Urban Infill: Urbana

[cline]

Once this is finished the area of downtown Jax Beach will be a nice little mix of bars, shops, restaurants and residential.  While it may just be another strip mall it will fit in nicely and will add to area of 1st-3rd Aves - which is already a fairly pedestrian friendly environment. 

[copperfiend]

I think it will be a good addition to the area. Now if only they could do something about that terrible McDonalds.

[Ocklawaha]

Where's the Streetcar?

OCKLAWAHA

[cline]

I think it will be a good addition to the area. Now if only they could do something about that terrible McDonalds.

I know that they cleared the old gas station on the corner of Beach and 3rd St. next to the McDonalds.  I think they were going to build condos there but that might have fallen through when the market tanked.  I doubt the McD's is going anywhere though. 

[JaxByDefault]

Another strip mall that will look outdated in 5 years, but at least now YogaBerry will be in walking distance on beach days.

[Deuce]

This change does bite. I agree with the comments above on the loss of design elements, the strip mall look, and the idea the Five Guys is somehow elegant. The only redeeming thing is placing the parking on the roof instead of eating up space with ugly surface spaces. If I served on a development board, I would not approve this change. F the developer. So he loses shirt, those are the breaks. In regards to Simms comments, I think that citizens should have a much larger say in development projects. A balance can still be struck that allows the developer to be profitable.

[hightowerlover]

This is some insane puffery - and when did the beaches become and island or urban?

Urban Island Shopping
 

Whatever your service, whatever your product, Urbana's concept is aligned to meet the customer's eye. With four defined close-knit communities in the area as well as several defined communities on the periphery, Jacksonville Beach attracts a constant flux of retail traffic that centers around a high-end coastal demographic. Jacksonville Beach is the host of several area events and festivals as well as the nucleus of some of Northeast Florida's best music venues and hot spots. Steps from eclectic dining for any palette and minutes from world class golf, tennis, and fishing. Jacksonville Beach attracts tourists and locals alike who enjoy the good life and love to shop.

[JaxNative68]

I understand the losing of the condo element in this project due to the housing market, but the loss of the design elements is ridiculous.  Once again it is another promise of good architectural design that has turned into a tilt-up concrete box by the time it gets built.  I drove past the site this weekend and it is underway and it is a tilt-up concrete box.  It is also pushed so tight to the street; there isn’t much space for pedestrian traffic, or the ability for outdoor dining.  The southwest corner of the building is less than twelve inches away from the streetlight pole.  This project has become absurd and absolutely horrible.  It is amazing what the City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach will except as development, especially when you see what they turn down for silly reasons.  Basically in this town, if you’re a member of the Good ‘Ole Boy network, you can get away with anything, no matter how bad or stupid it is!  Is it any coincidence that the project ended up precast concrete?  Can you say Peyton?

I completely agree with JaxByDefault and Deuce above.  Jacksonville is already overloaded with cheap, poorly designed, outdated strip malls.  Wake up people!!!!

Maybe the city could have held the developer to the original design intent.  And maybe even had them construct the project in phases, enabling the structure to being able to expand into the final design once the economy gets better.  But being the skeptic that I am, I have a feeling the developer had no intent of building the original design and the city knew it, and quietly let the change happen so that by the time everyone realized what happened, it was to late!

Getting the bag over the head and punched in the face by the people who run this city is getting quite old.

[heights unknown]

Very basic and rudimentary looking, but hopefully it will be some sort of a "shot in the arm" for the Beach.

Heights Unknown

[tufsu1]

This is some insane puffery - and when did the beaches become and island or urban?

actually Jax. Beach is quite urban...it has a mix of uses, significant pedestrian activity, and the highest density of any jurisdiction in Duval County.

[mtraininjax]

Is this a Sleiman project? Looks like his type of design. Stores will probably then be half empty for the next few years.

[TheProfessor]

They just need to put some bars in those storefronts

[hightowerlover]

i wonder why they couldnt still incorporate a more attractive roofline like the original renderings.  at least it would give it some character... and i think the red was a more unique look and appropriate for a jax beach setting

[I-10east]

I'm trying to figure out what some of you guys want; They built SJTC with upscale shopping, and yall complain about that; They bring a nice shopping center (RCMP), with a movie theater to the Northside, and yall complain about that; When they tear down Lerner, a small and rather insignificant building, and it's like they just tore down the Modis building or something. Okay, I get it, bitch about everything that's positive, and negative towards the city, and us J-ville peeps are the only uncouth, non-upscale, and simple-minded people; Everyone else in the USA is lightyears ahead of us with progress; Yeah, yeah, yeah, yall have beaten that dead horse to death again. I see nothing wrong with Urbana. Nothing will satisfy some of yall.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I dont see any thing wrong with it. I guess people are tired seeing the same old design time after time.