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The Laura Street corridor from The Jacksonville Landing to Hemming Plaza. The city is currently in the process of constructing streetscape improvement along the length of this corridor. Currently, there is no major destination for people to walk north to along this corridor after work hours. The Laura Trio and Barnett provides a reason for the average person to walk up Laura Street from The Landing.
The view from West Adams Street, just outside of Chew Restaurant. Across the street will be the main entrance and bellstand of The Bank Hotel (old Barnett Bank Headquarters). Across North Laura Street is the new residential and retail building that will be constructed adjacent to the Florida Life Building.
A floor-by-floor diagram of The Bank Hotel, which will be a bank-themed hotel, where guests will check in with a teller, and will be staying in "vaults". Floors 1 & 2 will be the lobby of the hotel, which will feature a restaurant and bar. The third floor will be hotel offices, the fitness center, and several guest rooms. Floors 4-10 will be hotel rooms, with 11-15 being residential units. Floors 16 and 17 will be hotel suites, and Floor 18 will be an upstairs bar for the hotel.
Vew of the Trio from North Laura Street. Starting on the left, you see a new residential and retail building that will be built and connected with the historic but small-footprint Florida Life Building to form a residential and retail building with a much larger footprint. The restored Marble Bank building sits at the corner of West Forsyth and North Laura is intended for an upscale restaurant.
The proposed site plan indicates that a mixture of retail and restaurant spaces will line the entire Laura Street corridor and the base of the existing and proposed structures.
The existing space between the Florida Life and Marble Bank buildings will become a ground level outdoor dining courtyard at street level. An Entry Garden will serve as The Trio's focal point along Adams Street. In addition to these spaces, the proposed Trio Lofts building will include a rooftop garden terrace, eight stories above the intersection of Laura & Adams Streets.
Interior
The Marble Bank will be converted to an upscale restaurant named "The Marble Bank Steakhouse".
Previous Redevelopment Concepts
Over the years, the Barnett and Laura Trio buildings have unfortunately been the place development dreams have come to die. What follows are several redevelopment concepts that have failed over the last decade.
In 2003, the Downtown Development Authority approved $18 million in loans and grants for Signet Development Ltd. to renovate the Bisbee, Florida Life and Marble Bank buildings into what would be called Laura Place. Plans included converting the historic buildings into loft apartments, offices and 5,000 square feet of retail space. In addition, a 278-space garage and a pocket park would have been constructed at the intersection of Laura and Adams Streets. Redevelopment plans died a year later when the city and Signet agree to an amicable split due to market changes.
Signet's plans included a 278-space parking garage and pocket park along Adams Street.
Also in 2003, throwing money into the streets, Mike Langton announces plans to convert the Barnett Building into 80 boutique hotel rooms, 75 loft apartments, a bank branch office and a five-star restaurant. Plans died a year later when Langton and the city can not agree on giving the developer $12 million in loans and grants to move the project forward.
The Police & Fire Pension Fund's proposed 600-space garage along Adams Street.
In 2006, the Police & Fire Pension Fund's plans for the Laura Trio involved converting the Laura Trio into office and bank space. In addition, a 600-space L-shaped parking garage with street level retail would have been constructed around the Laura Trio. Later that year, the Fund sold the Laura Trio buildings to the Kuhn Companies for $6 million.
The Police & Fire Pension Fund's Laura Trio development along Laura Street.
Cameron Kuhn's One12 (Barnett Bank Building).
In 2007, the Kuhn Companies proposed renovating the Barnett Bank Building into a condominium project called One12. With pricing starting at just under $200,000, the 126-unit condominium development would have featured 12,000 square feet of retail/commercial space on the first two levels. Kuhn's plans also included the construction of a 10-level, 600-space parking garage to the west of the Laura Trio buildings. After gutting the structures, the real estate market collapsed leading the the foreclosure of Jacksonville's most historically significant skyscrapers.
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thelakelander
May 24, 2010, 03:13:33 PMreednavy
May 24, 2010, 03:28:52 PMshut the front door!
Tripoli1711
May 24, 2010, 03:31:20 PMThe lack of response makes me concerned because I feel like this should be something to be very happy about, no?
fsujax
May 24, 2010, 03:36:56 PMOh I can't wait! i just hope it doesnt turn into another let down.
blizz01
May 24, 2010, 03:42:44 PMCould be exciting. BTW, the Andrew Jackson statue would have actually looked pretty sweet on top of the lower building.....
aubureck
May 24, 2010, 03:53:24 PMI can't wait to find out whats going to be proposed for these buildings. I really hope this is finally the beginning of a new era for these grand ladies of downtown.
JeffreyS
May 24, 2010, 03:53:50 PMMJ will be attending yes?
stephendare
May 24, 2010, 03:54:47 PMyes
fsujax
May 24, 2010, 04:05:25 PMstephen are you going to blog live?
Captain Zissou
May 24, 2010, 04:06:26 PMExcitement!! This will do Tons for Laura Street. I can't wait until 11:00 am tomorrow! Will we be lucky enough to get a liveblog of the event??
stephendare
May 24, 2010, 04:20:56 PMActually thats possible. They have a freaking beautiful connection up at the mayor's office.
CS Foltz
May 24, 2010, 04:32:50 PMGee stephen............If the Mayor is against monitoring blogging and the like, why would he have his office as a hot spot? Seems to me that Johnny has a public persona and a private one in the same breath! Makes me wonder just what him and JEDC is going to give the public this time.............I wonder what its going to cost us!
stephendare
May 24, 2010, 04:35:40 PMThe mayor isnt against 'blogging', CSFoltz. And they don't consider MetroJacksonville a 'blog' in the same sense as Max Marbut, getting a bit of a playful dig into electronic media, intended.
Im grateful for the great wireless access, and wish the rest of the city had it as well.
CS Foltz
May 24, 2010, 04:42:03 PMI thought he had stated he was against monitoring blogging? He did not believe in the power of internet! Now if he is busy surfing porno sites thats one thing...........but he has the options and refuses to utilize to the fullest! Nice to know our tax dollars are hard at work making things easier for him.....makes me wonder what that costs me and the rest of the taxpayers? He wants to trim the budget............here is his chance! I do agree that the whole City would be nice to be hot but not planning on that taking place!
stephendare
May 24, 2010, 04:46:36 PMI think its more Max Marbut interviewing him from a print point of view, CS.
CS Foltz
May 24, 2010, 04:57:15 PMOk stephen...........I'll take your word on that situation! It would be nice to have the whole City hot, but will run with that when it happens.....looking forward to what comes out of the meeting, I know you will keep us posted and much thanks for the help!
TheProfessor
May 24, 2010, 07:00:06 PMDid they start remodeling the bank interior? It looks cleaned up somewhat.
ProjectMaximus
May 24, 2010, 07:40:41 PMI am thrilled to hear about this, but with the understanding that we'll probably have to be patient. Whatever the plans are, Im sure the time frame for major redevelopment is later rather than sooner.
Still waiting on the Haydon Burns' "one anchor" tenant so they can move forward.
JeffreyS
May 24, 2010, 08:02:30 PMHope it is a deep pocket motivated developer.
heights unknown
May 24, 2010, 08:35:39 PMMichael Jackson? I thought he had passed on. Is he the deep pockets in this trilogy?
"HU"
Jim
May 24, 2010, 08:42:22 PMMichael Jackson passed on his initials to Metro Jacksonville in his will.
Steve
May 24, 2010, 09:59:33 PMMetroJacksonville had a chance to meet with a member of the design team tonight. Let me tell you - if this happens, it truly could be the project that gives the core of downtown the kick in the rear it needs. We were able to see some of the architectural renderings, and they are truly fantastic. It treats the intersection of Laura and Adams as the true center of downtown, and makes it once again, the focal point of downtown.
Keith-N-Jax
May 24, 2010, 10:02:06 PMWELL I cant wait to see and I cant wait to get back home!
stephendare
May 24, 2010, 10:12:51 PMAnd not just Laura and Adams. The project as conceived will directly invigorate three different commercial avenues.
This is the kind of design that should be required by code in our downtown. Its actually brilliant.
I don't know where this kind of thinking came from, but the city needs more of it.
9a is my backyard
May 24, 2010, 10:42:16 PMI can't wait to hear more. Not ready to let my guard down quite yet, but as long as the plans don't involve demolition, anything is better than their current condition.
stephendare
May 24, 2010, 10:44:56 PMNo demolition whatsoever. All plans are for rebuilding, rehab and new construction.
ProjectMaximus
May 25, 2010, 01:24:00 AMbeautiful!
TheProfessor
May 25, 2010, 01:25:18 AMPerhaps a Macy's? hehe
keywest09
May 25, 2010, 01:35:31 AMIt could make for a really cool Gay Bar ( open to all)! Purple and red lights glowing off the white.
keywest09
May 25, 2010, 04:32:54 AMhttp://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-05-25/story/team-hopes-revamped-laura-street-trio-trumps-downtown-reputation
5PointsGuy
May 25, 2010, 05:38:43 AMHave you guys ever been to downtown Tallahassee? You would love it. It seems Capital City Partners made their mark here in Tally when they redid some historic buildings.
thelakelander
May 25, 2010, 06:13:14 AMHere is a rendering from the TU.
thelakelander
May 25, 2010, 06:52:10 AMHere are a few images of Hotel Duval in Tallahassee.
http://taxteaparty.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Hotel_Duval.5122203_std.jpg
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/58/05/3f/hotel-duval.jpg
http://sheltondeandesigns.com/files/QuickSiteImages/Exterior_Day_3_op_800x635.jpg
Keith-N-Jax
May 25, 2010, 06:55:48 AMLooks nice, how will it look at night. I hope its well lite. Looks nice though.
aaapolito
May 25, 2010, 07:38:20 AMNow that looks like a real downtown city block.
levijax
May 25, 2010, 07:53:41 AMI'm pretty sure a tear just rolled down my face!
fsujax
May 25, 2010, 07:55:46 AMthats nice! the Hotel Duval looks like the old Radisson on Monroe St.
Stephen, looks like they are taking my idea of making the Marble Bank into a restaurant. How awesome would that be? Imgaine something like the Capital Grille or Ruth's Chris in that building!
Wacca Pilatka
May 25, 2010, 08:00:05 AMThey're planning to reconstruct the cornice on the Florida Life...I might cry...
heights unknown
May 25, 2010, 08:01:46 AMLet all of Metro Jax's Members and Forumers.......all together now, say WOW!!!!!!!
"HU"
heights unknown
May 25, 2010, 08:03:14 AMIf this is true, I think I'm moving back to OLE JAX!!!!!!!
After this is done, let's pay attention also to the rest of the vacant lots and undeveloped areas downtown!
"HU"
heights unknown
May 25, 2010, 08:05:48 AMMaybe this will also prompt some of the previous downtown developments that were put on hold to finally be approved and resume construction.
"HU"
copperfiend
May 25, 2010, 08:16:38 AMThis looks great. Wow.
hanjin1
May 25, 2010, 08:35:10 AMthat is nice. i hope it happens
fieldafm
May 25, 2010, 08:47:22 AMWow, wow, wow.... Hotel Duval was a fantastic rebuild. Once I head the name Capital City Partners I was filled with confidence.
This is really exciting. These people really know what they are doing!
It's hard to get excited in this economy... but I tell ya, this is really promising!!
Bativac
May 25, 2010, 08:48:29 AMVery nice. I hope it actually happens! Especially restoring the old Florida Life building!
5PointsGuy
May 25, 2010, 08:48:39 AMOh, and just to expand upon Hotel Duval, the roof actually has a nice restaurant and higher class bar on it.
Cliffs_Daughter
May 25, 2010, 09:15:50 AMO-M-G...
I'm awe-struck by that drawing! When can they start??
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 09:16:15 AMI am going to the press conference this morning. The project really is exciting, we knew you guys would like it when we saw the plans.
The head of the architecture firm---a pretty interesting guy by the name of Steve Lovett---filled us in on some of the details, and they are obviously working pretty hard to get the ideas out to the public. (Steve is also a fellow poster here on the forums incidentally)
The Atkins Group is one which will be very familiar to our original posters and readers: When Metjax first began, they were one of the groups bidding on the Haydon Burns Library Building. It's nice to see that guy still believes in the Downtown.
The blogs and websites weighed in heavily on that project, which was eventually awarded to Main Branch LLC, which included Mark Rinaman, Jack Shad, and Robert Van Winkel. By an interesting vagary of chance, last night Jack Shad was coincidentally at our Board Meeting to discuss a joint Mayoral debate in the Fall at the Five Points Theatre, and was with us while we got to see the plans.
The group is handling their media relations with a really fun sense of drama, withholding some information for a while, teasing the press a little. I have to say its kind of fun in a maddening kind of a way: All the suspense and showmanship. And the project really delivers: It is a knockout!
