Convention Center Wars

[Kiva]

One paragraph from the article says: "The city is not bound to decide on one of the responses to the RFP, two of which came from companies based in Texas. There potentially could be legal issues, however, if that request for proposals wasn't made in good faith."

More litigation? Just what we need!

[Dolph1975]

Here's an article with new renderings...

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/riverwalk-place-would-bring-housing-hotel-and-restaurants-to-bay-street

[Captain Zissou]

I do think the best spot for the convention center is the courthouse site, but I really like the way that development looks and embraces the waterfront.

Edit: After seeing the site plan, I don't like the parking and the garage entrance that front bay street.  Bay and the water should have maximum street/water interaction and all utilities should be accessed from Liberty & Newnan.

[itsfantastic1]

They must've been spying on this forum as the waterfront venue is a food hall...

[KenFSU]

I actually prefer mixed use at the Courthouse site versus a Convention Center.

It's a great spot that I'd prefer belong to the people rather than the conventioneers.

To CZ's point above, I'm not wild about the design and it's very much Landing 2.0 in the way that it turns its back to downtown.

Would also love to see that 100 space surface parking lot folded into the garage.

This could get pretty ugly though.

For this particular project to happen, the city would have to make good with the other two firms who submitted bids so we don't get sued, then re-RFP the Courthouse site for mixed use.

The fact that nobody is paying any attention to the actual RFP process is hilariously Jacksonville.

[Captain Zissou]

I actually prefer mixed use at the Courthouse site versus a Convention Center.

It's a great spot that I'd prefer belong to the people rather than the conventioneers.

I do like the idea of one parking garage to rule them all out by the stadium so that the core isn't riddled with 500 space garages on every block.  The master lot J garage for Football, Daily's, the new arena venue, the convention center, the new hotels, the Doro District, Intuition, baseball...etc. I like how St Augustine built one monster garage on the periphery to keep the historic area intact.  That said, I want to make sure that we effectively bring conventioneers into the core to support local businesses and restaurants and make sure they are experiencing authentic Jacksonville.  I don't want them stuck out in the lot J area at some contrived Jacksonville nightlife like splitsville, howl at the moon, chili's and yardhouse.

[KenFSU]

What's most amazing to me about this whole thing is that Rimrock DeBartolo went through all the trouble and cost of submitting a bid for a convention center at the old courthouse site, only to turn around less than two weeks later to say that the "We believe the Shipyards is the optimal location for the Convention Center and hotel because of its riverfront location, ability to expand if needed, and synergies gained from its proximity to the existing sports venues and other development activities planned in the immediate aftermath."

They effectively shredded their convention center proposal.

You can't make this stuff up.

[Steve]

The hotel site seems suburban to me. I also don't like the superblock created by closing Newnan. Though, I'm guessing most convention center proposals would do that too.

Also, lift the ting up and do a floor of retail vs. ground floor residential over there.

[Downtown Osprey]

I actually prefer mixed use at the Courthouse site versus a Convention Center.

It's a great spot that I'd prefer belong to the people rather than the conventioneers.

I do like the idea of one parking garage to rule them all out by the stadium so that the core isn't riddled with 500 space garages on every block.  The master lot J garage for Football, Daily's, the new arena venue, the convention center, the new hotels, the Doro District, Intuition, baseball...etc. I like how St Augustine built one monster garage on the periphery to keep the historic area intact.  That said, I want to make sure that we effectively bring conventioneers into the core to support local businesses and restaurants and make sure they are experiencing authentic Jacksonville.  I don't want them stuck out in the lot J area at some contrived Jacksonville nightlife like splitsville, howl at the moon, chili's and yardhouse.

Speaking of the Doro Distrct....What has been the news (if any) on that? The last I remember was plans for possible apartments, bowling alley and more. I loved the idea when I first read about it.

[vicupstate]

Doesn't the Hyatt have Right of First Refusal on the city hall annex/courthouse site? If so, why would they agree to having a competitor built next door, especially if the CC isn't part of the deal?

If you are going to put a hotel or apartments behind the Hyatt, why not just convert the building that is already there?

Ground floor apartments on Bay st. is not ideal. Should be retail level on the ground.

[thelakelander]

The hotel site seems suburban to me. I also don't like the superblock created by closing Newnan. Though, I'm guessing most convention center proposals would do that too.

Also, lift the ting up and do a floor of retail vs. ground floor residential over there.

It will be interesting to see if they get the same push back Sleiman got when he wanted to build over Hogan Street.  Also, revamping the old City Hall into a hotel would be way more impressive than the little thing with the big surface lot in the heart of DT.

[ProjectMaximus]

I do like the idea of one parking garage to rule them all out by the stadium so that the core isn't riddled with 500 space garages on every block.  The master lot J garage for Football, Daily's, the new arena venue, the convention center, the new hotels, the Doro District, Intuition, baseball...etc. I like how St Augustine built one monster garage on the periphery to keep the historic area intact.  That said, I want to make sure that we effectively bring conventioneers into the core to support local businesses and restaurants and make sure they are experiencing authentic Jacksonville.  I don't want them stuck out in the lot J area at some contrived Jacksonville nightlife like splitsville, howl at the moon, chili's and yardhouse.

You forgot Coyote Ugly. But I completely agree.

[thelakelander]

Other than that the food hall component, I find the rest of it pretty underwhelming. Bay Street should be lined with commercial space on both blocks and the hotel site is about as suburban as something one can stick in the middle of the Northbank. If we don't use this site for a convention center, I'd hope we can find a way to maximize the property with more density.

[Jagsdrew]

Totally agree with Lake. Pretty underwhelming outside the food hall. Wish they would get rid of Market St and Courthouse drive. No sense in including vehicles through that area. 

[KenFSU]

Silver lining:

There's absolutely no way that we can legally agree to this anyway.

The Courthouse property was RFP'd for a convention center, not mixed used.

Even if we picked the Shipyards for a convention center, we'd still need to re-RFP the Courthouse site for mixed use.

There's at least one more interested party in mixed use at the Courthouse site.

Hyatt's right of first refusal doesn't give them the right to turn down an idea for the property, it just gives them the right to match whatever offer comes in for it.