Riverplace Tower West Parking Garage Proposed

[Captain Zissou]

Maybe a good idea, but not very LEED.  I don't completely understand your proposal Ock, but connections to the buildings would be beneficial.  I don't know if the benefits of 'sky walks' would justify the effort to construct them.  I may just be unclear on what you are proposing.  Maybe something minimal could still establish connection or association with those buildings.  It irks me, however, when people spend a lot of time money and energy building something "green", when nothing was needed at all. 

[Ocklawaha]

The skywalk concept was once a part of the downtown plan. In a simple form it could be like the Kings Avenue Station walk under I-95 to the Garage. Just a simple over the road, open air sidewalk with a roof.

The original plans called for AC and the only ones really built can be seen at FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, downtown. These are nice, have carpet and AC, but still tend to roast in the summer heat, in the cold of winter the greenhouse effect keeps them toasty. The ultimate version is only found in Florida (correct me if anyone knows of an example) at our airports. These are broad "airport like" concourses, that even have room for restrooms, custodian room, guard and kiosks for Starbucks like businesses. Failing a SKYWAY connection over the Acosta, the San Marco Station - Baptist "Skywalk" should perhaps be of this type. The others could be quite simple.

OCKLAWAHA

[Doctor_K]

Something along these lines?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis_Skyway_System

The Minneapolis Skyway System is a pedestrian skywalk system that connects various buildings in Downtown Minneapolis enabling people to walk in a climate controlled environment. The extensive system is renowned as the largest continuous system in the world, and is compared alongside the underground cities of Canadian cold weather cities Toronto and Montreal.

The system forms a network of climate-controlled, pedestrian walkways that link sixty-nine full city blocks over seven miles (11 km). However the skyways do close during off business hours. The skyways are owned by individual buildings in Minneapolis, and as such they do not have uniform opening and closing times.

[Captain Zissou]

Those are pretty neat.  I went through a system like this in Charlotte called the Overstreet Mall.  It was mostly shut down because it was a weekend, but this idea was cool.  I don't know that the southbank has the density to support this without some stinkin' long walkways.

[rjp2008]

Yeah a lot of northern cities have them to stay warm during winter shopping. We don't have that problem down here.

[Ocklawaha]

No down here we all get excercise and a steam bath for free, just for walking outside most of the year. This COULD take the edge off. Remember, such a "System" doesn't have to have a grid. The streets and walks, parks and buildings pretty much do that along with the Skyway and JTA buses. Just add these as "needed" to give that long Southbank "STRIP" some flash and comfort, and jump start the broken Skyway with SKYWALKS.

BTW, right on target Doctor K, only our system was to be called the "Skywalks".

OCKLAWAHA

[rjp2008]

In that area, people work all day in AC'd towers/buildings and live in nearby riverfront condos/apts. I'd prefer money spent on things to do outside. (Sidewalk cafeterias, plazas, parks).

The biggest hurdle though is, aside from RCBrew, maybe a hotel or two, is that whole area is a primarily a business district, not an evening hangout spot except for special events maybe (fireworks).

[vicupstate]

Those are pretty neat.  I went through a system like this in Charlotte called the Overstreet Mall.  It was mostly shut down because it was a weekend, but this idea was cool.  I don't know that the southbank has the density to support this without some stinkin' long walkways.

Charlotte's Overstreet mall has been widely criticized for taking pedestrians off the street.  It hasn't been dismantled, but the city and business community regret having done it.   

[brainstormer]

As parking garages go, this one is definitely more pleasing to the eye than most.  I'm hoping there is another part of the plan we just don't know about yet.  Perhaps they will use the other half of the surface lot for something different.  A small office building with more retail on the bottom or turning it into green space would all be good with me.  Any time a surface parking lot disappears, I'm happy.   I also liked someone's idea of getting rid of the old parking lot that sits on the river as that really seems like a waste of expensive river frontage.

The skywalks are a pretty great idea as well.  Something simple like duplicating the walk from Kings Avenue to the parking garage would probably be the best for that area.

[Steve]

Skywalks in an urban setting are generally bad - they take the sense of place and pedestrian activity off the road.  If people are that desperate to stay dry when it rains, then develop a good awning system (I've yet to see one downtown).

As far as the garage goes, not bad - I've seen better here, but I've also seen much worse here.  Parking is a bit tight over there; I was in the Riverplace garage two weeks ago, and I had to park on the roof, where there were about 30 spaces free.  That isn't much for a large tower.

[heights unknown]

That's all we need; another parking garage; however, I guess the demand is there and it will at least put something on that dirt/grass/cement lot; better than nothing I guess, but please put some retail on the ground floor and not just an empty shell.

Heights Unknown

[jeh1980]

Great idea ! It will be a great addition to the southbank when they build it. Which means that the other side of the surface lot could soon be replaced by a possible high rise project along the way.

[Jason]

Skywalks in an urban setting are generally bad - they take the sense of place and pedestrian activity off the road.  If people are that desperate to stay dry when it rains, then develop a good awning system (I've yet to see one downtown).

As far as the garage goes, not bad - I've seen better here, but I've also seen much worse here.  Parking is a bit tight over there; I was in the Riverplace garage two weeks ago, and I had to park on the roof, where there were about 30 spaces free.  That isn't much for a large tower.

What have you seen better than that in Jax?  Aside from say Independent Square or other scrapers with integrated garages.

[heights unknown]

Great idea ! It will be a great addition to the southbank when they build it. Which means that the other side of the surface lot could soon be replaced by a possible high rise project along the way.

Wishful thinking regarding the "possible high rise project;" we'll believe it and accept it when we see it.

Heights Unknown

[Steve]

Skywalks in an urban setting are generally bad - they take the sense of place and pedestrian activity off the road.  If people are that desperate to stay dry when it rains, then develop a good awning system (I've yet to see one downtown).

As far as the garage goes, not bad - I've seen better here, but I've also seen much worse here.  Parking is a bit tight over there; I was in the Riverplace garage two weeks ago, and I had to park on the roof, where there were about 30 spaces free.  That isn't much for a large tower.

What have you seen better than that in Jax?  Aside from say Independent Square or other scrapers with integrated garages.

Yes, that was my thought - particularly the above ground parkign garage at BOA - most don't even know it's a garage, which is good.  The common misconception is that garae is underground, but it's actually floors 2 through 9