End nearing for Chris Hionides?

[ChriswUfGator]

I have seen a few articles recently, he appears to be having severe financial problems. Just came across another recent one today.

Maybe this will finally see some of these dumps go to people who will do something with the asset...

[Deuce]

If he does lose some Springfield/Downtown properties, the question still remains whether it will go to another Chris Hionides or to a Mack Bisette.

[strider]

Wishing ill on Hionides is not the answer.  And neither is a "Mack Bisette".  While Mack may have done a lot good for Springfield, have you noticed the number of abandoned foundations around?  Few developers are doing great right now.  Main street needs someone with a proven track record with commercial development, lots of cash and a desire to be ahead of their time.  The bargain hunters that go after foreclosed on properties often are more likely to sit on the property until it appreciates rather than develop it.  We may be better off with Hionides hanging onto them.

[Deuce]

Main street needs someone with a proven track record with commercial development, lots of cash and a desire to be ahead of their time.

I agree wholeheartedly.

Let me add though, Mack's residential properties would not be sitting vacant if he could sell more houses. His intentions from day one were complete build-out of his land or barring that sell them to someone else. At no time have I seen him pursue a development strategy of sit and wait. Case in point, he's leased one of his Main St. properties out to Zombie bikes rather then let it sit vacant. Also, he builds all the foundations at once to save on costs, generate interest in the property, and as it's been explained to me before, there's a permitting reason.

[samiam]

I can see no down side to the fact that the property's on main street are now being actively marketed.

[alta]

Main street needs someone with a proven track record with commercial development, lots of cash and a desire to be ahead of their time.

I agree wholeheartedly.

Let me add though, Mack's residential properties would not be sitting vacant if he could sell more houses. His intentions from day one were complete build-out of his land or barring that sell them to someone else. At no time have I seen him pursue a development strategy of sit and wait. Case in point, he's leased one of his Main St. properties out to Zombie bikes rather then let it sit vacant. Also, he builds all the foundations at once to save on costs, generate interest in the property, and as it's been explained to me before, there's a permitting reason.

Considering SRG is the contractor on Third and Main why would you deny his interest in commercial development of Main St.  Zombie Bikes has been one of the bright spots on Main St.  So leave that property vacant?  Their three day anniversary festival was a success this past weekend.  If SRG is wanting to sell their properties to another developer why would they pour foundations in advance.  Can you name another developer that builds an exact floorplan?  Your logic doesn't make sense.

 

[zoo]

Main street needs someone with a proven track record with commercial development, lots of cash and a desire to be ahead of their time.

O-h-h-h... that's all it takes?!?!? I've been to the dime store, and they're on order but currently fresh out.

[thelakelander]

I think searching for the knight in shining armor to swoop down and rescue Main, with a pocket of cash, is a pipe dream.  IMO, it starts and ends with the ability to cluster compatible small businesses together to create a district with a "sense of place."  If that "sense of place" can be created, more will be attracted to invest and visit the strip.  Six or seven years ago, Main became a popular spot for arts and nightlife.  For whatever reason, most of those businesses died.  We need to find a way to stimulate that scene again and push it to the next level.

[Springfield Girl]

 SRG has built many homes in Springfield after those existing foundations were put in. Most of those foundations are either 3000sf or have attached garages, which are more expensive and became harder to sell when the market tightened. Those plans have been modified so expect to see movement on those foundations soon. SRG is planning on building more this year than last and are just trying to work out the details in this crazy market. There are a lot of ideas being thrown around regarding Main St. and a lot of work going on behind the scenes. One of the good things about a market like this is it gets the creative juices flowing. Many opportunities may come available that would not have been an option before.

[Deuce]

Can you name another developer that builds an exact floorplan?  Your logic doesn't make sense.

Alta, you missed my point entirely (not uncommon on these boards it seems). I never said that Mack was going to sell the foundations. I said he would sell his land if he wasn't going to do anything with it or if he thought someone else might. He owns a lot more empty lots than what he has even built on at this point. I was making the point that the only reason those foundations are sitting empty is because it's a tough market to sell houses in (see Springfield Girl's response).

Also, I never denied his interest in developing Main St. My point was, he has found a use for his property rather than:

turning around and demanding rents so high that all the businesses closed and the properties are still vacant 5 years later

[Springfield Girl]

Mack lets Zombie and Burro use the old Darty property free of charge. I think it would be great if other owners would do the same. Having businesses in the vacant spaces will only make the property more valuable. Why not let someone have the space free for say, 6 mos. and then a percentage of revenue after that? I think showing these owners how they can improve their properties and make money is a win-win for everyone. Lets all work together.

[strider]

I was a renter during the times that " The progress you are describing was actually starting to happen along Main, but got killed by the Batehs, the Hionides,and Craig Van Horn."  My rent was reasonable.  One of the key businesses at the time was in a building not owned by any of them and the business still failed and the building is still vacant.  Others have said they were going ahead with their plans with property on Main and yet, what happened, at least in one case, was that the property is now just an empty lot.  And just like the evil Hoindes, their lot is still empty. 

You can not sit here and blame this all on the "big three".  Ever hear "Watch what you wish for, it may come true"?  Well, the next owner of that property could be worse than the current one.  That any developer like Hiondes is having problems should be a concern of all of Jacksonville, certainly a bad sign for the likes of places like Springfield - smaller and struggling for decades to get back to being a viable commercial area.

SRG and company cleaning the lots up is a big positive.  It will not make everything better, but every little bit helps.  Lake has a good point in that the small "mom & pop" businesses is what is needed.  But also, the "pie in the sky" is needed too.  At least we need to reach for the pie and try to get things done that will truly help the commercial corridor.  Like fighting for the real streetcar.  It may be a decade away, but that may be what it takes to have a lasting success rather than a few more short term spurts.  And it may be what it takes to get that developer to turn away from the southside and put his cash here where he will be a head of his time.

[Springfielder]

I couldn't agree more!

[hillary supporter]

hear, hear chrisufgator!!!!
I tried to figure out what you said for 3 years dreaming of a loft building in downtown. we lookd at several buildings of hionides, looking at 100ks of renovation--- and he wanting several hundreds of thousands for his properties--- he wanted 900k for the old thee imperial(!)  no bank would lend money for 4 walls and a roof.
Hionides is a cancerous tumor for all of jacksonville. but , sometimes, tumors do kill themselves. Such a loss would be in the best interest of all of jax.

[alta]

Hopefully Hionedes will sell a few of these properties at market rates to spur development along Main St.