RiverTown Development Slowed by Recession

[Metro Jacksonville]

RiverTown Development Slowed by Recession



While the struggles of the urban core usually garner the most attention, a trip to Northern St. Johns County shows that the suburbs may have significant worries of their own.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-may-rivertown-development-slowed-by-recession

[Hurricane]

"Urban Sprawl".  I like the design, but more effort should be put into renovating currently developed areas and making the current school system better.  Simple fact is most families move to where the schools are better and you can't really blame them for doing that, because it is all about the children's future.  If we can find a way to make the current schools better, it will make it more attractive for families to move to the older areas of town.

[JC]

"Urban Sprawl".  I like the design, but more effort should be put into renovating currently developed areas and making the current school system better.  Simple fact is most families move to where the schools are better and you can't really blame them for doing that, because it is all about the children's future.  If we can find a way to make the current schools better, it will make it more attractive for families to move to the older areas of town.

What you are describing is collective inaction on the part of parents and a dependency on government to provide good schools for kids, put short, they are taking the easy way out.   

[buckethead]

"Urban Sprawl".  I like the design, but more effort should be put into renovating currently developed areas and making the current school system better.  Simple fact is most families move to where the schools are better and you can't really blame them for doing that, because it is all about the children's future.  If we can find a way to make the current schools better, it will make it more attractive for families to move to the older areas of town.

What you are describing is collective inaction on the part of parents and a dependency on government to provide good schools for kids, put short, they are taking the easy way out.   

Are you (and your family) a home schooling family?

[fsujax]

lovely. well, at least the brickpavers and landscaping look nice.

[Miss Fixit]

Another failed effort at TND.  This development had potential to be an improvement over most of what's been done in St. John's County - narrow lots, front porches close to sidewalks, detached garage with granny flats, and decent architectural design and control - but came on the market at the worst possible time.  Probably some great bargains out there now if you don't mind having the community to yourself.  Watch out for CDD fees....

[fieldafm]

Wow, what a timely article. 

A few weeks ago I went on vacation to Destin.  I spent a day walking around Seaside and Watercolor b/c I was interested in these planned cities/communities.  Watercolor as you may or may not know is also a St Joe's development.  I took a lot of pictures of Watercolor, talked to a few homeowners, talked to a few realtors and talked to a few of the hotel employees about the town.

I went to Orlando on Sunday and out of curiosity made a quick detour to Rivertown.  I wondered if the same company truly did plan these two communities!

[TheProfessor]

LRK did a lot of the architecture work there.  They are out of business in Jax now.

[reednavy]

Lol, and they cleared all that land and ruined a sizeable section of a Scenic Route, only to fail. Serves them right on this development.

[TheProfessor]

Don't blame the architect. Blame the developer, St. Joe.  They are leaving Jax too.

[reednavy]

Don't blame the architect. Blame the developer, St. Joe.  They are leaving Jax too.

I was talking in general, everyone involved with RiverTown.

[St. Auggie]

I would imagine Watercolor would look about the same if it had started at the same time. 

[JC]

"Urban Sprawl".  I like the design, but more effort should be put into renovating currently developed areas and making the current school system better.  Simple fact is most families move to where the schools are better and you can't really blame them for doing that, because it is all about the children's future.  If we can find a way to make the current schools better, it will make it more attractive for families to move to the older areas of town.

What you are describing is collective inaction on the part of parents and a dependency on government to provide good schools for kids, put short, they are taking the easy way out.   

Are you (and your family) a home schooling family?

Yes, we are.  Was I that easy to read?

[tufsu1]

LRK did a lot of the architecture work there.  They are out of business in Jax now.

LRK is out of Memphis...they opened a Jax. office primarily because of the work they were doing for St. Joe

[finehoe]

Lol, and they cleared all that land and ruined a sizeable section of a Scenic Route, only to fail. Serves them right on this development.

Too bad we all suffer for their despoilation of the environment.