Presentation for: New Southbank Riverwalk

[Metro Jacksonville]

Presentation for: New Southbank Riverwalk



Here is a look at the City of Jacksonville's plans to reconstruct the decaying Southbank Riverwalk. If approved by the Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB) today, construction will commence later this year.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-aug-presentation-for-new-southbank-riverwalk

[fsujax]

Looks nice.

[Bridges]

Looks good!

Was just looking over the Wikipedia page for the Jacksonville River walk.  Let's hope for better success than the 1985 Master Plan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacksonville_Riverwalk#Master_plan

[tufsu1]

I really like all the colors on the PPT graphics...they look so real!

btw, land at the eastern end is up for sale (article in today's paper)....roughly $15 million for 10 acres....that's relatively cheap for downtown riverfront land, but hardly what I would call worthless (Simms used term for Shipyards land value)

[jcjohnpaint]

I really like it. 

[coredumped]

It looks real good. One question though - is that dock going to be a public dock? There's a bunch of small units near the chart house (mostly empty) but boaters would need a place to dock if they're to visit those shops, along w/the chart house, or maybe friends at the condos there.

[JeffreyS]

Wow I am impressed.

[Dapperdan]

Here's an idea, if you plant something other than palm trees, you won't need shade structures. That is my biggest complaint of the North bank riverwalk. In the dead of summer, that riverwalk is almost unusable as it is so hot. Why no shade trees?

[Bativac]

Here's an idea, if you plant something other than palm trees, you won't need shade structures. That is my biggest complaint of the North bank riverwalk. In the dead of summer, that riverwalk is almost unusable as it is so hot. Why no shade trees?

I agree - what's the deal with all the palm trees? I know this is Florida but cumon, it's not Miami.

[taylormiller]

It's great that this is being proposed because there are some really well thought out additions to this plan. If this does go through it will be a significant upgrade to the Southbank riverwalk. But looking at slide 6, it appears as though they aren't including the now vacant structres which were the maritime museum. Is the plan to tear these down? Perhaps put something new there? If the idea is to increase foot traffic, the half next to Friendship Fountain would be an ideal place to put something new, perhaps bike rentals or a place to have a food truck or two?
Also, the public restroom on the southbank which is part of the security area is nothing short of awful. Is there a plan to update/replace that as well in this plan?
If this does go through, it's quite possible that the empty storefronts next to the Wyndham may be able to attract new tenants which would really transform the area.

[Debbie Thompson]

I'm thinking root systems on the trees.  Palm trees have very little root system.   I could be wrong, though.  I was looking at the palms along Riverside Avenue this morning.  Looking shaggy with dead fronds.  You have to trim those things constantly to keep them looking nice.

[JFman00]

Couldn't agree more with a lot of the already shared sentiments. Design seems quite appealing, but this constant use of palm trees is one of those smaller issues that can have an outsize impact. Walking from the Hyatt to the Landing a couple weekends ago in the middle of the afternoon while showing a visiting friend around ensured I will not be repeating the experience while the sun is shining.

[JeffreyS]

Here's an idea, if you plant something other than palm trees, you won't need shade structures. That is my biggest complaint of the North bank riverwalk. In the dead of summer, that riverwalk is almost unusable as it is so hot. Why no shade trees?

I agree - what's the deal with all the palm trees? I know this is Florida but cumon, it's not Miami.

I think the problem is that it seems exclusively palm trees. I like the look of palms mixed with shade trees to me that says North Florida.

[fsujax]

palm tree root structures are nornmally pretty small and shallow. They will not damage lighting structures, wires, irrigation, brick pavers, etc. We all know that if these things get damaged the City will not repair them and the whole thing will begin to look shoddy in three years.

[Barnaby808]

river walk needs a facelift. I like the colorful brick, but of course this plan doesn't compare to the initial plan in 85.