Adaptive reuse of historic fire station

[strider]

author=thelakelander link=topic=15540.msg426163#msg426163 date=1443707543]

The station pictured above has been a residence for many years now. A cool place, it just needed some curb cuts for indoor parking to be more desirable, IMHO.

I was thinking about something more interactive at street level on such a prime corner. I know the structure was for sale at one time, but I'm not sure of its current status.

I wonder if mixed use would work for that downtown fire station, zoning wise. A cool residence up and an interactive use down.

The one on Riverside, why is to too late for it? It seems in a great location now that 220 and the other apartments are filling up. 


Seems like the historic building would be far more valuable now with the new development than a vacant lot or torn down for something new.

Fidelity owns the site now.

http://mayportmirror.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-12-06/story/jacksonville_must_move_fire_station_5_or_demolish_it

I have no idea what their long term plans are for the site. However, they own it and the larger parcel surrounding it. Combined it's a total of 1.21 acres. In the event they ever need more space, that's enough land to put a multistory building on.

The article linked said 3 months as a deadline.  I know there have been many discussions about this riverside station but I guess from the article, it must be moved to be used? The fact that it is still standing after 6 years may say otherwise?

[CCMjax]

It would be a tremendous shame if they demolished it.  These historic buildings are what give cities character and culture.  It is something Charlotte is struggling with even with all the recent success.  Nearly all the historic buildings in downtown Charlotte have been demolished and replaced with new.  Though their downtown is vibrant it does sort of lack an identity with nothing uniquely Charlotte.  And the question now is "What exactly is uniquely Charlotte?" because most of what was unique is gone.  Moving the old station would not be easy, but what about right across the street on the vacant lot next to Johnny's? 

It appears that Jacksonville has already made the mistake in letting private investors take control of the entire riverfront in Brooklyn.  There's a nice walkway on the river side of all the office buildings but not really a good noticeable link between the street and the riverwalk.  This small strip of land that the firehouse is on would be a great location for a park linking Riverside Ave with the riverwalk but looks like that will not happen since Fidelity now owns it.  Forest Street is the perfect location for that since it is the main street coming in from the west.  Are we going to look back 20 to 30 years from now when a large building is on that site and wish something had been done to open up forest street to the river?  Hmmmm, sounds very familiar (cough . . . Landing . . . cough Laura Street).  It's too bad because the firehouse could have been converted to a nice restaurant anchored at that end of the park. 

[thelakelander]

The article linked said 3 months as a deadline.  I know there have been many discussions about this riverside station but I guess from the article, it must be moved to be used? The fact that it is still standing after 6 years may say otherwise?

I take it as saying Fidelity doesn't have current short term plans for the site, but the long term plans don't include the station.