Springfield Lessons for Regency

[tufsu1]

I was afraid that was the only way to upload...oh well, here are the 2 main pages from the report

[Joe]

That's a fantastic landuse map. If implemented, that would turn regency into a real "place" with a long term future.

But that's the problem with charettes ... they're just pretty colors on a map. There are a dozen different ways that (fantastic) map violates basic provisions of Jax's zoning code, and probably FDOT's traffic plans as well.

Without a targeted change to Jax's land use policy, something like this can't happen.

[Ocklawaha]

Have to ask if I lived in one of those edge of the world residential units would I want to walk a mile to the Mass Transit Hub? With blistering sun, 100 degree heat and humidity - not Freaking likely. So the question changes to where will transit go from those hubs? If up Monument, we're missing most of the "VILLAGE" so which do we screw - residential (which ride buses and streetcars) or retailers (where buses and streetcars go) like Lake has preached, we CAN have both.

This is where someone gets on and says we need a PRT system at Regency-Future.

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

what makes you assume that mixed-use is retail?  I'm sure the intent is a combination of uses....a good examplke is Mizner Park in Boca Raton.

As for the other comment, some of this can be done under the City's existing zoning code....but there is full-scale re-write of the codes underway....and the primary intent is to encourage/allow places like this. 

[Charles Hunter]

I thought the intent of the zoning rewrite was to make Paul Harden's life easier.

OK, back to the thread, it would take a major commitment by the owners of the Mall, and the other properties nearby.

Oh, and doesn't the zoning rewrite specify where TODs can be?  Just at places JTA has already identified as BRT stops?

[TheProfessor]

In an ideal world there would be a light rail train that would cross over the Mathew's Bridge connecting from downtown.  All the land over arlington expressway tunnel (which acts as a north south pedestrian divider and only moves suburbanites quicker toward the beach) would be overlaid with an an urban park and then institute "Regency" as a TOD stop on the way to the final beach TOD stop.  Then feed off bus service from these TODs to other points of intersts places like Jacksonville University, Ft. Caroline, etc... Ideally this can happen if we have some good planning!

[thelakelander]

Regency Square mall owner hints at bankruptcy

The company that owns Regency Square mall in Jacksonville has warned it might need to seek bankruptcy court protection if it cannot reach agreement with lenders about debt payments due this year.

General Growth Properties, based in Chicago, owns and manages about 200 regional shopping malls, including Regency Square, located off the Arlington Expressway.

General Growth had been trying for weeks to line up agreements from bondholders to get through the rest of 2009 without facing tougher repayment terms on its debt. But General Growth fell short of gaining consent from enough lenders by the company’s deadline of last Friday.

General Growth Chief Executive Officer Adam Metz said in a statement today the company will continue to negotiate with lenders “to address the credit crisis facing the company.”

General Growth spokesman Jim Graham said the day-to-day operation of Regency Square hasn’t been affected by the company’s debt problems.

“I don’t think customers will experience anything other than the service they know us for,” he said.

He said General Growth hasn’t been planning any major redevelopment at Regency Square, which opened in 1967. He said the company’s spending for building improvements would be tied to new retailers moving to the mall, but in the current economy, retailers are not in an expansion mode.

General Growth is the second-biggest mall company in the country, behind Simon Property Group. Simon has ownership interests in three Northeast Florida malls č St. Johns Town Center and The Avenues on Jacksonville’s Southside, and Orange Park Mall.

Simon Property Group’s stock price today was $30.86 per share compared to General Growth Properties at 55 cents per share.

http://www.jacksonville.com/business/2009-03-30/story/regency_square_mall_owner_hints_at_bankruptcy

[urbanlibertarian]

Just when it seemed that they were adapting to their changing neighborhood demographics.  I guess any business that is carrying a lot of debt is in trouble these days.

[chipwich]

Once the recession is over (or before depending on GGP's financial condition), a redeveloper will most likely buy the mall.  Regency has potential and a great deal of surrounding residents (shoppers) with room for new rooftops.

