JEA Selects Downtown For New Corporate Headquarters

[CityLife]

The new design is a major upgrade. The last design looked like it was from 1994.

The fact that the building actually looks attractive and current should be a dead giveaway that JEA is going private though {Tongue and Cheek}. I mean when's the last time a nice public building was built in Jax?

[heights unknown]

It looks better than the previous rendering. It's a style of architecture that DT Jax doesn't have much of. However, I'll be interested to see how the corner of Adams and Julia is addressed at ground level.


Before:



After:

I like the before rendering better.

[heights unknown]

It looks better than the previous rendering. It's a style of architecture that DT Jax doesn't have much of. However, I'll be interested to see how the corner of Adams and Julia is addressed at ground level.


Before:



After:

I like the before rendering better.

What made them change the rendering I wonder? The "after" rendering looks too cluttered and clunky IMO.

[Ken_FSU]

First glance - hated it.

Second glance - I dig it.

I like how it really opens up to the Courtyard lawn. EASILY the nicest greenspace in the downtown core, would be cool to see more activity on it (movable furniture, shaded tables, food  trucks nearby, etc.).

[vicupstate]

EASILY the nicest greenspace in the downtown core

It is nothing but grass. 

[CityLife]

EASILY the nicest greenspace in the downtown core

It is nothing but grass. 

True, but the grass to dirt patch ratio is unrivaled.

[Ken_FSU]

EASILY the nicest greenspace in the downtown core

It is nothing but grass.

There's not much competition.

On a side note, kind of a dick move of the city to kick all the homeless people out of the Main Street pocket park for construction of the dog park, yet four months later, absolutely nothing has happened with the site.

[Steve]

I like how it really opens up to the Courtyard lawn. EASILY the nicest greenspace in the downtown core, would be cool to see more activity on it (movable furniture, shaded tables, food  trucks nearby, etc.).

I feel like we're in danger of creating the same vibe as around Hemming Plaza:

Hemming
- To the North: City Hall open 9-5
- To the South: Office Building, could have retail but doesn't
- To the West: Courthouse open 9-5
- To the East: MOCA and Library, both of which have retail but isn't really used all that well

Courthouse Lawn
- To the North: County Courthouse open 9-5
- To the East: JEA Office, no retail facing the Lawn so open 9-5
- To the South: Parking Garage with Retail space (a positive) and a Vacant Lot (thank goodness since we don't have enough of those downtown)
- To the West: Opportunities for Development along Broad Street

Here's my point: Hemming is Dead after 5PM unless there's an event. It COULD be cool, since you have church that's been vacant since Delaney was Mayor and could be something, you have buildings to the east that COULD be lively at night (the retail space is largely there), and you have the buildings on Hogan (with the jeweler, Ed Ball, and Sweet Pete's though the latter is in question a bit).

While the Courthouse Garage is ugly, at least it has retail space facing the lawn, the vacant lot is an opportunity for Development with retail space, and Broad Street has options (especially if the city sells their lot).

Long winded way of saying this: Ken is right - the grass could be something cool if the development around the lawn is done right. This would be an area where the lawn could be really cool and could end up being more of a plaza/park.

[thelakelander]

^Another reason why DT Jax needs a plan or road map to guide all public and private sector investments in a manner that incrementally adds up into whatever the community deems it wants downtown's future to be. Years ago, we had to fight to keep that green space from becoming a freaking road. Get the surroundings right and that square could be a pretty exciting space.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

^Another reason why DT Jax needs a plan or road map to guide all public and private sector investments in a manner that incrementally adds up into whatever the community deems it wants downtown's future to be. Years ago, we had to fight to keep that green space from becoming a freaking road. Get the surroundings right and that square could be a pretty exciting space.

To that point - is there anything you'd like/can share about Steve's concept and if anything happening behind the scenes to make it an actuality?

[FlaBoy]

Hearing that there may be a serious fight to exclude almost any real retail from the garage.

[Kerry]

I like how it really opens up to the Courtyard lawn. EASILY the nicest greenspace in the downtown core, would be cool to see more activity on it (movable furniture, shaded tables, food  trucks nearby, etc.).

I feel like we're in danger of creating the same vibe as around Hemming Plaza:

Hemming
- To the North: City Hall open 9-5
- To the South: Office Building, could have retail but doesn't
- To the West: Courthouse open 9-5
- To the East: MOCA and Library, both of which have retail but isn't really used all that well

Courthouse Lawn
- To the North: County Courthouse open 9-5
- To the East: JEA Office, no retail facing the Lawn so open 9-5
- To the South: Parking Garage with Retail space (a positive) and a Vacant Lot (thank goodness since we don't have enough of those downtown)
- To the West: Opportunities for Development along Broad Street

Here's my point: Hemming is Dead after 5PM unless there's an event. It COULD be cool, since you have church that's been vacant since Delaney was Mayor and could be something, you have buildings to the east that COULD be lively at night (the retail space is largely there), and you have the buildings on Hogan (with the jeweler, Ed Ball, and Sweet Pete's though the latter is in question a bit).

While the Courthouse Garage is ugly, at least it has retail space facing the lawn, the vacant lot is an opportunity for Development with retail space, and Broad Street has options (especially if the city sells their lot).

Long winded way of saying this: Ken is right - the grass could be something cool if the development around the lawn is done right. This would be an area where the lawn could be really cool and could end up being more of a plaza/park.

You need a Mayor and City Council that values people more than corporations.  I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[Steve]

Hearing that there may be a serious fight to exclude almost any real retail from the garage.

Not a shock that some would rather not have retail. Let's see what gets presented to DDRB.

Plus, while not the same as say an after 5 restaurant, there are building aspects that can serve similar to retail that can create street activation. For example, First Baptist has a cafeteria on the ground floor near the corner of Laura and (I think) Julia. You'd never know it because the windows are glass blocks (you know the ones that houses sometimes have for Bathroom windows to PREVENT people from seeing in).

[CityLife]

^Another reason why DT Jax needs a plan or road map to guide all public and private sector investments in a manner that incrementally adds up into whatever the community deems it wants downtown's future to be. Years ago, we had to fight to keep that green space from becoming a freaking road. Get the surroundings right and that square could be a pretty exciting space.

This is what a CRA Plan is supposed to do. The Downtown CRA was just amended a few years ago, I believe. Maybe, the City should re-visit it now that Boyer is in charge.

[thelakelander]

Yeah, that CRA wasn't that detailed. Disappointing to say the least.