THE MOST IMPORTANT WALK: Riverwalk falling into river?

[thelakelander]

THE MOST IMPORTANT WALK

By LIZ FLAISIG,
The Times-Union

The relationship of a stable riverfront to a thriving downtown business community dates as far back as 1846.

That year, a gale sent a significant amount of water into the city, wrote T. Frederick Davis, who authored History of Jacksonville and Vicinity 1513 to 1924, published in 1925.

Davis documented the storm, writing that stores on Bay Street sat in two feet of water and the city had to contend with a large vessel tossed into the roads of its business district.

This event prompted the creation of a critical part of city infrastructure still of concern today: the bulkhead.

Made of huge logs chained and stapled together, the first bulkhead, by Davis' account, goes further back than city records on the present structure, which dates the Northbank bulkhead construction beginning near what is now The Jacksonville Landing in 1955 and lasting sometime into the 1960s. Materials used were steel sheet pilings and large rocks.

Whether the 1800s or present day, the bulkhead serves the same purpose: to allow commercial and residential development to exist alongside the river without fear of these investments sliding into the water.

"I don't know that anything's going to prevent us from moving forward with economic development in the city, but I would say we need to be sure we have the infrastructure as part of the package for downtown," said Paul Crawford, deputy director for the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.

"[The bulkhead] is one of the most important infrastructure pieces to downtown."

Signs of trouble

In December, the city got an unsolicited report on the deteriorating state of its Riverwalk.

In front of the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront hotel on the Northbank, a portion of the Riverwalk collapsed. The event raised questions about the stability of the entire structure, which at that point sits on a concrete bridge on steel piles.

But it also launched into the forefront the bulkhead's age and need for maintenance, because it is the support for much of the rest of the Riverwalk.

General Manager Dan King was not at the Hyatt when the Riverwalk collapsed, so he could not comment on how the business was affected. But the city knew the importance of the Riverwalk to the hotel and did its best to get repairs under way, said John Pappas, city engineer.

King illustrated the role of the Riverwalk in the Hyatt's marketing by calling it a "great competitive selling amenity that other cities don't have." Guests walk from the hotel to the Landing or the Times-Union Center along the Riverwalk, or just take a stroll, he said.

The view is less restricted now since the Riverwalk repair and the removal of large planters. Work is expected to be done within the next two months.

Significant work ahead

The city's focus on the bulkhead as infrastructure and the Riverwalk as an amenity for both residents and visitors has evolved, particularly as downtown redevelopment has gained momentum.

Last year's collapse "really moved it up on our radar screen," said Misty Skipper, a spokeswoman for Mayor John Peyton.

The city plans to spend $12.4 million to study and extend the Northbank Riverwalk from the Fuller Warren Bridge toward Memorial Park in the next five years, according to public records. It will also spend $12.6 million to study the Southbank Riverwalk and extend it.

To begin addressing the bulkhead in downtown and throughout the county, $5.1 million will fund an analysis and possible repairs, Skipper said.

That analysis won't reveal entirely new information to downtown businesses along the Northbank Riverfront between where CSX Corp. and Berkman Plaza sit. That's because Landing owner Toney Sleiman paid for an environmental study that included the bulkhead just before he bought the festival shopping mall in 2003.

The results showed the structure was "old, had holes and could one day collapse," he said.

Sleiman also received an estimate of $18 million to repair the bulkhead between the Acosta and Main Street bridges.

He remains adamant that the city must fix the bulkhead.

Unlike most of the Southbank, where private business owners maintain the bulkhead in front of their property, the city is responsible for the bulkhead and Riverwalk in front of the Landing.

The repair estimate from Sleiman's study illustrates a portion of what lies ahead for taxpayers, because the city's upcoming bulkhead study will map out and assess the entire structure. The study will begin later this year after consultant negotiations have concluded.

What happened to downtown in 1846 and last year, to its Riverwalk, are reminders of why the bulkhead has become a priority.

Crawford used the analogy of admiring downtown's "beautiful buildings," which couldn't exist without drainage, electricity and other infrastructure.

It's the same for the bulkhead and its support of the Riverwalk, he said.

"It's a hand-in-glove type of relationship."

BULKHEAD Q&A

What is a bulkhead?

When referring to bodies of water, a bulkhead is a retaining wall that prevents land from eroding into a water body.

