DIA wants the Landing to start with a park

[Ken_FSU]

IMO just leave it as a nice green space for now. No need to develop it, There are SO DAMN MANY projects in the works downtown right now that really need to be completed before we put another proposal before the people.

Pretty strongly disagree on this one. The park design will be completed in time to get construction costs into next year's budget. It's definitely happening. If we're going to invest $30 million+ into creating a great park space here, we need to actually do the thing properly, in the spirit of the winning design, inclusive of a signature art piece and private development. Last thing we need is to open a half assed park with a "Coming Soon" pedestal for art and a roped off acre of patchy grass for a "later private development." Neither one will ever happen, the park will be set up to fail, and in the event that we do actually develop the pad later, it will shut down a huge portion of the park for staging and probably destroy all the grass.

We can't Skyway this one.

And we've already tried half-assing the Landing and setting it up to fail.

Do it right from the get go, I say.

And strike while the iron is hot.

[heights unknown]

I wonder if resiliency issues didn't also scare some bidders off.  It is almost a certainty this land will be underwater at some point during the life of any building on the property.  Remember, the Wells Fargo building underground garage filled with water and the building was closed for several months due to the flooding of its infrastructure during Irma.

Ennis needs to post some historic photos to verify if this is dredged land, which I believe it is.

P.S. How was parking for such a building expected to be addressed?

Here is the look from Irma when the Landing was there:



And, about the same spot, during Hurricane Dora in 1964:



Some other pictures from irma:

Question; did the Landing get flooded out? It doesn't appear that it did. I would say the Court Yard probably did.

[heights unknown]

IMO just leave it as a nice green space for now. No need to develop it, There are SO DAMN MANY projects in the works downtown right now that really need to be completed before we put another proposal before the people.

Pretty strongly disagree on this one. The park design will be completed in time to get construction costs into next year's budget. It's definitely happening. If we're going to invest $30 million+ into creating a great park space here, we need to actually do the thing properly, in the spirit of the winning design, inclusive of a signature art piece and private development. Last thing we need is to open a half assed park with a "Coming Soon" pedestal for art and a roped off acre of patchy grass for a "later private development." Neither one will ever happen, the park will be set up to fail, and in the event that we do actually develop the pad later, it will shut down a huge portion of the park for staging and probably destroy all the grass.

We can't Skyway this one.

And we've already tried half-assing the Landing and setting it up to fail.

Do it right from the get go, I say.

And strike while the iron is hot.

Atta man; I agree

[MusicMan]

If they build a great park my feelings wont be hurt. What I like is the green space. 

[fieldafm]

I wonder if resiliency issues didn't also scare some bidders off.  It is almost a certainty this land will be underwater at some point during the life of any building on the property.  Remember, the Wells Fargo building underground garage filled with water and the building was closed for several months due to the flooding of its infrastructure during Irma.

Ennis needs to post some historic photos to verify if this is dredged land, which I believe it is.

P.S. How was parking for such a building expected to be addressed?

Here is the look from Irma when the Landing was there:



And, about the same spot, during Hurricane Dora in 1964:



Some other pictures from irma:

Question; did the Landing get flooded out? It doesn't appear that it did. I would say the Court Yard probably did.

The Landing was designed to accommodate storm surge. None of the businesses had water intrusion after Irma, and the Landing wsa open for business a day after the water receded from Hogan/Independent Drive.  I kayaked through the middle of the courtyard the morning right after the storm.  Resiliency issues had literally nothing to do with why the developers who had initially expressed interest in this site, didn't ultimately submit a bid. 

Literally everything South of Bay Street is fill.... including the current Vystar Tower, TUPAC, Wells Fargo Building, Hyatt, etc.  During Irma, water went to the lowest areas... which is what water does. The area near the Chamber/Wells Fargo building is the lowest point and topographically is like a little reservoir.  Not surprisingly, that's where the water mostly flowed to and the pumps in the underground garage at the Wells Fargo building couldnt keep up with the flow, and failed.  You don't think about it, but the Northbank is essentially a gently sloping hill from about Duval Street down towards the river.   It slopes back down again in a Northeast direction going from Ashely Street or so towards Springfield/Klutho Park and Hogans Creek.

[thelakelander]

As predicted years ago, this has taken way too long and unfortunately nothing will be changing anytime soon. It was clear as day what would end up happening based on past failed public projects that utilized the same redevelopment strategy. Nevertheless, they should consider finding a way to build the park without immediately needing a 7 to 15 story building if this particular developer's response is rejected. Columbus Commons is a good model to follow and we suggested should have been the approach with the shipyards years ago.

[fieldafm]

As predicted years ago, this has taken way too long and unfortunately nothing will be changing anytime soon. It was clear as day what would end up happening based on past failed public projects that utilized the same redevelopment strategy. Nevertheless, they should consider finding a way to build the park without immediately needing a 7 to 15 story building if this particular developer's response is rejected. Columbus Commons is a good model to follow and we suggested should have been the approach with the shipyards years ago.

https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/getting-it-right-columbus-commons/

https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-aug-what-to-do-with-the-shipyards

[landfall]

Be as well letting Khan or Fuqua throw up stick apartments at this rate tbh.

[heights unknown]

Be as well letting Khan or Fuqua throw up stick apartments at this rate tbh.

Please don't; please please don't.

[thelakelander]

The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence. The Landing is looking pretty good these days.  ;-)

[Westside Guy]

Isn't the bid for this being opened today? At least that's what the Daily Record said in their article. I can't find anything about the meeting on the DIA or COJ websites.

[jaxlongtimer]

Here you go:

$166 million, at least 40 stories, mainly 330 apartments, some retail/restaurant at ground level and top floor.  Incentives and other details to be determined.

Can't be sure from the rendering shown, but appears the building may be triangular.  Interesting that it mimics the widening base of the Wells Fargo tower .

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2022/04/26/american-lions-landing-jacksonville.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=BN&utm_content=ja&ana=e_ja_BN&j=27502680&senddate=2022-04-26

[heights unknown]

Now that's more like it; need about 4 or 5 more of those towers taller than that. We can squeeze them in somewhere. And it had better get built!

[Ken_FSU]

More details and photos:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/photo-gallery/new-york-developer-pitches-dollar166-million-residential-high-rise-downtown

[heights unknown]

Biz Journal always wants you to subscribe and want money; any links (newsworthy) that don't cost anything?