The Jaxson
Community => History => Topic started by: Metro Jacksonville on June 04, 2010, 04:13:25 AM
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Inside the Barnett Bank and Laura Trio
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/888997261_8byPK-M.jpg)
Metro Jacksonville takes a look inside a historic collection of buildings in the heart of downtown: The Barnett National Bank and Laura Trio buildings.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jun-inside-the-barnett-bank-and-laura-trio
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omg...the architecture is soooo amazing
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Looks like Barnett has been completely cleaned out since I was given a tour a couple years ago. Most of the original doors, walls, radiators, etc were still in place. It was hard for me to imagine working in a building like that without A/C!
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Wow. what great pictures. So much potential for this to be a landmark project.
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The Marble Bank is fascinating. I would kill to see it in its hey-day.
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These pictures are spectacular, especially the ones of the Florida Life taken from inside the Barnett. Even more spectacular is imaginging them restored.
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this is awesome guys....great job!
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Now, if these projects can just take off as planned....I worked on the Laura Trio back in 2006, I think, while at KBJ. Could have been a great project, up there with The Carling. Hopefully the City will help to keep these projects moving forward.
Great photo spread as always guys.
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The gold elvator door in the Barnett is spectacular. I hope they plan on restoring that. I am guessing it was once polished brass. Also, the circular staircase in the Bisbee is very interesting. I can't wait to see these building restored.
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Stephen,
Are they planning to keep the digital sign at the top of the barnett building? That wouuld be neat!
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Back in the day, the Barnett Building was knee deep in brass... at least the lower floor was. From the pictures, the building looks to be in pretty good shape.
The Marble Bank Building is as solid as they come. Contrast that with the Bisbee Building that looks criminally in disrepair.
Great pictures guys!
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Potential, potential, potential...
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This is going to be exciting for the city!
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I think something modern and techy would be nice if its fesiable. That would REALLY help it stand out. If not the original analog would be ok. I believe there were some photos in another thread showing the restorations so far.
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Wonderful photos, guys!
I am always amazed that our society so often lets beautiful old buildings like these just fall into disrepair and deteriorate, and all too often, be torn down. These are priceless pieces of our history and heritage, yet not enough people see their value. Really sad. But I am encouraged that someone may save this particular piece of the past. I really hope this comes to fruition.
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Stephen,
Are they planning to keep the digital sign at the top of the barnett building? That wouuld be neat!
This was actually the subject of a very long conversation with Steve and Woody.
They are planning on using that sign in some way.
The sign is actually a set of visual barriers that blocks view of the machinery on top of the roof.
It was a little odd to see the sign close up---I grew up seeing that sign and being able to use it to tell time--and in my memory of it, it was a digital sign that flashed the hour.
Up close its not a digital sign at all, Its an analog sign and the digital dots are floodlight bulbs. Its a simple sign to fix and wouldnt cost but a few hundred dollars to update the wiring and replace the bulbs.
Steve said they were going to repurpose the sign for display, and made some pretty awesome speculations about digital video displays being possible because of the falling price of the technology.
Woody, the guy who actually does the building winked and told us that might be phase two.
Whatever the final outcome, they do plan to do something with it.
What do you guys think? Restore it in all of its vaguely neanderthal level tech glory or something modern and techy?
To me, the clock was iconic. It's something my eyes were always drawn to when I was either in downtown or driving down I-95. Two years ago I was in Boston and they have that weather beacon thing on top of one of their buildings(Prudential Building maybe?) that's color coded to let you know if you're going to have snow tomorrow, etc. Standing there in a city that is quite the opposite of Jacksonville, I suddenly felt a connection to my hometown that I hadn't experienced in my 5 days in Boston. It was quite comforting.
Its obviously not my money to play with... but just for the point of discussion the location of the clock is too high up for something like the streaming video screens in Times Square.
How about:
(http://www.screens.ru/pictures/issue2007/6/pic2.jpg)
(http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/409941/1974710/0/1141800585/LED_Video_Wall_For_Building_LED_Dispplay_For_Building.jpg)
(http://www.resurgencecity.org/Blogpix/NADevSgn.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/v/7pA5RESEaOQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1
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I wonder how much the city's sign ordinance will be a hinderence to these plans?
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I say update the sign using LED's....let it flash the time and temperature like it did when I was growing up.
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take a look at the Philly spread from yesterday for one idea on what to do with the Barnett clock....the TECO building has had a constant scroll across the top for years....tells date, time, and interesting public events....right now it probably says "LETS GO FLYERS"
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I hope this goes through. Please don't let this fail.
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Wonderful photos, guys!
