20 West Adams Street

[icarus]

"In the Pipeline" - March 6, 2006

"Renovations at former Lerner building for mixed-use development, 20 W. Adams St. between Main and Laura streets, six stories totaling 36,000 square feet, $3.14 million; contractor is Logistical Transportation Co. Inc.; agent is Marion Graham Jr.; owner is Kimmik Corp. dba 20 West Adams Inc.; architect is PQH Architects; plans include 16 apartments, 4,410 square feet of offices, a second-floor fitness room and a first-floor restaurant."

A lot of focus is always placed on the Laura Street Trio. But, whatever happened to the development that never was at the adjacent 20 West Adams Street?

[Josh]

I was just wondering about that building myself today while walking to lunch. For the first time ever I noticed the new windows, but after checking Google Streetview, they've been there for at least 2 years.

At least there's a nice mural painted on the plywood door covers.....

[icarus]

I am just wondering if it is an absentee landowner or one hit by economic times. 

[WmNussbaum]

Essentially the owner is Marion Graham of local mortuary "fame."

[thelakelander]

This project was a casualty of the economic downfall a few years back.

[icarus]

You would think that any attempt to rehabilitate the trio would have tried to pull this piece in.  It certainly would make sense from an additive/complementary purpose. I think this is more so given its proximity to the core.

If the windows were put in two years ago, I imagine it was to stave off code enforcement.

[DDC]

I was just wondering about that building myself today while walking to lunch. For the first time ever I noticed the new windows, but after checking Google Streetview, they've been there for at least 2 years.

At least there's a nice mural painted on the plywood door covers.....

The mural was done 2 or 3 Art Walks ago. Or at least during something going on down town. I watched them do it.

[comncense]

Are you guys talking about the Phoenix mural? Wasn't that done during OneSpark?

[thelakelander]

You would think that any attempt to rehabilitate the trio would have tried to pull this piece in.  It certainly would make sense from an additive/complementary purpose. I think this is more so given its proximity to the core.

If the windows were put in two years ago, I imagine it was to stave off code enforcement.

The windows were added before the redevelopment project stopped. They've been there longer than two years. I don't remember the exact year, but they gave a few of us from MJ a tour of the interior.

[DDC]

Are you guys talking about the Phoenix mural? Wasn't that done during OneSpark?

I think you are right. I knew it was during some event but couldn't remember.

[thelakelander]

One of the benefits of being around for a few years now, is we have a decent set of archived information and photography from the last decade.

10/07/07 - 20 West Adams opening in November?










Windows were put in before the September 2009 urban construction update:



http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-sep-downtown-construction-update-september-2009

[icarus]

At least what progress had been made was preserved but has there been any information on plans for this building or of interest in progressing on completion?

[thelakelander]

I haven't heard anything since Kimmick boarded up the first floor a few years back.  That's a pretty large building to only get 16 units out of it.

[icarus]

I agree but current building code and an unfortunate configuration are to blame.  I guess the hope would be that the units could command a premium for their relative size.

It would be interesting to see the final proposal on the Laura Street Trio and see if that might make use of the Lerner building better suited for commercial.

[thelakelander]

I doubt the Laura Trio will have any significant impact on what the use of the old Lerner Shops building should be.  I also doubt, those units could command a premium in today's market. 

I have no idea of what the proper answer to get this project back on track should be.  However, if I had to guess, my answer would resolve around the developer (if they are still around) needing incentives to plug the financial gap between adaptive reuse costs and the realistic market rate ROI for the finished product.