Mayor Curry wants the Landing back

[pears045]

Gilbert and Khan are night and day.  Gilbert is from Detroit and has taken a personal interest in using his influence and power as a catalyst for that city's revitalization.  I wouldn't compare Khan's potential impact on Jax in any form close to Gilbert's, until Khan does something like relocating Flex-N-Gate's corporate headquarters to downtown Jax.  That's basically what Gilbert did with Quicken Loans, thus bringing thousands (+14,000 workers to DT Detroit) and creating a market for additional development that wasn't present prior to that decision.  On the other hand, Gilbert is about to accidently make downtown Cleveland take an economic hit by running Lebron off in 2018.

With Illinois falling apart under the stress of financial ruin, and literally having no other ways to raise revenues, maybe except additional taxes on corporations, now may be the time to see if Khan would like to move his corporate HQ to Jax or Naples lol.

This is a great idea; then we could get him to pay for dredging the St. Johns River so he can ship those bumpers all over the world from JaxPort   

[FlaBoy]

Illinois is in some seriously bad shape. If there was ever a time to move the HQ, maybe not the skilled workforce in Champagne, but the HQ for tax purposes, it may be now.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/could-illinois-be-the-first-state-to-file-for-bankruptcy/

A financial crunch is spiraling into a serious problem for Illinois lawmakers, prompting some observers to wonder if the state might make history by becoming the first to go bankrupt. At the moment, it's impossible for a state to file for bankruptcy protection, which is only afforded to counties and municipalities like Detroit.

Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection could be extended to states if Congress took up the issue, although Stanford Law School professor Michael McConnell noted in an article last year that he believed the precedents are iffy for extending the option to states. Nevertheless, Illinois is in a serious financial pickle, which is why radical options such as bankruptcy are being floated as potential solutions.

Ratings agency Moody's Investor Service earlier this month downgraded Illinois' general obligation bonds to its lowest investment grade rating, citing the state's growing pile of unpaid bills and its mounting pension deficit. Illinois, by the way, has the lowest credit rating of any state. Lower ratings mean higher borrowing costs, since lenders view such borrowers as riskier bets.

Glad to be a Floridian. 

[KenFSU]

Truly odd editorial by the Times-Union board blaming Sleiman for all of the Landing's woes and calling for him to effectively do the right thing and give up the property. They also mention demoing the whole thing, figuring its use out later, and maybe turning it into a park. They also include Curry's tweets about the city owning the Landing without correction or qualification. Really, really strange stance for a newspaper to take, and no t a great look after a secretive closed-door meeting with Curry about the issue a few days ago.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2017-06-22/editorial-it-s-time-sleiman-take-buyout-and-bow-out-landing

[Keith-N-Jax]

I'm all for parks but in that location?? And why is this city obsessed with parks and parking garages is beyond me. 

[KenFSU]

^With amenities like "shade" and "misters"!

Where's Peyton with his hot dog cart when you need him.

I also take issue with the article's broad, sweeping generalizations about how most residents want to see it torn down and replaced (no poll necessary), and how embarrassed we are as a city by the Landing. Huge difference between underperforming relative your potential and being an active embarrassment to the city.

[thelakelander]

Truly odd editorial by the Times-Union board blaming Sleiman for all of the Landing's woes and calling for him to effectively do the right thing and give up the property. They also mention demoing the whole thing, figuring its use out later, and maybe turning it into a park. They also include Curry's tweets about the city owning the Landing without correction or qualification. Really, really strange stance for a newspaper to take, and no t a great look after a secretive closed-door meeting with Curry about the issue a few days ago.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2017-06-22/editorial-it-s-time-sleiman-take-buyout-and-bow-out-landing

Interesting perspective. Anyway, for those who may not know, I've agreed to provide occasional editorial content, concerning DT, for the TU and my first submittal is due next week.  The Landing situation will be my topic.  I'm one of those downtown advocates who believes the structure can be argued as being a unique and iconic element within the Northbank skyline.  I also believe the city's track record at managing anything downtown related is about as bad as it can be and certainly just as risky as Sleiman's desire to rip the place down and start over with massive public incentives. Let's just say, my perspective will be quite different from Curry's, Sleiman's and the TU's editorial board.

