Time to Demolish Former Courthouse Parking Lot?

[PeeJayEss]

Paddleboats would be hilarious to watch. Sometimes I'm down there and we have to wait for the train bridge, if it's a strong day you have to leave leave both engines in reverse just to hold position between the jetties. I can't imagine a paddleboat in that current. It would be more like a flume ride.

Underneath the parking lot their isn't much of a current. That won't change if it is exposed to air. So, it would be fine for paddleboats. Wouldn't be able to explore as big an area like in Baltimore, but that parking lot area is big enough for a dumb little tourist thing. Obviously, you'd need a rope to keep paddlers away from the channel, which would be like a flume ride (that could be an up-charge). Of course, having a closed-off area shuts it down to regular boat traffic, so I'm not supporting the plan.

The only other thing that might get sticky: there is a concrete slab at the river walk adjacent to the parking garage that was supposed to be a restaraunt-obviously never built. The value of whomever owns that land will certainly plummet. However, I think it's still probably doable.

The slab in front of the Berkman garage? I don't see how this would be a problem for that. They'd still have access to the parking garage, so people could get there. If anything, it would have a better view and more exclusive location. They wouldn't lose foot access, the building just wouldn't be right on the road.

[jaxjaguar]

Would it be too late to move the USS Adams to that area? I feel like it would be better suited there.

[downtownbrown]

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/structures/DesignConf2006/Presentations/session20/Final-20Kerr.pdf

We know the bridges are structurally deficient, and have been for many years.  We don't know the Sufficiency Rating.  That will be interesting, since it determines (or at least it did when this report was presented in 2004) whether or not federal money is available.

[tufsu1]

Bridge sufficiency ratings are no longer public for fear of terrorism

[downtownbrown]

^ water and gravity are the terrorists here.  Some folks might have wanted to know about the structurally deficient rating on the whole area.  You know, in case they were thinking of investing in downtown...

[downtownbrown]

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2015/02/12/editorial-city-cant-wait-around-after-liberty.html?ana=e_du_pub&s=article_du&ed=2015-02-12&u=WlI+uS2dnrpUQEXzA1dC/Q0a72b012&t=1423772791

Hopefully this conversation is gaining traction.

[tufsu1]

apparently the City isn't waiting...funding 100% it seems

[Bridges]

^what do you mean? Funding 100% to rebuild it?

[tufsu1]

funding the power repair

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-02-12/story/power-repairs-coming-2-weeks-city-expense-jacksonville-tells-liberty

[ChriswUfGator]

Bridge sufficiency ratings are no longer public for fear of terrorism

Seriously? That's lame. And what are they going to do if I put in a public records request?

[tufsu1]

Bridge sufficiency ratings are no longer public for fear of terrorism

Seriously? That's lame. And what are they going to do if I put in a public records request?

I don't know...make one and let's find out

[downtownbrown]

MR. BROWN, TEAR DOWN THESE BRIDGES!

[urbanlibertarian]

If the parking lot is demolished, would the work that JEA is about to do (and COJ is about to pay for) to restore power have to be completely redesigned and rerouted?

[downtownbrown]

No.  Completely unrelated to the restoration of power to the Plaza Townhomes.

[urbanlibertarian]

So power is routed strictly under roadway and not under parking lot?