The Block Jax permit means the 'Food. Family. Fun' venue can start construction

[thelakelander]

Still haven't been since it officially opened but plan to eventually check it out one day. I agree that there's a market for similar concepts all over town. The design isn't anything revolutionary. Its a simple formula that has worked for centuries before our time.

[fsu813]

Agreed on the Landing offering this in the past, disagree on the current new and refurbished parks offering anything in the same ballpark as the Block in terms of amenities. In my opinion, it is a fatal flaw we are making downtown with the riverfront. So much awesome parkspace, far too little supporting amenities. Riverfront Plaza, Shipyards West, and Metro Park could all be completed to design tomorrow, and they're not moving the needle without event spaces and affordable, diverse, permanent food & bev options.

All the new parks you mentioned have significant space reserved for retail/restaurants.

Ie) Riverfront Plaza has at least 4 restaurants planned, one in each quadrant.

[Jankelope]

I'm assuming that's including the "Cafe Space" in the playground shell currently?

I am really really hopeful for Phase 2 + Tower for Riverfront Plaza, particularly the hotel component of the tower

[Jankelope]

Looks like the Cafe shell is going to be a modified version of "European Street Cafe" with some more Grab and go type options.

I think that could be a great fit, assuming there is easily accessible coffee and other beverages too, including possibly beer in those special riverfront cups?

I think that the Riverfront Itself will become a very compelling food & beverage destination for locals with these parks. They all have food/beverage components and seem to be prioritizing concepts that will elevate the spaces.

[EnaGauthe]

I think the playground cafe concept could really work if they offer grab-and-go like that. For private gatherings, I've booked a quinceanera hall DFW that handles big parties with full kitchens and security, and it shows how versatile such spaces can be. Riverfront Plaza's Phase 2 could be a game changer if they model it similarly.

[Ken_FSU]

Agreed on the Landing offering this in the past, disagree on the current new and refurbished parks offering anything in the same ballpark as the Block in terms of amenities. In my opinion, it is a fatal flaw we are making downtown with the riverfront. So much awesome parkspace, far too little supporting amenities. Riverfront Plaza, Shipyards West, and Metro Park could all be completed to design tomorrow, and they're not moving the needle without event spaces and affordable, diverse, permanent food & bev options.

Also speaks to a desperate need to get going on Lot J. Wider concourses and a roof are not a compelling reason to bring major events to Jacksonville, and nearly $0 of the ~$1 billion we've invested in the sports district to date is going to create 365-day vibrancy for the average Jacksonville citizen.

The Block cost $6-7 million for full build-out. Vertical construction. LED wall & sound system. Stalls. Furniture. You're telling me we can't find $6-$7 million to stand up something similar at Ford on Bay, or the Sports District, or James Weldon Johnson Park, or in the CRA Space at Shipyards West? It is such a key missing piece that almost no one seems to be speaking of as a priority.

With Amendment 3 passing and CRA dollars being yanked from restaurants/food halls at both Riverfront Plaza and Shipyards West, it feels like we're staring down a decade with no mixed-use sports & entertainment complex coming to bring much-needed amenities to the stadium district.

One thing I've been wondering about lately is the feasibility of converting the existing, abandoned Daily's Place flex field into something akin to what Cordish proposed with Jacksonville Live at Lot J, in a more economical way. As in, a larger scale Block, with dining, watch parties, recreation, etc. I know the city has half-hearted plans to use it for high school football, but actually feels like a pretty iconic space when the sliding doors are open. Highly visible from Bay Street, opens to Met Park, easily accessible from the Four Seasons, MOSH, and Shipyards West.



Repurposing the existing covered, semi-climate controlled shell also preserves Lot J for parking for the near-term, and opens it up for denser development when the market allows.

Might not be feasible, but it's such a great space that is essentially going to waste.

Here's what the slop machine pumps out: