Must Read from around the web
New JTA Bus Stops signs
jaxdailyrecord.com - New JTA bus signs, like this one on Newnan Street across from the Yates Building, have started popping up at stations Downtown.
Panera Bread in San Marco to close
jacksonville.bizjournals.com - The Panera Bread restaurant in San Marco is scheduled to close in December.
Florida's 11% unemployment is a 24-year high
jacksonville.bizjournals.com - Florida's unemployment rate hit 11 percent in September, a level not seen since October 1975. The state's unemployment rate was up 0.2 percentage points from August, according to the Florida…
Future of Sunset Limited train service through Jacksonville unclear
jacksonville.com - Until 2005 the Sunset Limited ran from Orlando to Los Angeles going through Jacksonville. But service from here died when Hurricane Katrina decimated the Gulf Coast in August 2005 and…
City Council Amends Sign Ordinance to Allow for Bus Shelters
urbanjacksonville.info - This morning on First Coast Connect at 9:00 we'll be discussing the City Council's decision to allow the JTA to hire an independent company to build dozens of bus shelters…
Florida East Coast will roll out AMTRAK in 2.6 Years
jacksonvilletransit.blogspot.com - 1968, it was an overcast afternoon when train number 2, The Florida East Coast Local to Jacksonville, whistled through St. Augustine, for the last time.
Urban Jacksonville Wins Best Jacksonville Blog
urbanjacksonville.info - For the third year in a row Urban Jacksonville was nominated by Folio readers as Best Blog in Jacksonville. It's an awesome honor and I'd like to thank everyone who…
Placement of bus shelters stirs debate through Jacksonville
jacksonville.com - In the half-shade of a droopy palm tree, Kise Jones did his best to stay comfortable and patient as he waited for the bus Sunday afternoon in downtown Jacksonville.
Urban Jacksonville Weekly #35
urbanjacksonville.info - Taverna in San Marco and Farm to Table Tour
JEDC to amend Downtown historic restoration agreement, restart project
jaxdailyrecord.com - An agreement approved by City Council five years ago to grant $400,000 from the Historic Preservation Trust Fund to rehabilitate a building on West Adams Street got some new life…
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Keith-N-Jax
June 17, 2009, 04:15:55 AMSports Mania- why no pic of the Jags. Anyway with the way things are in the USA. Good to see some action, although I wish some projects like the St. Johns and Brooklyn were included.
Hurricane
June 17, 2009, 05:35:54 AMLet's keep our fingers crossed that this summer might be the turning point for commercial construction. I know a lot of people don't like the courthouse, but hopefully that will spur on lots of other projects...
David
June 17, 2009, 07:02:35 AMThe June update looks waaaaaaaaaay better.
For awhile the construction updates were depressing since there wasn't much to report.
copperfiend
June 17, 2009, 08:35:30 AMWhere is SportsMania going in at ?
Doctor_K
June 17, 2009, 08:36:48 AMIs anyone else underwhelmed by the signage and overall outward presentation of Oral Explosions? I fear greatly that this place might fail due in part to the fact that it's so nondescript.
Otherwise, I agree with David - it's nice to see some tangible action happening!
zoo
June 17, 2009, 08:47:33 AMThe signage at Oral Explosions, along with the name in general, is horrible! However, glad there are new eateries. Both the 2111 Liberty and Berkman II projects have homeless squatters living in them, so property owners/investors may want to clean out the bldgs and do a better job of securing the sites.
copperfiend
June 17, 2009, 08:48:26 AMI think Oral Explosions looks like a place with generic eateries that you would find in a video game or on the Simpsons. Some of them seem like knock-offs of popular restaurants.
blizz01
June 17, 2009, 09:24:04 AMI noticed this today "In The Pipeline" -in the TU - not sure if that's an update or not, however.