Are there any questions that you guys would like me to ask while weve got them all in the same room?
fieldafm
May 25, 2010, 09:22:17 AMHow much equity will they have in the trio? How much private financing is being used to fund the projects?
My concern is that why are they doing a press conference if they don't yet own the buildings... makes you wonder if the total financing packaging has been secured yet?
fieldafm
May 25, 2010, 09:25:07 AMAlso this proposed restaurant inside the bank building.. is this something they are intending to open themselves? The building itself is glorious.... what a setting for a restaurant! However, that's a lot of expensive square footage to make profitable.
duvaldude08
May 25, 2010, 09:31:35 AMAs stated in previous posts, I think they are seeking money from the Historical Preservation fund to secure the deal and make this happen. Im kind of bitter/sweet right now. We've been promised so many great projects. I dont want to get my hopes up and be let down AGAIN.
Tripoli1711
May 25, 2010, 09:33:48 AMHow do they plan to integrate their ground-level retail and restaurant/bar spaces into the Laura St. streetscape as proposed by the city? Are they going to work together with the city on that point to ensure there isn't a planter in the wrong place on the sidewalk, etc?
fieldafm
May 25, 2010, 09:48:08 AMI don't believe the historic preservation trust fund can be used to secure purchase of a building. The trust fund would indeed be used in some capacity(tax credits over a fixed period and grant money for historical facade restorations more than likely), but the bulk of this project is going to have to come from private financing and cash. This is not a cheap project by any means.
I'm trying to contain my excitement, b/c being familiar with this group's previous work coupled with the tidbit of plans leaked so far this is really a fantastic opportunity, due to the price tag this project is going to carry in a difficult financial environment(although the difficulty is getting less so daily). That's why the equity question really sticks out in my mind.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 09:49:51 AMThe word is that there is a substantial equity position for the partners in the group. I will ask more closely at the conference though...anything in particular to ask about the subject, field?
If I remember correctly the Historic Trust Fund was set up specifically to purchase these buildings for the purposes of renovation from the Schneider family in Germany. They were ransoming the buildings, and threatened to just demolish them if the city didnt buy them.
And Yes!, the cornices will be completely restored!
CityLife
May 25, 2010, 09:53:56 AMThe Hotel Duval has a Shula's steakhouse on the ground floor as well. I haven't been to the rooftop bar yet, but I've heard its very well done.
Here is a great link from Tallahassee's equivalent to MetroJacksonville that has photos of the project as it was in progress. It had previously had work done and didn't look like the photo that Lakelander linked earlier in the thread when they began.
http://urbantallahassee.com/v4/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=238%3Ahotel-duval-by-radisson&catid=83%3Acomplete&Itemid=88&showall=1
Start at the bottom of the page and scroll up.
fsujax
May 25, 2010, 09:54:41 AMthe restoration of the cornices is great news. I remember when they removed them.
Captain Zissou
May 25, 2010, 09:56:14 AMAsk Peyton about the Historic fund for parking vs the trio and the Ambassador Hotel. By having this press conference in his office, it seems like John Boy is committing to getting this built, but he has said that he is going to take the money they need to do it and give it to the Landing...?
I may have missed that the funding issue had been resolved, but I wanted to make sure.
I can't wait until 11 am!!!
duvaldude08
May 25, 2010, 10:00:34 AMOOH ok gotcha. Makes sense. I wish they would have annouced this AFTER the deal was done. But this kind of shows how serious they are about the project including the mayor (Thats a shocker). If everything goes the way is should, which it looks like, we will pull money from metro park and get the Landing their parking, and in turn The Landing does the promised renovations and also attract more teanets, the lighting Laura street project is complete and the trio and barnett bldgs move ahead, this will be explosive. And with Bay street and the court house not to far away, this will be a buzzing area. This would also be one step to make us superbowl once again.
" Im so excited, I just cant hide it."
Captain Zissou
May 25, 2010, 10:04:33 AMOnce the trio is restored, Laura street is finished, and Peyton is out of office, the Landing will just scream 'Open me up!!'. To think of looking from Hemming down Laura with all the pedestrian activity, the beautiful streetscape, and the river in the background is so moving.
duvaldude08
May 25, 2010, 10:10:22 AMIve actually been praying long and hard about this city lately. Hopefully the man upstairs moves in our favor
downtownjag
May 25, 2010, 10:18:48 AMI like it
CityLife
May 25, 2010, 10:21:20 AMI heard Paul Crawford speak at a seminar recently and he said they were trying to encourage the owners of the Modis Building and the BOA Tower to open their buildings up to Laura Street and/or add outdoor restaurant/bar seating along Laura. I believe those towers already have their own deli's/lunch establishments on the ground floor. If they were to open up to Laura that would bring a great deal more people to the street and make it even more vibrant in the day time.
I was at the Landing redesign thing back in the fall and proposed that they move the Landing Food Court to the area that they want to cut out parallel to Laura. So as you walk into the Landing from Laura you would be walking by the fast food establishments. I think this would make the Landing more accessible to downtown workers who have short lunch breaks and better connect the Landing with the Laura Street corridor.
So much potential there.....
Wacca Pilatka
May 25, 2010, 10:31:41 AMYou and me both.
hiddentrack
May 25, 2010, 10:53:39 AMfsujax
May 25, 2010, 11:02:09 AMStephen..where's the live blog?
JeffreyS
May 25, 2010, 11:10:28 AMI just walked around the buildings they can be wonderful. Lots of work though.
Steve
May 25, 2010, 11:19:53 AMI can take this, as we saw the renderings last night. No, there will be no retail at the garage itself, but I'm not hugely concerned in this case. The actual street footprint of the garage itself facing Adams and Forsyth is pretty narrow, and it will be wrapped by the new building adjacent to the Florida Life on Adams, and the Bisbee building on Forsyth.
Furthermore, there will be a significant amount of Ground Floor Retail., and a hotel across the street to help it stay active.
vicupstate
May 25, 2010, 11:26:29 AMIs there any plans to make the housing units 'for sale' at some point?
Captain Zissou
May 25, 2010, 11:33:33 AMTwo things, It looks like the top floor of the Florida Life Bldg will be a single unit. That's a heck of a penthouse! Also, Atkins had my favorite design for the old library. His was a mid rise mixed use with a movie theatre and grocery store in the bottom. I think this guy just gets it. Anyone still have a picture?
I'm so excited about this. The design, the interaction with the street, and the potential to re-use 4 historic buildings, add a new residential bldg and bring 130+ residential units to the core is amazing!!
vicupstate
May 25, 2010, 11:46:30 AMGiven the problems with rental units in Carling and 11E., I wonder what the rent levels will be. If market rate, I think they will do ok, especially if the economy recovers more.
I think this project gives STRONG vindication to the Laura Street project.
thelakelander
May 25, 2010, 11:48:14 AMWe were told the residential units would be market rate.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 12:00:25 PMOk, Just got out of the conference, and if I thought I was going to be able to have room to liveblog, I was sadly mistaken.
The room was packed
We just got out, and Im sitting with Dan Herbin looking over the glossies. They gave us a media pack on zip drive which Dan is going to upload asap.
Working on the update right now.
billy
May 25, 2010, 12:04:16 PMGreat news in difficult times.
This will be a great catalyst for the city.
We should consider it a call to rally.
futurejax
May 25, 2010, 12:13:58 PMThis is the kind of 'out of nowhere' project that can begin the process of making a downtown explosive. Very exciting.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 12:15:03 PMOk.
Dan and I decided to go ahead and upload the entire graphical presentation so that we can run it front page tomorrow..
Its pretty cool, and a lot of the questions about design and street view are answered by the presentation itself. Lots of renderings and street elevations.
Also some beautiful advertising graphics for people who like the naked backsides of beautiful women with silk and rose petals. (the spa graphics)
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 12:16:32 PMThey are hoping to get all the paperwork for the project done over the next nine months or so, and then a solid two years of construction and building
futurejax
May 25, 2010, 12:17:34 PMIf this gets through all the bureaucratic nonsense when would they estimate breaking grund?
futurejax
May 25, 2010, 12:18:33 PMyou basically answered my question before my post went through
Wacca Pilatka
May 25, 2010, 12:18:56 PMI hope this can be a catalyst for jobs to come downtown too, either from outside or from the Southside.
duvaldude08
May 25, 2010, 12:20:28 PMSo Stephendare,
Is the deal offical?
futurejax
May 25, 2010, 12:21:12 PMThe wonderful part of new construction is the added benefit of jobs/overall economic value while the building is being done. Win-win
Dapperdan
May 25, 2010, 12:22:25 PMHopefully the city doesn't F this up during this process.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 12:41:42 PMThe Press Conference:
I took JTA from 7th street in Springfield to City Hall, this unexpectedly took 58 minutes or approximately 5 minutes a block, or .75 miles per hour. I literally could have grown an elephant from calfhood, tamed and saddled it and ridden into town and arrived faster. I might have even been able to throw it a bar mitzvah.
Its been so long since there was an announcement of this type that there was a seriously hopeful note to the crowd.
List of attendees.
The entire media of the City, including Roger Wieder. the print publications, and all the various broadcast media.
Emily Lisska looking as dramatically elegant and glitteringly intelligent as always, Wayne Wood, Jerry Spinks, the Historical Preservation Commission, Joel McEachin, Lisa Shepard, Lisa Rinaman (in a very cute dress, incidentally)
Paul Crawford, Ron Barton, The Mayor, Misty Skipper, Don Redman (and his aide who can read and write, Scott), the architecture team, the development group, Jim Love (who is running for Council from over in Avondale---apparently there as a result of his son, Jason referring him to our article on the conference this morning at 10 am)
And Adam Hollingsworth, looking the very picture of historic southern politician in a baby blue and white seersucker suit.
Steve Atkins is a big guy who projects an image of comfortable and nattily attired wealth in a tasteful and handsomely tailored suit. He seemed eager and excited, and maybe even a little nervous.
All the available chairs were taken (see JTA comments above) and the crowd was standing room only. I took a place in the back corner near Lisa Rinaman and some of the mayor's staff.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 12:48:14 PMThe deal is 87% official. It has the backing of the entire city, including the Mayor. Its a massive project, and its going to need the historic preservation funds, and I suspect some more money for the housing components, and probably a few additional dollars.
But the equity investment is there. All the partners have direct ownership and cash contributions to make, and the Tri City Group is apparently flush with enough cash to be able to contribute their millions. They are proposing to own and operate whatever concept restaurant opens at the Marble Bank, and Atkins has his own cash as well.
Ron Barton spoke a few minutes in perfectly rendered Enchanted English---which has properties of being able to detail absolutely nothing in tems that sound definite and certain---but indicated that the City is prepared to get creative on how the city comes up with their contribution.
To my ear, it sounds like its pretty much a done deal, but they are going to have to find that extra 3-5% to finish the financing. It also sounds like there is enough support to get it done if there is enough public approval.
Wacca Pilatka
May 25, 2010, 12:50:19 PMMy favorite mental image of the day had been a restored Florida Life building with a suspended glass canopy and reconstructed cornice.
Now there is competition for the title.
duvaldude08
May 25, 2010, 12:51:13 PMGreat! Thanks Stephendare. That's music to my ears!
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 12:52:07 PMHow the project happened was that Atkins was looking around downtown, and trying to figure out how to redevelop the Laura Trio. At the same time, the Boutique Hotel Group was also looking in our downtown to repeat their success in Tallahassee. Either through serendipity or the active participation of one of our locals (I suspect that the Lovett group might have helped make the connection) the two groups met and decided to cooperate.
duvaldude08
May 25, 2010, 01:03:28 PMI am too excited. I supposed to be working and keep checking the website for updates!
I cant wait to cacth a glimpse of the renderings on tomorrow. Man once this finishes I will definately be moving to the core. I actually wanted to move to The Carling or 11 E Forsyth they were too costly. So i move to Baymeadows instead. If the Laura street units are going to market rates, Im packing up.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 01:05:24 PMThe Initial presentation by Steve Atkins was pretty much on giant, polished placards that he kept referring to, complete with a lovely woman who helped turn them over and switch them out if necessary. It was a nice theatrical touch. and the graphics were gorgeous rendering that we will be publishing tomorrow.
He recognized all of the historic preservation community in the room, which I thought was a nice touch. In return, Emily Lisska registered facial approval of all his references to Wayne Woods assessment of the Laura Trio in a manner that would make Anna Wintour have to pause and take notes. Really, sometimes Ms. Lisska rises to the level of the Silver Screen, so expressive and one of a kind is she. A delicate eyebrow raise and hint of a smile speaks more coming from her than an entire Tom Wolfe novel.
While he hit many of the soundbyte points of his audience, I was surprised that he didnt hit some of the more cogent benefits of the project. For example, he didnt speak to the effect that the entire project will have on all three of the main corridors of commerce downtown: Laura, Forsythe, and Adams.
