put in a garage with retail by target, behind urban Outfitters, and up by Costco, shut down parking directly in front of the shops and put more restaurants with patio seating in there, and run a fixed rail circulator around the complex. In my opinion that would give the place some real staying power.

Page 2 of this I believe is the map, but its pretty hard to make out the garages.
http://www.simon.com/Mall/LeasingSheet/4693_StJohnsTC.pdf
From what I see, there is one permitted for south of Dillards and one east of Urban Outfitters. The lot in front of Target is certainly massive and could use some breaking up. Also on this is the location of Phase 3 (Nordstrom's walkable street). Phase 4 would be a similar thing going the opposite direction. I would imagine a pedestrian area as well, and the plans have that one tentatively (or wishfully) labeled as Saks or Neiman.

A circulator to UNF would make sense, does this not already exist? Honestly, the City should be working out deals with all the schools in town to have their IDs work for riding the buses. Either the city could work out some payment scheme with the school (at my school in Pitt our activities fee covered it) or, honestly having students ride the buses would improve the image problem associated with buses.

[spuwho]

I'm at work so I can't post it again, but there are 3 potential garages on the site plan for SJTC. Go to the markets at town center website and find the regional map. There is an aerial plan of that whole complex with dashed lines and labels for the garages. IMO, they should put in a garage with retail by target, behind urban Outfitters, and up by Costco, shut down parking directly in front of the shops and put more restaurants with patio seating in there, and run a fixed rail circulator around the complex. In my opinion that would give the place some real staying power.

I agree Captain completely on a circulator. I mentioned this in a MJ posting a couple of years ago. I really think it would solve many, but not all of the traffic problems in and around SJTC. Cut down on the "Target to Apple" store drivers. The largest issue would be Simon/Ben Carter. They would have to raise the CAM (Common Area Maintenance) pretty high in the lease renewals to support something like that. Something that most tenants wouldn't agree to unless they had higher sales psf. If people started demanding it, I suspect they would want the city or JTA to help pay so it won't chase the tenants away.

As far as Costco goes, next time you are there, ask the manager on the progress of a new Costco on the west side. Costco on Saturday mornings are probably the worse time to go. Monday and Tuesday evenings are a breeze.

I noticed today that Chase is making good and broke ground on a new branch at Hodges & Beach. It's been some 7-8 years since I emailed the President of Chase Florida about the Jacksonville market. All I can say is "finally".

[tufsu1]

btw...I've heard World of Beer staff start working on July 1st...and it opens to the public on July 4th or 5th 

[ProjectMaximus]

A circulator to UNF would make sense, does this not already exist? Honestly, the City should be working out deals with all the schools in town to have their IDs work for riding the buses. Either the city could work out some payment scheme with the school (at my school in Pitt our activities fee covered it) or, honestly having students ride the buses would improve the image problem associated with buses.

http://www.unf.edu/shuttle/

Yes, they do offer it now. Not sure when it began but had to be within the past year.

I noticed today that Chase is making good and broke ground on a new branch at Hodges & Beach. It's been some 7-8 years since I emailed the President of Chase Florida about the Jacksonville market. All I can say is "finally".

Yes, he's finally listening to you. I think they are opening up about a dozen new branches. http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/05/17/chase-confirms-plans-for-jacksonville.html?page=all

[ProjectMaximus]

btw...I've heard World of Beer staff start working on July 1st...and it opens to the public on July 4th or 5th

Awesome, there's certainly enough destinations and residents in this small radius that connecting them with transit would be pragmatic if there were some way to do it.