Urban Core
Construction and demolition
Peterbrooke Chocolatier
Business Name: Jacksonville Landing
Business Type: Commercial
Project Address: 2 Independent Drive
Entry Date: 5/29/2009
File Date: 5/1/2009
Real Estate ID Number: 074457-1001
Value: $600,000
Contractor: Oakwell Companies, Orange Park
Contractor Phone: (904) 955-9455
Architect: Thomas Duke Architect
Architect Phone: (904) 356-3335
Owner: Sleiman Enterprises
Owner Phone: (9040 353-1188
http://cgi.jacksonville.com/cgi-bin/newsroom/recent.cgi?Planning_District=1.+Urban+Core
5PointsGuy
June 17, 2009, 09:31:47 AMUnfortunately, I don't think Berkman Plaza construction is going anywhere. Although OSHA dropped the negligence claim, there are still civial action law suits pending against the builders. Additionally, I'm no engineer, but I'm not sure that construction can be continued with the damage done to the side of the building from the parking garage collapsing. There is damage concrete with internal rebar exposed to the elements. Also, I haven't seen a construction worker there in months and it seems that even the trailer that the foreman uses has been moved...
fsujax
June 17, 2009, 09:32:01 AMI saw that in the pipeline as well. However, at the Landing I have seen no signs or anything announcing Peterbrooke.
jaxlore
June 17, 2009, 09:58:12 AMyep the signage is kinda suckee but i hope the indian food is good. that will save the day!
reednavy
June 17, 2009, 09:59:06 AMOf course you wouldn't, they want to keep it under wraps, and I don't blame them. They're going to build an awesome facility and probably want to do it that way to have a grand reopening. Of course, it is still in preliminary stages, Peterbrooke still runs in San Marco, but have started removing things, such as their infamous pink neon signage.
Hmm, anyone else that Ray's Pizza has been replaced with Royal Pizza? Either they realized the sign is almost a copy of Al's or Al's said something.
copperfiend
June 17, 2009, 10:17:35 AMReed, I just noticed the change. I am certain that Al's threatened to take legal action. It was an obvious knock-off. It reminded me of McDowell's from Coming to America.
fsu813
June 17, 2009, 10:33:52 AMOral Explosions does look rather bland an UNattractive from the outside.......NOT a good thing if you want to get people in. Kind of an eyesore actaully....what the heck were they thinking?
*** Also, a quick update on 3rd & Main:
1) City Kidz neighborhood icecream cafe will be opening July1st. It will be a family friendly cafe that will serve premium ice creams & smoothies, health foods, and lunch-type items. The cafe itself will feature a flat screen wall mounted tv, wifi, a marble slab to make the ice cream, and family friendly seating. The owners are really into helping out disadvantaged youth, so they will also have an outreach program focused on finanical literacy as well. Pretty interesting, huh.
2) The apartments are tentatively set to open July 15th. As every knows they perfer to rent them to Proton patients, if they can't keep them full then they'll rent to others. The property will feature an exercise room, meeting room, business center, elevator, outdoor grill, gated parking, balconies, W/D's, fully equipped kitchens, and nice appliances and tv's in each room.
3) Uptown Market (i think that's what they're calling it) is set to open sometime between August 1 & 15th. It will be open for breakfast & lunch with seperate menus for each and seating. The deli will be open for lunch as well and will serve ready made foods to take home. Imported beers & wines will be sold as well as seasonal produce and other grocery and household items. Outdoor seating as well, I beleive.
fsujax
June 17, 2009, 10:44:24 AMThanks for the update on 3rd and Main. I can't wait.
Jason
June 17, 2009, 12:06:27 PMSeeing tower cranes at the Courthouse and Wolfson's sites will be a huge positive for downtown.
stjr
June 17, 2009, 12:20:37 PMFor a few days, Oral Explosions had an attention-grabbing electronic sign over the entry door (facing north on San Marco Blvd.) operating that flashed, a few seconds at a time, in full color, the logos of 4 of the 5 restaurants having permanent signgage on the building. Now the sign is turned off.
Has anyone looked in the windows? Are they still doing interior work? Once the signs went up, I figured they were ready to open. But, now its been awhile.
thelakelander
June 17, 2009, 12:53:42 PMAs of Monday, they were still working on the interior at Oral Explosions.
heights unknown
June 17, 2009, 01:16:55 PMIt's about time they get the Courthouse area in a "under construction" mode; we've been waiting forever.
Heights Unknown
TREE4309
June 17, 2009, 01:59:22 PMIs it just me, or does "Oral Explosions" sound like a sex act?