There are many mall redevelopers out there who would probably love to buy this mall and redevelop it, but the financing is just not there to do that right now.

I guess we will just wait and see.  Let's pray it doesn't turn into another Market Square Mall, Normandy Mall.

[stjr]

Unfortunately, I believe Regency has, in part at least, deteriorated with much of the surrounding Arlington area demographics.  Parts of Arlington are now viewed as a suburban slum.  It is giving good competition with other areas of town known for vice and murder on the 11:00 news.  Even JU, probably the last remaining gem in the area, has recently experienced the ills of Arlington on campus. 

What Arlington lacks in large areas is character and a sense of neighborhoods.  Evidence includes lots of cheaply built houses, apartments, and ugly and inexpensively built commercial structures.  The recently failed conversions of apartments to condos further gutted the area.  Outside of the riverside developments along University or Ft. Caroline roads, Hidden Hills, and Queens Harbor, I don't see many islands of improving or stable neighborhoods north of Atlantic Blvd.  Most of the commercial corridors look like schlock.  Few nicer retail or office complexes of significance, either.  So, who would live in the area, if they could afford other choices?

Compounding Arlington's issues is the fact that the Mathews Bridge's height, narrowness, traffic, and singularity have served to intimidate many from considering Arlington as a residential or work option.  For years Arlington was subject to paper mill odors wafting over from the Northside.  And, it remains impacted by the "views" of the Port, JEA, terminals, and other industrial activity fronting it from across the St. Johns.  This too has helped lower the bar for what Arlington could be.

I remember when Regency opened in or around 1967 as one of the top malls in America in sales $$$ per square foot.  At the time, there was little in the immediate area except sand dunes left by strip mining, the same as what it was built upon. It mainly thrived because there was nothing else like it in North Florida.  I believe the beginning of its decline can actually be traced to Orange Park Mall which actively competed for the growing San Jose, Southside, and Mandarin populations and established itself as more hip and progressive. The Avenues was likely the nail in the coffin, especially being at the opposite end of Southside Boulevard, i.e. taking direct aim at Regency.  Its appeal to upscale shoppers left Regency with the leftovers, mostly area residents occupying all that mostly cheap housing.

Regency's downfall and that of the surrounding Arlington area also serve as a great example of the ills of poor planning, zoning, transportation, and urban sprawl.  Arlington mostly had the same potential as any other area of town, but was victimized by get-rich-quick development at the expense of everything else.  Starting with Regency, which was never easy to access from day one, with the confused and poorly addressed convergence of Atlantic, Southside, and Arlington Xway.  Regency's presence just made this problem grow much worse with ever increasing traffic and the bottleneck there probably was the beginning of the decline of Arlington.  The flyover was supposed to cure much of this but that obviously didn't work.  Neither did the proximity of 9A, the Dames Point Bridge, or the Wonderwood Expressway.  This is a good example of how hundreds of millions (billions in today's dollars?) in road building doesn't really solve anyone's problems (are the Outer Beltway proponents listening?) or guarantee economic advancement.

Ironic, if Regency actually contributed to its own demise by helping to destroy the area it so dominated.

[mtraininjax]

Regency is akin to the Normandy area, but closer to the beach. Will never be the same as it was in the 60s and 70s.

[thelakelander]

Regency Square mall owner General Growth Properties declares bankruptcy
http://www.jacksonville.com/business/2009-04-16/story/regency_square_mall_owner_general_growth_properties_declares_bankruptcy

[Tripoli1711]

Well Chapter 11 doesn't sound the end for the mall, they will continue operating.. but it certainly is a sign of the times for that region.  9A and the towncenter were the final straw.  People in that area can drive an extra 10 minutes and be down there, why go to Regency.

[will]

The whole area is an aesthetic abomination. Let it go to seed and maybe nature will take it back.

[reednavy]

GGP has an enormous amount of debt that was to be owed this eyar, and filing for protection was definetly a good thing on their part. Guarantee you they will get rid of under performing properties over the next year or so.