Where is it?

The city's bulkhead is underneath the water along the north and south banks and along other portions of the St. Johns River, though it doesn't run continuously countywide.

What is it made of?

In the past, large wood logs were used, often held together by chains. Now, timber, concrete, rock, steel and vinyl are among the most common materials used.

What causes bulkheads to deteriorate?

Factors vary depending upon what materials are used but include freezing, thawing, chemicals and abrasion.

Where is the bulkhead in relation to the downtown Riverwalk?

Some sections of the Riverwalk are supported by the bulkhead, others are on pilings.

What is the city doing to prepare for repairs and maintenance?

The city is negotiating with a consultant who will begin a countywide study of the bulkhead later this year. Downtown's portions are mostly known, but the city expects the study to offer a full map and assessment of the entire bulkhead.

Sources: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, City of Jacksonville, Google Maps

liz.flaisig@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4640

This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100107/bus_203806222.shtml.

[Ocklawaha]

Add the sand, the tight bend in the river and the strong flow through the narrows, and if the City were not there, the darn river would be making that turn in Confederate Park. Southbank would have to be content with an oxbow lake, and that second bend at the Hart Bridge would be backed up to University Blvd. We have a tiny version of the sinking silt problem of New Orleans in our downtown. The river will forever be eating at the Northbank until it can find the route of least resistance to the Sea. Either we do the Crescent City thing of stacking dirt and rocks in it's path until it beats down the door, or we get creative and bite the bullet and do a major overhaul of it's course. At the Hoover Dam, the government cut a huge water channel through the rock of the mountains, that carried the entire flow around the construction site. Apply something like that to Jacksonville or New Orleans and the problems would be solved. This is pure fantasy, to imagine our Yankee Government spending this kind of money "way down South..." Just imagine, a huge concrete lined box, that could carry a large % of the total flow from around CSX to the mouth of the Trout... Think of the power that could be generated inside that box. Green, "free" power. The fish and boats use the river channel, but the force of the flow, is directed under the city. Okay, it's just a dream. But it could power our Light Rail System...Hee hee!


Easy to see the Water Tunnels when your downstream.


Ocklawaha

[Jason]

Sounds like a sound plan to me Ock.  Luckily, the St. Johns is a very lazy river wich makes its impact on the banks much less, but you're right, the river will forever eat away at whatever bulkhead is built along the northbank.

[Noone]

Still important.

[brucef58]

It would seem that Melody Bishop with the DIA had the best idea to deal with the issue of the Courthouse Parking Lot and Liberty Street at the Coastline Drive.  If anything was built on the site it would cost $10's of millions to properly support an occupied structure with new pilings.  Since the site has the river underneath it and the area is outside of the main flow, Melody suggested tearing down the parking deck and building a marina. 

Under the column of things that will anger people; why are the residents of the Berkman Townhomes without power two weeks later.  These are residential customers whose power was cut by a collapse of a public right-of-way.  JEA should have had power restored within 12 to 24 hours by bringing in a new transformer and line and going in from Bay Street to the units. 

When a permanent fix is determined JEA could then install permanent lines and transformers.  Since the incompetent government of Mayor Alvin Brown is responsible by leaving this disaster in waiting over his entire term, the city should then reimburse JEA for all costs.  If I lived in one of those townhomes I would sue the city now.

[peestandingup]

The city plans to spend $12.4 million to study and extend the Northbank Riverwalk from the Fuller Warren Bridge toward Memorial Park in the next five years, according to public records

Is this & the extension under the overpass to Riverside Park still happening? I haven't seen much about it in a while.

[Josh]

Under the column of things that will anger people; why are the residents of the Berkman Townhomes without power two weeks later.  These are residential customers whose power was cut by a collapse of a public right-of-way.  JEA should have had power restored within 12 to 24 hours by bringing in a new transformer and line and going in from Bay Street to the units. 

When a permanent fix is determined JEA could then install permanent lines and transformers.  Since the incompetent government of Mayor Alvin Brown is responsible by leaving this disaster in waiting over his entire term, the city should then reimburse JEA for all costs.  If I lived in one of those townhomes I would sue the city now.

