Durbin Park: NE Florida's Next Retail Mecca Takes Shape

[marcuscnelson]

Nextdoor here is on fire with everyone losing their minds about this development. I just said what Charles Hunter did, and that in the end, they have the right to someone they feel represents them. If I wasn't going to college I'd run for Jimmy Johns' seat and implode the economy by shutting down new development. Will of the people, right?

[fsquid]

Nextdoor here is on fire with everyone losing their minds about this development. I just said what Charles Hunter did, and that in the end, they have the right to someone they feel represents them. If I wasn't going to college I'd run for Jimmy Johns' seat and implode the economy by shutting down new development. Will of the people, right?

Anyone running for his seat would get a lot of backing at the moment.

[marcuscnelson]

Anyone running for his seat would get a lot of backing at the moment.

Please don't tempt me. Although I'm probably not Republican enough to win that election anyway.

[thelakelander]

Couldn't help but notice that Bass Pro has quietly disappeared from future Durbin Park plans:

2016:

https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/durbin-park-jaxs-next-st-johns-town-center-page-2/

2020:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/flagler-health-campus-takes-step-in-durbin-park

[RiversideRambler]

It's not a big loss nor is it surprising. It seems like those types of stores aren't doing as well anymore and maybe their novelty has worn off.

I'm curious what the retail portion of Phase 2 will look like now.

[thelakelander]

That parcel has changed too. It now has the depth of a potential strip mall or power center with outparcels. The closest existing comparison would probably be Gate Parkway.

[marcuscnelson]

It's not a big loss nor is it surprising. It seems like those types of stores aren't doing as well anymore and maybe their novelty has worn off.

I'm curious what the retail portion of Phase 2 will look like now.

I'm still surprised that Gainesville got one before all of NE Florida. That seems really odd to me.

That parcel has changed too. It now has the depth of a potential strip mall or power center with outparcels. The closest existing comparison would probably be Gate Parkway.

Looking at the map in general, it's interesting to see a lot more multi-family and office space. I wasn't under the impression that there's a lot of demand for either of those, particularly the offices. Of course, the theater being built in Pavilion means it isn't needed in Phase 2, but losing so much of the rest of the commercial space makes me wonder how much sq ft there actually will be.



Here we can actually see the hospital layout a little better, and compare it to Baptist South.

Frankly, as long as they at least build a Costco and a Chick-fil-a here, they'll be printing money here until the end of time.

[Steve]

It's not a big loss nor is it surprising. It seems like those types of stores aren't doing as well anymore and maybe their novelty has worn off.

I'm curious what the retail portion of Phase 2 will look like now.

I'm still surprised that Gainesville got one before all of NE Florida. That seems really odd to me.

Sometimes it's all about the right opportunity. Jacksonville never had a Burdines either, which is a big part of the reason Jacksonville never had a Macy's. I think there's only 3-4 Macy's in Florida that were actually built as a Macy's.

Now it's likely too late unless something falls in their lap!

[thelakelander]

Gainesville likely gave them a massive incentive package. Jax didn't, which is why they proposed the St. Johns site. However, it was inaccessible (still is without the extention of Durbin Park's circulator road) to I-95 until the construction and completion of SR 9B.

[Tacachale]

Gainesville likely gave them a massive incentive package. Jax didn't, which is why they proposed the St. Johns site. However, it was inaccessible (still is without the extention of Durbin Park's circulator road) to I-95 until the construction and completion of SR 9B.

^This.

[tufsu1]

Gainesville likely gave them a massive incentive package. Jax didn't, which is why they proposed the St. Johns site. However, it was inaccessible (still is without the extention of Durbin Park's circulator road) to I-95 until the construction and completion of SR 9B.

The Gainesville site doesn't have the best interstate access either

[thelakelander]

You can logically get to it without going miles out of the way and working back through a series of goat's paths and cattle trails. Durbin Park has SR 9B now and you still can't get to the I-95 site they once looked at.

[jaxlongtimer]

After COVID-19, it will be interesting to see if brick and mortar retail returns to these traditional models.  Gate might be better building out an Amazon local delivery structure like what the Kmart on Blanding is becoming  . 

If they follow the plans, the contorted way this development will have to connect to I-95 and poor road grid in St. Johns also makes me wonder how far this development will go.  I know there are lots of potential rooftops around there but if it has traffic gridlock, there may be a limit to the potential number of patrons in relationship to the planned square footage of retail.  St. Johns Town Center already turns many off with its traffic issues.  Maybe I don't understand the "shop til you drop" die hard shopper but this seems like a potential added motivator to shop on-line  .

[marcuscnelson]

Couldn't help but notice that Bass Pro has quietly disappeared from future Durbin Park plans:

Update: It turns out the Bass Pro is actually still coming, they've just moved it from being in its own space to being within that big "Commercial" section in Phase II. Instead of fronting I-95, it will front SR-9B, which is why that big lake is next to the highway now.

There's also going to be a BJ's, more retail space, some restaurants, outparcels, and 4,000 parking spaces.

The document explaining all of this is here:

http://gatlindevelopmentcompany.propertycapsule.com/property/output/document/view/id:10527/?time=1589311082/

[thelakelander]

Interesting changes. So it looks like the SJTC component is definitely gone now.