City set to approve grants for Barnett Bank, Laura Street Trio

[FlaBoy]

Our last real boom in Downtown and the urban core more broadly was in the early 2000s. We currently have a lot of proposals and speculation but the same was true of the year or so before the Great Recession, and we can see what happened then. Proposals and speculation can create good energy, but it would be a mistake to treat them as if the corner has finally turned.

It is a positive sign for the development if DIA is commenting on committing money to the Trio (though, that's a *lot* of money for the price of the project). But, we've heard a lot of news about this project over the years and it's still in the same state. I'm not getting my hopes up.

+ 1

There's a lot of optimism that the removal of that Coastline parking lot is going to be big for downtown, and that the value of the Old Courthouse property is going to skyrocket; demo'ing the Courthouse will be discussed after the city sees what types of proposals come in for the Shipyards/Met Park property.

How will the courthouse property go UP in value when it is already on the river and will lose parking?

There is a huge parking deck between the property and river. The parking deck is waterfront, not the Courthouse property.

[KenFSU]

How will the courthouse property go UP in value when it is already on the river and will lose parking?

It's not currently on the river.

When the parking lot is imploded, the property becomes riverfront.

[JaGoaT]

How will the courthouse property go UP in value when it is already on the river and will lose parking?

It's not currently on the river.

When the parking lot is imploded, the property becomes riverfront.

Knock down the courthouse and make a nice little park

[vicupstate]

If you own the property between your building and the water, it is a waterfront building. Parking is lost. The water view/frontage is still there either way.   

[FlaBoy]

If you own the property between your building and the water, it is a waterfront building. Parking is lost. The water view/frontage is still there either way.

I have spent a lot of time over at the old Courthouse. It looks like the parking lot goes forever and all anyone used to comment was on how ugly it looks.

[remc86007]

Perhaps I'm missing something because of my age or a lack of appreciation for 50s architecture, but did anybody ever think that the waterfront view of the old courthouse was good looking? The Bay Street side looks fine to me.

On topic; I really think that this will happen this time, and I can't wait. Are there still plans for an organic grocery store, or am I mixing this up with something else? I think a grocery store on the northbank would do wonders for downtown residential development.

[thelakelander]

^When it was built, the waterfront was shipyards and industry on both sides of the river. So during that era, no one really cared about what it looked like from the river.

[Captain Zissou]

But, we've heard a lot of news about this project over the years and it's still in the same state. I'm not getting my hopes up.

The first day I met Stephen, Wyatt, Ennis, and Steve was when they invited me down to 3 Layers to look at the original renderings of this project, which I think this was in 2009.

[thelakelander]

When I first started tracking this project, Mike Langton was throwing dollar bills out of the Barnett. It was late 2003 and I was considering moving to Jax to accept a job in Ponte Vedra. At the time, he planned to turn the Barnett into the Lion & Gragoyle Hotel in time for the Super Bowl....

If the decade of the 1920s was the beginning of Jacksonville's skyscraper construction boom, then the early 2000s will likely go down in history as the era when those same buildings were revived.

Developer Mike Langton announced yesterday he plans to convert the old 18-story Barnett Bank Building downtown into 80 hotel rooms, 75 loft-styled apartments, a bank branch office and a five-star restaurant. -- John Pemberton/Staff

Developer Mike Langton, co-owner of LB Jax Development LLC, announced yesterday he plans to convert the old 18-story Barnett Bank Building at 112 W. Adams St. into 80 hotel rooms, 75 loft-styled apartments, a bank branch office and a five-star restaurant. Langton said he plans to ask for at least $8.5 million in city incentives to finance the estimated $25 million development to be called the Barnett.

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100703/bus_13718217.shtml#.WJHq21MrKUk

[FlaBoy]

It is why no project would be more symbolic of the momentum we seek for downtown, or turning a corner, than this one. So many hopes, dreams, and failures in the past.

[vicupstate]

It is why no project would be more symbolic of the momentum we seek for downtown, or turning a corner, than this one. So many hopes, dreams, and failures in the past.

True.

[KenFSU]

DIA officially approved the incentives package this morning.

Next up, City Council.

[Downtown Osprey]

This is the most excited I've been for Jacksonville in a looooooong time.

[spuwho]

Be interested in knowing how much Molasky paid Stache for the Barnett. According to Wallace, it was them that made it work.

Also interested in knowing why we are doing a tiered lease agreement on the new parking garage?

[BridgeTroll]

This is the most excited I've been for Jacksonville in a looooooong time.

I keep waiting for the... Wa  Wa...