He did speak for a few minutes about the synergy between his project and the Laura Street project, but he didnt speak very much on how well the street will interact with the buildings, or how the programmed used create natural street traffic back and forth between the structures themselves which will add a component of activity and vibrancy that the kuhn projects simply would not have created.
Nor did he go into great detail over the importance of the open balconies on the corner lot adjacent to the Florida Life Building, and how simply having people on balconies on that corner will dramatically create interaction with the street.
The Parking lot complex is brilliantly designed with entrances from both Adams and Forsythe, giving convenient exits to all parts of the area equally.
But he did remark on the improvements to the Kuhn projects of creating buildings that were street scalable and which featured accessible retail space on all ground floors.
But it was sufficient for the crowd present, and he's such an earnest likable guy that he made his points with the added benefit of having a crowd that wished him well.
Captain Zissou
May 25, 2010, 01:07:37 PMCome on Stephen! Give us one image to tide us over until tomorrow. It's like Christmas, you get one present to open the night before.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 01:08:22 PMThe planned spaces are going to be market rate. They know that the downtown market has been unrealistic about the lease rates for residences. We have heard an 800, 900 to a thousand dollar rents for the apartments being floated. Definitely more realistic than the starting prices of up to 2500 a month that some of the buildings thought were going to catch fire a couple of years ago.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 01:11:22 PMDammit, I just checked my harddrive, only to realize that Dan took all the graphics with him..
You'll have to appeal to the guy that actually has them!
fsujax
May 25, 2010, 01:14:08 PMThey have got to make those apts affordable to attract some young professionals who can afford them. I was just about priced out of the Downtown rental market baack in 2006.
Stephen, check your inbox.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 01:18:38 PMRon Barton was the next guy, and managed to tie in the Ashley Corridor Improvements to the proposed project.
More interestingly he talked for a few moments about the process that the buildings themselves went through before this project was possible.
For those of you who wonder if the City ever does something sensible, this is one of those example.
When Kuhn when Tango Upsilon, the buildings were valued at 13 million, and any money that the City might have contributed would have just gone into bailing out the developer on the debt service. As a result of the downturn and the natural foreclosure process, the buildings are presently valued at 2 million, which makes the project actually viable.
Now the City's money will be spent directly on the renovation and development of the buildings---a very different outcome than if the city had acted earlier in the process. As some of the more cynical realists have already noted on these forums, it was in the city's best interest to let the buildings take their natural course. In the meantime, substantial and costly work has already been done on the structures that further reduces the costs that would have been associated with the project. This takes it from Olympian financing to merely Brobdignagian in size and scope.
Very sensible chat from Mr. Barton in my opinion.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 01:20:09 PMChristmas Eve at Grammas:
futurejax
May 25, 2010, 01:26:48 PMDo you think this will ultimately be the beginning of long term downtown vitality?
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 01:31:44 PMNext up was the Mayor, who spoke warmly and enthusiastically about the project.
He repeated that the City would support this project, I think the guy gets that this will end up being his legacy project before he leaves office. It won't be done by the next election, but this is the kind of project that really has the potential and design to do what it says it can do, no shit, and that is to jump start a revitalization downtown.
The architects and project designers have paid attention to all of the tiny but all important details of interactivity with the street and organic usage and it is manifestly clear that the inter-relationships of the project structures and their planned use will affect the core.
Laura Street was traditionally a major corridor of social interaction. It connected the theaters and the ports to the hotels. It will be nice to see the street play that role once again.
Oh yeah, our little group back in the corner included the sweetly beautiful Pamela Elms and Amy from Downtown Vision. It was a bit like old home week.
When the mayor got around to the subject that hes been hagridden on this site for (the use of preservation funds) he addressed it coyly through deflection.
"This sounds like a pretty good use for Historic Preservation Funds,......Im Told."
This elicited a gallery of reactions from Emily Lisska, Jerry Spinks, and Wayne Wood. The City Staff at Historic Preservation looked pointedly circumspect, and our little group rolled eyes at the obviousness of it all. Misty Skipper could be observed registering that the joke had its desired effect.
As a side note, Id hate to be any mayor, trying to explain to Emily Lisska why it was ok to use historic preservation funds to build a parking lot. It seems like the kind of thing that Mussolini would have needed xanax to attempt.
The joke was good enough that he rephrased it pointedly, smiling at the History Row.
Everyone in the room took it to mean that the issue was settled. (although I personally wouldnt be certain)
Dapperdan
May 25, 2010, 01:34:42 PMStephen,
I really like this proposal. I was thinking that the Barnett Building was just waiting for the right person. Kuhn already had it gutted and new windows put on. It is like a clean slate inside. I love the modern apt building in the empty lot. I like everything about this. Hopefully everything goes smoothly and construction starts within the 9 months you mentioned. Until the last brick is laid, I won't get too excited, but I must admit, Christmas came early this year.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 01:40:46 PMIf they get the last 3% handled and build it, yes.
This project includes all of the elements that have worked time and time again across the country. Mixed use development, but so intelligently thought out that it makes it into a generator.
Not that anyone should underestimate the human capacity to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
If the lease prices (either commercial or residential) are too high, it could easily implode.
If the City half asses their part, it could also f' up, but if this is at all indicative of the types of projects being pursued by the city, then the answer is an unqualified 'yes'.
downtownjag
May 25, 2010, 01:45:14 PMWill there be a suspended people mover/bridge connecting barnett to the parking garage/new apt building over the street? If it's done tastefully it would look great. Residents would love that in the rain...
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 01:56:06 PMAnd that was pretty much the press conference.
During the question and answer period, I asked the equity/private investment question and Ive already printed the answers that we got in the above post.
I also asked if they were really going to restore the roof details on the Florida Life Building. Steve Atkins got all kinds of happy and excited about that question (especially compared to the finance question) and verified it in no uncertain terms.
This actually caused spontaneous applause from every member of the audience, I'm proud to say, and it was nice to see Steve get the validation for the decision. Jacksonvillers can be very sentimental if given the chance.
One of the other reporters asked Steve if he had any bitterness over the outcome of the Main Branch Library Bid, and he 'aw shucksed' it. You can tell that it probably stung a little at the time, but that he's gotten over it.
I spoke with Steve and his wife afterwards (she's very lovely and nice) and he definitely remembers the blogs during the old Main Street Library RFP process. I think everyone feels like the outcome was meant to be, and it led to the possiblity of the current proposal.
Then a bit of chatting with those present.
Found out from Jerry Spinks that Bob Broward apparently has the original molds of Klutho's Cornices from the Florida Life Building, to the replacements may actually be cast from the original, and perfectly replicated.
Wacca Pilatka
May 25, 2010, 02:08:02 PMCan this day get any better?
futurejax
May 25, 2010, 02:11:38 PMThat's awesome and it seems the most difficult part of these projects (financing), especially in the lending climate we re in, is pretty much addressed. Next up downtown light rail/street car or trolly connecting Laura St to the Landing, Landing all the way to the stadium, etc.,?......
Doctor_K
May 25, 2010, 02:14:08 PMCaptain Zissou
May 25, 2010, 02:17:34 PMThank you sir. That should curb my appetite for a few hours. It looks amazing.
Wacca Pilatka
May 25, 2010, 02:24:29 PMI figure I should get to marry a member of the Roar as part of the bargain also, but that's probably being too selfish...
St. Auggie
May 25, 2010, 02:38:36 PM[/quote]
I figure I should get to marry a member of the Roar as part of the bargain also, but that's probably being too selfish...
[/quote]
I was talking to a former member of the Roar this weekend and she said she had gotten to the point that she was going to marry the next guy that walked by. A couple of guys walked by soon after, where were you on Friday night? You maybe getting your wish!
Mattius92
May 25, 2010, 02:39:38 PMThis is great news, and I sure do hope it spurs additional development in DT Jax. This could turn Laura Street into the place to be.
Coolyfett
May 25, 2010, 02:45:25 PMYea right...whatever.
Steve
May 25, 2010, 02:49:00 PMIt does seem unbelieveable. We were talking last night, and it's like 2006 all over again. The Landing is fighting for parking, there are plans for the Laura Trio and Barnett, there is a push for Laura Street to be THE pedestrian centerpiece for downtown, all on the eve of a mayor's race. Let see if we can do it this time.
Jaxson
May 25, 2010, 02:49:30 PMI agree with Coolyfett. I will believe it when I see it... The land of Peyton is the land where dreams go to die...
fsujax
May 25, 2010, 02:50:19 PMyou know you are right Steve. It feels like 2006 all over again! crazy.
subro
May 25, 2010, 02:52:11 PMNew article on the Times Union Website.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-05-25/story/team-hopes-revamped-laura-street-trio-trumps-downtown-reputation
KEY
Laura Street Trio - Plus One
A development team has plans to fill the vacant Laura Street Trio in downtown Jacksonville with apartments, restaurants and retail. The developers also want to build a new eight-story apartment building next to the historic set of structures.
1. New apartments
An eight-story building would have about 42 apartments and street-level space for stores or restaurants.
2. Florida Life Building
The narrow, 11-story building would have about 19 apartments plus ground-floor retail or dining.
3. Marble Bank Building
The two-story building would be used for an upscale dining restaurant.
4. Bisbee building
About 36 apartments plus ground-floor retail and dining would fill the 10-story building.
5. Common corridor
A new common corridor would create a structure connecting the new apartment building with the Florida Life and Busbee buildings.
6. Parking garage
A new parking garage with roughly 250 spaces would be built off Forsyth Street as part of the project.
Mattius92
May 25, 2010, 02:52:24 PMThe one thing the will need to be built is a proper 800-car parking garage for Laura street and the Landing. Without this the success of redeveloping Laura street will be up in the air.
fsujax
May 25, 2010, 02:54:04 PMStephen, did they show any night renderings? I was wondering how these buildings would be lit up. I hope they restore the electronic clock/temperature sign on the Barnett.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 02:56:43 PMThey are paying some attention to the lighting, FSUJax. In our discussion last night for example, there are plans to place a large brushed metal "The Trio" sign vertically down the side of the Florida Life Building. Behind the sign they mentioned placing cobalt blue lights that would cast a blue glow down onto the streets below.
Mattius92
May 25, 2010, 03:02:33 PMLighting, while doesn't seem all the important, can really set an overall tone. People have jobs of just testing to see what certain lighting will do. Its really interesting.
Dapperdan
May 25, 2010, 03:06:17 PMWhat is that connecting corridor building all about?
Wacca Pilatka
May 25, 2010, 03:13:54 PMI figure I should get to marry a member of the Roar as part of the bargain also, but that's probably being too selfish...
[/quote]
I was talking to a former member of the Roar this weekend and she said she had gotten to the point that she was going to marry the next guy that walked by. A couple of guys walked by soon after, where were you on Friday night? You maybe getting your wish!
[/quote]
I was in Portsmouth, Virginia, which didn't do me a lot of good.
jaxmoviebuff
May 25, 2010, 03:19:34 PMIt's called Level 8. They have a pretty cool video of their grand opening on their website: http://www.hotelduval.com/.
Dapperdan
May 25, 2010, 03:31:42 PMDo they have plans of opening up the roof of the Marble Bank for cocktail parties, dining, etc?
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 03:33:32 PMThere are no plans to open the roof of the Marble Bank, I asked the question last night. The roof is recently redone (by Kuhn, I believe) and wouldnt support the weight. Also there is a huge skylight up there.
Dapperdan
May 25, 2010, 03:36:02 PMThat is too bad. It would have been a perfect place.
Wacca Pilatka
May 25, 2010, 03:45:58 PMIt's be nice if the Jags would have the #2 defense in the league again too.
Coolyfett
May 25, 2010, 03:51:04 PMThe Barnett building will never look like that!!!..................?.........Hmmmmm
Coolyfett
May 25, 2010, 04:06:34 PMSo you do have doubts?
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 04:19:27 PMIts a building that will be built where the buildings all connect in the same corner. It will serve as a gateway from the parking lots apartments and other spaces back and forth to each other.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 04:25:14 PMThe Duval Hotel group has a restaurant called Shula's connected with the Hotel:
Shula’s 347 Grill
http://www.hotelduval.com/dining-entertainment/index.cfm
Shula's is a franchise, http://www.donshula.com/rest.php?s=347 , but the hotel group owns and operates the one in Tallahassee. In the brochure, the steak house at the Marble Bank will be called the Bank Steak House, and will operate similarly. I didnt get the sense that they have decided on a Shula's here in Jacksonville, but whatever goes in will be an internally owned franchise steak house.
Captain Zissou
May 25, 2010, 04:29:38 PMThere is a Shula's at the Sheraton on Deerwood Park Blvd. I've driven past it a few times and it doesn't look very busy. So there will be the Bank Hotel and Bank Steak House as part of this development?
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 04:39:30 PMBut I think in the Brochure its just a generic name until the decide on the Franchise.
newzgrrl
May 25, 2010, 04:44:47 PMThe cornices in the illustration are beautiful.
