Urban Construction Update - January 2014

[edjax]

Maybe you could bring all your "big city development" knowledge, prowess, and influence here. Some may say for all the cheerleading of Atlanta and now San Francisco, that there would be some left for Jacksonville.

You could be the one to change how these urban construction updates lead you to a state of depression.

Very nice.  But my guess too much of a challenge. 

[IrvAdams]

I personally enjoy the Urban Construction updates, keep them up and thanks. I'm pleased with the progress of the area. I think we've come a long way, and look forward to more forward progress.

[Noone]

I'm just saying, if I didn't live in a construction filled city and didn't travel, and all I had to go off of was the monthly Jax Urban Construction thread, I would beat my head against a wall...I've been meaning to get this off my chest for a while and I'm sure there are others who feel the same way.  It's not for lack of Lake's awesome effort and superb reporting, but for lack of anything interesting going on!

Unfortunately, there's not a lot of urban infill and construction going on in Jax in comparison with larger and similar sized metropolitan areas.  When we first started MJ, it used to bother me but I travel so much that over the years I've become somewhat immune. Jax has a ton of potential, but the city, the politics, the discussion, etc. is a decade or two behind everyone else when it comes to urbanism.  Over the years, I think we'll be pulled kicking and screaming to embrace certain trends but Jax is what it is.

Both good points.

Just want to throw this out there. Have there been any pictures of the huge road project that is the MLK Parkway? Huge eradication of building stock. Went down 8Th St. towards Talleyrand and it seems like more buildings have been leveled. And what is going on with Hogans Creek?

Are we just getting ready for a wave of new construction announcements?

[Chaz1969]

Also, the Southbank Riverwalk has progressed considerably. I haven't been over there in a while, but the actual reconstruction was supposed to start in December. I know the demo is well on its way.
http://www.jaxfountain.com/ has some decent updates through October.

Is this really progressing?  To me, it looks like they are behind schedule.  I walk it nearly every day and haven't seen any activity since late November when that fence was erected and an adjacent vacant building was torn down.

[IrvAdams]

All this nice Urban Core area, and developers are building hundreds of apartments near Atlantic and Kernan. Go figure that one out.

[tufsu1]

The MLK project is straightening the 90° curve and adding an interchange to provide better access to/from Talleyrand

[Noone]

^Please, show a few pics. It's MASSIVE. Talk about a disconnect for neighborhoods. It has to be worthy of its own update. Maybe it's on another thread. Has anyone been taking any pics of the before and after? I'll try and check out Hogans Creek. Appears to be a massive clear cut.

[Charles Hunter]

Where on Hogan's Creek is the clear-cutting?

Here is an earlier MJ thread:  http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-mar-major-urban-interchange-project-underway

And here is the FDOT web page about the project, doesn't look like they've updated the photo gallery since October 2012.  tsk.  http://www.northfloridaroads.com/projects/details.asp?ProjectID=502

[pwhitford]

I keep hearing things about the Publix in San Marco.  It's not happening; it is happening; part of it's happening; it may be happening, yadda, yadda, yadda.  Any definitive word?  It's sorely needed and would be welcomed by many.  I thought that with the exit of the St. Joe Co., it was not going to happen.  Is that true?

[edjax]

I did see some zoning signs up now.

[jcjohnpaint]

It also appears that they changed the signs in front of the property. 

[BoldBoyOfTheSouth]

Thanks for these construction updates!  Very informative.

[acme54321]

I did see some zoning signs up now.

Yes I noticed the signs for a public hearing the other day, these look pretty fresh.

[Bill Hoff]

I keep hearing things about the Publix in San Marco.  It's not happening; it is happening; part of it's happening; it may be happening, yadda, yadda, yadda.  Any definitive word?  It's sorely needed and would be welcomed by many.  I thought that with the exit of the St. Joe Co., it was not going to happen.  Is that true?

It's moving forward.

[edjax]

I did see some zoning signs up now.

Yes I noticed the signs for a public hearing the other day, these look pretty fresh.

Perhaps I think this was needed when changed from condos to apartments as it changed the number of units??