A Look Inside 220 Riverside

[fsquid]

If you worked at one of those businesses there it would be an awesome place to live. 

Ugh, working where you sleep.  Not for me.  A little bit of a commute, even if it's a 30 minute walk, is what I need.  But that's just me...

My most productive work days are when I work from my home office. You can't beat rolling out of your bed and going into the next room. No commute immediately saves an hour each day, money spent out of lunch and I get more work done without my coworkers around.

I get more work done when I travel and my hotel is right by the office.  About the only time my CPU is on by 8 in my working life.

[simms3]

I am not productive at home and I don't enjoy eating where I shit, so to speak, but to each his own.  It's a mental refresher for me to leave the financial district and "go home" to an entirely different world/neighborhood, and my commutes, as hectic as they are and often I'm on email are often the only times I have to do nothing, listen to the music playing in my head phones, and let my mind wander.

I also believe in a difference between exposing your kids to "diversity" and exposing your kids to the nutso-ness that goes on all around in a big, urban city like NYC or SF, arguably the two craziest, most "adult" cities in this country outside of Vegas and South Beach.  Our country's suburbs are often more diverse than the yuppified cities we are forming once again.

I'm not saying what I would do if I were a parent.  I live in a city where it seems most people just want to have permiscuous sex and work their whole entire life...which is a city a very small few choose to raise kids in...so parenting isn't on my mind.  But I can tell you, knowing this place, knowing me in this place, I would be *very* selective where I raised kids in SF (or NYC) and I better have millions in the bank account to do so.

Boston or Chicago may be a different story, however.  Both cities seem quite tame in comparison.  Or Atlanta.  Atlanta's suburbs have gotten super diverse whereas its urban core has gotten super white/yuppie as it's gentrified.  But that seems to be a theme with most places.  NYC and SF are definitely the two most "urban" cities and are definitely a little too crazy (and expensive) for most people's taste, it seems.

[Tacachale]

Remember, too, that the Bay Area is more than just the Peninsula. There are plenty of options that are are essentially urban that are suitable for families. A couple months ago we visited friends in Redwood City. They're a couple in their early 30s with two young kids, and they live in decent two-bedroom apartment just on the edge of Redwood's downtown area. It's not as big or nice as 220 and it's 3 times as expensive, but it works for them. For the most part they can enjoy a lifestyle you can only get in the densest, most urban and/or expensive neighborhoods in other cities, plus access much of what San Francisco has to offer. That said, they're hoping to ultimately move to Jacksonville, where they could live in a similar area for a fraction of the cost and headache, and get to take advantage of it more.

[simms3]

^^^That's considered suburban around here, not urban, though I understand it's all perspective (would be very urban for Jax, even though it's in the burbs).  They are on a Caltrain line there (with a "baby bullet" stop), which puts them within 20-30 minutes of the city, which is of course a whole different ballgame (much like Manhattan is a whole different ballgame than Elizabeth NJ or New Rochelle NY...same idea).

Oh, and Redwood City is Peninsula.  Of course there is the East Bay, Marin/North Bay, and South Bay/San Jose.  8 million people and only <1 million living in the city.  Yes.  But we're talking "urban" and whether it's great for families, etc.  Redwood City is a safe suburb with good schools, a nice little downtown, transit access to SF, Oakland, and SJ, and convenience to the huge job market that is the Peninsula/Valley.  It'd be akin to the Southside for Jax.  Yes, it's way more urban than anywhere in Jacksonville and it's a suburb.  That speaks to my point about 220 Riverside being family friendly - it's urban for Jax, which is easy, luxurious, cheap, and still sheltered as can be in what is still a super low dense, mostly suburban environment.  And 220 Riverside has great amenities (something that is rare anywhere in the Bay Area).

I'd personally prefer owning and paying a mortgage than rent, but I could see where 220 Riverside could be an excellent option for young families in transition - it's near mom/dad's work (potentially), is safe and secure, nice, probably super cheap for transplants coming from other cities, etc.

[ProjectMaximus]

Lol, I'm black and grew up in the hood and attended public schools my entire life. There was no period of innocence! Train early to give your kids a chance to advance in life in the event they aren't starting off with a silver spoon in their mouth. I've even pondered myself at times if the schools my boys attend are diverse and reflective of real life to my liking.

Yeah me too. I remember seeing hundreds of Thai schoolchildren (like 10 year olds) all out on their own on weeknights in Bangkok. I'm sure bad stuff happens to some of them, but by and large they all grow up to be independent rather quickly. Hope my kid(s) will do the same.

My most productive work days are when I work from my home office. You can't beat rolling out of your bed and going into the next room. No commute immediately saves an hour each day, money spent out of lunch and I get more work done without my coworkers around.

Not if you have to fix that kid's screw ups cause you weren't around to catch em at first. Is he still in his probationary period?

[ProjectMaximus]

Are some units here furnished?

[vicupstate]

Great to see this place doing well and those pictures look amazing. Now that we know there is demand to live in that area along with some viable retail options and new green space, I was wondering what is the possibility of a developer buying out the Florida Times-Union property and opening that riverfront land for development? Plenty of precedent for doing that with newspapers like the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Boston Herald, Tampa Tribune and others selling off their old places and downsizing. We keep stressing the importance of urban development having connectivity and that piece of land could be that connective link that finally unites Riverside to Brooklyn to the urban core.

I agree 100% with what you are saying. It is a real dead zone now, but if done right could be a vital piece of connectivity.  I bet the T-U needs a fraction of the space they current have now. If DT JAX ever does get really rocking, I could definitely see them move/downsize for a big payday on that site.  That may be awhile yet, just as Fieldafm says. 

Where I live, Greenville SC, the newspaper is downsizing from their nearly four acre site in the heart of DT. They are selling to Trammel Crow which will build the largest construction project in the city's history.  The newspaper will occupy one of the office buildings in the new mixed use project.  Like the T-U offices, the site is a dead zone now, but will be the crown jewel of DT when completed. It will include retail, a hotel, offices, apartments, condominiums, a large public plaza, a dine-in movie theater complex, a fitness center and underground parking.       
 

[urbanlibertarian]

Oh, if only DT Jax were more like Greenville.

[For_F-L-O-R-I-D-A]

If I worked in Brooklyn, I would love to live here. It would be really nice if the Skyway extension happened. I could take it to work if I needed to then from this area. Still hard to beat walking to work in DT though.

[edjax]

Per article on Jax Biz Journal, those involved with Candy Apple will be opening a restaurant at 220.  The concept will be different than Candy Apple and announced in the near future. 

[Steve]

Good news for 200 Riverside? In the T-U today:

NAI Hallmark Partners paid $2.1 million for two parcels totaling 1.7 acres next to its 220 Riverside development.

[Tacachale]

Good news for 200 Riverside? In the T-U today:

NAI Hallmark Partners paid $2.1 million for two parcels totaling 1.7 acres next to its 220 Riverside development.

What are the parcels? Land in this area is going quick.

[edjax]

Didn't hey already indicate some time ago thry would be building more apartments on this parcel 200 Riverside?

[Captain Zissou]

Good news for 200 Riverside? In the T-U today:

NAI Hallmark Partners paid $2.1 million for two parcels totaling 1.7 acres next to its 220 Riverside development.

I thought they already owned the 200 Riverside parcel.  They have been using it for staging for years.

[edjax]

Per story on JBJ, a new wood fire pizza place is opening at 220 also. It is called Brixx and based out of Charlotte.  This will be their first venture in Florida.  They signed a 10'year lease and expect to open Summer 2016.