Major Hemming Park overhaul to include restaurant, bar and new stage

[heights unknown]

Why no entrances or exits into the park on the north and south sides? Kind of weird for just entrances on the west and east side; what if there is an emergency of sorts? Need more entrance/exits.

[tufsu1]

^ there are currently entrances at all four corners of the park...plus in the middle on the north side.

I'm sure Ken's sketches are purely conceptual

[Keith-N-Jax]

Looks really good and  a great idea.

[Dapperdan]

Black Sheep owners Allan DeVault and Jon Insetta had been talking with Friends of Hemming Park for weeks about the restaurant and bar project that will be called "The Black Sheep Kiosk."

Horrible name, but an awesome idea!

It is a bad name. What about Black Lamb? Its a baby Black Sheep .

[ssky]

Are there any plans to open the Library Garage to the public 24/7, or at least until 2 a.m.? Could some of the funding for the Park go toward staffing that garage?  I believe it would be a great incentive for downtown visitors to have easily-accessible and secure designated parking, especially during concerts and other events like Art Walk.

[jaxlore]

There is free garage parking during Art Walk at the LAZ garage across from the courthouse, its about 3-4 blocks from Hemming Plaza. I think its 24 hour parking but not sure.
"Parking is free after 6 p.m. Art Walk night at meters and at the LAZ garage on the corner of Clay and Adams streets. Click below for even more options."

[whyisjohngalt]

Even though the park is managed by a non-profit, it remains public property.

If there is available public space for a "restaurant," shouldn't this be issued as a RFP or something like all the other food vendors at public parks?

Shouldn't other restaurants be invited to "bid" on the same space?  Doesn't seem right to have a private company given access to public property without a public proposal period.

[KenFSU]

^Compare what Friends of Hemming Park has done with the space over the last year versus what the public sector has done with Hemming over the last 30 years.

After doing that, I think the question kind of answers itself.

[RattlerGator]

Even though the park is managed by a non-profit, it remains public property.

If there is available public space for a "restaurant," shouldn't this be issued as a RFP or something like all the other food vendors at public parks?

Shouldn't other restaurants be invited to "bid" on the same space?  Doesn't seem right to have a private company given access to public property without a public proposal period.

Why should there be an RFP ? ? ? I presume one reason for allowing the management of the Park by a nonprofit was to allow for some flexibility and creativity.

[Captain Zissou]

Even though the park is managed by a non-profit, it remains public property.

If there is available public space for a "restaurant," shouldn't this be issued as a RFP or something like all the other food vendors at public parks?

Shouldn't other restaurants be invited to "bid" on the same space?  Doesn't seem right to have a private company given access to public property without a public proposal period.

Others definitely know more about this, but I'm sure the city's contract with FOH has language that specifies that FOH can contract with other parties on the city's behalf without the need of an RFP.  I am all for RFPs, but in this situation it's tough to be upset about what is happening.  Look at that timeline and tell me we would be anywhere close to a restaurant opening for business that quickly with an RFP.  I also think that an RFP would just be delaying the inevitable.  Black Sheep has deep pockets and they have some good people at the helm.  They may have won anyway.

[Captain Zissou]

Update:  An RFP was issued at Hemming earlier this year (http://www.hemmingpark.org/food-vendor-rfp/). Only one project responded and it has failed to produce any tangible results so far.  This new effort is a different approach to try and activate the space. 

There are still many moving pieces to deal with before we'll see this open, but the announcement was probably made this early in the game to keep momentum from the recent donations going and to show the vision for the future. Maybe they should have left the specific vendor's name out and kept it more general in nature until they were further along (more vision casting than specific project announcement), but what's done is done and I wish them the best.

[whyisjohngalt]

In the initial RFP the vendor was responsible for the buildout of restaurant area and equipment.

If the $85,000 from FoH is to provide that, then this is an entirely different proposal.  It's good that they have the process to create RFP's standardized so it shouldn't be hard to execute and follow proper procedure for public spaces.

It's clear that a formal RFP would delay the process but it's important to not set the "backroom deal" precedent with public space.

Re: 30 year results.  This park didn't have a comparable budget so it's really not fair to compare to now.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

It's clear that a formal RFP would delay the process but it's important to not set the "backroom deal" precedent with public space.

You're not serious?

'Backroom' deals are done in the open all the time and putting out an RFP by limiting the pool of eligible bidders.

I'm thrilled with the choice.  There are only a few groups of people with the know-how and the financing and the desire to make the core of Jacksonville a desirable place.  Jon is one of those people and he brings along others that share his vision.

[lowlyplanner]

The City's contract with Friends of Hemming Park is clear that "pre-approval of sub-contractors [by the City] is not required."

There has already been a public process to select Friends of Hemming Park as the manager for the park.  They should be able to act as the manager of a building would and choose the partners they want based on their own criteria.

I think it's a great choice.

[whyisjohngalt]

http://news.wjct.org/post/hemming-park-security-concerns-hampering-revitalization-friends-say

Semi-private?  Why couldn't they either lower the scope of cost to a sustainable level or reissue an RFP with part ownership included?