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

[Stephen]

maybe somebody will have to be brave and mention this to RAP. The Emperor has no clothes or thinks he has too much power..I liked the proposal with the higher tower...anything I mean anything is better than that monstrosity that is there now. The proposal has a ramp for Kayaks. That will be so nice.

[Cheshire Cat]

maybe somebody will have to be brave and mention this to RAP. The Emperor has no clothes or thinks he has too much power..I liked the proposal with the higher tower...anything I mean anything is better than that monstrosity that is there now. The proposal has a ramp for Kayaks. That will be so nice.

I just did Stephen.  They are reading the forum.   

[Tacachale]

Complaints like those may be letting the perfect become the enemy of the good. The proposal is much, much better than what's there now.

[Scrub Palmetto]

I should qualify that even though I consider myself a preservationist, I must be of a different generation than most, because I don't see the Commander as a monstrosity. *ducks* I have an unpopular affinity for things like brutalism, commie blocks, and the very under-appreciated mid-century modern high-rises like the CSX (pre-tile-replacement), City Hall Annex, old Independent Life on Duval St, etc. I like the Commander's style better than the likes of Berkman Plaza or Villa Riva (gag), and much better than the later, blander buildings like the Cathedral or Riverside Presbyterian towers. Heck, excluding adaptive reuse projects like the 11 E Forsyth, I'd go as far as to say the Commander's my 2nd favorite residential high-rise in Jax after Park Lane. *dodges*

That said, I'm okay with it going. A smart preservationist only chains himself to buildings that at least a dozen other people like. 

[Cheshire Cat]

Complaints like those may be letting the perfect become the enemy of the good. The proposal is much, much better than what's there now.

I agree and believe that Wood and those he would inflame over this development need to take a breath and rethink.  If the development is within the criterion of the zoning overlay, making the life of the developer hell cause Mr. Wood and some others don't like his development is not a good thing.  RAP should not be the neighborhood bully and recently it has made some choices along with those in the WLA group that appear to be just that, bullying.  Time for RAP to take a hard look at it's own agenda and do some self reevaluation.  By this I do not mean finding ways to justify actions and decide they are in keeping with the RAP agenda as they see it.  I mean by stepping back and looking at how the organization has begun to exert influence in a way that is damaging and they refuse to see it. 

[thelakelander]

A smart preservationist only chains himself to buildings that at least a dozen other people like. 

Nice. I've also grown to have a higher appreciation for buildings like the City Hall Annex as well. 

[Tacachale]

^It's not just the building, it's the use of the property. Those plans look much better than the current strip mall.

[thelakelander]

Is there an alternative plan floating out there that those opposing desire above what's been presented?  Is there a certain amount of desired square footage or number of units or is the hope to preserve the site in its current configuration?  Just trying to figure out if there is a rational nexus that the opposition's point of view is built upon.

[Cheshire Cat]

Is there an alternative plan floating out there that those opposing desire above what's been presented?  Is there a certain amount of desired square footage or number of units or is the hope to preserve the site in its current configuration?  Just trying to figure out if there is a rational nexus from opposition's point of view is built upon.

Not to my knowledge Ennis and I have been asking.  This is more about hammering away at any plan the developer submits that does not please Wayne Wood and those he has convinced that the plan as it stands, which fits the zoning overlay is no good, cause well you know "scale".  In other words one man Wood doesn't like it and has decided he is going to fight it until it meets his "unknown" vision for the area.  This isn't Wayne's world though and he needs to understand that once and for all.  It's a community called Avondale that RAP is not the overlord of.  If the plans meet the overlay and city requirements that's all that is required for the development to go forward. 

[pwl32205]

I am in close proximity to this project and want to learn more about it. How beneficial would it be for me to attend tonight's (10/9) meeting at FSCJ? Is it worth my while to attend?

[Cheshire Cat]

I am in close proximity to this project and want to learn more about it. How beneficial would it be for me to attend tonight's (10/9) meeting at FSCJ? Is it worth my while to attend?

I would say it would be. If I were you though I would call and make sure the meeting is still on schedule.

[Stephen]

How would Dr.Woods react if people from the community came to a meeting and spoke out in favor of the project ? Sometimes people in his position get pretty upset if they are crossed or disagreed with.

[Cheshire Cat]

Well go speak out and be fearless about it.  Mr Wood is a single resident.  Everyone's view is equally important.

[Cheshire Cat]

Expect this to now become an issue which Wayne Wood will use to fight this development which he calls "Monstrous".

Yellow-crowned night herons nest on a good portion of the west end of this proposal, and are listed as threatened by the Endangered Species Act of 1973.  Share by one of his FB followers.  He like the info. 

[Scrub Palmetto]

After making this image, I realized that since the herons tend to nest in trees above water, the circled trees in the bend of Herschel likely aren't in their interest. I imagine they also nest all along Fishweir Creek if they nest on this site, and there are far more trees across Herschel and to the left of this view.

I'm sure the developer can work around the small number of trees on the site if need be.