Adaptive reuse of Furchgott's Building proposed

[thelakelander]

Plans are underway to bring the long abandoned Furchgott's department store building back to life.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/adaptive-reuse-of-furchgotts-building-proposed/

[vicupstate]

Great project and a great addition to the numerous ones going on nearby.  If the Laura Trio comes though finally, the cumulative effects will finally turn the tide for the Northbank I believe.     

[Charles Hunter]

Sounds great!
What is the condition of the old elevators? I assume they were converted to 'self-serve' - but do they still have the vintage look?

[Zac T]

Awesome project but does this mean that Da Real Ting Cafe is closing?

[soepic]

I was wondering what would happen to the Real Ting as well. I walk past it all the time and it smells amazing, but haven't tried it yet. Even though on Fridays I can't park on the street coming home or people blocking the exit of the garage, due to their Friday night event, I would miss the pretty good music.

[thelakelander]

Great project and a great addition to the numerous ones going on nearby.  If the Laura Trio comes though finally, the cumulative effects will finally turn the tide for the Northbank I believe.     

That entire Hogan Street strip is ground zero for an outdoor cafe style environment stretching between the riverwalk and the city hall area. The Emerald Trail will help it out as well.

[MusicMan]

I was in that building about a year ago with a Buyer prospect. It was just a shell. Solid concrete however. As I recall the elevators were in poor condition. It's a big project for sure.

[jaxjags]

Really love the windows in this building. Should be great apartments.

[heights unknown]

I've always loved that building, especially its look, and when it closed and up to now, I've always thought and dreamed that it would be much more than sitting empty. It is in the heart of downtown and this news is not only promising but amazing. I hope it gets approved and comes back to life to complement downtown and the many current and future prospects forthcoming.

[acme54321]

Great project and a great addition to the numerous ones going on nearby.  If the Laura Trio comes though finally, the cumulative effects will finally turn the tide for the Northbank I believe.     

That entire Hogan Street strip is ground zero for an outdoor cafe style environment stretching between the riverwalk and the city hall area. The Emerald Trail will help it out as well.

As much as I dislike the astetics of the elevated skyway tracks on Hogan they could provide some much needed shade for outdoor seating.

[MusicMan]

How exactly does the Emerald Trail interact with this building?

[thelakelander]

It (The Emerald Trail's Hogan Street corridor) will run right along the west side of the building. The retail/dining/outdoor seating will face the trail.

[jaxlongtimer]

I remember fondly going into Furchgotts, a high end, white glove store, with my mom when Downtown was a hopping place.  A gift from there was always beautifully gift wrapped with fancy shimmering white paper and a glittering bow and ribbon tied down with a metallic gold store seal. And, I especially remember from a distant past the sweet ladies who operated those beautiful brass elevators.  The building is worth saving just for those elevators.

In the 1980's the ground floor of Furchgotts was expanded office space for Charter Mortgage/Alliance Mortgage (spun off from Charter to Jack Uible and that, ultimately, after being bought and sold by Florida National Bank and Owens Illinois, became Everbank) that also occupied the entire length of Forsyth between Laura & Adams including a beautifully restored building since, sadly, torn down for the parking garage in the middle of the block.  Charter Mortgage/Alliance Mortgage's sister company, Jacksonville National Bank (ultimately sold to Florida National Bank and then spun off to Ellis Banking which was acquired by NCNB/NationsBank, now Bank of America), occupied the marble bank building, also beautifully restored at the time.

To think in the 1980's people thought Downtown was dying compared to the 1940's to 1960's.  They should see how far it's fallen to the present day.

[thelakelander]

They'd roll over in their graves a few times. The gritty DT Jax of the 1980s would be considered bustling by downtown cheerleaders of today.

[thelakelander]

Update: DIA panel OK's $7.15 million for Furchgott's renovation

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/dia-panel-oks-dollar7-15-million-for-furchgotts-renovation