The Jacksonville Landing's Redevelopment Plan

[I-10east]

Here's the latest 'new vision' of the Landing redevelopment. Sorry about the paywall that just popped up all of a sudden.

http://members.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-08-23/story/exclusive-jacksonville-landing-owners-propose-demolition-new-vision

[JayBird]

^ someone posted this earlier on another thread, but I will say I like the concept. However, Sleiman should foot the bill because he will definitely make it back in rents. Of course, more and more it seems like Sleiman is just fishing for public money and waiting for the magic plan that'll do just that.

[Charles Hunter]

Interesting.  Isn't there a height restriction on buildings between the Wells Fargo building and the river?  Do these buildings fit under this?  Is it still in effect?

[heights unknown]

Looks good to me; but why build everything in phases? Afraid of a "bust" of some kind? Afraid of failure? Build the mix use high rises when the market is ready...how much you wanna bet, based on Jacksonville's past history and track record regarding projects like this, that those mix use high rises never get built? Jacksonville is so indecisive. I'm being too pessimistic you say? I feel the market is ready in Jax. The economy, population, finances, all are on the move and in a success type mode in Jax. Don't be so afraid. If City leaders do their job, in addition to the developers and others doing their part relative to marketing and promotion, go ahead and build it all at once and I'll bet THEY will come! I'm sold on this plan, but it appears that City Leaders, and others, don't have faith in themselves or our city...they are so nervous, afraid and scared...of what exactly I do not know...oh, I remember, I said failure didn't I? I love Jacksonville but sometimes the City Government just makes me ill.

[heights unknown]

Removing the on and off ramps to/from Independent Drive is a good thing....but imo getting rid of the connection to Ocean Street should be a non-starter

If you're going to get rid of the ramps why not just go ahead and get rid of the Ocean St connection?  Making Main St two way again wouldnt be a bad thing.

While making Main a two-way street again, FDOT is most likely not going to agree to reduce the ability to move vehicles on their "six" lane highway.  To do that, COJ would probably have to find a way to take over Main and Ocean, similar to what Miami recently did with Brickell Avenue and Orlando with Edgewater in College Park.

If the world continues in its radical, extremist, kill mode and mentality, we will all be a part of the upper atmosphere by that time and we won't have to worry about the Landing or anything else in Jax. I hope I am wrong. I say build it. Looks good to me. I understand all of the hurdles that most of you feel needs to be overcome to make this work, but part of our city's problem is we're afraid to move forward with superb plans, goals, objectives, and hard work that's required in order to make any project or development work downtown. It's almost like a football game...you can say, all day that the plays are too simple, too easy to read, etc., however, if the team gets together and everyone executes relative to the position they play, the team will be successful and will score everytime; the same is true with our City Government. Just do your job and superbly execute it relative to planning, organizing, controlling, marketing, and promotion, and I'll bet THEY will come!!!

[heights unknown]

This is a golden opportunity for the city to sell the real estate under the Landing and get this riverfront property on the tax rolls.

And if that happens, that will be sad, and will be indicative of our City leaders, once again, being slothfull, sloppy, and dropping the ball. They should all be fired if that happens.

[heights unknown]

I can assure you that Toney Sleiman has the new proposal worked out.  He's not the person you think he is; when he purchased The Landing and proposed a redevelopment, the City Council shot it down.  This proposal has teeth and will be successful, despite the TU article to the contrary. When The Landing opened 26 years ago there wasn't a single soul living downtown.  Now, they're plenty of people living downtown and more coming--including the development itself. Let us ALL embrace this beautiful plan to make Our City's waterfront world-class!

I think my eyes just rolled so far back in my head that I can see the aneurism developing in my frontal lobe.

And we don't want to scare away the "plenty of people" that are already downtown because there's no big shopping venue like the Landing. I know that there's a little night life now on Bay Street and other pockets downtown, but it still shuts down at 5:00 just like it did in the early 80's before the Landing was built. They need to really get down a firm, astute plan that will work financially, economically, fiscally, and for the good of the City and downtown.

[Todd_Parker]

While I understand and appreciate the need for a re-do on the space, it will be a little sad to lose the iconic look of the existing structure. The buildings included in the new plan look a little bland.

[heights unknown]

I agree, sell the land.

and do what with the land?
The only thing in my opinion that will benefit downtown is a Landing type use. Otherwise it will never be used by the public. We have plenty of die at 5 already.

I'm saying since the city owns the land under Sleiman's buildings that the city's contribution to this project should be selling the land to Sleiman at a price determined by independent appraisal minus the amount that the city wants to contribute.  There shouldn't need to be any tax breaks invoved with this.

Isn't downtown comprised of more than just one zip code? I would think you would compile the population of all of the zip codes to come up with an aggregate total for downtown Jax.

[heights unknown]

Per Jax Daily Record:

Sleiman: 'A lot of moving parts' to make Landing plan succeed

By Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor

Jacksonville Landing developer Toney Sleiman was blunt Thursday.
"Downtown today sucks," he said.

"I'm sorry if that is offending somebody, but go look at other downtowns that are doing great."

Anyone who knows Toney Sleiman can hear him saying it. He's gruff, insistent and frustrated.

