Convention Center: City is not ready for new facility

[big ben]

where would the fairgrounds be at? 

[thelakelander]

SW corner of Philip Randolph Blvd and the Arlington Expressway, just north of Jax Municipal Stadium.

[Jason]

Here is the Fairgrounds location...

[big ben]

i think that fairgrounds location would have the same negative associations with it as the current site.  not to mention some organizers and convention attendees might consider the near-by residential neighborhoods negatively.  i think the stadium lots would be pretty much the same.  the courthouse might be a little better and i don't know enough about the jea south bank location.  i

t seems to me that the area next to the landing is a far better location, if prices aren't too much more.  even then, something like a convention center could be a good enough argument for spending a little more if it's well thought out.

[Jason]

Yeah, the fairgrounds site isn't much better than the current location, IMO.  No nearby hotels, surrounded by parking, could conflict with other sports events, nothing to do within walking distance.  At least the Prime Osborne has a transit connection allowing patrons to go somewhere to eat and get a room.

[reednavy]

The best site is the former JEA site. It's huge, you can easily fit a center of over 1 million sq. ft  there, and build and anchor hotel or two along with it. They can extend the Skyway to it, extend the Riverwalk, and its a short water taxi ride away from the Landing. This city could learn a thing or two from Nashville, and hell, its learning from others, namely Atlanta and Chicago. This city should milk every single drop it can from the river as the big draw, you can build almost an entire industry by becoming and outdoors, river-oriented city. Offer anything water related, we got the St. Johns and the Atlantic to our bettering. Do this, and convert the Prime Osborn/ JAX Terminal back to a rail station and we'll have some good things working to our favor, but until then, we can only dream and scream.

[big ben]

i found a study from sep. 2004 that's fairly interesting, but it lists east of the adam's mark (which i understand is the current hyatt) instead of west.  it also has odd grouping with restaurants, retail and entertainment together, causing the fairgrounds and alltel lot j to have the same ranking as east of the adam's mark.  i would think that, unless there is a sports event, there wouldn't be that much there.
http://www.jcci.org/convention%20center/april%20handouts/Site%20Selection.doc

apparently, the fairgrounds, alltel lot j and the jea property were the top picks at that time.  they're currently looking at a few different spots that and list the landing as if they would use all of it.  that's all according to this information from here, underhandouts from july:
http://www.jcci.org/convention%20center/CCTG%20HANDOUTS%20AND%20SUMMARIES.htm

[thelakelander]

I'd assume the courthouse lot's main negative issue was that there's not as much land to expand, especially if they are visualizing the convention center as being horizontal.

Speaking of creating an industry around the river, we can't forget about Exchange Island.  Its a natural refuge in a sea of concrete.  If tied into everything else with the water taxi, it could become an unique element to urban Jacksonville.

[big ben]

I'd assume the courthouse lot's main negative issue was that there's not as much land to expand, especially if they are visualizing the convention center as being horizontal.

i think they also said something about they can't rely on it being available, since a new courthouse is still not being built.

Speaking of creating an industry around the river, we can't forget about Exchange Island.  Its a natural refuge in a sea of concrete.  If tied into everything else with the water taxi, it could become an unique element to urban Jacksonville.

there's a lake somewhere outside of chicago that has a bar on an island that's only accessible by boat.  i've heard that it's very popular.  i'm not sure if that's what you were thinking of.

[Jason]

Here is where Exchange Island is located...

[02roadking]

Check out T's blog on the covention center front. Right under the Jabour ousting and grand jury thingy...

http://theurbancoredotcom.blogspot.com/

[Ocklawaha]

Don't know about today, but Exchange Island used to be one of the best places in North Florida to get bit by a rattlesnake. BIG ONES TOO! Guess they eat the rats? Gee, that gives me an idea...hee hee

Ocklawaha

[raheem942]

This city really sucks when it comes to trying to move up in the world. I just came back from Phoenix on vacation, and their building a light rail downtown thru midtown and beyond, its just taking forever. You;d be hard pressed to find anything over 70 yrs of age there, and they got their shat together. Phoenix is the definition of sprawl and they have more stuff to do, wtf?!

well , there always alot going on in jax is just you have reserch them..........i have been to concerts that had damn nere no advertisement ...my friends dont even no about most of them........................just a few mounths ago lil wayne had a cocert something like that should of been sold out but alot of his fan base (50,000 people) didnt even no he was here .... same with lil bossie  and ti .these guys put on great shows but to small crowds so i out they want to come back

[vicupstate]

Interesting tidbit from Tony's blog about the convention center:

It is assumed that both the Hyatt and POCC options would be funded by bed-tax dollars, requiring no additional investment by the community. The “Big vision” center will require a much more substantial investment. At the 9-27-07 task force meeting, raising the sales tax was the method proposed.

So apparently between the bed tax and the private money that is on the table, a convention center is do-able without additional taxes.  So what are we waiting on, the price to go up?   

As far as Tony's concerns about the bed tax going to the general fund, as I understand it that would be illegal.  Those funds must go to capital projects that increase tourism.  I also question whether the pilings underneath the courthouse parking lot wouldn't have to be repaired ANYWAY, at some point in the future.  I also question that a more vertical convention center couldn't be just as big as whatever is proposed for the POCC site. 

Lastly, I may be cynical, but I will believe that cineplex will get built when I see it go vertical, and not a day before.   

   

[Jason]

I think the cineplex is dependant on the convention center staying where it is though.  Nonetheless, vertical is the way to go no matter where it is built, IMO.