TREE4309
June 17, 2009, 02:00:33 PMAlso, regarding Peterbrooke, I spoke with a rep in their corporate purchasing department a week or so ago and she told me that they weren't moving to the Landing...not sure if she was feeding me a line for some reason or if that project has been put on hold.
fsujax
June 17, 2009, 02:02:25 PMRegarding the electronic sign at Oral Explosions.....they probably got cited for violating one of Jax's great sign ordinances.
David
June 17, 2009, 02:16:44 PMit's just you.
David
June 17, 2009, 02:18:08 PMThat sign was insanely bright. I thought it might not be a bad thing since that part of San Marco could use a lil more light, but it was borderline obnoxious.
copperfiend
June 17, 2009, 02:51:58 PMThat's sooooo 4 months ago.
reednavy
June 17, 2009, 02:58:34 PMthelakelander
June 17, 2009, 03:26:32 PMI wonder where Peterbrooke will be going into the Landing? Given they need at least 13,000 sf, my guess is the old South End Brewery/Deep Blue space.
brainstormer
June 17, 2009, 03:48:01 PMGood for Peterbrooke...I'm enjoying the suspense. I also am eagerly awaiting City Kidz and Uptown Market. Now lets get the main street road construction finished and we can finally begin to move on to more revitalization in Springfield. I feel like the roadwork is holding us back a bit.
I-10east
June 17, 2009, 04:19:34 PMI heard on the news that the Shipyards project is dead; I know that I'm probably not surprising anyone.
Coolyfett
June 17, 2009, 07:56:46 PMThe Main Street Lofts look very UN-Jacksonville....I'm impressed. What is the Bay Street thing? More bars/places to eat?
coredumped
June 17, 2009, 08:09:02 PMThe bay street is a "streetscape" project. according to the city:
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Public+Works/Construction+Projects/Streetscape+Projects.htm
Thanks for the construction update. They're my favorite part of reading metrojacksonville.com
exnewsman
June 17, 2009, 08:25:06 PMThe two Hilton-brand hotels at Kings Ave Station have their soft opening June 29. Took a tour a couple weeks ago. Both hotels are very nice. There is a pice on the June edition of the JTA Making Moves TV show online (near the end) that shows off the rooms of each. Dark wood furniture. Granite countertops, Stainless appliances.
tufsu1
June 17, 2009, 09:53:55 PMacross from Hooters...where the Edgewater Treasures shop was
Charles Hunter
June 17, 2009, 10:39:05 PMI think the Bay Street project also includes extending the 2-way part another block west, so you can turn east (toward the stadium) onto Bay from the Main Street Bridge ramp to Ocean Street.
mtraininjax
June 17, 2009, 10:45:40 PMCome to Jacksonville, Stay 2 blocks of the river with a nice view of I-95, we do know how to sell shinola!
5PointsGuy
June 18, 2009, 02:43:44 PMYup, Bay will be turned into a 2-way road between Main and Ocean, which would allow people to immediately turn onto Bay from Main.
reednavy
June 18, 2009, 03:43:46 PMCome to Jacksonville, Stay 2 blocks of the river with a nice view of I-95, we do know how to sell shinola!
Dude, your negativity has gotten old, it was old yesterday.
For a hotel of it's size and brand, it couldn't afford to be built on the river and the number of rooms would've been rediculously low. These two brands from Hilton cater mainly to business travelers, and the last thing on their minds is probably the view from the room. I think it fills a little bit of the niche that doesn't really exist in the downtown area. Now, if we could do something with the two suburban looking hotels closer to the river and replace the Wyndham with something nicer, it'd be better.
fsu813
June 18, 2009, 04:16:05 PM"Good for Peterbrooke...I'm enjoying the suspense. I also am eagerly awaiting City Kidz and Uptown Market. Now lets get the main street road construction finished and we can finally begin to move on to more revitalization in Springfield. I feel like the roadwork is holding us back a bit." - brainstormer
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Substantial construction completion is due to end in October. They will make small corrections or changes for a month after, but all the major work will be done in Oct.
Seraphs
June 18, 2009, 06:14:38 PMIt doesn't necessarily sound like a sex act to me, however, it isn't a good name for a restaurant.