Sleiman wants to redevelop the Landing, the Northbank riverfront marketplace he bought in 2003 for $5 million. It opened in 1987 and enjoyed early popularity with stores like Brookstone, Banana Republic, Laura Ashley, the Gap, The Limited, Ben & Jerry's, Sharper Image and other nationally successful tenants.

Then it began losing some of that luster.

It struggled with a lack of parking, a loss of tenants, a fear of crime and complaints about cleanliness, in addition to a horseshoe design considered a celebration of the river 27 years ago but a shunning of Downtown now.

Its troubles continued as employers relocated Downtown office jobs to suburban office parks. Three economic recessions played a part, too.

Then there was the St. Johns Town Center in Southside. The massive lifestyle center opened in 2005 and developed into a force of shopping, restaurants, residences and hotels.

It became what Downtown wanted to be.

Sleiman has presented redesign and redevelopment plans the past 10 years. But with little support, he shelved them.

"The Landing doesn't work," he said. "I tried. Ten years. "

He now proposes a drastic, and some might say long-awaited, plan of action: Tear it down.

While there will be debates over what happens next, Sleiman wants to rebuild on the site, with restaurants, retail stores, offices, workforce housing and a boutique hotel.

Sleiman has developed lots of property around town, but said his focus now will be "dead on" the Landing.

"This is the core," Sleiman said Thursday.

On Wednesday, he presented a design to the Downtown Investment Authority that incorporated community input.

Sleiman said Thursday he doesn't have a timeframe for redevelopment – or a price tag, other than to emphasize it will take support from government and public sources.

"We have to make it work, and it has to be private-public," Sleiman said.

That means financial incentives from the city.

He said the city was doing a market study on workforce housing, which he expects in 60 days, and he can use the results to approach developers.

The boutique hotel is another component. He said Mayor Alvin Brown and Ted Carter, executive director of the city Office of Economic Development, will accompany him to call on hotel chains.

With the mayor involved, "at least we get inside to talk to them."

Sleiman said the costs to redevelop the Landing will depend on factors such as the number of workforce housing units to be developed, the number of hotel rooms that can be supported, and costs to relocate the Landing's tenants.

He guesses there could be 200-300 housing units and a hotel of 100-150 rooms, but says he really has no idea.

Sleiman considers the stars to be "lined up" in favor of the Landing's redevelopment, citing Brown's support and other favorable responses.

"There is no way in the 21st century that we can have a vibrant Downtown that's thriving ... if we don't focus on the Landing," Brown told the authority Wednesday.

"The Landing is a top priority for my administration," he said.

But it won't be easy. Acknowledging there are "a lot of moving parts," Sleiman knows the deal requires financial and government support and approvals, and a belief there will be a market of residents, tenants and consumers to support the redevelopment.

Sleiman said he intends to visit all City Council members starting next week.

"If I get 19 council people that say yes, a mayor that says yes, a DIA board that says yes and Downtown Vision ... I am going to get everybody on board," he said.

He intends to meet with Jacksonville Civic Council founding Chairman Peter Rummell and other corporate leaders. Sleiman said civic leader Preston Haskell's team was designing the project.

"I can't do it by myself. I have to have help," Sleiman said. "I have to have financial help. I have to have 'help' help. I need the (news)papers supporting me."

Sleiman contends that a world-class Landing will attract business and people.

"Guess what happens Downtown? We fill up those buildings," he said, referring to office towers and structures that struggle with a Northbank office vacancy rate of 21.3 percent.

Compare that to Southbank's 11.1 percent office vacancy rate, or the overall area rate of 18.6 percent, according to the Cushman & Wakefield real estate firm for the fourth quarter.

Sleiman said proposed developments at the Shipyards, in La Villa and even the Laura Street Trio and old Barnett Bank buildings won't make a difference in the core like the Landing can.

"I think the young people want something to happen. I hear it all the time, how tired they are" with no progress for Downtown development to bring jobs, stores and entertainment.

"I am going to be on it every day. We are going to go forward," he said.

But he said he won't wait long.

"I am going to have preliminary numbers in the next 60 days and the city will say yes or no," he said, adding he wouldn't do a "one-year drag-out."

And if the city says no?

He paused.

"I haven't thought about it."

I love his unfailing optimism, positive attitude, vision, etc. This is the way everyone should think in City Government and the public and private sector who may play a part in building the new Landing. I know, trash the "build it they will come" mentality, but if you tear it down, and don't build it, what effect will that have on the City's image and downtown public attractability? BUILD IT!!!

[I-10east]

A Channel 4 article on the new renderings.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/new-renderings-on-a-new-landing-released/27698720

[heights unknown]

Here's the latest 'new vision' of the Landing redevelopment. Sorry about the paywall that just popped up all of a sudden.

http://members.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-08-23/story/exclusive-jacksonville-landing-owners-propose-demolition-new-vision

I really love the new plans. They need to build it NOW.

[KenFSU]

Looks good.

A little Las Olas-ish, right?

[thelakelander]

^^I knew it looked familiar but I couldn't remember where I had seen that view before. Is there a timeline set for this project because the Main Street ramp will need to be removed before construction can start.

[tufsu1]

from what I hear, Khan is backing this project as well....he may believe (like others) that The Landing is the lynchpin for everything else downtown.