Convention center, Downtown on draft list for Curry

[thelakelander]

It looks as if a convention center might make the cut.

Mayor Lenny Curry can expect about a dozen recommendations about where to focus his economic-development efforts, and a “rough draft” list includes the project.

“The City needs to develop a plan to develop an expanded or new Convention Center,” says the draft put together by former Mayor John Delaney.

Delaney chairs Curry’s economic-development transition subcommittee, which met Monday.

He said after the meeting to expect the final draft of recommendations to include language that the city should create a plan to develop an expanded or new convention center.

“It needs to move up the priority list,” he said.

He also repeated what he has said in previous meetings: Finding $200 million to $500 million to pay for a center will be the issue.

Another top priority will be the urban core.

“A solid Downtown needs to be a major focus,” Delaney said.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=545748

[finehoe]

The 18-member group also reviewed a separate presentation by member Aaron Zahn, president and CEO of BCR Environmental Corp.

Zahn created a report called “An Economic Development Strategy Framework” for the city.

He suggested the city consider branding itself as the “global leader in infrastructure innovation for the future,” citing the possibilities of the $9 trillion expected to be spent worldwide by 2025 on capital projects and infrastructure.

“global leader in infrastructure innovation for the future”

What does that even mean?

[CCMjax]

The 18-member group also reviewed a separate presentation by member Aaron Zahn, president and CEO of BCR Environmental Corp.

Zahn created a report called “An Economic Development Strategy Framework” for the city.

He suggested the city consider branding itself as the “global leader in infrastructure innovation for the future,” citing the possibilities of the $9 trillion expected to be spent worldwide by 2025 on capital projects and infrastructure.

“global leader in infrastructure innovation for the future”

What does that even mean?

How exactly can Jax even begin to brand itself that way?  What innovative infrastructure do we have here?  This city seems to be 20 to 30 years behind anything "innovative" when discussing infrastructure.  Is he referring to the new highway projects?  That's not innovative when every other city of our size is discussing multi-modal transportation and reducing dependency on automobiles through urban infill development, etc.  Jax Port?  Or is he hoping something pops up?

[For_F-L-O-R-I-D-A]

It means CSX is based here and we want a bigger port. 

[thelakelander]

A part of it is hoping for something different...

[iMarvin]

Hasn't this been on the "draft list" for the past 15+ years?

[spuwho]

Isn't insanity defined by saying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?

$500m for a convention center seems a bit much. Stop shooting for the Cadillac solution here and trim the scope down.

If a riverfront town in Kentucky can start modest, so can we.

[icarus]

There have been other companies similar to Zahn's that have developed innovative and lower costs ways to deal with sewage and other infrastructure items here in Jacksonville (some with more success than others).

I've also read quite a few market forecasters who see a real future in pumps .. water, sewage, LNG ... i.e. GE's new facility in Jax. 

We all read articles on changing make up of utilities and the development of high speed internet, and the declining price point of launching low orbit satellites.  What most fail to realize is all of these require hardware and software in some instances to make it work. I think his point is that we have a future in manufacturing and technology in being a hub/innovator/manufacturer of the systems needed to revamp our country's infrastructure which is in dire need of maintenance and innovation.  And, when, you take two steps back .. his point really isn't a bad one.

[For_F-L-O-R-I-D-A]

You could have a much more affordable convention center/multi use facility that would cost a fraction of "500 million" bucks.

[coredumped]

Lots of negative comments here. I'm excited to hear that the convention center is even part of this administration's conversation.

[UNFurbanist]

A new convention center on the old courthouse site would be great and it is very encouraging to hear that DT development is seen as highly important. That said, maybe get the projects on the table like the trio, landing, shipyards and healthy town funded before we take on totally new $200 million + projects. 

[For_F-L-O-R-I-D-A]

Is there a way to keep the tower portion of the annex for adaptive reuse purposes and the density it could provide while building a ground floor to the building that provides good street interaction (which is awful on the site) in conjunction with the courthouse site as a convention center complex? With the Hyatt's space already there, if that were a possibility, it is a great site. There is also potentially room to grow in the future at the Landing's parking lot.

[brainstormer]

I know this might be addressed on another thread, but should we even be talking about something as massive as a convention center being built on the old courthouse site? I say this because of the crumbling infrastructure and isn't the parking lot built over the river on bridges? It seems to me like a new convention center might be better placed elsewhere, and turn the old courthouse site into a smaller development, maybe even open up part of the parking lot into a small harbor with boat docks and riverside restaurants. I just wonder about the engineering feasibility of that location. Perhaps we should be putting other ideas on the table.

[CCMjax]

A new convention center on the old courthouse site would be great and it is very encouraging to hear that DT development is seen as highly important. That said, maybe get the projects on the table like the trio, landing, shipyards and healthy town funded before we take on totally new $200 million + projects.

Agreed, the Trio should be priority number 1, not a $500 million convention center.  With it being left to decay it is a giant symbol of inactivity in Jacksonville's core for every visitor and investor to see.  When you see that building as desperate as it looks it does not leave a good impression of the city and it is right in the middle of everything.  At least the Barnett Building sort of looks occupied because it has windows, the trio doesn't even have windows, it's just a skeleton and such an important building to Jax.  Whether the interior spaces are highly functional or not, it must be restored and the city must realize it is probably going to have to help the developer out . . . a lot. 

[vicupstate]

A new convention center on the old courthouse site would be great and it is very encouraging to hear that DT development is seen as highly important. That said, maybe get the projects on the table like the trio, landing, shipyards and healthy town funded before we take on totally new $200 million + projects.

Agreed, the Trio should be priority number 1, not a $500 million convention center.  With it being left to decay it is a giant symbol of inactivity in Jacksonville's core for every visitor and investor to see.  When you see that building as desperate as it looks it does not leave a good impression of the city and it is right in the middle of everything.  At least the Barnett Building sort of looks occupied because it has windows, the trio doesn't even have windows, it's just a skeleton and such an important building to Jax.  Whether the interior spaces are highly functional or not, it must be restored and the city must realize it is probably going to have to help the developer out . . . a lot. 

+1000

Given the fact that the city is broke, and the price tag is VERY high, and there would be an operating deficit to cover as well, this idea needs to be dropped like a bad habit. This looks like the next 'silver bullet' idea that will only torpedo  the truly do-able projects, while not even breaking ground itself.