DIA wants the Landing to start with a park

[thelakelander]

I worked from the office yesterday. It did look pretty brown with large areas of dirt. The patch of dirt was where the stage was at for the free concerts in April/May.

[Ken_FSU]

Steve Atkins is making a big presentation on the first about "Riverfront Jacksonville: A comprehensive $1B+ master plan".  I'm guessing that announcement will include something for the landing site.

You got any more info on this, Captain?

In terms of where/when?

[Ken_FSU]

I worked from the office yesterday. It did look pretty brown with large areas of dirt. The patch of dirt was where the stage was at for the free concerts in April/May.

Post-installation, the city only budgeted $4,000 a year to maintain Riverside Plaza.

Most of that is labor to cut the grass.

[Captain Zissou]

Steve Atkins is making a big presentation on the first about "Riverfront Jacksonville: A comprehensive $1B+ master plan".  I'm guessing that announcement will include something for the landing site.

You got any more info on this, Captain?

In terms of where/when?

Florida Theatre.  Doors at 9:30.  Presentation at 10 am.

[Ken_FSU]

^Thanks!

[heights unknown]

First Coast News just had a story about how the Former Landing Site is now a field of brown weeds and dirt.  The City says they "maintain" the lot 24 times a year, and did not respond to questions from FCN about whether there is an irrigation system. The reporter said she spent time walking around the lot and did not see any sprinkler heads.

Who could have predicted that the City wouldn't maintain the lot, and it would turn into dirt and/or weeds?  [well, me for one]

Are you surprised? Doesn't surprise me at all.

[Charles Hunter]

Steve Atkins is making a big presentation on the first about "Riverfront Jacksonville: A comprehensive $1B+ master plan".  I'm guessing that announcement will include something for the landing site.

You got any more info on this, Captain?

In terms of where/when?

Florida Theatre.  Doors at 9:30.  Presentation at 10 am.

Was that today (Thursday, 5/27)? Anyone have a report?

[Ken_FSU]

^Per the Good Captain, it's 6/1!

[Charles Hunter]

^Per the Good Captain, it's 6/1!

Thanks, guess I didn't scroll back far enough.

[Ken_FSU]

With the Skateboarding World Championship scheduled for Lenny's Lawn in November and DVI looking at an ice skating rink through early January 2022, doesn't look like there's going to be any real urgency to get construction moving on this space after the design competition is complete later this month.

[thelakelander]

Very predictable outcome. Not surprising at all.

[jcjohnpaint]

Florida ice skating at the NOGO hole

[heights unknown]

The ice skating thingamajig will be world class international media coverage and participation; right? All eyes both national and international will be on beautiful downtown Jacksonville with the event being hosted at "Lenny's Lawn;" LOLOL...just playing.

[bl8jaxnative]

I'm curious how well that ice rink would hold up when it hits 77F on Jan 3rd.

[jaxoNOLE]

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/downtown-vision-inc-says-a-pop-up-ice-rink-could-come-to-riverfront-plaza

The JDR article suggests DVI is trying to bring the ice rink in as an annual tradition. "If not this year, then next year." Guess they're going to have to figure out how that fits into a permanent world-class riverfront park.

On its own, it actually sounds like a cool idea to me. They have a performing stage and weekend bar sketched out, so it could be a nice little attraction. Execution is going to be everything, I suppose.