The Jacksonville Landing: What Should It Be?

[I-10east]

Here's the article without the paywall on JBJ.

City looks to hire designer to create new Jacksonville Landing plans

Just over three months after Jacksonville Landing co-owner Toney Sleiman unveiled plans for the Downtown site — that were then shot down — the Jacksonville Downtown Investment Authority is looking to spend up to $100,000 to redesign the Landing. The authority's board voted unanimously Wednesday to solicit requests for qualifications from land planning and design firms that want to work on the 6.6-acre Downtown waterfront site.

Proposals will be due by the end of January. Up to five candidates will be invited for interviews before a company is chosen on March 15. "Final selection will be based on perceived suitability for this project, including the ability to develop a good working relationship with the parties," the authority's evaluation criteria say. The selected company will be asked to create a design satisfactory to both the DIA and Sleiman Enterprises, the owner of the buildings. (The city owns the land.)

The plans Sleiman unveiled in August had been viewed by some as uninspired — and the point became moot after the City Council shot down Mayor Alvin Brown's request for $235 million in capital spending, including $11.8 million slated for the Landing. But the city will end up paying for some portion of whatever project takes place, board member Jack Meeks said, so it makes sense to invest in the planning. "Any design that comes out of this is going to be funded by city money," Meeks said. "If it takes another $100,000 to get this right, that's what we need to do."

The city won't know the total cost of the project until the plan is complete, DIA CEO Aundra Wallace said. That plan, according to the RFQ, "will focus on design of the open space, and massing and location of the buildings."Goals for the redevelopment of the property include:

*Open a view corridor from Laura Street to the river.

*Provide open space near the river as part of the riverwalk system.

*Better connect the site to the city and to adjacent properties.

*Design a visually interesting project that engages the public and can become a recognizable symbol for Jacksonville's waterfront.

*Energize and activate the site day and evening.

*Ensure economic sustainability for the site.

An on-ramp to the Main Street Bridge might also be demolished to open up additional usable land for pedestrian access to the bridge. The DIA also passed a motion — which Meeks opposed — to have the planning firm include a parcel of land east of the Main Street Bridge owned by Sleiman Enterprises in the planning process.

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/12/17/dia-sleiman-enterpriesesseek-design-firm-for-new.html

[UNFurbanist]

In order for the Landing to truly be successful, the borders of the 'Landing' must be expanded beyond the structure known as 'The Jacksonville Landing'.  The entire waterfront from the Acosta off-ramps at Water St. all the way down to Berkman Phase II should be rebranded as 'The Jacksonville Landing.' This creates more so a district rather than a named building. This would also encompass much more retail and entertainment value than the landing as it currently sits can possibly hold on its own. The Landing (building) has and should always be the icon or central meeting place of Jacksonvillians and cultural events, but the inclusion of an entire district creates that much more of a festive atmosphere and relieves The Landing (building) of trying to be so many more things than it can possibly be at this point. Signage, trolleys, new paths, brick pavements, etc. can be the initial investment. The rebranding the retail, hotels, and biz along the strip likewise..ex. The Hyatt @ The Jacksonville Landing, TUPA @ The Jacksonville Landing, Omni @The Jacksonville Landing, etc.

Also, within this new plan I would like to see the City Hall Annex and Old Courthouse property as an inclusion to this new Jacksonville Landing District. Sooo the landing wants apartments?? Great! There's a City Hall Annex building waiting to wear a new design and welcome residents. Sooo the Landing wants to expand gathering space?? Great! There's a huge Old Courthouse surface lot on the water that's waiting to wear a new green grass coat and bear the weight of a brand-new Waterfront Ampitheatre. This would allow Metropolitan Park to retire its outdated performance venue and make way for an eventual Fairgrounds move to the waterfront in its place...(my own evil plan, lol) . And that Old Courthouse building lot itself?? Would be nice to expand convention center exhibition space and ground floor retail in a brand new building, or how about an intimate 6screen theater all in the vein of a sort of CityWalk like @ Universal Orlando. It could all be done if this damn city would stop thinking so much in the box and look outwards to create a sense of place rather than concentrate all energy into one single building.

