A New Parking Lot for Downtown

[Metro Jacksonville]

A New Parking Lot for Downtown



Many believed that the new Duval County Courthouse would become the economic anchor that would revitalize a section of downtown decimated by building demolitions. Plans are underway for adjacent development but it's not the office buildings and lofts once expected. After spending $350 million on the new Duval County Courthouse, reality strikes. The first spin-off development appears to be a surface parking lot. Here's a look at what's coming to Adams Street.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-jul-a-new-parking-lot-for-downtown

[I-10east]

Second!!! (I always wanted to inexplicably say that on a MJ thread). Oh boy, this thread isn't gonna be pretty LOL. For me, it's not so much what was there because that's history, but what they're gonna build. Another parking lot DT? I get that they need more parking there, but they should have went with a parking garage.

[Noone]

I'm excited about the rendering.
Three Palm tress.

Visit Jacksonville!
Park here
Permit only

[urbanlibertarian]

The property is being improved with private money. This is a good thing.

[dougskiles]

And believe me, it is a temporary use.  The owner has way too much invested in the property for a surface parking lot to be the highest and best use.  At the first opportunity, he will build something.  But the market isn't there yet.

[thelakelander]

Another parking lot DT? I get that they need more parking there, but they should have went with a parking garage.

A parking garage can get pretty expensive. As dougskiles says, this is being considered a temporary use. Perhaps after five or ten years, things will be different.

[Sunbeam]

Of course the city would bow down and do anything for Everbank, AGAIN!

Why have stores and office space and eateries that can generate foot traffic, taxes, revenue way above any surface parking lot when the city can just give way to the likes of Everbank.

Everbank is chompin at the bit waiting for the Greyhound Station to move so they dont have look out their windows and see all the homeless and transients in the current building.

Makes one wonder who actually is running the city

[fieldafm]

Of course the city would bow down and do anything for Everbank, AGAIN!

Why have stores and office space and eateries that can generate foot traffic, taxes, revenue way above any surface parking lot when the city can just give way to the likes of Everbank.

I don't see how you can force a landowner to build very expensive commercial buildings on a property they own without the market demand to warrant building somethng like that?

As it stands, the property is a blighted mess.  Until which time as a viable alternative is available (read: infill), a private property owner using their own money to improve the lot to make it an actual parking facility instead of a grass field and haphazrd building foundation that cars are presently being parked on (read: eyesore) is not a bad thing.

BTW, this is partially being done now b/c of the Surface Parking Improvement Plan the former JEDC enacted several years ago. 

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-dec-downtowns-blighted-surface-parking-lots-under-fire

That same legislation was also partially responsible for another surface lot near the Courthouse resurfacing, tearing down blighted fencing and creating an area for food trucks to park, complete with outdoor seating.  Which has created the only real foot traffic in the area.

[JayBird]

Are the Water Street, Courthouse and Kings Station parking garages at capacity where it warrants this? And does Everbank own it? Or just someone using Everbank as an example? I agree that an improved lot providing temporary parking is better than what is there right now. Just with all the parking downtown already surprised there is enough need to financially justify a design and plan. ESP when the lot opposite it btw Houston and Forsyth is crammed with cars and not nearly this much improvement.

[fieldafm]

You may want to click the link I posted above for some background info.  It's not so much designed to create more surface parking as much as it is designed to improve existing land (it also strips out parking requirements all together for new construction).  The legislation was enacted to improve the aesthetics of empty lots that were being deficiently used as unimproved parking contributing to blight.  Two of the lots specifically highlighted in JEDC's presentation are the lot in this article and the lot on Jefferson/Adams that has received a makeover that I posted a picture of above (and a use that contributes to walkability, food trucks with outdoor seating).

[Noone]

The property is being improved with private money. This is a good thing.

Now, how about the Waterways? Just got back from the meeting of the Commissioner of FIND in Nassau county and shared with them that after five years and my question to them if (private money) was raised for a pocket pier, floating dock at a waterfront Public Access street end would the commissioners of FIND match the other half of the construction cost? The answer is YES! You need a sponsor a city Councilmember.

Shared with them the Jim Love, Kevin Kuzel, Berkman floating dock compromise misrepresented by OGC during the 2013 FIND grant application process. Why is this important because according to Jack Shad the parking rules have changed in this infill node of a spontaneous incubator where organic BOLD Urban Core activity can spill into a vibrant Bay St.

2013-384 active legislation will an amendment be attached for PARKING and access to Hogans Creek?

[Ocklawaha]

I was thinking maybe they could use the Kings Avenue garage then build a giant, adult sized sliding board from the Central Skyway Station...

[JayBird]

^I liked the human slingshot plan from Elbonian Transit that Dilbert presented to City Council. Too bad there was no funding. Thx Mayor Brown.

[Ocklawaha]

 

[Overstreet]

Even for a parking lot that is an odd layout.

Temporary parking lot can be a misleading name. I know a "temporary" five story parking garage that has been here at least 27 years. It will likely stay another ten.