Urban Construction Update - June 2013

[Metro Jacksonville]

Urban Construction Update - June 2013



A brief look at the status of various projects under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville during the month of June 2013.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-jun-urban-construction-update-june-2013

[Noone]

Thanks for the update. What is going on with MOCA? Replacing all the windows on the one level? What is the cost for this change?

[fieldafm]

An electronic cigarette place is going into the old Clothing Wharehouse.  Hawkers is going in across the street from that, taking over three storefronts(Downtown Divas and the old jewelry store).  Hawthorn Salon will also be expanding into the old Subculture space (she moved to the old Body Central location inside the Landing). 

Grassroots Market is also putting in outdoor seating. 

[Bill Hoff]

The plans for Hawkers are very cool.

One thing missed in SPR - the infill housing on E. 5th Street is nearing completion.

[thelakelander]

Thanks fieldafm. I've updated the article with the mentioned corrections in Five Points.  Bill, where exactly is the infill housing on East 5th?  How many units?

[JeffreyS]

Love the parking garage murals.

[avonjax]

How could the city of Jacksonville have allowed that horrific Family Dollar store be built. The city is littered with that disgusting design and it ruins every site it sits on. I think it is by FAR the worst design of any national chain. I despise their buildings. And now State street is littered with one. HORRIBLE!

[thelakelander]

A Family Dollar in Charleston, SC. Same box, different outcome.

While horrible, I would not blame Family Dollar or McDonald's.  They are only building what we want them to build, according to our zoning regulations.

We tried to promote a better designed project for that site but it falls within no man's land.  That stretch of State doesn't fall within downtown's official borders or Springfield's.  It's "The Space Inbetween", which means Jax's suburban zoning regulations have design precedence over everything being built there. 

Downtown Jacksonville's Family Dollar below


Sidewalk to Hogans Creek and the dog park.


Skyline view from Hogans Creek.


Front of building. Notice the difference between these three images and the Charleston example?

[I-10east]

I wonder what are the cost comparisons between those two Family Dollars. I agree that the Charleston design would look better on State, but I can imagine with the nice brick design etc, that it costs more, how much more I dunno.

[mbwright]

I think like many companies, they will do the minimum required.  When Jax have a low standard, that is what we get.  It is pretty stupid to have a no man's land area, it should be downtown, or Springfield.  Not sure what it would take to get this corrected.  Just like the Dollar General that replace the historic Standard Feed buildings.

[PeeJayEss]

That one mural looks like the EAC, dude. Both look cool. Now they should cover the rest of the garage with art.

[thelakelander]

I wonder what are the cost comparisons between those two Family Dollars. I agree that the Charleston design would look better on State, but I can imagine with the nice brick design etc, that it costs more, how much more I dunno.

I wouldn't get too caught up on the decorative building material. Block can be just as attractive as a fake brick facade. The key is site plan that respects the urban footprint and integrates with the desired context of the communities surrounding it.

In this case, shift this same box up against the State/Newnan street edge, along with the parking to the rear, and you've created a better overall environmental situation without spending one penny more.

[duvaldude08]

Off subject, but kinda on subject, I remember awhile back some developers claimed they were purchasing empty lots in Springfield to build new historic looking homes on them. What ever happen with that? I'll research and find the old article so yall wont think Im crazy LOL

[Bridges]

We tried to promote a better designed project for that site but it falls within no man's land.  That stretch of State doesn't fall within downtown's official borders or Springfield's.  It's "The Space Inbetween", which means Jax's suburban zoning regulations have design precedence over everything being built there. 

I always thought it would be a good idea to extend the DDRB to the block north of State.  To Orange St., which would cover just that area, since it links Springfield and DT. 

But after seeing some of the recent approved designs by DDRB (i.e. Fuqua), I got to say, what would be the point?  Would have almost certainly ended up with the same layout.

[thelakelander]

Duvaldude08, I think the guys you are talking about are now focusing on Riverside...

Infill housing development under way in Riverside

New construction is breaking ground in one of Jacksonville’s historic neighborhoods.
Springfield Builders is building seven new homes in Riverside along Lydia and Downing streets, one block from the King Street entertainment district.....

....Davis had been building similar homes — new construction, but built to look historic — on infill sites in Springfield. He’s sold everything he built there, but said the Riverside deal was a much more attractive prospect.

“We love Springfield, but it doesn’t have the critical mass that Riverside-Avondale does,” he said. “King Street alone, it seems like a new restaurant opens every couple of months. There’s so much forward momentum I don’t see any way that’s going to reverse itself.”

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/05/31/infill-housing-development-under-way.html