DIA wants the Landing to start with a park

[Charles Hunter]

Story from Action News:

There's nothing to do on the waterfront,' DIA discusses projects for riverfront in Jacksonville

The DIA also discussed, in the long term, adding food trucks, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops along the river. The hope is to model some of the ideas after other places in Florida. For example, Tampa's Armature works area, which has restaurants and shops all in one venue.

https://www.wokv.com/news/local/theres-nothing-do-waterfront-dia-discusses-projects-riverfront-jacksonville/DZJ25ES4Y5BMVDYAGPWVG5WC7Q/

Maybe there could be a horseshoe-shaped building open to the river, and maybe it could have a bright orange roof, and have restaurants (Hooters? Fudruckers?) and shops (Sharper Image? a really cool toy store?). Naw, that's just a pipe dream.

[thelakelander]

Wow....why did we tear the Landing down again?

[Ken_FSU]

Can anyone tell that construction of our new signature park at the Landing began 6 months ago?

[Charles Hunter]

It will be interesting to see how much of Lenny's Lawn becomes part of the river today.

[Tacachale]

Can anyone tell that construction of our new signature park at the Landing began 6 months ago?

I don't personally call it a signature park, but yes. Currently it's the road work to realign the roadways around Independent Drive, which has been making progress for several months. Once that's finished I believe in April, work can movevforward on the bulkhead and the west end of the park. The whole project will take years but phases will be open when they're completed so we're not just staring at a construction fence the entire time. One thing we're working on is a communications plan so folks can tell exactly what's going on at a given time.

[Ken_FSU]

One thing we're working on is a communications plan so folks can tell exactly what's going on at a given time.

Single best thing you can do.

Love it.

Opens communication and fosters accountability for hitting deadlines.

[Joey Mackey]

EDIT - Upon further inspection, it appears they have closed off the North Bank riverwalk along Lenny's Lawn with the fence. I am assuming this is related, in part, to the $11,424,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection regarding improving the bulkhead that was discussed at the City Council meeting on 1/23/24 (2024-0030). Hopefully this means construction is starting very soon! The City should make an announcement.

[heights unknown]

My office over looks Lenny's Lawn and there is a crew out there right now installing a fence across the park, about fifty-ish feet from the Riverwalk. I thought the current phase, which is supposed to take at least two years, only encompasses the corner near Hogan Street. I really hope the City is not closing down the majority of the park "for construction" that won't impact or even begin for at least another two years. Why is the City doing this?

To make it look like something is being done. NOTHING is being done IMO!!!

[Ken_FSU]

It has warmed my heart to see active work at Friendship Fountain nearly every day.

More progress in four weeks than we saw in four years prior.

[jcjohnpaint]

Hopefully showing good things to come under the new administration.

[Tacachale]

There will be an announcement early next week on what's happening. I can say that the current road work is on schedule, and the fencing is going up in advance of the bulkhead work that will continue this phase of construction.

[heights unknown]

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.

[Joey Mackey]

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2024/01/26/next-phase-of-riverfront-plaza-begins-construction-expected-to-finish-in-2025/

Alright! We got a deadline coming up. "The Hogan Street alignment project is nearing completion and Water Street is scheduled to reopen to vehicular traffic in late March 2023." If the City can hit their stated deadline by the end of March, I will be so ecstatic. It would be actual proof that things are turning around in this new administration.

[heights unknown]

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2024/01/26/next-phase-of-riverfront-plaza-begins-construction-expected-to-finish-in-2025/

Alright! We got a deadline coming up. "The Hogan Street alignment project is nearing completion and Water Street is scheduled to reopen to vehicular traffic in late March 2023." If the City can hit their stated deadline by the end of March, I will be so ecstatic. It would be actual proof that things are turning around in this new administration.

I think they meant "late March 2024" I believe. I'm holding my breath on this; nothing ever gets done on time in Jacksonville if done EVER. Lastly, I know it will NEVER happen, but where the HELL is my skyscraper? It's done, finished, never will happen. But looks like Mayor Deegan is the type of Mayor that actually plans and "thinks things carefully through." We might be in for a surprise.

[Joey Mackey]

I saw this morning that asphalt is being laid for the new traffic route. I anticipate the City will hit its stated deadline of opening the new road by end of March (or early April at the latest). I cannot stress how happy I am, and other young adult downtown area residents are, that the City has been consistently hitting its deadlines with its two premier river front parks (Friendship Fountain and Riverfront Plaza).

I think thelakelander said it a while ago, but people really just want to see progress. The sounds and sights of construction cranes, dump trucks, and scaffolding, (JU Law School), is worth so much more than any fancy rendering or projection about the billions being "invested" in downtown Jacksonville. Good work for anyone involved so far on Riverfront Plaza and Friendship Fountain, and please keep up the momentum. I cannot wait for construction on actual facilities at Riverfront Plaza to begin.