Convention Center Wars

[Charles Hunter]

Glad I read the article, the URL makes it look like the CC will cost Twelve Billion Dollars - when it is One Point Two Billion - can't put a decimal in the middle of a URL.

[Lostwave]

Obviously far from scientific, and a smallish sample size thus far, but here's the JBJ's poll.


the financing and potential locations.

This has changed a lot since you snagged this image.

85% - Iguana Investments' proposal to build the facility at the Shipyards
6% - Jacobs Engineering's 1.6 million square foot development
5% - Rimrock Devlin and DeBartolo Development's 500,000-square-foot convention center
4% - Preston Hollow Capital's convention center and 19-story hotel

Total number of responses: 282

[Captain Zissou]

Glad I read the article, the URL makes it look like the CC will cost Twelve Billion Dollars - when it is One Point Two Billion - can't put a decimal in the middle of a URL.

To cover the estimated $40M a year, you'd need an additional 10,000 occupants a night in jacksonville hotels to generate sufficient bed tax revenue.

[heights unknown]

Glad I read the article, the URL makes it look like the CC will cost Twelve Billion Dollars - when it is One Point Two Billion - can't put a decimal in the middle of a URL.

To cover the estimated $40M a year, you'd need an additional 10,000 occupants a night in jacksonville hotels to generate sufficient bed tax revenue.

I just don't see that (it) happening in and/or FOR Jacksonville; love me some Jax, but we are not that big or big minded,  don't think to "make it happen;" but we shall see.

[thelakelander]

I'm sitting at West Palm Beach's new convention center for the APA Florida conference this week. The convention center opened in 2003 and includes a 100,000 square foot exhibition center. The convention center cost $83 million to construct. I'll admit, this place is nice and the Prime Osborn is a pure joke to compare. In 2016, a $110 million, 400-room Hilton was added next door. About a year or two ago, $45 million, 2,650 space, 9-level parking garage was added. In 2017, the convention center turned its first profit (+$118,404) after 14 straight years of being in the red.  Palm Beach County is home to 1.47 million residents and tons of tourist. On the other hand, Duval is home to 937k residents and less tourist.



I mention all of this to say, do we really need 200,000 square feet of exhibition space? Do we need to lump a +$100 million hotel into this as opposed to working with the over-sized hotel next door we already subsidized? How did we end up with minimum requirements for a convention center that twice the size as a recently built, well done convention center in a county with 500,000 more citizens and a larger tourism base?



To me, it seems the requirements for these proposals are more than what Jacksonville can support and should invest in. Building something twice the size of what we can get away with only makes all the proposals cost twice as much. It also makes all of them financially unfeasible. Cut this thing down 50% and utilize the hotel we already have, and the numbers drop significantly enough to actually get something decent done.

[JaGoaT]

I THINK SOMETHING BIG IS COMING TO THE CITY SO THEY ARE PREPARING THEMSELVES FOR FUTURE GROWTH (YES MY CAPS LOCK IS BROKEN)

[thelakelander]

Something big that's unconfirmed is a bad reason to spend said funds on a product and market that is more dependent on outside forces than anything happening locally.

[Charles Hunter]

Damn, Lake, your proposal makes too much sense to be considered seriously.  Our Powers That Be would rather shoot for Mars (never mind the Moon), have the rocket explode on launch, and complain they don't have enough financial incentives (that is, tax dollars).

[downtownbrown]

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/a-date-with-dynamite-timeline-set-to-implode-city-hall-annex

Looks like this s is getting real. 

[vicupstate]

This was interesting from the article:

The full DIA board is scheduled to meet Wednesday to review the evaluation committee's scores and begin discussions on how to proceed, including whether the Bay Street site is the ideal location for a new convention center.

I thought the RPF was to be decided strictly on its own, without consideration for the other site option. 

[Papa33]

Well if that's the case and it's decided that Bay Street site is not the best location, then it appears they have to RFP it once again.  I agree with all, though, that neither the courthouse or annex should be razed until something concrete is decided with that site (although its probably too late for that).

[KenFSU]

Well if that's the case and it's decided that Bay Street site is not the best location, then it appears they have to RFP it once again.  I agree with all, though, that neither the courthouse or annex should be razed until something concrete is decided with that site (although its probably too late for that).

Sadly, I think it is too late.

Interior demo has been ongoing for several months.

[downtownbrown]

Way too late.  Who would have standing to get an injunction?  I'm glad they are getting on with it.  We need more cranes in the air.

[Tacachale]

This is very likely to prove to be a dumb move by the city, regardless of what happens with the convention center.

[downtownbrown]

Curious as to why razing two buildings with no historic or aesthetic appeal would be a mistake. Isn't it better to remove the asbestos filled boxes with something fresh that maximizes the riverfront.  I'll be glad to see them go.