Competition

[jaxnyc79]

JaxNYC79, I agree about Riverside and San Marco. Their density levels make them suburbs in cities like Chicago and even LA. LaVilla was truly urban. Brooklyn was urban. We labeled them blight and blew them up. Now there's some infill taking place in these areas but at lower density levels.

Maybe we should go back to first principles: "An urban area is a human settlement with high population density and infrastructure of built environment.  Village culture is characterized by common bloodlines, intimate relationships, and communal behavior whereas urban culture is characterized by distant bloodlines, unfamiliar relations, and competitive behavior.

During the Industrial Revolution, commerce became an increasingly important part of city life and one of the magnets that drew people from the countryside. With the invention of the mechanical clock, the windmill and water mill, and the printing press, the interconnection of city inhabitants continued apace. Cities became places where all classes and types of humanity mingled, creating a heterogeneity that became one of the most celebrated features of urban life. In 1777 Samuel Johnson cheered this aspect of cities in his famous apothegm, "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."

Brittanica

To me, urbanism is all about a lifestyle that consumes, depends on, thrives on diversity on many levels.  Walkability and density are means by which the urbanist has almost constant interaction with said diversity.

[thelakelander]

I think I'm learning from thelakelander that the road to urban resurgence in Jax might be through a re-discovery, common acceptance, and love for its black heritage.  Until it does this, it will always lag.

I can't think of one vibrant walkable American city that didn't become so by building upon its history and unique characteristics. To date, Jax hasn't and to a large degree, worked to erase as much of it as possible. I've of the opinion we will struggle with many of these issues until that history and heritage is accepted and promoted. Doing such, will directly result in changes to policies and practices that were put in place that have hurt the urban environment since 1950.

[fieldafm]

I just hope that when J Lot, the Core, or any other development happens, places like Jenkins will be highlighted instead of national chains.  I'm sure Ben Groshell could format a great place on the river (Marker 32, North Beach Fish Camp, South Beach Fish Camp, Safe Harbor, etc) and Matthew Medure (M Shack, Medures etc.).  It would be great to have original homegrown options.  And I agree, Jenkins would do well in a refurbished Landing.

The Cordish developments pretty much follow a set suite of uses... you're likely going to have a large sports bar with massive TVs, a PBR country bar, a few national chains and some kind of brewpub affiliated with a large brewery option. I wouldn't expect much in the way of local stalwarts. The Battery in Atlanta is an interesting case study.  Outside of the Terrapin brewpub (hardly consider Terrapin a 'local brewery' now that it's owned by MillerCoors), the three 'local' restaurants have all closed (all citing lack of business on non-event days, given the high rents they are paying)... and that's with more sporting events than the Jax Sports Complex has, and with being located right off a major interstate in a market that is 7 times the size of Jax.

Interesting to note that there has been nothing stopping Cordish from teaming up with Sleiman to redevelop the Landing much the same as they redeveloped Norfolk's Waterside Marketplace.  The reason they haven't?  Because they know that the political establishment has picked winners and losers... and the political entrenchment has not deemed Sleiman to have kissed the ring enough to be welcomed into the 'winner' circle.  The arbitrary winners will get all the development incentives.

BTW, neither the Groshells or the Medures have been interested in the restaurant PAD site at Berkman. I predict that will sit empty for another 10+ years now that it will be surrounded by passive 'greenspace' with the demolition of the Courthouse/Annex buildings.

[Kerry]

Lot J isn't going to happen, so you can stop worrying about it.

[downtownbrown]

BTW, neither the Groshells or the Medures have been interested in the restaurant PAD site at Berkman. I predict that will sit empty for another 10+ years now that it will be surrounded by passive 'greenspace' with the demolition of the Courthouse/Annex buildings.


Maybe.  The pad was originally built for Medure, according to local lore.  Berkman imported him from the Ritz.  I hear the pad is about to be purchased as part of a package deal with other parts of the old Berkman holdings.

[fieldafm]

Maybe.  The pad was originally built for Medure, according to local lore.  Berkman imported him from the Ritz.

Then that's definitely lore likely drummed up by the original sales staff when the building converted from apartments to condos. The entitlement process was never specifically for Matthew Medure, and he had left the Ritz Carlton many years before the Berkman site was ever purchased for development by The Harbor Companies.

I hear the pad is about to be purchased as part of a package deal with other parts of the old Berkman holdings.

Part of that hearsay is true, in that the entire site being marketed for sale includes the following properties: a PAD site entitled for a standalone restaurant, two retails spaces for a long-ago closed hair salon and cafe/bodega as well as the existing Berkman marina.  However, there are no contracts signed, nor any impending contracts on that site.

[downtownbrown]

good to know.  Last I heard a potential buyer wanted the marina and pad, but not the retail spaces.  To your point, doesn't matter until the contract is signed.

[Kiva]

Lot J isn't going to happen, so you can stop worrying about it.

So demolishing the Hart bridge ramps will accomplish? Oh, yes better traffic to Talleyrand! Is it too early to vote for Anna Brosche?