A New Look for Avondale's St. Johns Village Project

[If_I_Loved_you]

There are site specific concerns regarding traffic safety that are NOT addressed in the traffic study.  The Applicant's traffic study looks at "road capacity", or number of cars on the road. 

Here's Metro's prior article about this redevelopment proposal, so the chat about this is all in one place:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=18183.0

Thanks

[fieldafm]

There are site specific concerns regarding traffic safety that are NOT addressed in the traffic study.

Do tell...

[thelakelander]

I'd like to know what are the concerns as well.  I'd love to feature them as a front page article that includes examples of what other developments and communities of similar context have done to resolve them.

[Tacachale]

Possibly relevant.

[Spence]

NICE to see you come out on board with the idea of a traffic circle at Herschel and St.Johns!!

The old Skinner's Dairy building and its curbing would not need to be touched if Mr.Balanky would sympathetically consider a 25 foot crescent arc of largely uselessly shaped frontage to be taken over for such an entrance to one of the garages at 4000 St.Johns. 
Not even a single mature oak would have to go!

Once the overhead electrical goes under, these trees would really flourish!

I still wonder what the poll of public opinion would say needs to be placed in the center of a roundabout here.

When we look around town at recent examples we don't have much inspiration from which to cull.  A fake lighthouse? A mound of palms? A lone oak or lagustrum?
What about a 10' tall 1 inch deep circular waterfall with a timed 30 ft vertical blast?

Place making and a sense of arrival to somewhere unique and special are both sorely needed for this and other nearby ventures to be ultimately successful and in some instances such a whimsical feature proves to be that catalyst.

What say you?
What say you all?



EDIT :
I have actually found the center point of the intersection using a 50 ft measuring tape (operating under the understanding that new roundabouuts on state roads must be 100 ft in diameter)  The center of the the 100 ft diameter is marked by a metal disc about the size of a bread and butter plate and is visisble from maps.google.com

The Flower Shop would NOT be affected AT ALL.
The curbs and parking at the Animal Clinic likewise remain unchanged.
Mr.Balanky unerstands that the recent upgrades to the guardrails of the Herschel St Fishweir Creek bridge and the installation of the utility box on the north east side of the bridge and the curved sidewalk around the aforementioned utility box would mark one end of the greenspace at 4000 St.Johns which would need to be rededicated to the good ol CoJ in order for the FDOT to construct the safety device for all modes which we keep calling traffic circles.

See for your selves.
Take  50ft tape and locate the metal disc in the dead center of where a 100 ft circle would fit if you left each curb in place at RayWare, the Animal Clinic, and the Flower Shop, you will find that the loss of green space below the oak canopy is both minimal and would create, along with the right center feature in the roundabout - quite the sense of uniqueness, specialness such a place needs where regionally unique retail, a rare boardwalk, and good living all combine with all modes of mobility.

I for one and quite obviously all for it.

[fieldafm]

When we look around town at recent examples we don't have much inspiration from which to cull.

The Andrew Jackson statue is in the roundabout in front of the Landing.  The roundabout in front of MOSH has a really great sculpture from SMPS.

Those are some local examples off the top of my head.

Although, a much more cost effective option would be to fill attractive native landscaping throughout the roundabout and make it a living monument to sustainability. 

At this point, it would be sort of premature to discuss what would adorn the roundabout... the key is, getting buy-in about what I feel is a very valid reason to have a roundabout there in the first place.

[mtraininjax]

Can we extend the skyway to it? How about light rail? I'd love to see light rail up the S-curve, would be a hoot!

[fieldafm]

Can we extend the skyway to it? How about light rail? I'd love to see light rail up the S-curve, would be a hoot!

Dynamite drop in.  Run along now, adults are talking. 

[grimss]

Revised conceptual site plans for the proposed development have been sent to the City, RAP, and interested neighborhood groups: http://commander-rezoning.com/2013/08/27/revised-site-plans-submitted-august-22nd-2013/

[cline]

So the website says this goes before the Planning Commission on Sept. 12th.  Is that still accurate?

[Captain Zissou]

New design looks good to me. I like the portion closest to Herschel. They could make a great public space there

[grimss]

So the website says this goes before the Planning Commission on Sept. 12th.  Is that still accurate?

That's the correct date for now, although I wouldn't be surprised to see it change. Councilman Love is trying to set up a meeting between Balanky, his attorney, and various stakeholder groups to mediate some sort of compromise.

[cline]

So the website says this goes before the Planning Commission on Sept. 12th.  Is that still accurate?

That's the correct date for now, although I wouldn't be surprised to see it change. Councilman Love is trying to set up a meeting between Balanky, his attorney, and various stakeholder groups to mediate some sort of compromise.

This isn't a compromise?  How many "compromises" does he need to go through?  This will be the third community meeting.  What would the ultimate compromise be.  A vacant lot?

[grimss]

So the website says this goes before the Planning Commission on Sept. 12th.  Is that still accurate?

That's the correct date for now, although I wouldn't be surprised to see it change. Councilman Love is trying to set up a meeting between Balanky, his attorney, and various stakeholder groups to mediate some sort of compromise.

This isn't a compromise?  How many "compromises" does he need to go through?  This will be the third community meeting.  What would the ultimate compromise be.  A vacant lot?

Sorry, my words were sloppy. The actual email from Love's assistant calls it a "mediation meeting."

[grimss]

Balanky and his team presented their latest set of plans last Thursday, September 19th. Highlights: 3 residential buildings, 260 units, 1 commercial building with 10,000 s.f. retail, max height five stories, dropping request for land use change on SJV parcel as they believe development, as presently configured, doesn't require it.

The revised plans can be viewed here: http://commander-rezoning.com/2013/09/24/additional-site-revisions-dated-91913/.  Councilman Love will hold another Town Meeting with the community on October 9th.