I am always amazed that our society so often lets beautiful old buildings like these just fall into disrepair and deteriorate, and all too often, be torn down. These are priceless pieces of our history and heritage, yet not enough people see their value. Really sad. But I am encouraged that someone may save this particular piece of the past. I really hope this comes to fruition.
It's amazing how fast it happens too. It's not all that long ago that the Marble Bank was freshly renovated and the Trio buildings were occupied.
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Oh, those views of downtown!!! What I wouldn't give to be up there with my own camera.
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Isn't the old clock pretty much blocked from view from most skyline viewpoints?
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Isn't the old clock pretty much blocked from view from most skyline viewpoints?
Yes, unless you're in the arc from NW to NE of downtown, you can't see it.
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Wow...they have a lot, I mean a LOT of work to do. I hope this project comes to fruition and takes off. Kuhn really stripped everything clean...it appears he wasn't playing until the economy crashed and the money spigot got turned off. I remember when I was a teen, just finished High School and had joined the Navy and was stationed at Cecil, I used to go into the old Barnett Building; it was high classed, gold trim, nice carpeting and of course with that bank/money smell; what a difference 35 or so years make! I used to also go into the Marble Bank and it was a beautiful building inside. They have their work cut out for them...good luck and my blessings to the money players on this project.
"HU"
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I know it isn't in the current plans, but how about adding a rooftop restaurant? It looks as though it could facilitate one and with Jacksonville's beautiful weather I think it would be a can't miss hit. When I lived in Baton Rouge this rooftop place on top of the shaw center called Tsunami stayed jam packed.
http://www.shawcenter.org/
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It would help our skyline the most if BOA could get it's lights fixed instead of being a version of the CIA's black helicopters at night.
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It would help our skyline the most if BOA could get it's lights fixed instead of being a version of the CIA's black helicopters at night.
I agree.
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They have their work cut out for them...good luck and my blessings to the money players on this project.
The money players are going to be taxpayers
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Wonderful photos, guys!
I am always amazed that our society so often lets beautiful old buildings like these just fall into disrepair and deteriorate, and all too often, be torn down. These are priceless pieces of our history and heritage, yet not enough people see their value. Really sad. But I am encouraged that someone may save this particular piece of the past. I really hope this comes to fruition.
It's amazing how fast it happens too. It's not all that long ago that the Marble Bank was freshly renovated and the Trio buildings were occupied.
My reaction, too. It would be interesting to see photographs taken shortly before the buildings became unoccupied. Does anyone know who/what were the final occupants of the Bisbee and Florida Life buildings, and how long they've been vacant? HK sure could design a beautiful staircase....
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I don't know about the Bisbee and Florida Life Buildings but I believe the Barnett was at least partially occupied into the early 2000s.
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At one point in the 80s the Bisbee, Florida Life, and Marble Bank were all occupied by Jacksonville National Bank, which then became part of NCNB. I believe NCNB occupied them all at least into the early 90s, because my first trip to Jacksonville was in '92 and I got a historical walking tour brochure that mentions NCNB as the tenant.
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I don't know about the Bisbee and Florida Life Buildings but I believe the Barnett was at least partially occupied into the early 2000s.
That's correct Lake. Barnett was occupied up until around the turn of the century. I had several friends that worked in the building from 96-00ish and I remember visiting them at lunch. Most of Nation's employees found their way out to the Phillips Highway location next to the Avenues Mall(which has since been expanded)
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^^^Boneheaded, yes, but it does make for a cool photo!
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Wow, I thought that was looking down an elevator shaft or something. What a strange decision.
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That hole is an easy fix. The debris had to go somewhere. The new windows are nice. And they are getting these
buildings unbelievably cheap. The saddest part is why did anyone ever destroy the beautiful carved concrete
decorations at the top of the "skinny" one. What a shame.
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Are there plans to close the new windows Kuhn put in anytime soon? Is there some reason for not closing them in the first place? Are they trying to age these suckers or what? Is there any evidence of anyone living there now or recently who shouldn't be?
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Looks like despite the neglect, there buildings still have a lot of potential to shine! Does any one know if these buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, or if the developer plans to take advantage of the 20% federal preservation tax credit to fix them up?
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Looks like despite the neglect, there buildings still have a lot of potential to shine! Does any one know if these buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, or if the developer plans to take advantage of the 20% federal preservation tax credit to fix them up?
They are certified. All four of them.
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Looks like despite the neglect, there buildings still have a lot of potential to shine! Does any one know if these buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, or if the developer plans to take advantage of the 20% federal preservation tax credit to fix them up?
They are certified. All four of them.
That's great!
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That hole is an easy fix. The debris had to go somewhere. The new windows are nice. And they are getting these
buildings unbelievably cheap. The saddest part is why did anyone ever destroy the beautiful carved concrete
decorations at the top of the "skinny" one. What a shame.
