Beach & University: Development of old Kmart site on hold

[thelakelander]

The closed Kmart on Beach Boulevard near University Boulevard draws regular questions from readers. It is a big piece of property that looks pretty sad and forlorn on a very busy stretch of the road.
The huge store, with an even more huge parking lot, closed in 2012.

But last year, NAI Hallmark Partners paid $1.9 million for some of the property.

Jeff Conn, principal with the company, said it bought about 8 acres, including the parking lot, the closed bank and part of the McDonald's property. But it's complicated. It didn't buy the store. Furthermore, the North Carolina-based owner of the building still has a lease on the parking lot.Conn said NAI Hallmark, which developed 220 Riverside, wants to develop retail on that site, which would mean new buildings going up where the parking lot is now.

But he's still hoping to buy more of the property and can't do anything until the lease expires in 2018.

http://jacksonville.com/business/real-estate/2015-09-12/story/sunday-business-notebook-development-old-kmart-site-hold

[brainstormer]

I'm pleased to see NAI Hallmark Partners involved in a potential redevelopment. It would be great to see a mixed use approach to that corner vs. just retail. It is a great location. Opportunities to get rid of outdated big box developments and create mixed use infill that promotes walkable neighborhoods should be a focus of the city moving forward. With Memorial Hospital, Brooks Rehabilitation, Virginia College, and numerous retail establishments like Starbucks, European Street, Staples, Walgreens, etc., the neighborhood already has a lot to offer. There isn't a lot of newer housing available, and I think it should be a part of any new development. The site has potential.

[coredumped]

Yep, that location has massive potential. It's close to downtown via the Hart expressway, lots of retail in the area, and beach Blvd is obviously a major road.
I'd like to see something happen there soon.

[ProjectMaximus]

Best thing about that location is KTown down the street. Ok, Ktown is a stretch, but it's unique in Jax.
Korean Grocery, Korean restaurant, Korean hair salon, Korean Karaoke, Korean Church all in the same strip. And Korean auto repair across the street haha

[jaxnyc79]

I second that!  I hope that city is on-board with developments like this.  I also hope it serves as a model for other vacant big box properties.  It would be brilliant to see townhomes or apartments incorporated into this development, perhaps around some sort of pocket park.  Perhaps a Tapestry Park-like project.  Only issue is whether it can get around traffic complaints?  I hope so, but anyone know if that may thwart plans for development density with something like this?

I'm pleased to see NAI Hallmark Partners involved in a potential redevelopment. It would be great to see a mixed use approach to that corner vs. just retail. It is a great location. Opportunities to get rid of outdated big box developments and create mixed use infill that promotes walkable neighborhoods should be a focus of the city moving forward. With Memorial Hospital, Brooks Rehabilitation, Virginia College, and numerous retail establishments like Starbucks, European Street, Staples, Walgreens, etc., the neighborhood already has a lot to offer. There isn't a lot of newer housing available, and I think it should be a part of any new development. The site has potential.

[thelakelander]

If Hallmark wants to propose something of better use for this site, I doubt the city attempts to thwart them. Redevelopment of blighted shopping centers like this is what the city wants.

[coredumped]

The traffic issues could easily be solved there with turn lanes.

[thelakelander]

Whatever goes in would be replacing a pretty large strip mall. Depending on the mix of uses, traffic could be less or the same.

[JaxJersey-licious]

One word: H-Mart

[ProjectMaximus]

One word: H-Mart

This would be awesome and in line with my previous post lol. But I don't think it would jive with any kind of mixed-use redevelopment. TBH though I don't imagine they're thinking in that vein...most likely just pad sites in a large parking lot, like Buca or the Town Center, etc.

[spuwho]

Can I get snarky and say this is what developers will be doing to Sleiman strip malls in 30 years?

I am familiar with a developer who tried to buy out that corner with the KMart years ago.

No bank would finance it and couldn't get any REIT's or hedge funds to work with it either. They all said it was a dead end. They wanted to build a mixed used anchored with a office/medical complex. Being so close to Memorial it was considered a huge win.  No one wanted to put money on it.

Glad someone is seeing the light.

Beach and University is on the cusp of a makeover.

The walls just went up on the new University Crossing /Brooks Rehab complex. They are tearing down the old 1960's era fast food buildings that had become run down impromptu homeless shelters.

The former Big Boy restaurant is a medical office. The former S&L is now a OB-GYN. The KFC that burned down is now a new Dunkin Donuts. Zaxbys moved in just over a year ago.

Something still needs to be done with the north side of Beach from the KMart west. The shuttered restaurant has been falling apart. Dollar General took the end lot across from ABC Liquor.

Suzanne Jenkins plans on San Nicholas had this area as a kind of "east gateway", though some people might say it is more aligned to the former Love Grove than San Nicholas.

[JaxJersey-licious]

One word: H-Mart

This would be awesome and in line with my previous post lol. But I don't think it would jive with any kind of mixed-use redevelopment. TBH though I don't imagine they're thinking in that vein...most likely just pad sites in a large parking lot, like Buca or the Town Center, etc.

Yeah I'm being a bit facetious about the H-Mart especially given a developer like NAI Hallmark is involved, but considering the fact that there are no big-box grocers in the immediate area since Albertson's closed, Jacksonville's established Korean community, a fast-growing regional Asian population, and most of the infrastructure in place why not? The bigger stores are truly regional draws that not only offer lots of fresh produce, seafood, and meats but the bigger ones offer cooking demonstrations and classes, appliances, and diverse food courts that would attract Asians and non-Asians from all parts of town. If the developers could find a way to integrate housing and medical office elements into the project all the greater.

[spuwho]

One word: H-Mart

This would be awesome and in line with my previous post lol. But I don't think it would jive with any kind of mixed-use redevelopment. TBH though I don't imagine they're thinking in that vein...most likely just pad sites in a large parking lot, like Buca or the Town Center, etc.

Yeah I'm being a bit facetious about the H-Mart especially given a developer like NAI Hallmark is involved, but considering the fact that there are no big-box grocers in the immediate area since Albertson's closed, Jacksonville's established Korean community, a fast-growing regional Asian population, and most of the infrastructure in place why not? The bigger stores are truly regional draws that not only offer lots of fresh produce, seafood, and meats but the bigger ones offer cooking demonstrations and classes, appliances, and diverse food courts that would attract Asians and non-Asians from all parts of town. If the developers could find a way to integrate housing and medical office elements into the project all the greater.

WinDixie remains at University and Terry Road. Since Albertsons/Rowes IGA closed they have refreshed the store. For awhile it was down to 3 checkout aisles, but has gone back up with the new business.

[ProjectMaximus]

Nice! I lived in the area for awhile and have always thought it had potential to eventually transform.

[LilBuck]

Suzanne Jenkins plans on San Nicholas had this area as a kind of "east gateway", though some people might say it is more aligned to the former Love Grove than San Nicholas.
[/quote]


I spotted this and went online to find the vision plan for St. Nicholas. I'm a pretty new resident and didn't know anything about these previous plans - but I've had hopes for the town center very much like what is outlined here. I think there is a lot of potential to build a unique center based on the streamline architecture. I'm excited to hear about potential revitalization in the Beach-University area as it may trickle down into our area. Does anyone know if any of the area merchants or residents are still interested in continuing with additional phases of this plan? From what I understand SNAP has not met in some time and I would love to see it become active again.