Curry's Plan for the Landing Revealed

JeffreyS · February 20, 2019, 09:37:35 PM

I love (not really) that we will end up spending around 20 million to have another one of Curry's empty lots.

ProjectMaximus · February 20, 2019, 11:03:27 PM

After all that posturing they're not posing like best friends. AND the plan is to demolish? You cannot make this stuff up.

Quote from: KenFSU on November 10, 2018, 02:57:53 PM
"The Landing is absolutely, 100 percent not for sale. Even if I got an offer for 10 times what I paid for it, it's not for sale."

[/quote]

10x what I paid for it??? Get outta town. But 3x? Just point me to the bank!

Snaketoz · February 21, 2019, 09:27:51 AM

Can you believe this is happening to a city as large and as "bold" as Jacksonville? Can you imagine the thoughts of visitors staying in downtown perhaps considering relocating their businesses here? After doing business during the day they decide to see what there is to do near their hotel at night. Sadly, with Curry's plan they can take a taxi to Lot J to look at the construction site for the JEA's new headquarters, or go to the new park where the Landing used to be and feed the pigeons.

MikeG1479 · February 21, 2019, 09:58:54 AM

Can we at least wait, to see what happens before we start jumping to conclusions? I know there has been a lot of notoriety related to the Landing, and downtown in general, but can we stop with all the pessimistic view points? I'm just as frustrated with the downtown development as anybody in this forum.

The fact of the matter is that the Landing is just not working, and something needs to change. The Landing has been a blight on the city since Mayor Austin. Not saying that I'm in favor of a park, but unless somebody in this forum works for City Hall, we don't know what is going to happen. Something needs to change. I'm all in favor of knocking this depressing foundation to the ground.

And this does not come down to any particular party either. Every single, Republican and Democratic mayor (including Delaney) has had their hands in the proverbial cookie jar, with regards to the mess of downtown.

Snufflee · February 21, 2019, 10:13:18 AM

Quote from: MikeG1479 on February 21, 2019, 09:58:54 AM
Can we at least wait, to see what happens before we start jumping to conclusions? I know there has been a lot of notoriety related to the Landing, and downtown in general, but can we stop with all the pessimistic view points? I'm just as frustrated with the downtown development as anybody in this forum.

The fact of the matter is that the Landing is just not working, and something needs to change. The Landing has been a blight on the city since Mayor Austin. Not saying that I'm in favor of a park, but unless somebody in this forum works for City Hall, we don't know what is going to happen. Something needs to change. I'm all in favor of knocking this depressing foundation to the ground.

And this does not come down to any particular party either. Every single, Republican and Democratic mayor (including Delaney) has had their hands in the proverbial cookie jar, with regards to the mess of downtown.

As you stated, precedent regardless of political affiliation in Jacksonville dictates pessimism.

Snaketoz · February 21, 2019, 02:42:57 PM

I'll tell you why I'm so pessimistic. Tearing down everything in downtown hasn't worked. I've lived here since the mid 40s and remember when downtown was busy, vibrant, and entertaining. If you don't have a plan, don't tear down what you have. If you are optimistic, that's great. I'm using over 70 years of experience to know that the constant demolishing of the past several decades hasn't panned out.

JeffreyS · February 21, 2019, 04:25:46 PM

Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

Quote from: MikeG1479 on February 21, 2019, 09:58:54 AM
Can we at least wait, to see what happens before we start jumping to conclusions? I know there has been a lot of notoriety related to the Landing, and downtown in general, but can we stop with all the pessimistic view points? I'm just as frustrated with the downtown development as anybody in this forum.

The fact of the matter is that the Landing is just not working, and something needs to change. The Landing has been a blight on the city since Mayor Austin. Not saying that I'm in favor of a park, but unless somebody in this forum works for City Hall, we don't know what is going to happen. Something needs to change. I'm all in favor of knocking this depressing foundation to the ground.

And this does not come down to any particular party either. Every single, Republican and Democratic mayor (including Delaney) has had their hands in the proverbial cookie jar, with regards to the mess of downtown.

By all means let's wait and see if they turn DT into a desolate wasteland (outside of Shad's developments) then it will be very easy to correct.

JaxJersey-licious · February 21, 2019, 04:46:53 PM

It's kind of like the old saying: Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on me.

Fool us dozens of times...well at that point we're just enablers.

MikeG1479 · February 22, 2019, 08:23:51 AM

Im not saying raze every building. Absolutely not! But with the Landing, I think the vast majority are comparing apples and oranges. Im very glad some of the buildings downtown are being converted into loft apartments/ condos. Love the fact FCCJ moved their culinary program downtown, and excited as hell to see the Barnett tower and the Laura Street Trio to take off. Not to mention the rebirth of the Ambassador Hotel (those are all positives). And it annoys me to no end, that previous governments razed some gorgeous buildings throughout downtown, over the past 40-50 years.

I guess my point was, that the Landing has been such a joke for so long time, that I don't care if there is no plan for after it is demolished. Knocking that thing down, is a good start.

vicupstate · February 22, 2019, 08:36:59 AM

Well for the lovers of waterfront green/open space, you will soon get your wish in abundance. City Hall Annex. the old Courthouse, The Landing, The Shipyards, Metro Park or what is left of it.

MikeG1479 · February 22, 2019, 08:47:29 AM

And just for the record, I was very much against razing the the City Hall Annex and Court House.

blizz01 · February 22, 2019, 11:00:48 AM

Florida / Georgia weekend should be a real blast.... I wonder how many of the existing bars will have an adamant interest in relocating / maintaining a presence downtown. Thinking Hooters in particular as they've been there since the begining. Chicago Pizza and Fionn MacCools would be nice at street level/front.

Kerry · February 22, 2019, 11:01:56 AM

I'm no fan of the Landing, but tearing it down with no plan to replace it with anything is just stupid. Also, unless Jax does something about the homeless population no amount of green space is going to be used by the middle class in any great numbers. It seems cities have migrated to both ends of the spectrum - some cities barely have any homeless and others are over-run with them. Jax is on the over-run side of the equation. I was in downtown West Palm Beach last Saturday and saw exactly two homeless people (both sitting together on the sidewalk with a donation can).

Dapperdan · February 22, 2019, 03:50:22 PM

This will end up costing more then 18 million. The city will absolutely need to help the existing places relocate since they are terminating their leases. I know GLHF bar spent a lot of money trying to get ready to open again. It is not fair to these places.

thelakelander · February 22, 2019, 06:14:53 PM

Quote from: blizz01 on February 22, 2019, 11:00:48 AM
Florida / Georgia weekend should be a real blast.... I wonder how many of the existing bars will have an adamant interest in relocating / maintaining a presence downtown. Thinking Hooters in particular as they've been there since the begining. Chicago Pizza and Fionn MacCools would be nice at street level/front.

The spaces in the Landing largely events to survive. Seems like events are being driven to TIAA Bank Field. So I doubt many of the displaced business owners will spend millions to for new street front build-outs where they'll struggle for day-to-day business after splitting $1.5 million to have their leases terminated.