Must Read from around the web
St. Joe will move headquarters out of Jacksonville
jacksonville.com - The St. Joe Company will move its corporate headquarters from Jacksonville to Bay County the Panhandle where the company is building a large development anchored by the Northwest Florida Beaches…
JIA passenger count drops 4.7% in February
jacksonville.bizjournals.com - The number of passengers who traveled through Jacksonville International Airport fell by nearly 4.7 percent from February last year to about 389,000 last month.
Vestcor's loan modifications for 11E and The Carling clear first hurdle
jaxdailyrecord.com - The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission unanimously approved loan modifications on Wednesday for two Downtown apartment buildings developed by Vestcor Inc.
Wind towers, solar panels help power Jacksonville strip mall
jacksonville.com - The twin 30-foot-high towers in front of a strip mall on the south side of Atlantic Boulevard near St. Johns Bluff are hard to miss - especially when the wind…
Jacksonville declares impasse with police union
jacksonville.com - After little to no response from the police union on proposed salary cuts and pension reform, Jacksonville declared impasse this morning with the Fraternal Order of Police.
Delaney to pitch $1.75 billion investment in 'new economy'
jaxdailyrecord.com - University of North Florida President John Delaney said he will take his call for a $1.75 billion investment in the state's university system, specifically for creation of "knowledge" jobs, to…
Morris Publishing Group emerges from bankruptcy
jacksonville.com - Morris Publishing Group announced today it has completed the necessary steps to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company submitted a plan on Jan. 19 to restructure its debts that…
Watchfulness in Jacksonville's Ortega area helps keep crime low
jacksonville.com - Jacksonville's safest neighborhood has been described as a small town wrapped by the city. Maggie Wilson said that's the feeling she had growing up in Ortega, Jacksonville's least crime-ridden neighborhood,…
Jacksonville in 5...
foxnews.com - Jacksonville might not be the first city you think of when planning a vacation to Florida (or even the second or third). But visitors who do take the time to…
Beaver Street stays busy, soon to be bigger
jaxdailyrecord.com - An economic recession hasn't dimmed Jackie Perry's optimism for the entrepreneurial spirit. Every day the Beaver Street Enterprise Center executive director goes to the office, she sees the will of…
aaapolito
September 09, 2009, 07:02:03 AMI hope that the project happens. Additionally, I hope that the project it part of a series of projects in the area. This project will not be able to survive on its own.
Hurricane
September 09, 2009, 07:50:16 AMSo, is it just an exterior renovation? I'm guessing the interior is in terrible shape... I figured they would be gutting the interior and bringing the building up to code?
civil42806
September 09, 2009, 07:54:50 AMlast time I was in there was in 1995 getting my uncle out of there. It was in terrible condition then, can't imagine what its like now. The project looks good and hope its a success.
JeffreyS
September 09, 2009, 07:58:12 AMThe plan indicates they intend to lease 50 1 and 2 bedroom apartments along with ground level business tenants. This is just their exterior zoning request.
hanjin1
September 09, 2009, 09:08:11 AMIs the small store next to the Ambassador, that is planned to be torn down for the courtyard, historic? If so, I would rather they try to keep it if possible. Looks like it could be a nice sandwich shop or something.
thelakelander
September 09, 2009, 09:17:17 AMThat's an old image. That building was torn down years ago.
hanjin1
September 09, 2009, 09:22:55 AMoh ok
heights unknown
September 09, 2009, 09:46:18 AMIt's about time. I guess the building of the Courthouse is going to spur other development in that area and corridor of downtown. Hope the old Independent Life/JEA Bulding's proposed development is revived as well.
Heights Unknown
TheProfessor
September 09, 2009, 09:47:12 AMExciting news!
Joe
September 09, 2009, 10:08:50 AMI wish them the best of luck. There have been plans to renovate the ambassador for over ten years. Hopefully these people will be the ones to do it.
The Metropolitan and Citiplace prove that there is a market for market-rate apartment units in that sector of downtown. It would be great to see one more option.
Overstreet
September 09, 2009, 10:19:11 AMThey have 46 off street parking spaces for 50 units. That will be a problem to over come. Most folks will want their own space whether they use it or not.
I suspect this is still in the preliminary stages.
There will be some interior demo to convert old apartments to lofts. A building that old will probably have asbestos unless it was previously remediated.
Captain Zissou
September 09, 2009, 10:20:43 AMPlanning to redevelop it for over ten years?? Sounds like they were waiting on the courthouse. As was mentioned earlier, I hope the courthouse spurs those pending projects to get out of the ground.
Can't wait for this month's construction update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe
September 09, 2009, 10:36:31 AMI don't think this one had much to do with the courthouse. There had been at least two plans that fell through by 2002-2003. I think it was because they didn't receive enough development subsidies. Remember, until about 2005, no one was attempting to do large scale downtown residential projects without massive government subsidy.
GideonGlib
September 09, 2009, 11:00:55 AMI hope this comes to fruition. Speaking of downtown residential development projects, what is going on with the old Barnett Bank Building? They put in the new windows and now it just seems to be sitting there.
buckethead
September 09, 2009, 11:04:13 AMI have walked by the building many times, and it is one that I would certaily be interested in refurbishing if I had the resources. It's good to know someone is willing to try.
I need to stop fantasizing and take action. Construction is my business, and historic architecture has always fascinated me. Making the old and unloved regain its former glory, while adding modern functionality is a passion I have long neglected.
I made money contributing to sprawl, because it was easier. Time to focus on what is right. Keeping historicals alive while enhancing urban renewal.
sorry about the confessional... shhh!
buckethead
September 09, 2009, 11:06:52 AMAm I wrong to see that as a steal? Could we form a PAC, Non Profit, Co-Op, or other such entity and gain public loans/funding for downtown renewal?
904Scars
September 09, 2009, 11:11:17 AMThe Ambassador though very rough on the inside probably has the some of the best architectural potential of our aged buildings downtown. Im very excited about this one. Im going to cross my fingers and hope that Jax has enought sense to get something like this done in decent amount of time.
hanjin1
September 09, 2009, 11:18:14 AMAm I wrong to see that as a steal? Could we form a PAC, Non Profit, Co-Op, or other such entity and gain public loans/funding for downtown renewal?
That would be a cool idea. Start the metrojax nonprofit for downtown revival. something like the savannah historic foundation
braeburn
September 09, 2009, 11:28:24 AMFabulous... this is a block away from my condos
904Scars
September 09, 2009, 12:03:03 PMI wanna help! I'll quit my job and start tomorrow! HAHA
Wacca Pilatka
September 09, 2009, 12:10:58 PM904Scars,
That is a fantastic photo in your avatar.
vicupstate
September 09, 2009, 12:18:49 PMThat is a fantastic photo in your avatar.
Indeed. Can we see a bigger version. You could make that an icon for the city.
JoeMerchant
September 09, 2009, 12:42:30 PMI need to stop fantasizing and take action. Construction is my business, and historic architecture has always fascinated me. Making the old and unloved regain its former glory, while adding modern functionality is a passion I have long neglected.
I made money contributing to sprawl, because it was easier. Time to focus on what is right. Keeping historicals alive while enhancing urban renewal.
sorry about the confessional... shhh!
We need to have a "like" button like facebook incorporates for post like this one.
904Scars
September 09, 2009, 01:04:53 PMhope this works I had to do it on my phone. Work blocks photobucket.
vicupstate
September 09, 2009, 02:34:37 PMThanks.
It's such a shame we don't build things with the kind of detail that the St. James building has anymore.
Coolyfett
September 13, 2009, 08:26:18 PMLooks cool