Former Gulf Life Insurance Headquarters to be demolished

[thelakelander]

More parking headed to the Northbank...


This building next door will be renovated into office space for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department


This building next door will be demolished to serve as a surface parking lot for the office project.

Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/photo-gallery/former-gulf-life-insurance-building-recommended-for-demolition

[vicupstate]

The commission determined the building did not meet the extent of the required criteria needed to recommend preservation and to seek landmark status with the city.

"The building is a classic example of Art Moderne and is one of the best examples in the Downtown National Register Historic District. The nomination for the historic district lists 10 Art Deco style buildings Downtown and this structure is one of the best examples of the style," said the memo.

So it is one of the best examples of an entire architectural style, but is does not meet the criteria for preservation? Did George Washington have to sleep there, for it to meet the criteria? 

This building is not a showplace, but at the same time another surface parking lot is the last thing DT needs. With all the parking garages First Baptist has, they can't work out a deal to lease a few spaces on the days the church doesn't use them?   

[Kerry]

Just when I thought Jax couldn't suck anymore than it does.

[thelakelander]

It is pretty crazy how we're still finding ways to become less dense in the 21st century. To be honest, I don't have high hopes for downtown becoming a vibrant pedestrian friendly place any time soon. While in Houston this past Saturday, it hit me like a ton of bricks in that if this city did everything right for the next 30 years (from preservation and trails to infill development and mass transit), at best it would be a significantly smaller poor man's version of 2018 Houston. The major areas where we can carve out a special niche for ourselves revolve around preservation/adaptive reuse, history, culture and eliminating things that restrict the natural market place from organically growing on its own.  For the most part, these are the things we struggle with or ignore the most. Regarding this specific project, I wonder if there was any discussion of leaving the Art Moderne facade up? Even that would be better than the typical surface lot, knee wall and black aluminum fencing that's likely to come in it's place.

[Captain Zissou]

WTF? It would be one thing if it was Eddie Farah, Sleiman, Warren Buffet, or Khan.... but our own fire department!?!? the COJ is one of the worst enemies of downtown revitalization

[Steve]

The commission determined the building did not meet the extent of the required criteria needed to recommend preservation and to seek landmark status with the city.

"The building is a classic example of Art Moderne and is one of the best examples in the Downtown National Register Historic District. The nomination for the historic district lists 10 Art Deco style buildings Downtown and this structure is one of the best examples of the style," said the memo.

So it is one of the best examples of an entire architectural style, but is does not meet the criteria for preservation? Did George Washington have to sleep there, for it to meet the criteria? 

This building is not a showplace, but at the same time another surface parking lot is the last thing DT needs. With all the parking garages First Baptist has, they can't work out a deal to lease a few spaces on the days the church doesn't use them?   

Amen....this one is idiotic. I realize that the local historic designation is what stops demolition and that Downtown isn't a historic district and by letter of the law they can do this. With that said, unreal that the picture shows the FBC garage a block away! I'm sure during the workday FBC has plenty of garage space for what will be a couple dozen spaces in this lot tops.

[Steve]

Email sent to CM Gaffney, CM Boyer (Who is my CM) and the At Large CMs. I'd urge everyone to do the same on this one.

[thelakelander]

One thing that stands about Hogan and Laura Streets is that they've both been largely preserved from having significant sized parking lots break up their historic/pedestrian scale building fabric between Bay and Union streets. That's very impressive given our godzilla like appreciation for razing buildings. However, because they're the only two main streets left with this type of context, should there be a discussion about maintaining that walkable atmosphere?

In terms of site design, wouldn't this project have to go before the DDRB? If so, how can demolition be approved before that process? Obviously, demolition radically changes the site. If the facade is one of the best examples of Art Deco within the downtown historic district, should there not be a discussion about the feasibility of at least incorporating it into the plan? This design option isn't available if the building is gone before the parking lot proposal comes up for review.

[Kerry]

Fire departments are one of the biggest deterent to walkable urbanism, so this is just par for the course.

[jax_hwy_engineer]

Am I the only one who sees the silver lining that they're going to renovate the adjacent building and use it as office spaces? Anything seems better then the state of the buildings as they currently stand, dilapidated and vacant...

[thelakelander]

Anything seems better then the state of the buildings as they currently stand, dilapidated and vacant...

If your goal is pedestrian scale vibrancy, a surface parking lot is worse than vacant buildings. So a single saved building surrounded by a sea of surface parking in the heart of downtown would be a long term negative.....if your goal is vibrancy in terms of walkability. If it's not, then it doesn't matter. However, I see this specific issue as an opportunity. I don't think it has to be an either or situation. 

[Captain Zissou]

Fire departments are one of the biggest deterent to walkable urbanism, so this is just par for the course.

What?

[acme54321]

Fire departments are one of the biggest deterent to walkable urbanism, so this is just par for the course.

What?

The trucks disrupt the peace.

[jax_hwy_engineer]

Fire departments are one of the biggest deterent to walkable urbanism, so this is just par for the course.

What?

The trucks disrupt the peace.

Yeah, wish they'd just shutup and let the town burn to the ground. Nothing spurs new urbanism like another Great Fire! 1901 move over, Great Fire of 2018 is gonna be wicked!

/s

[Steve]

Am I the only one who sees the silver lining that they're going to renovate the adjacent building and use it as office spaces? Anything seems better then the state of the buildings as they currently stand, dilapidated and vacant...

I disagree. I'd rather they not do this at all.

If they make it a parking lot, getting it back as a private development is impossible. Just park a block away.