Lofts at Monroe

[acme54321]

Another apartment complex for Lavilla?

http://jacksonville.com/business/business-notebook/real-estate/2017-03-11/sunday-notebook-another-low-income-apartment?utm_medium=social&utm_source=The_Florida_Times-Union

[thelakelander]

Yes. Here's the full presentation with conceptual renderings and floor plans:



http://www.moderncities.com/article/2017-mar-the-lofts-at-monroe-proposed-for-lavilla

[RatTownRyan]

So the Lofts at Lavilla and Lofts on Monroe are both low income based housing and the Houston street manor is a geared toward seniors.  I am just wondering if there is and/or should be a limit on how many buildings are able to get the low income building tax  credit (not sure the exact name). I understand that there needs to be some low income housing in Lavilla and that it will help change the perception of it being a bad place to live. But how far are we from housing being built in lavilla that is not based on minimum incomes. At least 1-2 more? 5 more? Or do we have enough already?

[thelakelander]

As far as I'm concerned, they should build as many units as they can.  I don't see the negative in having more than white collar job holding millennials and empty nesters living in downtown.  The more people, the merrier.

[acme54321]

If there is the market for it I don't see the problem.  Not a huge fan of the site layout with that huge surface lot.

[Jason]

Hmmm, not really excited about the surface parking lot either.  Seems like a missed opportunity to really maximize the potential of an ENTIRE city block versus settling for a little over 100 units...

[benfranklinbof]

It's progress lol

[JaGoaT]

Parking lot ruins it

[heights unknown]

I kinda agree with rattownryan for a few reasons. I grew up in LaVilla (826 West Duval Street), and back in the day LaVilla was very low income, rooming houses, very low income apartments, and of course predominantly African American (which means nothing). I would hope we would get away from the past and those precepts and precipitate a "come one, come all" type of mentality; as Lake said, "the more the merrier" regardless of who they are, low income, high income, etc., my sentiments exactly, but, let's try to get some high tier/income residents in there as well; mix them in. This is not the 50's, 60's, and 70s and even beyond up to the year 2000. However, if they did have 7 to 10 seniors, low income, huds in LaVilla, then oh well; that's the way it is, but as long as there is in fill and we fill up those empty lots with housing, any type of housing mind you, that's ok with me. As they taught in college, economics is based on people, so if the market is there for these residences, and the people fill them up and come live there, then I am in fact a "happy camper." Lastly, if the people "fill up" those residences after build up/build out, then comes the commercial aspect, more restaurants, night clubs, dining, laundromats, gas stations, convenience stores, and I could go on and on; so let's get these plans off paper and in construction and crane mode.

[Jim]

I want to slap whoever approved the surface lot.

And this isn't low income, it's medium income.  Just like Lofts at LaVilla. 

[acme54321]

The only good thing about that lot is that if the market keeps on going they could build on top of it with another building that includes structured parking below.  Maybe they why they have it laid out like that.

[heights unknown]

I want to slap whoever approved the surface lot.

And this isn't low income, it's medium income.  Just like Lofts at LaVilla. 

You might want to educate rattownryan; he was the first to say low income. Thanks.

[edjax]

I want to slap whoever approved the surface lot.

And this isn't low income, it's medium income.  Just like Lofts at LaVilla.

Nothing has been approved. It goes before the board Thursday.  So voice your concern to those that will be making the decision.

[RatTownRyan]

Sorry but the title of the article is "Another low-income apartment complex planned for Lavilla". The maximum income level for a single person is no more than $27K and two people is $31K. While going through college full time and working part time i was pushing $25K. I just think that alot of people that might have want to live here wont be able to because they have a full time job.

[UNFurbanist]

I understand the mentality of wanting market and luxury apartments too but the way I see it, this is the smartest possible move for Jax. Cities all around the country are struggling to find places for affordable housing in their downtowns and we are baking it right in with our redevelopment. One positive of being so behind the curve is that we can learn from others' mistakes. Brooklyn will be all luxury and market rate most-likely so LaVilla having a few low to middle income residences is a great thing. I do hope that the next one that is proposed (and there should be more) will be market rate so you get that mix but every other project going up around downtown is market rate or luxury already.
For Example:
Broad Stone River house
200 Riverside
The Barnett and Trio
Ventures' SouthBank Development
Future Shipyards development
The District
Southern Baptist apartments
Allowing LaVilla to be an affordable neighborhood of downtown with quick access to the new JRTC transit hub is a smart move. One that could theoretically increase ridership on our transit system too. At the end of the day, anything is better than vacant lots and stuff like this will go a long way in changing the perception of the area.