Recently I came up with the ideal location for my future dream apartment: the top of the Florida Life building. It could be a reality!
Will this be the topic at tonight's Three Layers meeting? I may change my plans to be there.
urbanjacksonville
May 25, 2010, 04:57:48 PMAbel Harding, Jacksonville.com business reporter, stayed at the Hotel Duval last night and plans on writing an article about it.
newzgrrl
May 25, 2010, 05:08:49 PMAnd I spent the midday at an open house far away from Downtown. This whole thread (9 pages!) makes me want to weep with joy! This day would be improved only if I had attended the press conference.
Hilarious!
Captain Zissou
May 25, 2010, 05:09:43 PMMore importantly, will you guys have the renderings at the meeting tonight?? I can't stay, but I'm definitely going to stop by if you have them.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 05:12:56 PMyes!
reednavy
May 25, 2010, 05:55:21 PMWJXT has put up a slide show.
http://www.news4jax.com/slideshow/news/23670563/detail.html
civil42806
May 25, 2010, 08:19:22 PMSo how much is this plan going to cost the City? Can't imagine private investors ponying up the all the money in this economy?
fieldafm
May 25, 2010, 08:30:59 PMWow, Im away for half a day and look what happens.
I drove by the Laura Trio and the Barnett building today just b/c of this announcement. From the sounds of this, it is a REALLY ambitious project. I'm curious as more details unfold. Sounds like they are not fully funded yet from Stephen's comments... which makes sense that this announcement was made before a purchase has gone through.
Atkinson Knight had the trio and the Barnett buildings listed at a combined $10m pricetag. I could see anywhere from 8-9m to be a realistic number in this case(for comparison the Jacksonville Bank Building across the street lists at 8.5million).
As Zissou said, Shula's 347 is already at the new Sheraton in Southside. Shula's 347 is of course the steakhouse franchise of former Miami Dolphin head coach Don Shula(347 stands for the number of wins he had, the winningest head coach in NFL history). BTW, Shula's is all over halfoffdepot and restaurant.com for those that want to give it a try
For those that haven't been to the Duval Hotel(or Hotel Duval, whatever
I'm intrigued, excited and optimistic mainly b/c the Capital City group has the expertise to pull off such an endeavour... but still VERY curious to see more details as they unfold.
vicupstate
May 25, 2010, 08:43:50 PMInstead of the 'Bank Hotel', I would call it the Barnett Hotel. That makes it more historically unique and authentic, IMO. Likewise, instead of 'Bank SteakHouse', why not 'Marble Steak House'.
This is great news of course, but I have learned not to get my hopes up.
sheclown
May 25, 2010, 08:52:45 PMA very exciting day for downtown, that's for certain.
brainstormer
May 25, 2010, 09:02:54 PM^ excellent ideas for suggested names. I think this is a very exciting announcement, and I hope the developers are aware of the support for this project. These plans seem more realistic than others from the past. It isn't just some 50 story condo tower. It utilizes historical buildings and is diverse in nature. I can't just cast a development like this aside because I already frequent the area and used to live in the Carling. Perhaps they can make a place large enough for Chew. It would be great to keep the restaurant in that area. If these plans actually come to fruition, then maybe 20 West will be revived as well. I have hope!
02roadking
May 25, 2010, 09:12:07 PMhow about somewhere in the complex....
http://www.bowlluckystrike.com/home
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 09:32:43 PMYou can rest assured that the developers are aware of the support. They have been following along these threads, and will probably need vocal support from our group as the process goes along..
Vic. Great suggestions man.
They may not realize how interesting the Barnett Family was historically. Everything from the High Masonic membership to the fact that Bion Barnett's grand daughter was Madeleine L'Engle, the author of so many books including A Wrinkle in Time. There is a lot of rich territory for themes there.
ProjectMaximus
May 25, 2010, 10:55:36 PMStephen, is there any relation to Claudia and Mary L'engle from Friday Musicale? I've always wondered if the founder of FM was related to the author of my favorite books as a child...and now that you say she's connected to Barnett, i think it's a legitimate possibility.
stephendare
May 25, 2010, 11:13:24 PMwithout a doubt. The L'Engle family is one of our city's most prolific and cultural families.
heights unknown
May 25, 2010, 11:33:34 PMThis is all so good. Great news and it seems it will all come to fruition, and the planning initiatives seem to be intact, in place, orderly, and for real. I think the financial aspect relative to this project coming to fruition will happen, and there will be no road blocks. Great job Stephen; thanks for all of the hard work and super info in keeping us informed of the news break about this new project.
"HU"
Jim
May 25, 2010, 11:42:36 PMThings like this almost make me believe a God exists.
Keith-N-Jax
May 25, 2010, 11:47:20 PMDont head to chruch yet, remember all the big plans in 2006. How many of those got completed?
Jim
May 25, 2010, 11:53:01 PMHence I remain theologically skeptical.
thelakelander
May 26, 2010, 12:00:22 AMSignet wanted something like $18 million in loans and grants when they proposed renovating these structures in 2003. Vestcor got something like $19 million for 11 East. Did the development group ever reveal how much money, in terms of public incentives that they'll need to pull this off?
Keith-N-Jax
May 26, 2010, 12:13:29 AMYou can remain whatever you like. We all get so excited when some ritz rendering is printed in the TU only to see is never come to pass. I'll wait and watch. You guys should know this by now.
konstantconsumer
May 26, 2010, 01:21:16 AMWOW is all I have to say. If this actually happens, which certainly isn't a guarantee these days, it would be amazing for downtown. I would LOVE to live in one of these once I graduate. Moving from Springfield to Downtown would be a joy!
Timkin
May 26, 2010, 02:47:25 AMAgree totally Konstant.. I would love to see the Laura Trio revived. 3 very beautiful and important Historic Downtown Structures. I do hope this comes to pass.
Jaxson
May 26, 2010, 06:39:08 AMI totally agree with Keith on this one. I will believe it when the project is completed. How many times has Lucy pulled the football away from us? And we're making yet another dash to kick the ball. Good grief!
We are so hypnotized by Gate Petroleum, Jr. that it is sickening!
JeffreyS
May 26, 2010, 07:17:29 AMNo one is betting their home that this will be done. We are however excited a developer who has done good work in the past is going to give it a try.
Be jaded if you want just don't try to ruin everyone Else's fun.
Enjoy what you can while you can.
Jaxson
May 26, 2010, 08:11:48 AMI don't want to ruin everyone else's fun but want us to keep our grain of salt close by. Imagine how many times that my hopes have been raised for something good to happen in our city only to become disappointed by the same G.O.B. shenanigans. I will raise my glass when the project is complete : )
Overstreet
May 26, 2010, 08:20:28 AMSounds like a grand fishing expedition for city concessions and public interest. Developers usually develop things with other people's money. Did they say where this money is coming from?
Captain Zissou
May 26, 2010, 09:20:16 AMStephen can tell you more, but there are multiple entities with large equity positions in the development. They only need financing for a portion of the project. While they need city funds to reach 100% of the project cost, they already have a large chunk of the money without it.
This is one way the project differs from the projects of '06. They are financing it through private equity holders, not city funds or massive debt positions. The design is realistic, well thought out, and doable. It interacts with the street and enhances the pedestrian experience as well. Bishopgate, Commadore Point, the St. John, The St James, and many others from '06 failed to do any of this.
stephendare
May 26, 2010, 11:19:12 AMWe are going to get a hardhat tour of the buildings next week with Steve Atkins. Lots of photos will ensue. I know Ock has real hopes of getting underneath the Kluthos to search for the long lost tunnels of Klutho.
Steve Lovett says that the underground vault and the old safety deposit boxes are a pretty interesting site. Im looking forward to seeing some photos of that.
Wacca Pilatka
May 26, 2010, 11:24:55 AMTunnels of Klutho?
I'm intrigued.
stephendare
May 26, 2010, 11:28:52 AMJust looking at this old elecation shows you how far weve come and how superior the new plan is.
The old parking garage wasnt offensive, but it wouldnt have been an active element of the street experience. With the new design, having wrap around retail and balconies with people out on them makes the street interactive as well as multilevel. Just because there is someone out on their patio will give people an additional reason to look up.
stephendare
May 26, 2010, 11:49:53 AMHere is a link to the L'Engle family thread here on metrojacksonville. And at the bottom of the first page of that thread there is a link to Madeleine L'Engle.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,5788.0.html
heights unknown
May 26, 2010, 01:20:06 PMEnjoy and get caught up in the heat, passion, and lust of the present moment. If the love affair does not continue after that, oh well, at least we got off! That's what most everyone is trying to say. Hey, this could go on to become a marriage in which it could last forever; and then we'll have these beautiful three buildings, and the new building and parking garage to go along with it for all eternity! If not, then just enjoy the one night stand at present!
"HU"
duvaldude08
May 26, 2010, 02:12:32 PMBeing that Laura street is one of Johnny boys pet projects, I see him bending over backwards to make this happen. I honestly believe we see some construction early on next year.
videojon
May 26, 2010, 02:32:41 PMhttp://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/401574/abel-harding/2010-05-26/hotel-duval-brought-life-tallahassees-downtown-could
another article
Timkin
May 26, 2010, 03:05:02 PMI was never fooled by Mr Gate P Jr. I cannot wait til hes gone ! him and his thieving team.
billy
May 26, 2010, 03:33:15 PMWho operates the Hotel Duval?
Jason
May 26, 2010, 03:40:26 PM^ Their staff.
Heh, I just couldn't resist.
Coolyfett
May 26, 2010, 03:49:11 PMThere needs to be a Skyway station at Laura and Forsyth.
fsujax
May 26, 2010, 03:50:08 PM^^not ever going to happen.
billy
May 26, 2010, 03:51:20 PMCome over here Jason... closer.....(smacking noise)
.Many hotels have a separate ownership group, and an operating agreement with a brand or company
I was curious if these guys ran their own deal.
Kay
May 26, 2010, 03:52:00 PMI have to say I hate the skyway because it makes downtown feel like Gothan City on Hogan St. Besides the Hogan and Monroe stop is close to Laura and Forsyth.
Coolyfett
May 26, 2010, 03:53:19 PMThe vaults are still there?
thelakelander
May 26, 2010, 03:53:51 PMYes, the vaults are still there. Btw, no need for another skyway station. The Hogan Street station is a two block walk away from this proposed development.
danno
May 26, 2010, 03:57:17 PMI worked in the basement and vault area back in the day for Barnett. There were a lot of interesting nooks and cranies down there.
Coolyfett
May 26, 2010, 04:00:58 PMI think many of us have. Id like to see it happen for the sake of growth and progress for downtown Jax....but like many other things reported...they never come to light.
JeffreyS
May 26, 2010, 04:04:41 PMI like the way the name is listed "the Bank Hotel" in the Barnett Building. I also like "the Barnett". However if they want to call it "the generic" I would be fine with that too.
fsujax
May 26, 2010, 04:05:31 PMI believe the operating group is affiliated with Marriott.
TheProfessor
May 26, 2010, 04:10:15 PMI'm sure the names will change depending on what brand of restaurant and hotel they bring in.
Coolyfett
May 26, 2010, 04:11:42 PMThat guys wise!
Ewoks
Joe
May 26, 2010, 04:13:03 PMHas anyone discussed why the hotel "context" graphic highlights the surface parking lot on Forsyth? I wasn't aware that it was owned by the city, but they labeled it "city surface parking."
Are they planning to lease these surface spaces for hotel parking?
Coolyfett
May 26, 2010, 04:18:26 PMIf you see that ghost librarian from the Ghostbusters movie will you take a pic for us stephan?
thelakelander
May 26, 2010, 04:19:10 PMJoe, that lot is owned by the city, courtesy of Humana bailing DT. I noticed it was highlighted to but I'm not sure if its a part of the pending deal or not.
finehoe
May 26, 2010, 04:23:34 PMBut..but, if they don't have dedicated parking right outside the front door, no one will go.
Coolyfett
May 26, 2010, 04:25:14 PMHoly Monorailtracks Batgirl!!! From the map I see in todays article Hemming station is not close to Laura & Forsyth...what map were you looking at?
Coolyfett
May 26, 2010, 04:26:19 PMWhat about the Landing?
Steve
May 26, 2010, 04:55:46 PMThree blocks - Skyway stations should not be any closer than that.
thelakelander
May 26, 2010, 04:58:11 PMNice try, but there will be an 8-level garage right across the street. Now since you bring it up, lets completely take the proposed Laura Trio's garage out of the equation and see how feasible the restoration of these buildings become.
thelakelander
May 26, 2010, 05:01:36 PMThe Landing is roughly two blocks from the skyway's Central station. If Sleiman gets his hands on the lot he's after, the Landing's property will essentially be right next door. Transit riders typically have no problem walking 1/4 mile distance from the adjacent station to their destination. The entire Laura Street corridor in DT is well within that radius from the skyway.
