Jax's Miracle Mile poised to make a comeback?

[thelakelander]

The corner of Emerson and Philips could look different in another year. Could the Miracle Mile be making a comeback?

Emerson St. call center coming down for retail

By Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor

A 75,000-square-foot vacant call center at Emerson Street and Philips Highway is coming down early this year to make way for five retail stores.

The center, which housed a BellSouth call center and later was used by Precision Response Corp., should be demolished by March or soon after.

Demetree Brothers Inc., a real estate development, construction management and property management company, owns the 7.5-acre site and has been unable to sell the building.

"We are going to try to redevelop the property," said Larry Matthews, Demetree Brothers vice president for commercial.

He said about 2 acres already was sold to Gate Petroleum Co., which is building a convenience store and gas station on the site to replace a smaller one nearby. The location is just off Interstate 95.

Matthews said Thursday the property parcels would be sold to retail users. Construction would begin after Demetree reaches an agreement with the city on the mobility fee, which is a fee for development impacts, and the call center is demolished.

full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=541557

[edjax]

Should be an improvement over the ugly office building they will be taking down.

[Buforddawg]

That area was once known as Jax's Miracle Mile?

[DDC]

That area was once known as Jax's Miracle Mile?

Though I was quite young, I know that, in the 60's, the area around Phillips Mall was a vibrant, busy place. Going north from Emerson, you can still see evidence of what could be described as a Miracle Mile. Car Dealerships, restaurants, retail. All of those little ratty "no tell motels" that are littered on that stretch were legitimate establishments for visitors traveling to or through Jacksonville. The Interstate system was still being built and US1 was a well traveled road. Much like what you see in and around The Avenues and not so long ago at Regency is what it looked like at not only Phillips Mall, but Normandy Mall and Gateway.

[IrvAdams]

I grew up on Jacksonville's Northside some years back and Gateway Mall was 'the' place, a modern covered air-conditioned array of very successful retail. And along with Normandy And Philips malls, they continue to live on in some capacity. I think each mall creates its own neighborhood and becomes self-sustaining at some level.