Former Springfield Jacksonville Jewish Center proposed for redevelopment

[thelakelander]

The former Jacksonville Jewish Center could be the next property to join revitalization efforts in Springfield. 

Developer Springfield Lofts LLC wants to secure $3 million in taxpayer-backed incentives to convert the space into a $14.8 million mixed-use residential and commercial office project.

The project includes 78 market-rate residential units and 8,000 square feet of commercial office space, according to a Jan. 23 memorandum from the City’s Office of Economic Development.

Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/former-springfield-jacksonville-jewish-center-proposed-for-redevelopment

[acme54321]

Wasn't this supposed to happen like 5 years ago?

[thelakelander]

Yes, but I don't believe they were asking for incentives back then.

[Bill Hoff]

Wasn't this supposed to happen like 5 years ago?

Here's what they proposed previously (link below) in 2016:
https://www.sparcouncil.org/revised_plans_for_springfield_lofts

I've seen the updated plans, it's a bit different.

[Bill Hoff]

A bit more info from the Florida Times-Union:
https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20200131/historic-jacksonville-jewish-center-site-is-part-of-multimillion-dollar-renovation

[aubureck]

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/springfield-lofts-incentives-step-closer-to-city-council

[Steve]

Glad to see this moving forward, but man, CM Becton doesn't get it. It's not a giveaway, it's trying to make a pro forma on a development work. The numbers likely won't work without the incentives.

Who paid for the road improvements into his brand new Ikea? I bet he didn't turn those down.

[marcuscnelson]

Glad to see this moving forward, but man, CM Becton doesn't get it. It's not a giveaway, it's trying to make a pro forma on a development work. The numbers likely won't work without the incentives.

Who paid for the road improvements into his brand new Ikea? I bet he didn't turn those down.

Given that Becton's district has basically nothing older than what, the late 80s? Does he understand how to get it in this case?

[thelakelander]

Putting lexus lanes on I-295 East Beltway or building SR 9A with public funds is a giveaway. We've become so used to thinking these types of projects are of great public need, that we assume spending hundreds of millions on asphalt, concrete and sod is for the greater good.

[fsu813]

Update via the Florida Times-Union:
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/business/real-estate/2021/12/20/springfield-lofts-planned-former-jacksonville-jewish-center/8852240002/

"Pardue estimated construction could start in late 2022 or early 2023. "

[Tacachale]

Glad to see this moving forward, but man, CM Becton doesn't get it. It's not a giveaway, it's trying to make a pro forma on a development work. The numbers likely won't work without the incentives.

Who paid for the road improvements into his brand new Ikea? I bet he didn't turn those down.

Given that Becton's district has basically nothing older than what, the late 80s? Does he understand how to get it in this case?

Putting lexus lanes on I-295 East Beltway or building SR 9A with public funds is a giveaway. We've become so used to thinking these types of projects are of great public need, that we assume spending hundreds of millions on asphalt, concrete and sod is for the greater good.

It's interesting to see Becton's change of heart on this kind of stuff when it's time to clean up infrastructure in his district. Definitely not saying this is the wrong decision, but it's a lot easier to be against public investment when you're not the one depending on it.

A plan to charge Baymeadows property owners an extra fee to fix up privately owned roads is heading toward a Jacksonville City Council vote.

But the proposal is facing backlash from a group of Baymeadows residents in newer neighborhoods that don’t have the same infrastructure qualms as older ones.

Councilman Danny Becton is pushing for the extra fee for property owners. It's a move that might be unexpected from the longtime Republican, but he argues that unlike property taxes, these funds will stay in the neighborhood, with community control over how they’re spent.

“I'm comfortable with this because it’s neighbors trying to help themselves,” Becton said. “It's not going into a big, unlimited pool of a budget that can be spent on anything and everything.”

https://news.wjct.org/first-coast/2022-01-18/baymeadows-residents-clash-over-who-should-pay-to-fix-their-roads