What's in a name? In my opinion a name can make or break a business, especially a restaurant.
jaxlore
June 19, 2009, 08:30:47 AMCome to Jacksonville, Stay 2 blocks of the river with a nice view of I-95, we do know how to sell shinola!
yeah but you have locals right across the street, who could ask for anything more. I will say this will probably put the kabosh on endo exo doing outside concerts/events.
brainstormer
June 19, 2009, 10:19:14 AMAnd you also have tons of local restaurants and shops within walking distance that will gladly welcome new business. Easy access to the Skyway will allow someone just visiting Jacksonville to head to the Landing downtown. The two hotels are a great addition to the area and a prime example of quality infill.
JoeMerchant
June 19, 2009, 10:26:57 AM^But these are the only hotels in the nation that overlook an interstate right?
reednavy
June 19, 2009, 10:55:18 AMOcklawaha
June 19, 2009, 12:34:59 PMThe Best Western in Abeline, Texas, has a view of the freeway that ends in downtown. Yet it manages to be a convention center, GARDEN OF EDEN, indoor gardens with a flowing creek, plus waterfalls. Oh and by the way MTrain, Who cares that there is a freeway outside?
The Best Western in Dulce, New Mexico, is the heart of the Apache Nation, there are powwow rooms, flute players, drummers, dancers, a narrow gauge railroad right-of-way, no through roads AT ALL, a couple of rotting cattle cars and Holy Moses, a UFO base. Each room comes with instructions on speaking to Native Americans (we don't want anyone on the war path)... Once inside, who cares that the conditions outside (the "Nation") are less then wealthy.
The Best Western at JTB and Southpointe is somewhere beyond excellent, screw the "continental Breakfast" and let's build a complete buffet dining room with ANYTHING the heart desires. Convention space, and a staff that rides the crest of the local business hotels, even with the view of two expressways.
The Best Western at Monterey, California, overlooks the sea on one side and a expressway + railroad on the east side. Fog rolls in during the evening, a distinct chill in the air, the sea is damn cold anytime - Alaska Current, you know... They are working on restoration of the old "DEL MONTE" a long defunct streamliner between the Bay Area and Monterey, killed at the outset of Amtrak by a goofy rule that said no trains under 150 miles. New rules for Amtrak and Rail California will add up to another visit by my family and I.
All this just to say, the Hilton is a beautiful property, the garage will offer some sound protection, and a future Skyway link will bring with it an unheard of novelty. We're not good at selling anything here, if we were we'd have a finished Skyway and a Streetcar System, all tied to feeder BRT. People would flock to our riverwalk, ride our transit, buy goods and services downtown. Just as peace and quiet may sell you on a hotel room in Hooker, Oklahoma, the romantic buzz of the city will sell me one.
OCKLAWAHA
JaxNole
June 22, 2009, 11:59:19 PMThere's a Hilton or Sheraton that straddles the Massachusetts Turnpike. I'd take our new hotels over that one.
mtraininjax
June 24, 2009, 04:43:30 PMFor a hotel of it's size and brand, it couldn't afford to be built on the river and the number of rooms would've been rediculously low. These two brands from Hilton cater mainly to business travelers, and the last thing on their minds is probably the view from the room. I think it fills a little bit of the niche that doesn't really exist in the downtown area. Now, if we could do something with the two suburban looking hotels closer to the river and replace the Wyndham with something nicer, it'd be better.
Negativity? I stated a fact, not positive or negative. I speak the truth.
When the convention center is built on the river, how many people will enjoy the serenity of the I-95 view compared to those who only see the river view? Of course, you would probably enjoy a nice room at the Park View Inn, since that location fits what you call a "niche" market.
If business travelers, including airline pilots did not care where they stayed, they would all stay along airport road, yet go to the Omni or the Hyatt during the week and you find a number of people who are pilots or who work for the airlines and they make the drive to downtown, and the river, for just the view. Of course, they could have the view of 95 along airport road as well??
TREE4309
June 24, 2009, 04:49:29 PMI agree with reednavy. Not just in this thread, but in several...your negativity is grating. It goes beyond typical sarcasm (which I welcome, as a matter of fact) to a point where I do nothing except roll my eyes at the majority of what you have to say. It's OK for you to keep your mouth shut every once in a while if you don't have anything constructive or beneficial to share.
mtraininjax
June 24, 2009, 05:07:00 PMThanks, I'll keep it under advisement.
reednavy
June 24, 2009, 08:29:33 PMWhen the convention center is built on the river, how many people will enjoy the serenity of the I-95 view compared to those who only see the river view? Of course, you would probably enjoy a nice room at the Park View Inn, since that location fits what you call a "niche" market.