[KenFSU]

^Looking forward to it, Ennis!

Another thing that I found interesting in the T-U editorial was their characterization of Sleiman's proposed 2014 redesign as "...urban redevelopment abuse. [The Landing] is one piece of Downtown property that should be considered the people's land."

Funny, they sang it's praises in 2014, calling it just what downtown needed.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2014-08-28/story/change-needed-jacksonville-landing

Just so weird to me that they've so clearly taken Curry's side, accusing Sleiman of "slapping the mayor in the face" when Curry is engaged in the same pissing match as Sleiman.

[thelakelander]

From my perspective, it's sort of a weird Jacksonville thing.  I truly believe if the Landing were owned by anyone other than Sleiman, the city would have burned millions on its redevelopment years ago.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Probably would have been done before the 2005 SB, its a shame they cant work this out, the Landing is a prime piece of real-estate and its almost like an icon for the city. I have brought many out of town visitors there and they love it and wonder why more people are not there.

[spuwho]

Probably would have been done before the 2005 SB, its a shame they cant work this out, the Landing is a prime piece of real-estate and its almost like an icon for the city. I have brought many out of town visitors there and they love it and wonder why more people are not there.

Because no one has any interest in the Landing except to give out of towners the requisite northbank riverwalk.

They would prefer to go to SJTC to eat rather than pay to park and choose Hooters.

The Landing needs more urban residential around it for sustainable retail to take hold.

As it stands today, you could rip out the guts, leave the beams and roof in place and make it a semi covered park and its appeal would be the same. Where people take out of towners to walk the northbank.

[vicupstate]

Wow. Could that editorial be any more one-sided? Totally ignores the multiple times the city has dropped the ball on this property. Furthermore, it totally ignores the city's abysmal record on DT redevelopment generally.

Clearly Curry and some other private party have designs on the Landing. The T-U is all too willing to do their bidding too. Sleiman better lawyer up, although he probably doesn't need me to tell him that.

I'm not sure what angle they will use to try to screw him out of the building, probably something about not adhering to his lease somehow. This clearly isn't just a political pissing contest, but a war about to break out. I realize Sleiman isn't the most popular guy in town but juries often don't look kindly on a city trying to muscle a citizen out of their rightful property.   

[tufsu1]

Other than the pension thing being less than optimal Curry has really surprised me.  The guy is actually making things happen  unlike the other recent administeations. I like it.

that makes one of us

[RattlerGator]

Speaking of weird, why is the Gilbert comparison slammed? It was a damn good and rather obvious comparison. The discussion wasn't about Detroit, it was about an owner of a major sports franchise in CLEVELAND and what it (and he) has meant for Cleveland.

It was a good and proper point unless you're working really hard not to grasp it.

And Ennis, you seem to have a blind spot on this question. Your points seem to center on the city not being the best operator of things downtown: "I also believe the city's track record at managing anything downtown related is about as bad as it can be" is what you wrote.

Um, hello? You do realize it's a new day and the city has partnered extremely well in the proper way down in the sports and entertainment district -- hasn't it? So what does that backward looking point mean in the light of today ? ? ?

I don't care if it's Rummel, Shad, or some other operation or developer -- charge hard, Mayor Curry.

[vicupstate]

Um, hello? You do realize it's a new day and the city has partnered extremely well in the proper way down in the sports and entertainment district -- hasn't it? So what does that backward looking point mean in the light of today ? ? ?

I hope Curry is successful getting DT JAX off the dime, but he has barely started. It will take some sustained success on multiple projects to turn the city's reputation around after decades of Landing fiascoes (this may be a new one), Harbormasters, LaVilla Seafood, more lives than a cat Laura Trio plans, Tri-Legacy boondoggle, etc.   

[Papa33]

Can't we call just get along?  I for one, believe, the best use is a public park and I hope those with some clout advocate for that.  By the time this thing sorts itself out, there will be retail/restaurant space etc in another part of downtown (i.e. shipyards).

I know it won't be easy, but the city has surplus property, so try to trade Sleiman some city property of comparable value (comparable in dollars) to do what he pleases.  Unfortunately, the property on which the landing sits is priceless and Sleiman knows that, so I think he will hang on.