9a is my backyard
May 26, 2010, 07:43:29 PMSo....what are the odds this makes it to reality?
TD*
May 26, 2010, 08:40:25 PMTo check out the Hotel in Tallahassee who will be working on the new stuff in jax go here:
Hotelduval.com
Also Check out UrbanTallahassee.com Search for Hotel Duval We have it covered in pictures.
tufsu1
May 26, 2010, 09:25:48 PMthe one that comes with living here!
Mattius92
May 26, 2010, 10:27:25 PMAren't you so smart. And after seeing the plans and renderings this really looks like an amazing project, I just hope it doesn't fall through. Also that it becomes all that they say it will be.
Timkin
May 26, 2010, 11:31:45 PMIF this project actually comes to fruction, this could finally be a viable turning point for our urban core. It is such a shame that Cameron Kuhn's efforts fell through because I think the man had the best of intentions and I know some of his projects in Orlando were successful. That said, this is a new day and a new plan. I hope it works .
ProjectMaximus
May 27, 2010, 02:47:08 AMThanks Stephen. Interesting stuff, I'll read it tmrw.
thelakelander
May 27, 2010, 05:45:09 AMI don't know whether to laugh or cry at rants like this.
finehoe
May 27, 2010, 07:59:47 AM^^What is "internet-playing"?
Jaxson
May 27, 2010, 08:20:18 AMFinehoe --- I am guessing that the 'Internet-playing employees' comment refers to recent events in the news (Please see below):
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-05-21/story/city-department-overstaffed-employees-caught-doing-personal-work-clock
Jason
May 27, 2010, 08:36:51 AMYeah Lake, the whole comments section of the TU is full of 'em.
I can't help but see comments like that as merely uninformed. If we could pull more of the TU readers into this site as more than just a browser they may learn a bit more about what is happening and see this for what it truely is, a good thing that is using dollars having nothing to do with police, fire, education, or stuffing developer's wallets.
fsujax
May 27, 2010, 08:44:02 AMyeah, Jason it is very frustrating reading those comments. Some people will just never get it.
reednavy
May 27, 2010, 08:47:45 AMA lot of those people also bash the paper and call it a rag, yet log on to post stupid comments. Oh the irony.
Captain Zissou
May 27, 2010, 09:44:42 AMI can't understand that person's logic at all. Yes, we have given developers free money in the past, but this is not like those deals. A lot of the money was already earmarked for this purpose, and the additional cash contribution by the city will not be huge, as far as I know.
This guy doesn't want downtown to be improved, which is the identity of our city, which is what potential new residents see as they pass by on 95, or when they visit for a football game. What does he think is a better use for historic preservation funds and money that will have a huge return created by additional private investment??
BridgeTroll
May 27, 2010, 12:12:36 PMDamn... I missed all this...(been out of town...Vegas!) AWESOME NEWS! I got a tour of the Barnett when they were beginning renovation. Such a cool building! Please begin work on the Laura trio ASAP!
Mattius92
May 27, 2010, 12:19:41 PMYes its a cool building, and a great plan. Hoping it will spur additional development, and redevelopment in DT Jax.
Steve
May 27, 2010, 12:45:14 PMActually, it is in the deal. However, the plan at this point was for it to stay a surface lot.
stephendare
May 27, 2010, 03:50:59 PMhttp://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/401574/abel-harding/2010-05-26/hotel-duval-brought-life-tallahassees-downtown-could
Hotel Duval, located on North Monroe Street in the heart of Tallahassee, has been a revolutionary addition to Tallahassee's struggling downtown.
It's trendy, hip and bursting with energy - an element noticeably absent in the downtown Tallahassee of old.
And, if Hotel Duval is any indication, Tuesday's unveiling of new proposals for four abandoned Jacksonville historic structures could prove the impetus for revolutionary change for our city's own downtown. One of the groups behind the development plans, Capital City Partners of Tallahassee, is responsible for the Tallahassee botique hotel, which opened in 2009.
Learn more about the Jacksonville proposal here.
The landmark structure, just blocks from the Capitol, was originally built in 1951 as the Duval Hotel. It's undergone several transformations in its life, including a stint as Florida State University dorm rooms. After being purchased by Hunter & Harp Holdings, it underwent a complete transformation. The results, as I discovered on a recent Saturday night, are breathtaking.
Sleek, modern art adorns the walls of the hotels lobby where chandelleirs of clear, cascading orbs flow from the ceiling.
A giant portrait of the original hotel hangs in the lobby, which is dotted with the high-backed plush chairs that were part of the original hotel. Shula's 347 Grille is on the ground floor, as is LeRoc, a street level cafe.
There was a steady stream through the lobby as well-dressed diners packed Shula's, but the real traffic, especially as the night grew longer, was to the hotel's elevators. Those elevators served as the escape hatch for those yearning for a touch of South Beach in sleepy Tallahassee, whisking party-goers to the Level 8 Lounge, a rooftop nightspot that bills itself as "the only rooftop lounge of its kind from Atlanta to South Beach."
Level 8 was hopping, packed with young college students, hip professionals and a smattering of senior citizens - all relaxing and soaking up the skyline views of the Capitol and FSU. The lounge features a glass enclosed portion, but I'll confess to spending most of my time relaxing on one of the many couches that crowd the outside ledge. The high-powered recessed fans kept the temperature perfect for soaking up a Florida sunset.
The Saturday night crowd, many of whom were not staying in the hotel, served to prove that a destination venue can lure traffic back into a city's urban core.
While the proposed Jacksonville project will certainly not be a carbon copy of Hotel Duval, it's clear that the developers behind the project have an understanding of what it takes to revive a downtown. The plans could very well prove to be the spark downtown Jacksonville has long needed, while at the same time preserving and restoring four of Jacksonville's most unique and historic buildings.
A version of this column appeared in print on Thursday, May 27, 2010. I welcome your feedback. You can interact with me on this site, on Facebook and on Twitter.
reednavy
May 27, 2010, 03:58:52 PMmtraininjax
May 27, 2010, 04:14:20 PMMost of the people who post on the TU are too cheap to afford a subscription.
Captain Zissou
May 27, 2010, 04:45:06 PMI'd say between Dos Gatos, Lit, Ivy's and the other bay street bars there is about 2/3 of a district. King street is about half way there. Avondale may be on it's way too.
Fallen Buckeye
May 27, 2010, 08:04:15 PMWould we really need street cars on Laura St.? Everything is a stone's throw away. It'd be like a 3 block walk to get to anything from this place. If anything I think you're right about connecting that area to the sports district. Just extend the Skyway (or some of sort of fixed transit) down Bay St. after a couple years when this project and hopefully the Landing parking garage have begun to bring some life downtown. I could actually see some people using the Skyway then. It'd be great to park at the Landing garage and take a Skyway to catch a Jags game or Suns game and then head back to the Landing afterwards. Or being able to live or stay in a hotel on Laura St. then take it to the sports district. But like I said I wouldn't build the extension until this trio project and the landing parking have been built or you'd continue to see the terrible ridership numbers we see now.
It'd be nice if the retail portions of this development could include some of the basic necessities that are lacking now such as a pharmacy or small grocery, too.
Coolyfett
May 27, 2010, 08:37:05 PMGrocery store with a pharmacy in it.
urbanlibertarian
May 27, 2010, 08:44:07 PMWinn Dixie on Market St. has a pharmacy.
fsujax
May 27, 2010, 08:47:07 PMI am tired of hearing about the need for a grocery store Downtown. I go to the WD all the time on Market St and end up saving lots on gas! it has pretty much eliminated my trips to the Riverside Publix.
tufsu1
May 27, 2010, 09:18:23 PMI'm with you on this fsujax!
stephendare
May 27, 2010, 09:19:44 PM+ 1
What are the chances of the three of us agreeing completely on something?
urbanlibertarian
May 27, 2010, 09:29:33 PMA pig just flew by the window!
mtraininjax
May 27, 2010, 10:50:09 PMAvondale is too spread out to have a serious nightlife district. Orsay and Yesterday's are 4 blocks from the Shops, Blue Fish, Brick, Town, West Inn, (Biscottis only has wine), new Thai restaurant is a few blocks away. I think Avondale is happy with what it has, we don't really want or need a nightclub district. Most places, except West Inn, close at decent times as well.
If I lived in the trio, I would demand all of the services needed, dry cleaning, pet grooming, groceries, drug store, restaurants within walking distance. I would not walk to the Winn Dixie from the Laura Trio. Should not have to do so.
Fallen Buckeye
May 28, 2010, 12:08:41 AMExactly. And I'm not necessarily talking a full size supermarket, but if I run out of milk or something I want somewhere nearby where I can grab the basics quickly.
reednavy
May 28, 2010, 12:12:24 AMDo what they did in Nashville on the ground floor of the Viridian Towers on Church Street. It has the conveniences of a grocery store, with a more limited selection, but fits perfectly into the area.
http://www.hghills.com/index_newdesign_urban.html
http://www.facebook.com/UrbanMarket
Keith-N-Jax
May 28, 2010, 12:31:33 AMA good location for something like that would have been the main street pocket park.
reednavy
May 28, 2010, 12:42:03 AMthelakelander
May 28, 2010, 06:12:20 AMThere is supposed to be a market at the Library project, whenever it breaks ground. Solve the Landing's dedicated parking situation and it would be an ideal site for a Walgreens or CVS.
stephendare
May 28, 2010, 09:25:12 AM+1
fieldafm
May 28, 2010, 09:50:47 AMWith Urban Market, that would fill the grocery need. BTW, the Winn Dixie has been renovated and its really nice inside compared with the dump it used to be!
A dry cleaning service is definately needed though!
A Walgreens/CVS/Rite Aid at the Park View Inn site is not only needed, but a viable use of the space.
With these amenities surrounding these proposed developments at Laura Street... downtown would be well on its way. Add in fixed mass transit and the results would be a game changer to anything my generation has ever seen downtown.
tufsu1
May 28, 2010, 09:58:52 AMcould you do this in any other neighborhoods in northeast Florida?
btw...there is a convenience store on Adams St today (albeit a bit scary)....the Landing has Sundries, which carries some grocery items...and there is the store at the Shell Station (and maybe soon at the proposed gas tation)...so there are places other than Winn Dixie to get stuff.
stephendare
May 28, 2010, 10:01:23 AMFive Points
copperfiend
May 28, 2010, 10:19:50 AMThat would have been a good location for alot of stuff instead of a homeless lawn.
thelakelander
May 28, 2010, 10:52:41 AMJacksonville Beach and St. Augustine are two others.
Joe
May 28, 2010, 11:08:04 AMI just measured it on google earth - the Laura Trio is 0.6 miles from the WinnDixie. That's a 12 minute walk at a leisurely pace. That's a significantly shorter walk than going end-to-end at the Avenues or Town Center Malls. So enough of this nonsense that downtown is lacking walkable grocery services. (The proposed development at the old main library is even closer: 0.15 miles)
Nevermind that most city dwellers drive their cars to the grocery store anyway - at which point the Winn-Dixie or the Riverside Publix are far closer to the CBD than the average suburbanite is to their grocery store.
vicupstate
May 28, 2010, 11:13:44 AMYou can demand all you want, but until the population demographics can support it, it ain't gonna happen. Pioneers have to realize their patience will be rewarded, but patience will be required. The people come first, not the businesses.
JeffreyS
May 28, 2010, 11:16:47 AMYour pet grooming has to be walkable? isn't that like a once month or every other month service?
Jaxson
May 28, 2010, 12:16:56 PMYes, there is a Winn-Dixie on Market Street. I, however, am not the biggest fan of Winn-Dixie. No matter when I shop there, it always seems like they can only manage to keep one cashier on duty. It makes for a tedious trip when I only want to buy just one or two items and then have to wait behind eleven other customers. To their credit, Winn-Dixie has improved their downtown location. To their detriment, they still have some progress to make when it comes to serving their customers. This situation is now more pronounced as my local Publix is closed for renovation, and I will actually bypass Winn-Dixie to shop at Fresh Market or Native Sun instead.
Fallen Buckeye
May 28, 2010, 12:32:06 PMDon't get me wrong if I lived DT I would happily shop at Winn-Dixie for most of my grocery needs, but in my mind one of the top draws for living in a more urban area is convenience and walkability. All I'm trying to say that having a small market as a part of the retail space in the Trio development would be a great selling point for new residents. For instance, I live in the area around Park and King, and one of the things I love is that if I need some bread or eggs or something I just walk 2 blocks down to Walgreens and I'm in and out. Or I'm in spitting distance of a hospital, art galleries, restaurants, bars, parks, a library, church, and a short drive or long walk away from my friendly neighborhood Publix. This area of downtown has even more potential I'd say because it's so close to so many attractions and so many workplaces. I don't see how one more convenience is such a big thing to ask for if the project is set to have retail anyways.