All great ideas! The city should start thinking of it as a district. There seems to always be this mentality of "we just need one new structure and we'll be the next great city." but in reality it is the context of the whole area that really matters. A new landing that fulfills form and function will be great but DTJax needs more than a new one trick pony.

[ProjectMaximus]

City looks to hire designer to create new Jacksonville Landing plans

Pretty sure MJ would do it for half the price.

[whyisjohngalt]

So what's the penalty for breaking the "million year lease"?

Is this greement publicly available somewhere?

[Marle Brando]

In order for the Landing to truly be successful, the borders of the 'Landing' must be expanded beyond the structure known as 'The Jacksonville Landing'.  The entire waterfront from the Acosta off-ramps at Water St. all the way down to Berkman Phase II should be rebranded as 'The Jacksonville Landing.' This creates more so a district rather than a named building. This would also encompass much more retail and entertainment value than the landing as it currently sits can possibly hold on its own. The Landing (building) has and should always be the icon or central meeting place of Jacksonvillians and cultural events, but the inclusion of an entire district creates that much more of a festive atmosphere and relieves The Landing (building) of trying to be so many more things than it can possibly be at this point. Signage, trolleys, new paths, brick pavements, etc. can be the initial investment. The rebranding the retail, hotels, and biz along the strip likewise..ex. The Hyatt @ The Jacksonville Landing, TUPA @ The Jacksonville Landing, Omni @The Jacksonville Landing, etc.

Also, within this new plan I would like to see the City Hall Annex and Old Courthouse property as an inclusion to this new Jacksonville Landing District. Sooo the landing wants apartments?? Great! There's a City Hall Annex building waiting to wear a new design and welcome residents. Sooo the Landing wants to expand gathering space?? Great! There's a huge Old Courthouse surface lot on the water that's waiting to wear a new green grass coat and bear the weight of a brand-new Waterfront Ampitheatre. This would allow Metropolitan Park to retire its outdated performance venue and make way for an eventual Fairgrounds move to the waterfront in its place...(my own evil plan, lol) . And that Old Courthouse building lot itself?? Would be nice to expand convention center exhibition space and ground floor retail in a brand new building, or how about an intimate 6screen theater all in the vein of a sort of CityWalk like @ Universal Orlando. It could all be done if this damn city would stop thinking so much in the box and look outwards to create a sense of place rather than concentrate all energy into one single building.

All great ideas! The city should start thinking of it as a district. There seems to always be this mentality of "we just need one new structure and we'll be the next great city." but in reality it is the context of the whole area that really matters. A new landing that fulfills form and function will be great but DTJax needs more than a new one trick pony.

Right on. When will they realize that the one trick pony attitude keeps us in neutral. Just like the 1'000ft tower proposed at the shipyards months ago. I mean really? To look at what exactly?? Our city desperately needs new leaders and decision makers with fresh forward thinking ideas. Instead we go backwards to go forwards.

[I-10east]

City looks to hire designer to create new Jacksonville Landing plans. Proposals will be due by the end of January. Up to five candidates will be invited for interviews before a company is chosen on March 15.

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/12/17/dia-sleiman-enterpriesesseek-design-firm-for-new.html

[heights unknown]

In order for the Landing to truly be successful, the borders of the 'Landing' must be expanded beyond the structure known as 'The Jacksonville Landing'.  The entire waterfront from the Acosta off-ramps at Water St. all the way down to Berkman Phase II should be rebranded as 'The Jacksonville Landing.' This creates more so a district rather than a named building. This would also encompass much more retail and entertainment value than the landing as it currently sits can possibly hold on its own. The Landing (building) has and should always be the icon or central meeting place of Jacksonvillians and cultural events, but the inclusion of an entire district creates that much more of a festive atmosphere and relieves The Landing (building) of trying to be so many more things than it can possibly be at this point. Signage, trolleys, new paths, brick pavements, etc. can be the initial investment. The rebranding the retail, hotels, and biz along the strip likewise..ex. The Hyatt @ The Jacksonville Landing, TUPA @ The Jacksonville Landing, Omni @The Jacksonville Landing, etc.

