Vistor Center for Jacksonville?

[thelakelander]

Good point about the roof of the JEA. Visitors center/observation deck would be interesting. The library's retail spaces face Hemming Park on Laura Street. However, you wouldn't know because they never had exterior signage and you have to walk inside the library entrance to see that they even exist.

[Fallen Buckeye]

I think the landing would be a great location, too. I think you could partner with the Maritime museum, and basically improve and expand on that to encompass more of the history and culture of Jacksonville.

[KenFSU]

I think a huge part of the reason Shelby's coffeeshop closed in the Main Library was the lack of visibility/access from the streets.

Even downtown workers didn't know it was there.

From 2007:

Coffee shop is inside Main Library

Yes, there really is a coffee shop inside the Main Library. Customers are surprised to know it's there.

JEA employee Maritza Rivera-Clapp was excited when she found out there was a Shelby's cafe in the Main Library. She is now a regular customer, and made three trips in the first two weeks Shelby's was open.

"It is so close to all the offices in Hemming Plaza and encourages people to come into the library," she said.

http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/052607/ner_172318650.shtml#.WUViGuvyvcc

Isn't Friends of Hemming Park currently using one of the retail spots for their office?

[thelakelander]

Yes. Partially due to the space being available since any business relying on visibility and hours of operation outside of the library's limited window, has found survival impossible to achieve.

[KenFSU]

Yes. Partially due to the space being available since any business relying on visibility and hours of operation outside of the library's limited window, has found survival impossible to achieve.

Apparently the space isn't super conducive for food service either.

The city issued a RFP a few years ago and got zero responses.

The configuration was cited as one of the primary reasons.

Seaman said leasing the space had its challenges, particularly in how the space is equipped for food service.

When prospective lessees learned there was no kitchen equipment or ventilation hood in the space, she said, "They hung up on me."

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=542241

[thelakelander]

Kind of crazy that it was designed that bad, from a tenant perspective. Also, depending on how a RFP is written and what demands it may include, it can limit the amount of viable responses as well.