BTW I really like that Urban Market that reednavy put up. Very classy and practical example of what I'm talking about.
Jaxson
May 28, 2010, 12:46:46 PMI agree, Fallen Buckeye (As I wear my 'Surf Ohio' t-shirt at the computer on my day off). I used to live on Cherry Street near the Willowbranch Library. It was really nice to be able to walk to European Street for lunch or to Walgreens to develop pictures. I enjoyed having options in the immediate area - for walking or for driving.
Jason
May 28, 2010, 01:32:48 PMI lived at Cherry and Downing.... great location and very walkable.
Debbie Thompson
May 28, 2010, 01:44:49 PMThe gift shop in the Bank of America Tower takes in dry cleaning.
urbaknight
May 28, 2010, 02:13:14 PMIt looks great, but I'll believe it when I see it. If it doesn't happen or if too much time goes by without result, we really make some noise about it. I just have a feeling that, when all is said and done, they'll just take the funds and continue to feed it to the sprawl. They do it all the time.
Timkin
May 28, 2010, 08:30:27 PMI hope it happens.. For far too long , these 3 beautiful landmarks have sat unused and crumbling.
Also would love to see development of the Old Library , although its outer fins make it not one of my favorite buildings in Downtown.
simms3
May 30, 2010, 12:34:19 PMCant believe it has taken me this long to post but I just got through all the comments. Great development team, great architect team, little debt to service, not a lot of tax funding required, full support from the city, the media, and many citizens, and yet there is so much doubt. We cannot compare 2006 to today when talking about market demands, lending, private funds, or market certainty/uncertainty. 2006 was still a year where EVERYONE had unrealistic expectations, whether we thought our housing prices would double in 2 years or whether developers thought they could fill 400 overpriced condos up in 6 months.
I think nowadays people have more a grip on reality, and believe it or not there is so much cash out there that private equity funds are just sitting on waiting to invest (and starting to since many areas of many markets have appeared to bottom). I have faith that something will come of this project and I think we should continue to be supportive of all the teams involved and the mayor. This could turn into a semi community effort here and we can do our part to motivate, advertise, and inform people.
I cannot wait to get back down to Jax to see all the progress in the area. Now about those renderings, can someone post all the renderings on this discussion or are they somewhere else already?
CS Foltz
May 30, 2010, 01:27:40 PMNo one has said just what JEDC is throwing into the pot to do this! I know that Vescor got about $34.5 Million Dollars, one loan at 1.4% and I believe the other was at 1.5%, and they just got the green light to make interest only payments for the next couple of years but will resume when their extension is over! I believe that when I see it but not until it takes place! So just what is JEDC going to do with our tax money now? Let me remind everyone that the City is $58 Million Dollars in the hole next budget cycle and no one seems to take note of this!
tufsu1
May 30, 2010, 03:21:11 PMnot sure anyone knows how much is needed yet CS...which is why no deal has been signed
oh, and btw...the City is now about $10 million in the hole for 2011...they've identified about $35 million in proposed cuts and allocated $12 million from the rainy day trust fund
Coolyfett
May 30, 2010, 04:15:09 PMI dont think many are aware of the NEW winn dixie downtown...seems like its a flagship store now right?
fsujax
May 30, 2010, 04:20:36 PMI wouldn't call it a flagship store, but it is not that bad of a store. I think Winn-Dixie had their chance to build a flagship store in Downtown and they passed it by.
stephendare
June 03, 2010, 07:22:28 PMwe toured the buildings today, with Steve Atkins and his partner, Woody Garner.
Me, Dan Herbin, Ennis Davis, Ocklawaha and the dapper Abel Harding went thoroughly through the Marble Bank, One of the Kluthos and the vastness of the Barnett Bank Building.
We spent two hours documenting the states of the building and the scenes inside the structures. Very cool elements and surprising parts to the buildings. The vistas from the spaces are amazing, and the sheer scope of the project is stellar.
Ennis decided to go on a power run up the steps of the Bisbee Building (17 flights of steep steps) at full pace. For whatever reason, Abel and Dan were eager to nip up after him.
Me Ock and Steve exchanged 'you gotta be kidding.' looks, and it was clear that there would be no eager uphill sprinting amidst the three. Well, this wont be so bad, I thought. Then powered up at prudently, Steve, having more experience with the bloody stairway to heaven than I, resignedly began the climb.
The enthusiasm for crash course style uphill jogging faded measurably by the 7th floor.
Despite the fires of anguish inflaming my own leg muscles, I couldnt help but note with certain satisfaction that the speed of ascent come to a more realistic climb at that magical point. Steve Atkins, flushed and grim behind me looked just as happy at the slow down.
We lost Bob Mann altogether.
We found out later that he'd stolen away for some exploratory photography in the basement, where he did indeed find the lost tunnels of Klutho. Hopefully the cantankerous cuss will actually share the damn photos with the rest of us, but there's no telling.
However, the views from the top floor were stupendous.
The missing windows let the wind rush through, and blow your hair and clothes as you look down the steep precipices of the sheer building walls.
Its stripped so bare, so reduced to essentials that it was easy enough to superimpose the old photos of Klutho working on the building as it was being built. You can see the uneasy compromises with the building structure that he had to make when he decided to widen the building by double. Its an unexpectedly thrilling experience to be so exposed to the elements so high up above the rooftops of the city below.
Whoever lives there will have gorgeous views of the river and the city. Its really going to be quite singular. It must have been similarly beautiful for the generations of offices that peered out over the city from those same upper floors.
Similar expeditions followed in the Barnett Towers.
Two hours passed, and drenched with sweat, the seven of us finally emerged from the grand structure that will soon be a funky cool hotel.
I can't wait for you guys to see the photo tour.
Ethylene
June 03, 2010, 07:35:10 PMVia twitter I learned Abel has trumped you with some teaser pics, http://twitpic.com/1tlry9 and http://twitpic.com/1tm0rl. Please post the album asap!
stephendare
June 03, 2010, 07:39:18 PMDamn him!
Well no matter, Dan had the better camera. In fact, there was a little photo envy going on as we waited for Steve and Woody.
Im confident our man has the superior goods.
I knew he was actively scooping us! He kept typing away smugly on his blackberry. Secret little smiles in between gasps of breath.
Of all the moxy.
stephendare
June 03, 2010, 07:47:05 PMHe's like a gentleman burglar, that Abel Harding. All charm and polish, but with the instincts of a safe cracker.
Here's his teaser:
http://twitpic.com/1tlry9
fsujax
June 03, 2010, 07:50:34 PMI remember going into the lobby of the Barnett Building a while back. It was truly amazing. Brass everywhere. I really hope this comes to fruition.
Timkin
June 03, 2010, 08:14:31 PMMe too.. If the Laura Trio comes to life and a plan comes up to save Annie Lytle School, my hope for Jacksonville, will be somewhat restored.
thelakelander
June 03, 2010, 08:32:25 PMHere are a few images from today's tour.
Timkin
June 03, 2010, 08:46:31 PMLove the stair case in the first photo...all nice pics Lake and ...I presume Lunican
Jim
June 03, 2010, 08:52:47 PMIt's so easy to envision how grand and opulent those interiors will become even given their currently dilapidated state just by looking at the framework alone.
Such a fantastic canvas to paint upon.
CS Foltz
June 03, 2010, 09:15:53 PMRiveted plate structures are old time engineering.............lots of work to be done but the bones look like they can be salvaged! Best of luck on the job! Hope JEDC does not give away the wagon as far as incentive's go! And while I think about it...........tufsu we go from $58 Million dollars in the hole to what.......$12 Million you say? After identifying a supposed $35 Million Dollar proposed cut (why couldn't this have been identified last Budget cycle?) and using the rainy day fund now also......big guy, no offense but this sounds just like something stupid the Boy Blunder would and will probably do without a thought in the world as to the future ramifications! But since he is a lame duck, he doesn't care and has not shown much to the taxpaying public, other than paying all of his buddies off! AMIO's , 227 to the tune of $27 Million Dollars a year, he could start there!
fieldafm
June 03, 2010, 10:44:55 PMIs the staircase in the first pic from the Bisbee building?
thelakelander
June 03, 2010, 10:49:36 PMYes.
Timkin
June 03, 2010, 11:11:35 PMnice
stephendare
June 06, 2010, 12:02:31 PMAbel Hardings article about the project is great. Hes got some awesome video up and deserves a look.
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/401574/abel-harding/2010-06-04/new-proposals-policies-could-help-downtown-jacksonville
Here is my favorite part of the article---the end passage:
fieldafm
June 06, 2010, 12:25:08 PMLol, I read that this morning... was thinking 'this is a decent article' then that last passage appeared and it turned from decent to phenomenal.
I really am glad someone like Mr Hading is at the TU.
CS Foltz
June 06, 2010, 12:28:40 PMI concur stephen! Abel hit part of the problem right on the head! I have made an appearence to sit in on the Ethics Commission meeting and have had to leave several times in order to shove more money into the meter! Last one, I missed by 5 minutes and ofcourse, got that parking award! City won't change much of anything unless they get a replacement for the money they take in............what little bit it is! City is still in the hole and I see no relief other than property tax increase and all those goody Fee's John Boy and his henchmen have come up with! It is going to get worse before it gets better!
JeffreyS
June 06, 2010, 12:37:39 PMKudos Abel.
floridaforester
June 06, 2010, 12:51:45 PMAny idea where all the water on the floor is from in the last picture? It appears to be taken in one of the buildings with new windows, so I'm guessing that its not from rain blowing in. I would expect to see standing water on the floors of the Bisbee building. BTW, love the metalwork in the Bisbee staircases. To me, this is reason enough to justify restoration because this kind of craftsmanship is just too cost prohibitive today even if you can find someone with the expertise to reproduce.
I remember many an afternoon daydreaming from my desk in the Drew building on Bay st. with a view of the Laura st trio. I could only imagine what a loft encompassing an entire floor of the Bisbee or Florida Life building would look like. I am so excited to hear that this may actually come to fruition and these fantastic buildings will finally get the respect they deserve.
thelakelander
June 06, 2010, 12:52:21 PMAbel wasn't the only one. They got me too. I have a $15 parking ticket as well.
Timkin
June 06, 2010, 01:13:36 PMAbel rocks !
rjp2008
August 05, 2010, 06:10:17 PMIt's terrific that this appears it will get off the ground and provide some connecting street level retail for the beginning of Laura Street. The challenge will be to make it creative, eye-catching and interesting enough to entice people to come up the street. As it is, the buildings while historical are as STIFF and ho-hum as...well like walking by a bank. Where is the art? Shiny looking metal/glass? The little white bank building looks like a TOMB!
Traditionalists will scream but I'd paint that sucker with color, attach some terrific streetside glowing lights and put some kind of rooftop gazebo right on top of it. With the side of Modus looking like a military bunker or something, have to change that up somehow.
Maybe something like 24hr street in curritba?
Instead of opening up the landing, EXTEND IT (maybe with a simple tensile canopy) FURTHER up the street.
http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&biw=1345&bih=562&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=rua+24+HORAS&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
ChriswUfGator
August 06, 2010, 11:16:05 AMLMAO, so here's a group of people trying to redevelop our dead downtown together with a group of people trying to cover the positive developments with a media story. And they're rewarded with a !@#$%&* parking ticket. And people still wonder why everyone hates going downtown?
Get rid of the damned parking meters already!!!
danno
August 06, 2010, 11:18:32 AMWhy should they not get screwed over like regular joes like me??
stephendare
August 06, 2010, 11:32:17 AMSpeaking of which, I just heard from one of the guys involved with the project, and he told me that its percolating along.
Hopefully we shall hear something major soon!
videojon
August 06, 2010, 11:36:39 AMGreat to hear
Wacca Pilatka
August 06, 2010, 11:38:10 AMI consider the FL Life building to be one of the greatest works of art in Jacksonville. Of course, restoring the cornice would make that status clearer.
dlupercio
August 06, 2010, 12:42:08 PMAwesome! I wouldn't mind moving down the block when they finish.
duvaldude08
August 06, 2010, 03:09:06 PMIm definately excited about this. I can not wait to hear more.
fieldafm
August 13, 2010, 11:46:41 AMFrom today's Daily Record
http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=531666
duvaldude08
August 13, 2010, 12:48:17 PMGreat news. Atleast it is still moving forward
Captain Zissou
August 13, 2010, 01:51:27 PMThat was a pretty unremarkable announcement. Weren't they in talks with banks when this whole thing was announced??
fieldafm
August 14, 2010, 10:31:30 AMThat's why I was so interested to see how much of their own cash or investor financing the Capital City group was putting up in the deal.
That's going to be a complicated financing deal to put together, and it certainly will take awhile to get it underwritten.
thelakelander
August 14, 2010, 12:21:51 PMWhen it was announced they were still in the due diligence phase. If everything goes smoothly, you're still looking at a couple of years before this project gets into full gear.
