The Barnett and Laura Trio about to be sold

urbanlibertarian · April 29, 2009, 09:48:42 PM

Wouldn't it be cool if they had something (club, restaurant, etc.) at street level (in the Barnett, at least) in time for the Jazz Festival?

thelakelander · April 29, 2009, 09:52:03 PM

More info, but the buyer has not been identified.

http://www.jacksonville.com/business/2009-04-29/story/buyer_has_contract_for_historic_downtown_jacksonville_buildings

ChriswUfGator · May 01, 2009, 11:34:54 AM

Quote from: urbanlibertarian on April 29, 2009, 09:48:42 PM
Wouldn't it be cool if they had something (club, restaurant, etc.) at street level (in the Barnett, at least) in time for the Jazz Festival?

No, it would be cool if they put a restaurant on the top floor or rooftop of the barnett. Can u imagine the view?

reednavy · May 01, 2009, 12:13:22 PM

It'd be a so-so view, considering BoA blocks your entire view of most of the river.

ChriswUfGator · May 01, 2009, 12:15:51 PM

Quote from: reednavy on May 01, 2009, 12:13:22 PM
It'd be a so-so view, considering BoA blocks your entire view of most of the river.

Nah, you'd get to see the other buildings all around you, you'd have a clear view of Hemming Park, and you'd still see the river everywhere BUT right where the BOA obelisk is. I think it would be great.

Did you ever go up on the roof of 11E back before they shut down the deck? The view from the upper floors in the Carling is stunning as well. I think you're underestimating how nice it'd be.

Lunican · May 01, 2009, 01:12:10 PM

View of The Barnett and the Laura Trio (right) from The Carling.

BridgeTroll · May 01, 2009, 01:35:33 PM

I have been atop 11 E and Barnett. I got lucky one afternoon wandering about downtown and struck up a conversation with the the security guard who was bored guarding the door at the very beginning of the renovation of the Barnett. The work crew was at lunch and he invited me to a tour. We actually rode in the rickety elevator all the way to the top. He showed me around and the views are fantastic... yeah some are blocked but most are very scenic. It is hard to imagine working in a building like that "back in the day". No A/C that I could see... one steam radiator per room for heat. Open windows provided ventilation and above every door was one of those louvered windows to provide a breeze. Visited several floors including the one that caught fires a few years ago.

Awesome building with very cool features...

ChriswUfGator · May 05, 2009, 06:50:21 AM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 01, 2009, 01:35:33 PM
I have been atop 11 E and Barnett. I got lucky one afternoon wandering about downtown and struck up a conversation with the the security guard who was bored guarding the door at the very beginning of the renovation of the Barnett. The work crew was at lunch and he invited me to a tour. We actually rode in the rickety elevator all the way to the top. He showed me around and the views are fantastic... yeah some are blocked but most are very scenic. It is hard to imagine working in a building like that "back in the day". No A/C that I could see... one steam radiator per room for heat. Open windows provided ventilation and above every door was one of those louvered windows to provide a breeze. Visited several floors including the one that caught fires a few years ago.

Awesome building with very cool features...

How was the interior? Spartan? Plush? Wood panelling? Concrete?

I always wondered what it was like in there before Kuhn gutted it. What floor was their headquarters on originally? Did you see that one?

BridgeTroll · May 05, 2009, 07:10:35 AM

I saw a lot of wood panelling... but it did not look like that cheap thin stuff. Everything was for lack of a better description... "solid". Heavy wood doors with those crystal or glass door knobs. One office I went in may have been a law office because three walls were line with shelves filled hard covered books. This was in a smoke damaged section though...

I was struck by the open and openable windows... most modern high rises do not let you open the windows...

ChriswUfGator · May 05, 2009, 08:46:16 AM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 05, 2009, 07:10:35 AM
I saw a lot of wood panelling... but it did not look like that cheap thin stuff. Everything was for lack of a better description... "solid". Heavy wood doors with those crystal or glass door knobs. One office I went in may have been a law office because three walls were line with shelves filled hard covered books. This was in a smoke damaged section though...

I was struck by the open and openable windows... most modern high rises do not let you open the windows...

I always wanted to go in there. I hear now they've stripped it down to bare walls :-(

heights unknown · May 05, 2009, 10:07:07 AM

Quote from: reednavy on May 01, 2009, 12:13:22 PM
It'd be a so-so view, considering BoA blocks your entire view of most of the river.

Setting the river view aside, you would have this awesome view of all of the surrounding downtown skyscrapers of all various sizes, colors and shapes.

Heights Unknown

Dapperdan · May 05, 2009, 12:05:45 PM

Quote from: ChriswUfGator on May 01, 2009, 12:15:51 PM
Quote from: reednavy on May 01, 2009, 12:13:22 PM
It'd be a so-so view, considering BoA blocks your entire view of most of the river.

Nah, you'd get to see the other buildings all around you, you'd have a clear view of Hemming Park, and you'd still see the river everywhere BUT right where the BOA obelisk is. I think it would be great.

Did you ever go up on the roof of 11E back before they shut down the deck? The view from the upper floors in the Carling is stunning as well. I think you're underestimating how nice it'd be.

Didn't they shut the deck down because someone jumped from the deck at 11E?

ChriswUfGator · May 06, 2009, 09:40:42 AM

I think they let the first one slide, and then there was another one, and an attempt or two. They did close it.

Can't say I blame them, Vestcor probably got sick of having their building in the news and cops there all the time.

It was so beautiful up there too. Damn jumpers ruined it for us, I guess they never heard of a bridge?

Jason · May 06, 2009, 10:14:05 AM

Heh, I was at the Landing Hooters having dinner a few weeks back and returned from the bathroom to witness a chopper circling the Main St. bridge. After a closer examination I noticed a guy hanging from the rail of the bridge and a couple JSO officers trying to pull him back up. When we left the Landing I struck up a conversation with two parked marine officers that were circling beneath while the guy was hanging. They told me that the guy was attempting to jump but then got scared. He was carted off and baker acted. I had to laugh and say to the officers that "the guy could have picked a better bridge! He would've had to do a belly flop to do any damage!". They agreed.

mtraininjax · May 07, 2009, 12:38:57 AM

The Barnett building is a LOT like the old federal courthouse, if you ever went in any of the floors above 1. The lobby, as I remember it a few years ago was remodled in 70s/80s carpet and the floors had the old VCT tile, probably asbestos, but old doors and big windows were the charm. The bathrooms and openings were narrow. Fun place to get lost.