Old Haskell Building

[jaxlongtimer]

The Haskell building sits on 5.3 acres and, when combined with the adjacent vacant lot, there's a total of 8 contiguous acres on the waterfront in Jacksonville's most popular downtown area.  While I like the old Haskell building, it failed to maximize the use of that property.  If all that goes onto this land is a 5 acre tower, it will be a big miss in my opinion.  I too am looking forward to seeing the site plan.

Ned, to your point, I didn't post the below that was also part of the article.  More to come, it appears.

The 780,000-square-foot tower will be set back on the property along the riverwalk, with architecture and interiors designed by Gensler and engineering by Goodson Bergen & Associates. Plans call for 239 independent living residences, 28 assisted living residences and 18 memory care suites in the first phase. The site is zoned to allow up to 728 residences, leaving room for a potential second phase buildout.

[thelakelander]

Interesting. I look forward to learning more about this project.

[MakeDTjaxGre@tAgain]

Very interesting. It will stick out like a sore thumb. But will definitely boost the skyline.

With this great momentum in Brooklyn, wonder what's next? Do we see more type1 construction projects go up beyond the river bank? How does OneRiverside(OR) view this project considering they just finished a stick figure next door? Would they(OR)adjust phase 2? This being a one off project can we keep the momentum going? Lastly, would this better be suited for in the core of downtown?

[Ken_FSU]

Love it, as long as it doesn't come with the request for a massive handout from the general fund. Brooklyn can't be the priority when the CBD needs so much work.

[JaGoaT]

10/10 render lol, I don't think this will stick out like a sore thumb at all. Extends the skyline and will have contrast with FIS building. If I could have things my way this would be built at the empty lot between Haskell and YMCA.

I'm all for a Brooklyn boom in the long run I think that strengthens the CBD.

Very interesting. It will stick out like a sore thumb. But will definitely boost the skyline.

With this great momentum in Brooklyn, wonder what's next? Do we see more type1 construction projects go up beyond the river bank? How does OneRiverside(OR) view this project considering they just finished a stick figure next door? Would they(OR)adjust phase 2? This being a one off project can we keep the momentum going? Lastly, would this better be suited for in the core of downtown?

[Jax_Developer]

If only there was cheap & simple solution to connect Brooklyn to the Central Core.

[thelakelander]

^LOL

[Jankelope]

Would a Brooklyn Skyway station not automatically like double ridership?

[thelakelander]

^Getting the cars fixed and the Skyway reliable again would at least triple the ridership back to what it was around in 2015, which is a lot higher than the U2C could perform at capacity a decade or two down the road.

Adding a Brooklyn station, along with infill development like Pearl Square, UF LaVilla, JEA Southbank riverwalk extension, etc. coming on-line would most likely result in another significant bump. It really is a no brainer to keep it when you seriously consider everything happening in downtown as a whole right now.

[acme54321]

Does anyone have the DDRB submittal for this one yet?

[Charles Hunter]

Link to the DDRB Agenda packet. It includes the Fleet Landing proposal and the Baptist Hospital proposal.
https://coj365-my.sharepoint.com/personal/rmezini_coj_net/_layouts/15/guestaccess.aspx?share=IQD8Mwkxj2mBTo7qeGrW6MkBAadDrtlj4HXXICCG4nsi0NY&e=DAdyH4

[MakeDTjaxGre@tAgain]

https://coj365-my.sharepoint.com/personal/rmezini_coj_net/_layouts/15/guestaccess.aspx?share=IQD8Mwkxj2mBTo7qeGrW6MkBAadDrtlj4HXXICCG4nsi0NY&e=DAdyH4

SUBPART D. - APPROPRIATIONS FOR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES

Sec. 106.340. - Definitions.