Having a new transformer installed wouldn't help anything since the circuitry on the Berkman's side was massively damaged, and is unable to receive any form of power. That is still the largest hold-up to this date. Since the road is not capable of supporting any large vehicles, the only options for getting a replacement transformer delivered to the site are barge or military helicopter. I think they're going with the helicopter option. The city has already said they're gonna pickup the bill for just about all the costs facing Berkman.

[Charles Hunter]

A helicopter will be removing the old transformer, and bringing in a new one this morning.  At least I think it is a transformer, that's what Jerri Boyce of JEA called it, the WJXT reporter on the scene keeps calling it a generator.  Still no word on how long before power is restored.

[downtownbrown]

A helicopter will be removing the old transformer, and bringing in a new one this morning.  At least I think it is a transformer, that's what Jerri Boyce of JEA called it, the WJXT reporter on the scene keeps calling it a generator.  Still no word on how long before power is restored.

it is the transformer.  the generator idea was going to happen for temporary repair, but that idea went away when the city stepped up to pay for the permanent fix.

as to the parking lot,i agree.  rip it out.

[downtownbrown]

It would seem that Melody Bishop with the DIA had the best idea to deal with the issue of the Courthouse Parking Lot and Liberty Street at the Coastline Drive.  If anything was built on the site it would cost $10's of millions to properly support an occupied structure with new pilings.  Since the site has the river underneath it and the area is outside of the main flow, Melody suggested tearing down the parking deck and building a marina. 

Under the column of things that will anger people; why are the residents of the Berkman Townhomes without power two weeks later.  These are residential customers whose power was cut by a collapse of a public right-of-way.  JEA should have had power restored within 12 to 24 hours by bringing in a new transformer and line and going in from Bay Street to the units. 

When a permanent fix is determined JEA could then install permanent lines and transformers.  Since the incompetent government of Mayor Alvin Brown is responsible by leaving this disaster in waiting over his entire term, the city should then reimburse JEA for all costs.  If I lived in one of those townhomes I would sue the city now.

from Melody Bishop's lips to God's ears.  Jacksonville Municipal Marina!  Now THAT would be transformational.  Not to mention relatively affordable.

[fieldafm]

It would seem that Melody Bishop with the DIA had the best idea to deal with the issue of the Courthouse Parking Lot and Liberty Street at the Coastline Drive.  If anything was built on the site it would cost $10's of millions to properly support an occupied structure with new pilings.  Since the site has the river underneath it and the area is outside of the main flow, Melody suggested tearing down the parking deck and building a marina. 

Under the column of things that will anger people; why are the residents of the Berkman Townhomes without power two weeks later.  These are residential customers whose power was cut by a collapse of a public right-of-way.  JEA should have had power restored within 12 to 24 hours by bringing in a new transformer and line and going in from Bay Street to the units. 

When a permanent fix is determined JEA could then install permanent lines and transformers.  Since the incompetent government of Mayor Alvin Brown is responsible by leaving this disaster in waiting over his entire term, the city should then reimburse JEA for all costs.  If I lived in one of those townhomes I would sue the city now.

from Melody Bishop's lips to God's ears.  Jacksonville Municipal Marina!  Now THAT would be transformational.  Not to mention relatively affordable.

I've kayaked underneath the parking deck not quite a dozen times. It isn't deep, certainly not deep enough for a marina and there are quite a bit of concrete pieces on top of the bulkhead. There are no inexpensive options.

That being said, COJ has known about the site's uncertain future since the conception of the Better Jacksonville Plan and has known about structural issues relating to the bulkhead and parking deck since at least the middle of the Peyton administration.

When is it finally going to be time to own up to the situation?

[ProjectMaximus]

I never heard what happened with this after it was funded, but something like this would be awesome where the parking lot is...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/694835844/pool-tile-by-tile

[brucef58]

Quote: "Is this & the extension under the overpass to Riverside Park still happening? I haven't seen much about it in a while."

The FDOT is having a hearing at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard on Stockton Street on Thursday, February 26, 2015 from 4:30 Pm to 6:30 PM, I would recommend going to the meeting and stating your case.  I would also contact Councilman Jim Love and ask that be certain that the interstate project does not interfere with the park.  If you want to be certain the I-95/Fuller Warren project includes this Riverside Park/Riverwalk extension then push for it with every agency and politician in town.

[tufsu1]

^ the I-95 project still includes the shared use path...but the riverwalk extension and riverside park has never been directly tied to the I-95 project.