Also, within this new plan I would like to see the City Hall Annex and Old Courthouse property as an inclusion to this new Jacksonville Landing District. Sooo the landing wants apartments?? Great! There's a City Hall Annex building waiting to wear a new design and welcome residents. Sooo the Landing wants to expand gathering space?? Great! There's a huge Old Courthouse surface lot on the water that's waiting to wear a new green grass coat and bear the weight of a brand-new Waterfront Ampitheatre. This would allow Metropolitan Park to retire its outdated performance venue and make way for an eventual Fairgrounds move to the waterfront in its place...(my own evil plan, lol) . And that Old Courthouse building lot itself?? Would be nice to expand convention center exhibition space and ground floor retail in a brand new building, or how about an intimate 6screen theater all in the vein of a sort of CityWalk like @ Universal Orlando. It could all be done if this damn city would stop thinking so much in the box and look outwards to create a sense of place rather than concentrate all energy into one single building.

Super assessment; never thought of the Landing in this vain and I'll bet other Jaxson's haven't either. If the Landing is to be a meeting place, it has to be bigger than just a building, like a district as you say covering a few city blocks (maybe), with numerous attractions within it in addition to the "Landing Building" which would still house shopping and entertainment; but to add a small carnival or fair, apartment, hotel, amphitheater, movie theater, man, this makes a lot of sense to me.

[heights unknown]

And guess what? If a Landing "district" or "area" as such were created, it would spur such attraction and growth that Jacksonville's residents, in addition to tourists and others (businessmen/businesswomen, etc.), would also want to come, or even move to Jacksonville. Not only would this spur growth downtown, but it would also spur more business, investors, etc., and other things that would make downtown more attractive and "life friendly" with people not only wanting to visit Jacksonville, but also with people wanting to live in downtown Jacksonville.!

[Marle Brando]

And guess what? If a Landing "district" or "area" as such were created, it would spur such attraction and growth that Jacksonville's residents, in addition to tourists and others (businessmen/businesswomen, etc.), would also want to come, or even move to Jacksonville. Not only would this spur growth downtown, but it would also spur more business, investors, etc., and other things that would make downtown more attractive and "life friendly" with people not only wanting to visit Jacksonville, but also with people wanting to live in downtown Jacksonville.!

Thanks. I believe a simple plan of action is all it would take. Could even leave the current building as is just cut out center opening up to the river, re-theme, and add more retail for now. And add new retail/restaurants lining Water St. in the lots immediately adjacent to the Omni and across from CSX and TUPA to create a 'streetscape' with retail lining all the way up to the Water St. Garage. Here is your parking solution, and now it wont feel so far away from the Landing (building) with retail lining this path now which in turn would encourage more use for this distant garage. These are just ideas to encourage a 'town center' feel within an actual urban environment vs. the imitation one on Gate Prkwy

[heights unknown]

Marle; they need to have you on one of those committees either with the developer, planning, etc. Super ideas. And this would also be one of the answers to the downtown Jacksonville revitalization problem; in my opinion, this would, or should put a super shot in the arm for downtown Jacksonville.

[downtownbrown]

I agree.  Great ideas and vision, Brando.  I hope CC, DVI, DIA, the Chamber, and the mayor are listening.

[UNFurbanist]

Well this is an interesting development that some have been suggesting for awhile. Looks like the start-up community is going to set up shop in some vacant parts of the landing. Wonder how this might effect plans of redevelopment with the DIA.
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2015/07/10/jacksonville-s-innovation-community-to-breathe-new.html

[dp8541]

I am interested to see this in action with their estimated August 7th opening.  I am still holding out hope this empty space could be used as a sort of farmers market, as has been discussed on here before. 

[I-10east]

Has anyone saw the recent stretch up proposal of the Landing on the TU? It looks like it's mainly all one building, with some smaller buildings in the front, and medium sized buildings to the west. It's lowrise (not covering up Wells Fargo's flare), it's modern, it says to hell with that 'magical' Laura St breezeway, it has a rooftop pool. I like it!!!(keep in mind, they are just prelim sketches) Ironically I can see the article on my phone, but not on the PC, go fig. Here's the paywall blocked article below.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-07-23/story/new-design-ideas-shown-rebuilding-jacksonville-landing

[thelakelander]

There is a Laura Street "breezeway" and the architecture is a placeholder....