The Ford on Bay

[thelakelander]

I don't believe the DIA has a vision for any major retail corridor in downtown, which is a significant obstacle to their desire for more retail and full service dining options. All of these corridors are great examples of clustering but for some reason, we're not really following suit, in terms of implementation. The Bay Street Innovation Corridor atrocity of a rendering is JTA's. They are necessarily aligned on vision with the DIA either. Being focused so much on forcing the U2C and smart cities into scenes where some items don't fit, just kills retail feasibility. Last thing DT retail needs at this point is more elimination of parallel parking and sidewalk space for more auto lanes.....driverless or manually operated.

[MusicMan]

It just dawned on me the parallels between downtown development and the Jaguars. Both have suffered through a string of poor decisions and leadership for the past 20 years. I looked it up, only 2 teams have a worse record since 2000. The Jags are 128-208 in that span.


xaJ

[Zac T]

The timing for development of two vacant city-owned parcels downtown has changed.

In a Wednesday meeting of the Downtown Investment Authority board, CEO Lori Boyer provided an update on the immediate future for the site formerly home to Jacksonville Landing, now known as Riverfront Plaza, as well as the site at 330 Bay St. that was formerly the county courthouse.

Both sites are located along the riverfront downtown but have different intended uses. Each site could play a big role in furthering downtown redevelopment.

"We don't want Riverfront Plaza and the former courthouse site on the market at the same time," Boyer said.

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2021/09/16/dia-adjusts-timing-for-disposition-of-former-court.html

What's the downside to putting the Ford on Bay and Landing pad sites on the market at the same time? Wouldn't that be better so you can have both projects developing simultaneously or is the DIA just really bad at multitasking?

Notice of disposition for the Ford on Bay will run from November through Christmas with selection in January. Notice of disposition for the Landing pad sites will start in February with a winner chosen in March or April

[fsu813]

I believe Southeast will be submitting something for the former Ford on Bay site sooner than later.

[thelakelander]

The timing for development of two vacant city-owned parcels downtown has changed.

In a Wednesday meeting of the Downtown Investment Authority board, CEO Lori Boyer provided an update on the immediate future for the site formerly home to Jacksonville Landing, now known as Riverfront Plaza, as well as the site at 330 Bay St. that was formerly the county courthouse.

Both sites are located along the riverfront downtown but have different intended uses. Each site could play a big role in furthering downtown redevelopment.

"We don't want Riverfront Plaza and the former courthouse site on the market at the same time," Boyer said.

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2021/09/16/dia-adjusts-timing-for-disposition-of-former-court.html

What's the downside to putting the Ford on Bay and Landing pad sites on the market at the same time? Wouldn't that be better so you can have both projects developing simultaneously or is the DIA just really bad at multitasking?

If you have a coordinated plan for the future, there is no downside. However, doing things one at a time carries the huge risk of missing and not taking advantage of economic cycles. It's why DT Jax looks the same as it did 25 years ago, while Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, St. Pete and a host of other cities are unrecognizable now.  If it is because the DIA can't multitask, then we should be increasing funding so that they have the staff and capacity to walk and chew gum at the same time.

[Zac T]

According to Lori Boyer, there are 10 residential developers that are seriously interested in the Ford on Bay property.

If there is that much interest and they're expecting a lot of responses to the RFP, I don't understand why the DIA didn't make retail on Bay Street a requirement to developing the site. If the developers are dying for that property, I don't think having to build more retail space would scare them away.

[Charles Hunter]

Maybe the 10 residential developers are seriously interested ... because they figure they can get whatever they want from the city without having to give up anything.

[vicupstate]

Before they go through this process yet again, has the Hyatt right of first refusal issue been sidestepped or dealt with?

[jaxoNOLE]

Before they go through this process yet again, has the Hyatt right of first refusal issue been sidestepped or dealt with?

Sidestepped. The new RFP excludes that parcel.

[thelakelander]

An update on the latest RFP:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/six-bidders-vie-to-develop-the-ford-on-bay-one-plan-includes-hard-rock-hotel-concept

[Ken_FSU]

Will be fascinating to see how the DIA handles the Atkins bid.

On the surface, it feels like the most robust use of the property with both a Reverb Hotel and 300 multifamily units (20% designated workforce housing), but I could also see the public ask being much higher than some of the other respondents and things haven't exactly been roses between Southeast and the DIA in the last few months. Atkins also seems to also have the cooperation of Hyatt.

Looking forward to seeing the designs of each of the six entrants.

Good turnout for the RFP.

Now, let's pick a winner and get the ball rolling sooner than later.

[Charles Hunter]

When will the proposals with renderings be available?

[Ken_FSU]

When will the proposals with renderings be available?

I had totally forgotten that this was yesterday.

Strange how little coverage there was anywhere outside of the the Daily Record article today.

[acme54321]

I expected a much snazzier rendering from Southeast...

[Zac T]

Here's the article with renderings:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/photo-gallery/gallery-renderings-of-the-six-projects-proposed-for-the-ford-on-bay#photo-31

Carter


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VanTrust