Breathing Life back into the Jacksonville Landing

[vicupstate]

Sleiman buying the Landing has been a lifesaver.  If Rouse still owned it, it would probably be shuttered by now.

That said, I think he is 'waiting out' Peyton's term, so he can try to buy the land underneath.  I just don't think he is going to invest the 'big money' until he owns the dirt too.  Frankly, I don't blame him.  Opening up the cener to Laura Street is a no-brainer, that the city should be working with him to accomplish.  It would result in a loss of leaseable space (temporarily at least), but he has plenty to spare now.

Sleiman's reluctance to sign a 'Staples/Office max' type tenant is understandable in one sense, it doesn't fit the long-term goal. But I would like to see a short-term (2-3 years) lease given to one.  Anything is better than vacant space, and it would provide a service for both the office workers and the DT residential population (albeit a small population currently). 

I also like Stephen's idea about a Farmer/Seafood market.  Open up the center through to Laura Street, and set up a Saturday and Sunday market on the patio areas if nothing else.             

The dated look and significant vacancies would be an embarrassment in any other city, but in inferiority-complex Jacksonville, it is just accepted.  As the T-U article quoted the Landing official, probably 85% of Jax visitors go there sooner or later.  My guess is that was probably true for many years, but it probably is a lot lower than that now. 

If you had out of town visitors staying with you, would you take them to SJTC or the Landing?         

[stephendare]

[thelakelander]

Stephen, you're dead on about the market idea.  Even if they never opened the courtyard up to Laura Street, there's enough space facing Independent Drive, where this activity could be used to convert that area into a second front facing activity center.

[rjp2008]

Couple points...

The seafood/farmer's market idea is fantastic! That's the key right there.

The landing should be the "International and Local Grocer Hub" of Jacksonville. You should be able to shop for Fresh Maine Lobsters and Florida Sailfish, Local Organic Produce, Costa Rican fruits, Asian/Filipino grocery items Polish deli meats, French breads and pastries, etc, etc.

All those condos going up downtown? Those people are not going to shop at Winn Dixie! They'll want Whole Foods class or better niche stuff.

It's not a "Landing", it's a Launchpad!
The Landing should be a multi-modal transport hub also! Extend the Skyway a couple blocks down Hogan Street right into the Landing itself.



 

[stephendare]

Plus food is a universal draw and no respector of persons.

Everyone has to eat.

Cool thing about the downstairs being a fresh food market is that it would be able to supply all the restaurants upstairs, and most likely all of downtown and the southbank as well.

[vicupstate]

Stephen, you're dead on about the market idea.  Even if they never opened the courtyard up to Laura Street, there's enough space facing Independent Drive, where this activity could be used to convert that area into a second front facing activity center.

Exactly, just start out using space between the courtyard and Water Steet (indoors and out). Just use tables and produce containers, nothing that would require a building permit.  Do it every Saturday for a couple of months and see if it builds steam, before doing anything an expensive as altering the building.     

Put live music on the stage too. Lots of produce, seafood and fresh bread, etc. would make a much better impression that papered over empty retail spaces.   

[Ocklawaha]

A mix of food, entertainment, and guy gadgets would be interesting. HELLO, are men no longer a market for anyone? When is the last time you got dragged from store to store to look at the pink bra, then the blue one, then the red one, then...

HELP!

If someone would trick out the corners with computers, games, hobbies, sports, electronics...We would all be dragging the ladies down the the landing! Moreover, we could wine and dine, and even THEY could shop.
Then just add STREETCAR and mix. Some unknown guy did this back about 1968 in Long Beach California, by buying an old "Tourist Court Motel", then then leased each cottage to a different "hobby"... Don't know if he is still there, but MY GOD, he had the busiest place in Southern California for years and years.

Ocklawaha

[blizz01]

They do it in San Francisco too on the weekends & it's awesome & enviable.  Does Tony Sleiman read this???  The space is there.  What a no brainer.  Art, wine, food, music........

[tpot]

I agree!  fantastic ideas here.  Does anyone have his email address so we could send him this string. 

After they build this garage I wonder what the next excuse will be as to why the landing still suks!!!!

[stephendare]

Although Toney and Janice support this site, unfortunately they arent the blog checking types.

Whenever something relevant to them is on here and someone calls them to tell them they usually check it out.

Heres some contact info.

The Jacksonville Landing
353-1188

Janice Lowe is the general manager
jlowe@sleiman.com

[Eazy E]

If you had out of town visitors staying with you, would you take them to SJTC or the Landing?         

I wouldn't take them to either unless I hated them and wanted to ruin their visit.

[BridgeTroll]

I recently had visitors from San Jose and Vegas... both had a great time at Twisted Martini, Mavericks(my first time), people watching in the courtyard.  It is a pretty intersting mix of humanity on Friday and Saturday nights...

[copperfiend]

I was in the Landing courtyard a few months ago on a Friday afternoon. It was an interesting mix of guys in jean shorts and sleeveless shirts.

[KenFSU]

If you had out of town visitors staying with you, would you take them to SJTC or the Landing?         

I wouldn't take them to either unless I hated them and wanted to ruin their visit.

The Town Center would ruin their visit?

With all due respect, I really dislike this sort of sentiment. The SJTC is absolutely nothing but a positive for the city of Jacksonville. It's the absolute premier shopping destination between Orlando and Atlanta full of stores that Jacksonville is a good decade away from even DREAMING of having in the core. Sucks, but it's the truth of the matter. Call it a glorified strip mall or whatever, but there's just no denying that it has been a massive success and is a wonderful thing for the suburbanites who, realistically, don't want to or will never want to jump on the highway and drive the 20, 30 or 40 mile round trip downtown might be for them.

Downtown's day will come, and I'm as excited as anyone about that, but economic growth and development elsewhere in the city is only going to bring more people to Jacksonville who will in turn spend more money. If a market this small can support an NFL team for over a decade, surely it can support a handful of commercial/entertainment districts in both the burbs and the urbs.

[stephendare]

I just got off the phone with Janice, and she is reading through the article as I type.

Shes going to call me back with feedback.

She might even figure out how to post on the board