Urban Construction Update - July 2015

[Metro Jacksonville]

Urban Construction Update - July 2015



Major construction projects have returned to the landscape of Jacksonville's urban core. Find out where (and more) as we take a brief look at the status of various developments under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville during the month of July 2015.

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2015-jul-urban-construction-update-july-2015

[Jason]

The Cowford Chophouse is going t look awesome, I can feel it!

I also can't wiat to see the design plans for the new Cancer Center.  I sure hope the building will fit in well with the surroundings and be held to high standards by the city.

[Live_Oak]

Are you sure a bowling alley is going into 1012 King Street?  Doesn't it seem a little small for a restaurant/bar and a bowling alley?

I did a little research and it seems as though Scott McAllister bought the old Phoenix Lanes on Blanding Blvd.

Might there be a mix up in some of the details?

[ProjectMaximus]

Still nobody knows whats going on at #45. 1604 San Marco Boulevard?

[Josh]

So what's the deal with the status of the BRT project downtown? How does it take nearly a near to pave/widen a couple of small sections of road? The fact there's almost always some crew working actively working on the site makes it even more confusing/infuriating.

[Crabernacle]

I have a friend who recently moved into The Brooklyn Riverside. Unfortunately it hasn't been without complaint. The space itself has received rave reviews, but management seems to be nickel-and-diming residents. Still, his greater disappointment has been the demographics. He bought into the idea of Brooklyn Riverside as a place for young professionals, but it seems to be attracting a large number of families instead. Granted this is only anecdotal, so take it with a grain of salt. I had hoped to be able to move in myself at some point, but as the rent prices Jacksonville keep going up that seems to be quickly moving out of reach.

[dp8541]

First I am hearing of Timoti's Seafood Shak opening a location in Five Points.  That is great news as I have heard great things of the Amelia Island location.  The riverside area really does not offer a cheaper seafood option (apart from Bluefish's happy hour).  This should be a great addition to the area.  Thanks for the update!

[acme54321]

First I am hearing of Timoti's Seafood Shak opening a location in Five Points.  That is great news as I have heard great things of the Amelia Island location.  The riverside area really does not offer a cheaper seafood option (apart from Bluefish's happy hour).  This should be a great addition to the area.  Thanks for the update!

X2!

[Captain Zissou]

Somewhat related note, Marcus Lemonis was listed this month as a new member of Epping Forest.  I'm guessing he'll be using the club for meeting space while he is in town, but that I found it interesting that he is strengthening his ties to Jax a little more. 

[jaxjaguar]

What exactly is being done to the exterior of Baptist downtown? It's really hard to tell from the pics... are they just redoing the stucco / paint?

[ProjectMaximus]

I have a friend who recently moved into The Brooklyn Riverside. Unfortunately it hasn't been without complaint. The space itself has received rave reviews, but management seems to be nickel-and-diming residents. Still, his greater disappointment has been the demographics. He bought into the idea of Brooklyn Riverside as a place for young professionals, but it seems to be attracting a large number of families instead. Granted this is only anecdotal, so take it with a grain of salt. I had hoped to be able to move in myself at some point, but as the rent prices Jacksonville keep going up that seems to be quickly moving out of reach.

Isn't it up to 2 bedrooms? I'm surprised that they're getting a lot of families...even anecdotally. If anything I would think the complaint would be too many old retirees or empty nesters...

[thelakelander]

The love for urban living doesn't go away because you commit to one person and decide to have kids. I'm not surprised to see families interested in new multifamily housing near downtown. I was more surprised at the lack of housing types and kiddie amenities in downtown, when I first came to town. Truly great cities accommodate the entire life cycle. Get a decent public school down there and the flood gates will open!

[simms3]

^^^Yea, frankly, in some of the top tier cities, wealthy new couples (with or without kids) and empty nesters live immediately downtown, where it's typically more quiet, has solid restaurants, and shuts down fairly early on average (but also offers amenities for mom and dad or couple freshly without kids to have a "night out on the town" that ends by 11-12).  I've noticed this in SF where truly luxury condos (up to $49M in price) are built downtown, and in NYC where Midtown is really the only place where I consistently see baby strollers and also where the truly luxury condos are mostly being built (on perhaps the quietest street in Manhattan at 57th), with the other crop of luxury towers going to Lower Manhattan.

The inner ring urban neighborhoods like Riverside tend to attract a ton of bars.  Inner ring warehouse areas are where all the clubs and trendy "lofts" are, leaving outer neighborhoods or immediately downtown for those looking for a more settled lifestyle.

This makes a bit of sense.  I mean, look at the Peninsula.  Filled with empty nesters/boomers.  I know that for a fact because I know quite a few of them.

[exnewsman]

So what's the deal with the status of the BRT project downtown? How does it take nearly a near to pave/widen a couple of small sections of road? The fact there's almost always some crew working actively working on the site makes it even more confusing/infuriating.

This amounts to more than paving. Sidewalks on both the east/west sides of Jefferson and Broad streets between Forsyth and Beaver streets are all being replaced. So what's that about 8,000 feet of decorative sidewalks (bricklaying, etc). They also did utility work, new drainage, sewers). The groundbreaking was in November so the construction work started after the first of the year. Not even close to a year on this yet.

[fsquid]

Somewhat related note, Marcus Lemonis was listed this month as a new member of Epping Forest.  I'm guessing he'll be using the club for meeting space while he is in town, but that I found it interesting that he is strengthening his ties to Jax a little more.

that is pretty cool.