CS Foltz
August 14, 2010, 03:52:36 PMIf JEDC is involved...............what are we going to be promising them? I have no problem with private enterprise rounding up financing and the like, but have to ask......just what is the taxpayers gong to be giving them!
thelakelander
August 14, 2010, 05:36:45 PMThat's the biggest question mark that has not been presented just yet. The redevelopment of these historic structures will not be feasible without city money. You could say we're partially to blame for not sealing up these abandoned properties properly to slow the deterioration process.
stephendare
August 14, 2010, 05:38:59 PMthe open air is healthier for them than the wet moulds, Lake. They have new roofs, and as you remember the rest of the structures are sturdy materials.
thelakelander
August 14, 2010, 05:46:49 PMIt really doesn't take long for water to make a strong impact. They would be in much better shape if those new roofs were installed a decade or two ago as opposed to two years ago.
stephendare
August 14, 2010, 05:50:38 PMTrue. But the City didnt own them. Robert Van Winkel owned them for a while but sold them to the Schneiders.
The Schneiders were a POS outfit from germany who blackmailed the city with demolition by neglect.
The City purchased them with Matt Carluccis Preservation Fund, but then turned right around and gave them to the Police and Firemans Pension, which then sold them to Kuhn.
I can't remember if it was Kuhn, the City or the Pension which fixed the roof. I think it was Kuhn though.
thelakelander
August 14, 2010, 05:55:21 PMDidn't the city allow a previous owner to destroy the cornice work of the Florida Life? In any event, there would not be as much decay if properly sealed throughout the years and it won't be feasible to restore any of them without city money. Btw, how do cities like Savannah and Charleston handle building owners like the Schneiders? Whatever they do, we should take a page from them when it comes to preservation.
stephendare
August 14, 2010, 06:05:00 PMThey take the buildings from them until a suitable owner is found.
CS Foltz
August 14, 2010, 06:16:44 PMThat might be something to think about for the long term, but have yet to see or hear of anything being discussed along those lines! ( I am refering to the Mayoral candidates, this should be on their platforms) Springfield has the same problem.......instead of condeming and bulldozing, mothball them up until a buyer shows up! There is something to work with when proper mothballing is done! Costs could be rolled into the selling price so taxpayer money is not lost forever!
newzgrrl
August 26, 2010, 10:22:42 PMConceptual approval was granted at DDRB today. After the presentation, which lasted about two hours, board members had glowing comments about the plans in general.
duvaldude08
August 26, 2010, 10:31:35 PMThis is GREAT news!! ugh couldnt be happier at the moment
newzgrrl
August 26, 2010, 10:58:39 PMIt still has a long way to go, but board members were quite complimentary and enthused. One particular member remarked that July would be a perfect time to break ground.
A few people asked "What would Henry Klutho do if his building use changed?"
I liked that they are making the Florida Life the "centerpiece of Laura Street," as they called it, and keeping the centerpiece as the tallest building on the Trio side. Plans include replacing the glass canopy out front, as well as the cornices at the top.
As for the Barnett, they talked about moving the entrance to Laura Street to give visitors the "arrival experience" of seeing the Landing and the river and a redeveloped Laura Street. They also talked about possibly building a sky lounge at the top of the building. Board members saw that as being the hottest spot in town, without a doubt.
heights unknown
August 26, 2010, 11:19:03 PMIt probably takes longer now than it did before the economic downturn; credit crunch is still in effect until further notice...a lot of developers, contractors, etc. are still having a hard time acquiring credit.
"HU"
heights unknown
August 26, 2010, 11:22:36 PMSounds good to me. Let's get this meal cooking!
"HU"
duvaldude08
August 27, 2010, 01:14:03 AMCaptain Zissou
August 27, 2010, 09:57:45 AMSince Don Redman is the ultimate authority on Jacksonville nightlife.... Just approve the thing and leave the nightlife to the experts.
downtownjag
August 27, 2010, 11:26:00 AMDear Lord, all I want for Christmas, besides a Jag's superbowl win.......
duvaldude08
August 27, 2010, 12:30:03 PMJuly is a long way off, but I like the fact they are taking their time and doing things right. If we get more smaller scale projects like this downtown, it would be beneficial.
billy
August 27, 2010, 12:36:53 PMA July '11 groundbreaking would be impressive in this market.
newzgrrl
August 27, 2010, 12:53:37 PMOne particular DDRB member who happens to be running for mayor liked the idea of a July groundbreaking. The Trio folks estimated fall 2011.
Don Redman wasn't at the meeting.
CS Foltz
August 27, 2010, 01:13:50 PMGee..........I wonder why? Is not he part of the DVI Board? They and JEDC has something in mind! Hopefully it is just not a pipe dream!
Coolyfett
August 27, 2010, 03:24:15 PMCool I like how it looks.
rainfrog
August 27, 2010, 10:12:11 PMWere they trying to make a point that he'd NOT like to see the use changed? I would think he would be more appalled at seeing them abandoned, neglected, crumbling, collapsing, and demolished.
urbaknight
August 31, 2010, 03:46:39 PMI hope that from now to next July, the city doesn't renege or screw up the plan as they are the best at dropping the ball on some great projects. Remember the proposed landing improvements for the landing back in 03? Or let's go further back, this one really pissed me off, the USS Saratoga museum? What happened to that? Why couldn't the city keep it's own ship? I just hope whatever money is put aside now, doesn't get stolen by the city to be wasted on more road projects or Met Park UN improvements! Keep the funds in the bank and DO NOT touch it until it's time to break ground!
blizz01
June 21, 2011, 01:18:31 PMLaura Street Trio Developers Plead for $5M in Tax Credits
From The Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2011/06/21/laura-street-trio-developers-plead.html
thelakelander
June 21, 2011, 01:22:49 PMCool. Hopefully, this goes through. Adding life to this dead block in the heart of the Northbank will greatly enhance the vibrancy of the area.
PeeJayEss
June 21, 2011, 01:23:57 PMLet's hope it happens.
brainstormer
June 21, 2011, 01:37:01 PMHaving a chain like Panera would really help anchor Laura Street as a viable retail destination. If it is successful, other businesses would start to take a second look at downtown. Fingers are crossed.
Tacachale
June 21, 2011, 02:07:16 PMWell, I hope it goes through. If I'm reading this correctly, the tax credits the developer is seeking are based on him actually pulling the project off successfully. If that's all that's the case, let's get this going and see what he can do.
Non-RedNeck Westsider
June 21, 2011, 02:13:01 PMAgreed.
Do we have the front end investments we've made as a city that haven't produced anything to realize that this is a good idea. Tell him to build it. Let him bring Panera to DT. Hell, tell him he can have $8M and a 10 year freeze on property tax increases.
(How long has Sleiman been waiting for his parking garage?)
duvaldude08
June 21, 2011, 02:21:16 PMYayy!!!!! Priase Jehovah. I do not see a problem with this at all. They wont receive the money until the work is done. That sounds good to me. In the past, we would have given developers incentives before they even start the work. Would that 5 million be coming from the historic preservation fund?
Tacachale
June 21, 2011, 02:28:50 PMIt's hard to tell from that article, but I think it's a combination of funds from historic preservation as well as market tax credits.
duvaldude08
June 21, 2011, 02:40:22 PMI just remembered in previous articles they were asking for a certain amount from the historic preservation fund. We agreed, but stated they had to secure financing first. I dont see having a problem of this going through.
thelakelander
June 21, 2011, 02:40:40 PMI don't think there is $5 million in the historic fund. I'm sure it would come through a variety of available sources.
CG7
June 21, 2011, 03:14:05 PMI don't care if they find the money in a cookie jar buried in Peyton's backyard. I just hope something happens this time.
duvaldude08
June 21, 2011, 03:35:29 PMIm glad to see the city put their foot down and stopped shelling out all that money. The Trio developers did wha they city asked: They secured their own financing. The city is already on the hook for the Carling and 11E Forsyth. We dont need anything additional.
bornnative
June 21, 2011, 03:36:27 PMThere is apparently between $1.5-3.5 million in the historic trust, depending who you ask. The transition team will find out for sure on Thursday. The $5 million that Atkins is requesting is to come from the historic trust. His tax credits are a separate number. The plan looks good, although pretty similar in form, style, and progression to a couple of past efforts that have died on the vine shortly after this point in the process.
Another challenge for the funding is that Bill Cesery wants a chunk of the same historic trust money for his project at the Burns Library. There's definitely not enough in the fund to meet both requests, and maybe not enough to meet either.
thelakelander
June 21, 2011, 03:42:35 PMThe guys doing the Ambassador Hotel restoration want some of it too.
duvaldude08
June 21, 2011, 03:43:10 PMWell the last Laura Street Trio project that was proposed, the developer was asking for 12 million and we "Hell No!" LOL So I think the 5 million is doable. Im sure things will work out.
duvaldude08
June 21, 2011, 03:44:40 PMIt sounds like to me its going to be a rat race of who can get to the funds first. And It seems the Trio is well on its way. The Haydon Burns Project is creeping along as well. IMO the Ambassdor porject is dead. (for now) Im sure Stephen can shed some light on this as he is on the transition team.
jcjohnpaint
June 21, 2011, 04:18:07 PMWell it seems the Laura St Trio is in a much more fragile state and must be moved on now. Does this give it precedence in consideration of tapping historical fund money?
iMarvin
June 21, 2011, 04:34:26 PMI really hope these 2 projects come true. I love the Barnett. It's like a mini NY skyscraper and just looks good. The Trio needs to hurry up. Those two hi-rises look like they could fall at anytime now.
Wacca Pilatka
June 21, 2011, 05:25:57 PMThe Barnett was designed by Mowbray & Uffinger, NY-based architects who specialized in bank buildings.
iMarvin
June 21, 2011, 05:29:22 PMOoohhh, no wonder it reminds me of NY.
MusicMan
June 21, 2011, 06:11:15 PMJust imagine if our empty headed governor had proposed to use the HighSpeedRail Money ($2 BILLION +) for supplementing these types of public/private partnerships, the state of Florida (and Jacksonville in particular) would
be a fertile ground for a virtually unlimited number of these projects..statewide!!
thelakelander
June 21, 2011, 06:29:09 PM^The HSR money could only be used on HSR. If we would have accepted it, it would have built HSR in our state. Since we didn't, it's going to build HSR mainly in CA, NY and the Midwest.
jcjohnpaint
June 21, 2011, 06:44:57 PMhence empty headed governor
duvaldude08
June 22, 2011, 12:42:25 PMThis is getting better and better. If the developers can lease space in the nearby parking garage for valet parking, MARRIOT CORPS stated they would operate the hotel. This project has taken a year to form, but it was worth the wait. Everything that is being asked (including the incentives) are doable. Man Im excited.
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2011-06-22
ChriswUfGator
June 22, 2011, 12:57:45 PMI suspect Marriott is probably banking on the proposed new Convention-Doggle going through, in making that offer. I wouldn't hold my breath for anyone to spend any real money on anything, until those redevelopment plans are solidified. And no doubt they will be, unfortunately for the taxpayers of Duval County.
duvaldude08
June 22, 2011, 12:59:27 PMWell that wouldnt make sense. If they didnt have the intent on actually doing it, it would not have not been stated. If that was the case the article would have read that if we lease spaces to the developers AND build a new the new convention-doogle, the Marriot would operate the hotel.
Clem1029
June 22, 2011, 01:02:22 PMduvaldude08
June 22, 2011, 01:08:57 PMWell from the what the developers stated, they are only asking for valet parking. Thats it. But we will see how "true" this is and what actually happens. I think they developers would know a little more than we would though. But of course in typical Duval fashion we have to put the conspriacy theory on anything thats sounds promising.
Clem1029
June 22, 2011, 01:21:34 PMFor example, a Courtyard downtown could probably be successful just picking off the low-hanging meeting fruit from the Omni or Hyatt (events for up to 100 people, not requiring all the "ballroom" style bells and whistles, at a competitive price point), and then pick up some overflow for some of the bigger events at the other two hotels.
A full service Marriott or Renaissance, on the other hand, is going to be competing in the exact same event space as Omni and Hyatt. Is there enough of that to go around today that would keep all 3 players happy? I think you'd be hard pressed to answer "yes" with the state downtown is in today. So to pull the trigger on a full-service hotel, there would have to be some expectations laid out that business and event traffic will significantly increase downtown. It might be in the form of a new convention center. It might be in certain policies that the city is saying their going to pursue. But one way or another, there would have to be an expectation of a significant increase.
I think it's awesome Marriott wants to get downtown. I just think there needs to be some tempered expectations over what type goes in...I can't put my finger on it, but I get the feeling that a Courtyard in that space would be very disappointing to a lot of folks around here.
