Urban Infill: First Baptist Academy Recreational Area

[fsujax]

Again where is DVI on this issue? I am sure the leadership at FBC and any other church would be interested.

[thelakelander]

I'm glad they included a lot of trees in the design, and it is better than the empty lot that is currently there.  Can someone who better understands the streetscape deviation explain it to me?  Are they asking for a smaller sidewalk or larger one?  I guess I have a problem with granting an exception to the way the rest of Main Street looks.  And are they eliminating or adding parking along the street?  Perhaps, Lake, you or someone else can better explain this for me.

It does not appear they have plans to modifiy the recent Main Street improvements.  The deviation, along Beaver and Ashley Streets, will allow them to match the sidewalk design that aready exists around the Academy next door.

Example:

The Beaver Street sidewalk will match what is on the right instead of the city's gateway design on the left.


The sidewalks along and near Main will match the recent Main Street improvements (right) instead of the city's business-inter district design (left).

[thelakelander]

Again where is DVI on this issue? I am sure the leadership at FBC and any other church would be interested.

Who knows for sure.  I know we did have a FSCJ representative speak at a SAMBA meeting two months ago.  She mentioned their new building entrance at State & Julia, is designed to have an art gallery at street level.  They wanted this location to participate in Art Walk but were told they were too far away.  Anyway, I don't have the numbers at this moment, but they have something like 5,000 people coming in and out of that campus every day.  Imagine the benefit on downtown and Springfield if it could be better integrated into the surrounding area?  The new entrance illustrates that FSCJ may be willing to work on this from their end.

[comncense]

...daydreaming but wouldn't it have been nice if we could swap UNF with FBC downtown. Hell, I'd even swap FCCJ with FBC for that matter.

[stjr]

What would be nice and a win-win for everyone would be if someone could integrate a Downtown master plan with FBC's master plan.

I would think the church would have an interest in building structures that might contribute to life downtown during times when the church wouldn't need them for its programs.  Most religious facilities are used outside the hours of most commerce so there should be a complementary interest.  The church could maybe collect some additional revenue, community goodwill, etc. by building dual purpose facilities.  A missed opportunity was not putting ground level retail in their parking structures.  Maybe we could miss fewer of these opportunities in their future construction.

As mentioned, someday, their property would make a great ready-made college campus.  That would be a much greater contributor to the vitality of downtown.

[downtownparks]

This isn't infill. Its the suburbanization of our Urban Core. It sucks, if you ask me.

[downtownparks]

I would love to have seen the Park View inn used for something. Too bad the owner didnt.

[downtownparks]

Oh, is this where you blame me for the Park View not being used for anything again?

[thelakelander]

Lets keep this thread on topic.  The topic is about the First Baptist Academy's recreational project. No you's and I's needed.

[lindab]

Doesn't First Baptist own a couple of streets in this area? Will this design open or close more streets?

[thelakelander]

FBC has been using this site as surface parking for years



The recreational space will complement the urban school next door and replace the surface parking use.



No streets will be closed.

[jeh1980]

I have nothing against FBC Downtown. And I don't see why we have to whine and complain about the use of the land there. That peace of land would have been a construction site of something bigger or taller. But this idea is what the church wanted. Although, I do like to see a couple of fast food places or a Starbucks (or any other coffee shop for that matter) within the vicinity or next to the church. Mickey D's or a Hardee's would be a great fit for any close down or empty building that is within or next to the church. Subway and Quizno's mabye a bit of a walking distance further south (that is if they happen to open on Sunday and if their hours will agree with them. And as far as the old Park View Inn goes, I thought it'll be good to replace it with a multi-story retail mall or something. 

[fsujax]

The church does not own any public street in downtown and the lot has sat vacant for years, mostly recently being used for VBS to entertain the kids.

[downtownparks]

FSU, I believe they are talking about a bill that was put through by former council member Lockett-Felder back in 99 or 2000. When FBC put the over pass in on Laura, they put a support column in the middle of Laura. I believe the bill gave them the land that the column sits on, which is in the middle of Laura St.

I could be wrong, but I believe that was what got everyones dander up.

[Jason]

Part of me likes the addition, especially because it compliments the school.  But another part of me thinks that a park like this would be better suited on a rooftop or a parking garage allowing other usages beneath.  That's how the big cities do it anyways...