Covent Garden Market & What's Next For The Landing

[avonjax]

The basic principles would be clustering pedestrian scale development and activity in a compact area around the Landing. The result would be more density and foot traffic to help support market rate development and business investment opportunities. The concept pretty much applies to rural towns just as much as it applies to a global metropolis. It doesn't mean you'll get same businesses in Covent Garden Market. However, you won't end up with dead spaces either.

Covent Garden was an established urban area for centuries before the market was moved owing to traffic congestion concerns, and the repurposed main structure is utilized by millions of tourists annually, which is what makes it viable, as far as I know. It is a highly-prized residential address as well. Moreover, it is served by a variety of public transport options. What "live spaces" do you envision for the Jacksonville Landing, which possesses none of those characteristics?

Your arguments are a pain in my rear. Just admit you hate Jax or DT or whatever your agenda is. Tearing down the Landing is the final blow for me and Downtown. I don't get your point. You have contributed nothing constructive to this conversation. And I'm still reading.

[avonjax]

COJ is spending $22 million in tax money there now. Way too much IMO for a vacant lot.

Perhaps so.

Reducing crime and homelessness in the area would be a legitimate function of city government.

Demolishing an empty structure is the city's responsibility, isn't it?
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I know I'm late to the party but as I recall the Landing wasn't empty.

[avonjax]

This will be another horrible black eye for DT. Just look at the empty lots everywhere DT now. People who have been coming to this site for years know that this is doomed to be an overgrown empty lot for god knows how many years. There is a promise of litter and homeless people hanging out on the site for years. Then we will get to hear all the complaints about the homeless problem and how anyone who goes near the place feels unsafe. They will avoid that section of the Riverwalk due to trash, poor maintenance and panhandling. There will be no one interested in developing the site maybe ever. History is not on our side. This is the greatest fiasco in Jax not in 30 years but probably 50 years. When and if Lot J is developed it will be the place that folks from the burbs come to visit and quickly race back to their subdivisions. If you think I'm wrong research the Shipyards, La Villa and numerous other sites and then you will realize the gaping holes where City Hall Annex and Courthouse, the Southside Generating Station, The Jacksonville Shipyards and numerous other sites have sat empty for years. There has been no real development boom near the 7 year old courthouse. Even though it would seem that a massive building would encourage some. Of course we do have a lovely parking lot where the Greyhound bus station used to stand. But this time I'm pointing fingers at our wonderful mayor Lenny who promised we wouldn't recognize downtown when he got through with it and so far he's upheld his promise. There will be nothing left to recognize when he is finished.