JHAT76
June 22, 2011, 01:35:06 PMA Courtyard downtown can be very nice especially when attached to other development. Here is the Courtyard in downtown Louisville.
http://www.louisvillecourtyardhotel.com/
tufsu1
June 22, 2011, 01:39:02 PMthere was a plan to build a Courtyard by Marriott on the 200 Riverside site...but that project is on life support, so maybe Marriott decided downtown would work well instead
acme54321
June 22, 2011, 01:41:45 PMThe Courtyard in DT Charlotte was pretty nice... no complaints.
thelakelander
June 22, 2011, 01:46:53 PMDowntown Memphis
I get the gut feeling that it would probably be a Courtyard or Residence Inn. Over the last decade, Marriott has been pretty aggressive at popping these up in historic highrise adaptive reuse projects all across the country.
duvaldude08
June 22, 2011, 01:47:59 PMI acutally LOVE the courtyard marriot. They are extremely nice IMO.
thelakelander
June 22, 2011, 01:49:28 PMThere was also a plan to put up at Courtyard in the old San Marco Village project on the Southbank before Trump and Related ran away from that one. Marriott was also interested in taking over the Adams Mark but Hyatt won out.
duvaldude08
June 22, 2011, 01:51:10 PMYeah it sounds like the Marriot has had continue interest in our DT for some time now.
JHAT76
June 22, 2011, 01:54:29 PMSo no Hotel at 200 Riverside now or no 200 Riverside?
cline
June 22, 2011, 02:02:18 PMThere won't be a hotel and they're probably won't even be a 200 Riverside. At least not anytime soon.
fsujax
June 22, 2011, 02:08:46 PM^^well, at least we got the hole in ground! maybe it will fill with water soon.
Wacca Pilatka
June 22, 2011, 02:13:21 PMAm I correct in remembering that the hotel Bucky Clarkson proposed to locate next to the convention center (a project that died when the city incentivized Adam's Mark) was a Marriott, and that at some point afterward he advocated a mid-rise Courtyard for the Northbank?
MusicMan
June 22, 2011, 02:52:28 PMThis thread/discussion is now claiming that there will be No 200 Riverside?
Can you give us the source on that info, please? It sure likes like they are going forward at that site.
heights unknown
June 22, 2011, 02:53:13 PMI know I am late in responding but all of this regarding the Central Core (Laura Project) has my juices oozing.
"HU"
iMarvin
June 22, 2011, 02:57:03 PMI like the idea of the 'Bank Hotel.' I don't want Marriot to come in and mess up the building. The 'Bank Hotel' is much nicer.
duvaldude08
June 22, 2011, 03:06:27 PMMarvin, in an earlier post I questioned Stephendare about the status of the project. In that post he stated that some changes were made. Im thinking that the bank hotel idea was one of those changes. It may have been easier to go with a National Chain. OR It could be barnett bank themed Marriot. (only the developers would know deez details. Im just taking a stab at i t.)
cline
June 22, 2011, 03:14:53 PMWhat you see going on is the water feature/fountain/pond that is part of the infrastructure improvements being done by the City. 200 Riverside is still delayed.
iMarvin
June 22, 2011, 03:25:16 PMI really hope they don't change that because that was a nice concept. I wouldn't mind Marriot owning/operating the hotel as long as the 'Bank Hotel' aspect was kept. I'm still happy that something WILL happen to that building.
MusicMan
June 22, 2011, 03:26:02 PMA Courtyard by Marriott at that site should do well. There is currently, to my knowledge, no hotel serving Riverside-Avondale-Ortega at all.
CG7
June 22, 2011, 03:40:14 PMNo, but we have some relly nice B&B's.
fieldafm
June 22, 2011, 04:41:23 PMThey don't have the required number of letter of intents to move forward... same with The Library... same with San Marco Place... same with a lot of places. 200 Riverside isn't dead though.
The new Laura Trio group has started to head down this same direction now in order to get the financing in place(honestly suprised that wasn't the focus of the original plan, well strike that I'm actually honestly suprised they didnt just originally focus on a private hotel at Barnett and left the Laura Trio alone like the Hotel Duval in Tally, they must not have thought they could get all the historic tax credit money without the trio buildings)
ChriswUfGator
June 22, 2011, 04:50:26 PMIt's not promising, because it makes no business sense unless/until there is some demand for a hotel down there. Which there isn't now. So, either it's a pie-in-the-sky (most likely), or it's going to wind up being subject (in reality, if not in the developer's press releases) to some kind of public incentive package, or to a public works project that would create the demand for the development. Otherwise, what's the point? We already have a huge mostly-empty Hyatt within a couple blocks of there teetering on bankruptcy. Absent some other factor, it makes no business sense.
My apologies that you evidently consider reality to be a "conspiracy theory."
simms3
June 22, 2011, 11:35:07 PMI apologzie in advance for the long post, but the city with the most successful (and recent) hotel rehab projects in the South is definitely Atlanta, which has quite a few. I have some old pictures of them taken on a Sunday morning a while back with my old point and shoot, and I have bits of info on their redevelopment history. It's important to know how they were funded and what kinds of clients they serve and why they came to be in the first place. Atlanta is considered one of the most sophisticated hotel markets in the country, and it has almost every single brand of hotel and an abundance of lots of really large hotels of every type. It puts its peers Houston, Dallas, Seattle, and arguably even Philly and Boston to shame when it comes to hotels. Boutique rehabs are new to Atlanta as of the past decade, but it has surged with this class of hospitality asset.
Hotels are the way to go for adaptive re-use. There are some real nice ones near me in addition to the chains...Of course it helps to be a major destination city with lots of major conventions.
The Glenn Hotel (serves as an Atlanta getaway hotel...sort of like an urban B&B, complete with rooftop terrace and a 4-star restaurant)
The Hampton Inn & Suites...all of the following pics were taken a couple years ago on a Sunday morning, which is why they appear "dead", and with my old point and shoot, which is why they are not very clear
An unnamed hotel with a Ted's Montana Grill and something going on at the roof
Another building nearby with something going on at the roof level...an idea for Jacksonville
The Residence Inn with ground level retail and a pocket plaza...
The Ellis Hotel, which is funded with TIF-bonds and is a real success story...meant for weekend visitors to the city, not for business travelers or Atlanta residents
And this element complements the overhanging balcony across the street at the original Ritz Carlton (The Ritz was an Atlanta creation and was started by Georgia Tech grads/Waffle House executives, LOL...they bought naming rights to a hotel in Boston and built a hotel empire starting with the Atlanta downtown Ritz and Buckhead Ritz)
The same element on the hotel across the street (Ritz Carlton)
The Georgia Terrace...the original 1913 structure is the shorter one and is where the premiere was held for Gone With the Wind (the Fox is across the street). The taller addition came in ~1992 and is built to look as if it has always been there. The glass atrium for the elevator bay is a modern complement. Fremont Capital out of San Fran owns the hotel and redeveloped it in 2004. They are about to redevelop it again. Its restaurant, The Livingston, is really quite a good restaurant. Guests who stay here are Atlantans for a night on the town, people who go to shows at the Fox and are overserved, and celebrities needing a 3 bedroom suite to rent out for 5 months or so while they film a movie.
Next door is the Hotel Indigo...business travelers
Nearby (and finally) is the only major historic building in Atlanta that was actually a hotel and has been converted to a mix of office, ballroom, and condos. The president of Novare (a major developer) lives here and one of Atlanta's hottest clubs (Halo) is buried in the side. Jane Fonda had several parties here while I was living across the street.
Halo Lounge in a non-descript door in the side of the building, leads to a multi floor warehouse/industrial style club and celebrity hangout
Oh, one more (sorry). The Artmore Hotel...across the street from me, this hotel has a trendy bar scene and outdoor courtyard, and plays host to bands coming through playing Atlanta's version of the House of Blues down the street (Center Stage). Jamestown and Urbana Realty Partners redeveloped it.
http://www.artmorehotel.com/
It's also important to discuss the major players behind these projects.
Indigo hotels are part of Intercontinental Hotels Group, which is based in Atlanta. So that helps.
The Glenn Hotel was redeveloped as Atlanta's first independent boutique hotel rehab in 2005 (so we are new to it, too), and was redeveloped by Legacy Property Group, based in Atlanta. This development firm has been instrumental in bringing back downtown, and almost every development you see around Centennial Park from Stats (the most successful sports bar in the South) to this hotel to the helipad atop the Embassy Suites Downtown is a product of this company. They have been wildly successful and great for the city. I urge anyone to check out their website. This was a $28 million project.
The Residence Inn was part of a national wave of Residence Inn urban rehabs, and of course Atlanta was on the list and offered up a prime, corner, downtown building well suited for a hospitality use. So the market, the timing, and the product all got that done.
The Ellis Hotel was a $25.9M also using TIF-bonds provided by the Atlanta Development Authority (like the Glenn Hotel discussed before). The Ellis was a 1913 building which opened as a hotel until a fire killed 119 people, so it has a similar history and even a similar look to the Carling in Jacksonville. RD Management of New York oversaw the project.
The Georgia Terrace didn't really turn great until Fremont Realty Capital took it over. Fremont Capital is a major player. I got to meet Matthew Reidy, a member of the firm's management, and attend a private hotel tour by him. They poured A TON of money into the place. It was a big city project that unfortunately rarely reaches the depths of smaller cities like Jacksonville.
The Biltmore renovation was a Novare project. Novare has come back from the brink of bankruptcy and is breaking ground on yet another high rise residential (rental) project in Atlanta this year, but it is one of the largest developers in the South. It happens to be HQ'd in the Biltmore.
The Artmore Hotel was a partnership between Jamestown Properties, which has North American HQ's in Atlanta, and Urbana Realty Holdings. Urbana is also HQ'd in Atlanta, and owns the BB&T tower in Jacksonville. Jamestown is HUGE. Jamestown is one of the most successful developers in the country and they are doing big things here in Atlanta, but also in New York (they acquired the Atlanta firm Green Street Properties, the face behind the now uber-famous Chelsea Market in New York). Atlanta just happens to be the seat of German money entering the U.S. BVT, Wealthcap, Jamestown, Porsche, and virtually all other German corporations and funds have North American HQ's here. That helped, though the Artmore was a smaller project.
Just as an aside...the most recent hotel rehab project hasn't reopened yet, but Hotel Indigo is about to open a new hotel in the building at left.
And the building at right in this picture is the old Macy's, which was just opened this past year as mixed-use. It has a grand ballroom (I got to go the grand opening...it's beautiful), a police station, office space, and a new nightclub on Peachtree.
ProjectMaximus
June 23, 2011, 03:24:53 AMAm I the only one that read "Marriott Corp. has expressed interest in operating the hotel" and didn't interpret that to mean they're beating down the developer's door?? I'd assume it's the same interest that all those national retailers would have if the Landing got their parking. Not to say it's not genuine, but I don't think any of us should start racking up Marriott Points to use downtown just yet. If the interest is real then the developers should certainly explore all their options.
duvaldude08
June 23, 2011, 08:57:26 AMWell its better for someone to have an interest, than no one to have an interest at all. And its seems the only conditions that have been STATED are parking for valet. We will see how everything eventually works out. Just good to see everything working out after a year of work. The developers have been very diligent about this project.
tufsu1
June 23, 2011, 09:14:09 AMthe Hotel Indigo in Midtown Atlanta used to be a Days Inn....I stayed there several times in the 1990s (vs. the other days Inn on Spring St) because of its historic charm.
Tacachale
June 23, 2011, 09:31:06 AMWell, we'll see what happens here. If it's true that the developer only gets his tax credits upon successfully completing the project, I see no harm in letting him spend his own dime on rehabbing the buildings, whether the big picture ultimately pans out or not. He clearly knows the buildings' problems with leaks and water intrusion and such, and is in a better position to patch it up than anyone.
duvaldude08
June 23, 2011, 09:44:55 AMI agree. Since we are not going to shell out anything until we see the finish product, Im good with it.
JaxNative68
June 23, 2011, 11:09:10 AMI'll believe it when I see it. We have been promised many deals/projects/developments of these three buildings for decades... and there they still sit waiting and waiting and waiting...
duvaldude08
June 23, 2011, 11:28:29 AMWell Kuhn went bankrupt in the midst of renovating the buldings, the other developers were asking for 12 million dollars of assistance and he politely told them no. So I dont think the past of the trio is as grim as it seems. IMO, this is a very fesiable project. It is not a "pie in the sky" projet as weve seen in the past. Thats just my opinon of course. Dont shot the messager.
jcjohnpaint
June 23, 2011, 11:43:40 AMyeah and time is running out. These buildings do not have a lot of time.
MusicMan
June 23, 2011, 12:10:20 PMWhat is the projected budget to rehab the 4 buildings, $75 million? That is $325 million less then the new courthouse, and if they are completed "as drawn," they will have a bigger impact on downtown '24/7' than the new courthouse ever will.
Ajax
June 23, 2011, 12:19:31 PMI believe the $75 million included building the new building in the empty lot next to Florida Life, but I could be mistaken. I agree with your point.