CRA or Community Redevelopment Agency means and includes any agency created by Council to carryout community redevelopment under F.S. Ch. 163, Pt. III. This term includes the Downtown Investment Authority ("DIA"), the Renew Arlington Community Redevelopment Agency ("Renew Arlington CRA"), the Jacksonville International Airport Community Redevelopment Agency ("JIA CRA"), the KingSoutel Crossing Community Redevelopment Agency ("KingSoutel Crossing CRA") and such other agencies as may be created by the Council for community redevelopment purposes.

Financial Obligations Category means the budget category on an Approved CRA Budget that itemizes expenses related to the CRA Board's debt service and expenses, mandatory contractual payments, and other financial obligations of the CRA, including, but not limited to, debt payments, REV grants and QTI grants.

Great share! The Fleet Landing proposal looks really nice, and well put together - just stands out a bit from my opinion. I'm curious if they plan to acquire the empty lot next door for a potential Phase 2 as well.

It's also encouraging to see that both  LaVilla may get revisions to increase height restrictions - hopefully over 90ft. Maybe Cathedral can go back to the drawing board. The current limits in the Cathedral District really hinder skyline expansion from a visual standpoint—the skyline essentially drops off significantly in that direction. Revising those limits could help extend the skyline toward the stadium area and better showcase the city.

Right now, when people take photos of the skyline or downtown, the view typically ends around the Hyatt or mostly the Main Street Bridge because there aren't many taller buildings beyond that point. That's been the case for many, many years. If the height restrictions are updated, it could open the door for additional skyline angles and more dynamic shots—panoramic photos, more drone perspectives, and views from the Hart or Mathews bridges, or even Main Street heading south. There's a ton more places that you can take a photo from, this can help unlock it. Even when the river isn't in the frame—one of our biggest assets—it would still allow for a more complete and impressive skyline composition.

Lavilla will look nice from 95N with UF grad campus.

[jaxlongtimer]

Great share! The Fleet Landing proposal looks really nice, and well put together - just stands out a bit from my opinion. I'm curious if they plan to acquire the empty lot next door for a potential Phase 2 as well.

Looking at the Fleet site plan, they appear to be only taking 1/2 of the Haskell Building's footprint creating an empty lot where there is none now.  I gather you are talking about the next lot over, to be clear.

Curious about the planned auditorium and its use.  Being on the riverfront, will it be open to public events or only for residents?  What will be its seating capacity?  I thought they were going to also include a restaurant open to the public?

I note that part of the tower violates the height setbacks from the river.  Once again, it appears the City is rolling over for this.  I get there is a volume/massing allowance swap here but I still feel that this creates a  massive (pun intended ) loophole that frustrates the purpose of the guideline, especially, when repeatedly violated.

I note the following guideline cited by DDRB that it is pushing aside:

Waterfront Design and River Views: setbacks, height and access corridors.
It is the intent of this subsection to encourage and protect enticing views of the river
from as many places in downtown as possible by providing View and Access Corridors
at the street level, to maximize overall value by providing both enhanced public spaces
at the riverfront and by facilitating river and creek views from as many buildings as
possible, as well as managing building forms and massing to be respectful of the
context of the surrounding buildings and of the pedestrian environment by stepping
buildings up from the river and defining height zones as delineated hereunder to allow
views around, over and through the architecture, and, to respect the scale of the context
in which development occurs.

And, here is the guideline vs. the request:

ZONE C
100' TO 175' SETBACK FROM MHWL
MAX HEIGHT ALLOWED: 75'

Request: 375 feet!

FINDING: The conceptual site plan identifies a view corridor aligned with
Stonewall Street extending from Riverside Avenue to the St. Johns River. The
proposed development maintains this corridor and provides a public plaza and
pedestrian access connection linking Riverside Avenue to the Riverwalk. The
submitted volume diagram indicates building height distributed within Zones B
and C in accordance with the waterfront height provisions of §656.361.6.2.H.

What's the point of having a rule that is never enforced!

[Jax_Developer]

I'd give up the restrictions to see steel construction.