Berkman Getting Close....Again

[jaxjags]

If this was happening right at the start of the mayor's tenure everyone would have been cheering him.  He's don't some seemingly dumb stuff but I don't see the problem with this.  I also don't have a problem with the city strong arming the developer because how long has thing been getting kicked around with all sorts of crazy plans?  Either the owner knocks it down or the city will do it and put a lien on the property.  That will light a fire in someone's pants.

Please keep in mind this is not the same owner/developer who was proposing some wild stuff and showed no interest in demolishing. This is a new owner/developer trying to do the demo, who claimed they was delayed on closing on the property because of the condemnation order Brian Hughes then said what are you talking about we work with issues like this all the time, but then admitted he has never discussed this with the new owners. Between Lot J, Landing, City Hall, U2C Gas Tax and other issues the Mayors team does not impress me.

[vicupstate]

Architecture is nice. This is what I would prefer to see at River City Brewing instead of what is proposed. The incentive ask must be really big on this one. Hard to see the market supporting this all by itself. It is agood sign that they want a pharmacy/grocer on site. They will need free rent to have any chance, IMO.

[thelakelander]

The grocery store sounds like a wish list type of use. There's at least four Northbank proposals that include a grocery component. Whichever project gets that use will kill that option for the others. It will be interesting to see what the incentives request is because a tower that thin isn't feasible here from a market perspective. This one will be interesting to follow.

[jaxjags]

The renderings look the same as those on several previous Daily Record articles including one Dec. 24, 2020. I believe the developers said that this would be a phased project with the mid rise mixed use building first. Hopefully that would reduce the size of the incentives to get the project started.

[acme54321]

If this was happening right at the start of the mayor's tenure everyone would have been cheering him.  He's don't some seemingly dumb stuff but I don't see the problem with this.  I also don't have a problem with the city strong arming the developer because how long has thing been getting kicked around with all sorts of crazy plans?  Either the owner knocks it down or the city will do it and put a lien on the property.  That will light a fire in someone's pants.

Please keep in mind this is not the same owner/developer who was proposing some wild stuff and showed no interest in demolishing. This is a new owner/developer trying to do the demo, who claimed they was delayed on closing on the property because of the condemnation order Brian Hughes then said what are you talking about we work with issues like this all the time, but then admitted he has never discussed this with the new owners. Between Lot J, Landing, City Hall, U2C Gas Tax and other issues the Mayors team does not impress me.

Who says this developer will be any different than the rest?  I'm no fan of the shadiness of this administration but if you think that developers aren't playing the same game you need to get your head out of the sand.  They're all in it to get free money to make money, they do that with big promises and flashy renderings and if one of them sticks so be it. 

[jaxlongtimer]

Curry's latest explanation for his string of demolitions* and delivering on "I promised you wouldn't recognize downtown, the transformation continues" after 8 years in office:

The demise of the tower means it will join other downtown Northbank buildings that have been demolished in recent years such as the Jacksonville Landing, which was partially used at the time the city took it over in order to raze it, and the old county courthouse and City Hall Annex buildings that had been vacant for years like Berkman 2.

"We've readied our downtown for private investment," Curry said. "I want to see that happening and happen on my watch, but I'm going to be just as grateful and the biggest cheerleader for the next mayor and the next City Council if that stuff is happening because of the work we've done here."

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2021/04/27/demolition-berkman-2-tower-downtown-jacksonville-begins/4852606001/

*Quote from article leaves out the Hart Bridge Ramps, Fire Station #5 in Riverside, the Greyhound Bus Station, the historic night club building and the Doro among other demolitions on Curry's watch.  Meanwhile, the one I wanted to see, the Skyway, gets over $400 million coming its way...

[landfall]

Bay Street has so much potential but until the day I see another shovel in the ground there I'll just treat every single glossy rendering with the disrespect I've built up every time I see something proposed somewhere along that stretch fall on its face.

Also I've just noticed, hilariously those renderings also have the convention center on the ford on bay ha!

Meanwhile in the real world we have dirt, grass and parking lots.

[heights unknown]

https://twitter.com/NateMonroeTU/status/1387440548974301186?s=20

I like that building/conceptual. I just wish they would quit building things that look like it should be in Orlando or Miami; but hey, if it gets built, I'll take it; and as y'all know, I will blow my top if they shorten it!

[heights unknown]

The grocery store sounds like a wish list type of use. There's at least four Northbank proposals that include a grocery component. Whichever project gets that use will kill that option for the others. It will be interesting to see what the incentives request is because a tower that thin isn't feasible here from a market perspective. This one will be interesting to follow.

I hope not, but it'll probably fade away like all of the rest.