If business travelers, including airline pilots did not care where they stayed, they would all stay along airport road, yet go to the Omni or the Hyatt during the week and you find a number of people who are pilots or who work for the airlines and they make the drive to downtown, and the river, for just the view. Of course, they could have the view of 95 along airport road as well??
Of course, not all the rooms in either hotel have a river view. Also, apparently they choose those hotels because they are of better quality and provide better services than those along Duval RD. Most of the hotels downtown just provide better services, the rooms are better, and have more to do nearby. A view is probably one of the less important things for a business traveler, instead of services and location.
thelakelander
June 24, 2009, 08:37:30 PMThe electronic sign is back on and they had a steady stream of people in and out of there about an hour ago. They stay open until 9:30pm.
hightowerlover
June 24, 2009, 10:16:55 PMnow we just need to get some of those urban graffiti artists to go out to the building and make some logos on the side of the building that people will actually notice
mtraininjax
June 25, 2009, 06:57:20 AMThat is your opinion, yet, go check out the Hyatt, GO SEE WHO STAYS THERE DURING THE WEEK. Again, why would airline employees stay right on airline road, when they can SEE the river and downtown nightlife? Why would anyone stay on airport road for that matter?
tufsu1
June 25, 2009, 08:49:54 AMThat is your opinion, yet, go check out the Hyatt, GO SEE WHO STAYS THERE DURING THE WEEK. Again, why would airline employees stay right on airline road, when they can SEE the river and downtown nightlife? Why would anyone stay on airport road for that matter?
maybe because they have to get up at 5:00am to catch an early flight....plus, many airline employees fly in at 9:00pm one night and leave the next morning....I doubt they get to see much of the river at night!
reednavy
June 25, 2009, 11:26:02 AMAgain, you missed the point. Just because of the clientele that stay there doesn't mean a river view is high on their priority list. As I stated, services, accomodations, and familiarity with those brands keep that group of people coming back. Like I said, they're of better quality than most of the hotels along Duval Road. Besides, it is usually the airlines themselves that say where they can stay and arrange it as such. I just don't understand what your huge gripe is about the view when the new Hilton complex on Kings are made of two brands that cater more directly to the busniess traveler. If you're here for business, you're only using the room to sleep and you have your mettings, dining, and entertainment elsewhere for the most part, chill out.
brainstormer
July 01, 2009, 03:53:41 PMhttp://jacksonville.com/video/archive/2009-07-01/video_springfield_revitalization_shot_in_the_arm_with_opening_of_city_kidz_
I'm so excited to go get ice cream, despite jacksonville.com's wacked out heading
fsu813
July 01, 2009, 04:09:26 PMyea, not a great heading.
but the cafe is great! Wifi, flat screen tv, sandwiches, ice cream...........good stuff !!!
can't wait for the upscale grocer & deli to open in august !
JoeMerchant
July 01, 2009, 04:47:07 PMThey've actually changed the heading already....
mtraininjax
July 01, 2009, 04:47:56 PMI went to Hotels.com to see why the Hilton "garden Inn" downtown was such a great place to stay with its impressive view of I-95. Its not there, but the other lovely "garden Inns" are and they are scattered all over town.
I was able though to get rates for a random weekend, end of July for the following:
Wyndham - 105.64
Hyatt - 103.22
Crowne Plaza - 98.95
So for around 120-130, depending on the bed tax, you can stay on the river, as a business traveller is very nice accomodations and oh yeah, have a view of the river, or you can go to the "garden Inn" with its view of I-95 and walk to the river. I travel for business from time to time and I really enjoy the view of a wall or a road when I go to a new city or hotel. I just forgot how much fun that is.
reednavy
July 09, 2009, 03:24:14 PMI was downtown this morning around 9:45 and was behind a flatbed semi carrying at least 7 steel moldings for concrete to start the foundation pilings. Just throwing that out there, as it appears they're moving along nicely now.