Riverplace Tower West Parking Garage Proposed

[Metro Jacksonville]

Riverplace Tower West Parking Garage Proposed



Riverplace Tower's newest project will increase parking capacity on the Southbank, while reducing the surface parking land area.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/864

[stjohnsguy]

Will there be retail at street level? That would be nice Starbucks, small deli. Dunkin Doughnuts maybe????Good coffee.. Bring some life at street level

[copperfiend]

It seems like a nice addition to the Southbank. I think the new Baptist tower will get rid of more surface parking.

[Lunican]

Is there a new demand for parking over there?

[Developing101]

That's one of the best designed parking garages yet. 

[archiphreak]

OH. My. God.  Another parking garage.  I think we should do a slide show presentation of all of Jacksonville's Parking Garages and then compare that with all of our regular architectural landmarks and see which is longer.  I'm betting on the former rather than the latter.
Though I do agree this is a very well designed garage, and it is a good thing that something is being put in place of a surface parking lot (surface parking lots would be a longer slide show still), it is, afterall, a parking garage!  Ugh.  There are no words for how monumental of a waste of space that will be especially for such a prominent site on the south bank.  Are there no responsible, worthy architects/developers left?

[vicupstate]

I don't see the basis for critcism.  It will have street level retail and it eliminates surface parking.  Like Lunican, I question why the demand for parking requires this, but then again San Marco Place was built on an old surface lot.   


The design is pretty good for what it is, and far exceeds what is typical for Jax.  My only complaint is that they need to add an office or residential tower on top.  Given the current market though, it is understandable.  Maybe they will reinforce the foundation, so that can be added later.   

[rjp2008]

Well it's a start I guess.

[Abhishek]

I'd prefer the parking garrage if it had office space for businesses on top of it. But then the hotel behind it would protest. So, building a parking garrage in place of a surface parking lot is better than only having an ugly surface parking lot. It still is prime real estate for a mere parking garrage.

[Captain Zissou]

Archiphreak, I like the comments about the slideshows. Very Funny. 
If they sell off the rest of the surface lot for a mid to high rise building of some sort, I will be very satisfied with this and consider it a big step in a better direction.

[Jason]

Is there a new demand for parking over there?

Good question.  This proposal certainly is out of the blue.

I do like the design of the garage though.  By far the best in Jax.  The parcel between the proposed garage and the Main Street Expressway is a great little spot for a midrise office building in the future.

[Jason]

It seems like a nice addition to the Southbank. I think the new Baptist tower will get rid of more surface parking.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/829/122/

It will only eliminate a few spaces.  Hopefully their existing parking garages are large enough to accomodate the expansion or we may be seeing yet another garage proposed.

[RiversideGator]

I personally dont see how this won an award for design but if it eliminates the need for surface lot parking and gets rid of a surface lot while adding in retail, it is a net positive.  Also, perhaps this will free up the existing Riverplace garage to be demolished and a new structure built in its place or to have a new structure built on top of it.  I have always thought it foolish to have a riverfront parking garage there.  Hopefully this is a prelude to a new building then.

[Ocklawaha]

I personally don't see how this won an award for design but if it eliminates the need for surface lot parking and gets rid of a surface lot while adding in retail, it is a net positive.

Absolute net positive, frankly I love the design and would have awarded it too... The reason friend Riverside Gator in my mind is they didn't go and try and design a George Jetson building, to go with a collection of 1960-70 era office and hotel towers. It blends and flows with the "feel of the time". Wonder if we can wear polyester suits, super wide ties, and paisley print dress pants inside? Really though, I think they did just what the area needed and didn't over-reach the assignment.

One HUGE GLARING OMISSION though, why is the Riverplace Skyway station not connected via Skywalk to Crown Plaza Garage and Wachovia via the Garage. Wouldn't this be a rather simple way to encourage ridership? Another elevated link to the Strand, Prudential, Atena and Baptist would make the little train that can't into the motor that drives the Southbank.

LOOK AHEAD! LOOK SOUTH!

LOOK FORWARD! LOOK TO TRANSIT!

OCKLAWAHA

[Developing101]

Choo!  Choo!   

Good point about the skyway.  Very LEED / Green friendly!  Lord knows we're wasting millions on the skyway and no one rides it.  Connecting new construction to the skyway would actually make it a viable means of transportation around downtown.  I can only hope that more good night life starts to sprawl up around these areas similar to Marks and Dive.