Five Reasons to Address The Landing Parking Situation

[Metro Jacksonville]

Five Reasons to Address The Landing Parking Situation



Here are five reasons to consider addressing the Jacksonville Landing parking situation once and for all.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-apr-five-reasons-to-address-the-landing-parking-situation

[Actionville]

If the city owned/operated the parking garages downtown, and charged a reasonable rate, this probably wouldn't even be an issue.

[reednavy]

I didn't realize this issue has been going on for so long, the city is at fault and needs to hold up it's end of the agreement.

[JeffreyS]

That is what the Landing wants 300 spaces in a nearby city location and they will pay 1.5 mil a year to the city.

[Captain Zissou]

That picture looking into 'the heart of the downtown core' shows three vacant and unfinished buildings.  Nice.  The city needs to man up and fulfill their end of the deal.

[tufsu1]

If the city owned/operated the parking garages downtown, and charged a reasonable rate, this probably wouldn't even be an issue.

charged reasonable rates...most garages downtown are no more than $5 per day...you want it cheaper?

[mtraininjax]

I can park on the street and at worst, walk 2 blocks. Or as was the case this weekend, for the Styx concert, the parking lot at the landing was 1/2 full. I really can't wait for when I need to go 10 blocks to park, because by then, I am sure JTA will create a shuttle from Riverside/Avondale for downtown events. Of course, I might be wrong.

[JC]

I think there is a far better solution than attracting more cars to the downtown area. It seems so, 1990's to clamor for parking lots and spaces.  Its not that hard to take the Skyway from any number of stops to Central station and walk the rest of the way.  I realize that public transportation in Jacksonville is not a solution for everything, yet, but if people support it, and use it when it makes sense, then revenues will be increased, the demand will be realized, and Voilà, more track, more stops and other modes of transportation.  It just doesn't make any sense whatsoever to make accommodations for cars instead of increasing public transportation.  

At some point, there will be too many cars, and driving will be a serious issue.  Without an established, dependable, user friendly, accessible public transportation alternative, the traffic will further prevent visitors.  

[Lunican]

Mtrain, it's not that there isn't enough parking, it's that there is not enough parking designated to the Landing. This technicality is what prevents Sleiman from signing national restaurant chains and retailers.

[reednavy]

Mtrain, it's not that there isn't enough parking, it's that there is not enough parking designated to the Landing. This technicality is what prevents Sleiman from signing national restaurant chains and retailers.

Exactly, he says he contacted The Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang's, and they had only one question. "Can you dedicate 150 parking spaces to our needs?" He sure as hell can't, so those talks went nowhere.

[duvaldude08]

I am just so upset with the city. The owner is willing to renovate the Landing, all he is asking for is the parking that the landing was promised. There would make no sense for him to renovate and still lack teanets. Yeah it may cost 3.5 million or less, but once done the city will get all that back and then some in lease payments. COMMON SENSE.  We have a very incompetent administration in this city. Can not wait until Peyton is gone.

[finehoe]

I think the whole parking issue is a red herring.  As others have noted, there is plenty of parking downtown.  However, if the City committed to providing X number of dedicated spaces, then it should fullfill that commitment.

Just don't be surprised if after those spaces are provided, some other "shortcoming" is trotted out on why the Landing isn't a fully-leased success.

[avonjax]

And everyone should remember that although there are a lot of parking spaces near the Landing, people in Jacksonville perceive downtown as filled with crime, especially murder. If you read the comments on Jax.com you would probably laugh or be appalled how many people think that the murder rate DT is the worst in Florida.
finehoe, the fact is this issue is not about excuses, it's about what the city agreed with the Landing ownership, past and present. If we all have the attitude of "Just don't be surprised if after those spaces are provided, some other "shortcoming" is trotted out on why the Landing isn't a fully-leased success." then nothing will ever be accomplished in DT. Your view is exactly what many in this city share. It's kinda typical.  There is no way we can see if the Landing is successful or a failure in the future but if no effort is ever made then it's a total loss. Doing next to nothing is what's wrong with DT now, in my opinion.
I am sure that all the original tenants when the Landing opened in 87 invested in the project because of the promise of close, dedicated parking. They included for those new to Jax or don't remember:
Banana Republic
J. Riggins
Musicland (Or a similar large record store chain)
Victoria's Secret
The Limited
Sharper Image
Brookestone
Laura Ashley
The Gap
Lerner's New York
And several local chains.
and several others that are not immediately coming to mind.
This was our first Banana Republic, Sharper Image, Laura Ashley and Brookestone.

[thelakelander]

I find it funny how we play hard with the private sector for downtown development when the product we're offering them to risk their money in is basically a slug compared to what most peer cities are bringing to the table.  From my years of layout out shopping centers and sites for retail developers and chains, I have no doubt that the lack of dedicated parking issue is a real one.  

We can talk about red herrings and the need to teach people and retailers they need to learn urbanism, but at the end of the day, the urban environment we want them to invest is a dying shell of its once vibrant self.  While we talk, those national retailers and restaurants just flip the us the middle finger and take their business elsewhere.  DT Jax is not the only place to invest a buck in. After all, there are seven continents and thousands of cities you can take your money to.

Just don't be surprised if after those spaces are provided, some other "shortcoming" is trotted out on why the Landing isn't a fully-leased success.

Even in this case, the city would still be generating annual revenue by finally fulfilling their end of the parking obligation.  Playing hard ball and helping to keep your prime destination struggling with vacancies just makes your DT product a larger slug to market the outside world.

[finehoe]

Your view is exactly what many in this city share. It's kinda typical. 

It's also realistic and the result of years of seeing the same old same old.