So far, Unity Plaza not bringing people together

[thelakelander]

An update on the status of Unity Plaza. Btw, while Brooklyn has the potential to one day grow into a denser neighborhood, everyone would do Unity Plaza a big favor by stop comparing it to NYC's Bryant Park.  They aren't alike and never will be.  That's about as apples and oranges as we can make, in terms of surrounding context and environment.

Built with $2.6 million in taxpayer money, Unity Plaza opened with visions of becoming "the central park" of Jacksonville, a place where people would converge from across the city for events at an amphitheater next to a large pond where a fountain shot water into the air.

Two years later, the partnership between the city of Jacksonville and a nonprofit organization overseeing Unity Plaza hasn't achieved its lofty goal. But officials say the concept is sound, and as the Brooklyn neighborhood sees more development, Unity Plaza will become a destination.

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2017-05-16/so-far-unity-plaza-not-bringing-people-together

[RattlerGator]

The Central Park or Bryant Park language was always bizarre to me. Completely counterproductive and indicative of an incredibly narrow understanding of this country, this state, this city. Forget NYC, Chicago, San Francisco -- they simply don't apply in the South as any sort of urban core model.

[Adam White]

Just went to the "events" calendar. March is my personal favorite:

http://unityplaza.org/events/2017-03/

Wow, that is a lot of yoga.  And, no, I wouldnt count those as "events".  Those are "classes".

The day I turn up to do yoga will be a fucking event, for sure.

[Tacachale]

The city put a lot of money into that park. "Good enough" doesn't seem like a great return on investment compared to what was promised.

[thelakelander]

At this point, revisiting the placement of a limited service hotel facing Unity Plaza (right on top of that dirt parking lot) would be best for its retail spaces. There's no hotel in this area of the core and hotel guest tend to eat out at least three times a day.  Something like an Aloft would probably do well there, being so close to DT and Riverside.

[Captain Zissou]

Just went to the "events" calendar. March is my personal favorite:

http://unityplaza.org/events/2017-03/

I've been to a couple of decent sized events there in the past couple months that aren't on that calendar.  One, the Walk for Wishes for the Make a Wish Foundation, packed the park with about 600 people from 8 am until 1 pm.

Hallmark never finished the plaza, which is my main issue.  There was supposed to be a huge sculpture in the pond, the north side was supposed to be landscaped and some sort of seating area, there was supposed to be a beer garden, etc....  At this point, I think their energy should be spent building 200 riverside and the hotel, but the city should hold them accountable to deliver what they promised.

[ben says]

The layout is kind of bizarre...that said, first to admit I haven´t spent enough time there.

The last time I was there, it just felt like a shitload of poured concrete. An awkward space, at best.

And yes, the comparisons to bigger and better parks need to stop. It´s counter productive to put it lightly.

This area needs a hotel (Aloft was a good idea) and things may start to shift.

[Jim]

Who in the world was comparing it to Bryant Park and why?   Bryant sits in Midtown (one of the densest neighborhoods in NYC), is 2 blocks from Grand Central Station (same distance to Skyway maintenance facility), 2 blocks from the southern edge of Times Square and 6 blocks from Rockefeller Center.

Yoga is about the only thing they have in common.

[pierre]

It is surrounded nearly completely by empty lots and gated parking. There is almost zero foot traffic.

Fill in some of those empty spaces, and there may be more people.

[vicupstate]

Who in the world was comparing it to Bryant Park and why?   Bryant sits in Midtown (one of the densest neighborhoods in NYC), is 2 blocks from Grand Central Station (same distance to Skyway maintenance facility), 2 blocks from the southern edge of Times Square and 6 blocks from Rockefeller Center.

Yoga is about the only thing they have in common.

I think you answered your own question.

Namaste

[Westside Guy]

Even with all of the great projects that have been finished in Brooklyn I saw this coming from a mile away.  The area just isn't dense enough yet to support an amenity like Unity Plaza, especially when the people in 220 hate the place because of the noise when they do have events.  Brooklyn has potential, but its about time we started to see some density in the area.  A parking lot facing Riverside Avenue and all of those empty lots do a disservice the urban neighborhood that Brooklyn has the potential to be.

[lastdaysoffla]

The layout is kind of bizarre...that said, first to admit I haven´t spent enough time there.

The last time I was there, it just felt like a shitload of poured concrete. An awkward space, at best.

And yes, the comparisons to bigger and better parks need to stop. It´s counter productive to put it lightly.

This area needs a hotel (Aloft was a good idea) and things may start to shift.

Unity Plaza is very awkward and unwelcoming. I don't even think of it as a park. It's just an extension of the development.

They wanted to make this a place for open-air concerts, but i just don't see it happening with Daily's Place set to be finished soon.

Then again competition is always a good thing in the music venue game.

[remc86007]

I agree that it is awkward and unwelcoming. If there isn't an event going on, I feel awkward being there as if I am trespassing in a common area of the apartment building.

[Debbie Thompson]

I agree it's uninviting.  It must be awful attending an afternoon event in summer with all those concrete steps and no shade.  You can hardly call that structure in the retention pond a fountain.  It looks like a concrete bunker that sprung a plumbing leak in the ceiling.  I've never understood the attraction.  I didn't know it wasn't completed.  Some shade, even a bunch of trees in large pots, would go a long way to making it more attractive.  And do something with that "fountain."  :-)

[billy]

The retaining pond that was going to change the world.