Yes, the cornices on the Bisbee building were spectacular until outright neglect allowed them to start dropping pieces onto the sidewalk. They were taken down by, I believe, the group that owned it prior to the firefighters' pension group (German co?). It seems like there could have been a way to take them down in several pieces and saved for future restoration, but I don't think they had that kind of foresight. There have been previous threads about this in particular.
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After the news broke about this, everything's been pretty quiet. Has anyone heard any recent news?
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wow, for some reason looking at these great photos is like looking at the titanic. The detail in the staircases and railings. You simply cannot recreate that!
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This project will be up for DDRB review this Thursday.
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This project will be up for DDRB review this Thursday.
Not to sound dumb, but what is the DDRB?
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This project will be up for DDRB review this Thursday.
Not to sound dumb, but what is the DDRB?
Downtown Development Review Board
Will anyone from here be attending? I'm available and will plan to be there; I intend to move into the Florida Life building when it opens.
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This project will be up for DDRB review this Thursday.
Not to sound dumb, but what is the DDRB?
Downtown Development Review Board
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Jacksonville+Economic+Development+Commission/Downtown+Development/DDRB+Meeting+Information.htm
The JEDC and its Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB) are responsible for reviewing and approving projects for compliance with the Downtown Master Plan and the Downtown Zoning Overlay. The DDRB process is two-tiered with a conceptual and final design review process.
To provide flexible land use and design guidance for new and rehabilitation projects in the downtown area, the Jacksonville City Council adopted the Downtown Master Plan - Ordinance 2000-321-E on May 9, 2000; the Downtown Sign Overlay - Ordinance 2002-446-E on June 26, 2002; the Downtown Zoning Overlay - Ordinance 2003-627-E on June 30, 2003; - both of which were amended by Ordinance 2007-564-E on June 26, 2007.
All projects located within the jurisdiction of the DDRB are subject to these Ordinances.
Meeting Times and Staff Contacts
The DDRB meets at 2 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month in the Police & Fire Pension Building, 1 West Adams St., Suite 200. Contact Jim Klement, Redevelopment Coordinator, at (904) 630-2689 or at jklement@coj.net to confirm meeting dates and times, questions, or placement on the agenda.
Members
Chair - Jonathan R. Garza, Garza Constructors, Inc. - Contractor/Developer/ Realtor Representative
Vice-Chair - Andy Sikes, Baptist Health - Urban Planner Representative
Secretary - Timothy Miller, Ervin Lovett and Miller - Downtown Property Owner Representative
James F. Bailey, Jr., Bailey Publishing and Communications, Inc. - Downtown Property Owner Representative
Christopher D. Flagg RLA, ASLA, Flagg Design Studio, LLC - Landscape Architect Representative
Logan Rink, Design Cooperative, LLC - Downtown Property Owner Representative
Montasser M. Selim, Reynolds, Smith & Hill (RS&H) - Urban Planner Representative
Roland Udenze, Haskell Architects and Engineers - Architect Representative
Rose Zurawski, Stegenga & Partners, PC - Architect Representative
Thanks Stephen
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Compare this picture to the present state of the Barnett Bank building.... sad
(http://vintagejacksonville.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/000562Watermarked.jpg)
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^Wow, that's impresssive.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/888995436_5UrcJ-M.jpg)
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Has there been any discussion about possibly restoring the cornices by developers, either past or present?
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Has there been any discussion about possibly restoring the cornices by developers, either past or present?
Yes, this was brought up as part of the original version of the Trio restoration plan in 2010. I think Wayne Wood still has the plaster molds of the cornices from Klutho so they can be restored if a developer so desires?
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Here are some shots that I took when I was in a few years ago. Would love to get back in there and fire off a few more.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ziontrainphotography/sets/72157626860801353/
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Does anyone know when construction / restoration is supposed to begin? I haven't seen any activity since 1 Spark :/
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Does anyone know when construction / restoration is supposed to begin? I haven't seen any activity since 1 Spark :/
If Im not mistaken, they have already started restoration, etc in the Barnett Building.
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So can we cross this one off the list? As in not happening.
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As I've said before, aside from the renovations they did for One Spark and the pretty lights at night, I haven't seen any activity. The buildings are right next to mine and are just as empty as before... The only thing I can think of is there's some sort of legal issue they've run into. The Barnett was supposed to be completed by Summer 2015, but there's no way that's going to happen. I'd be surprised if it was even complete next year. Hopefully it's nothing too serious though... these projects are desperately needed to fill in that section of downtown.
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I don't know. Perhaps they are waiting for the whole DIA thing to get approved so they can get some funds from them? Or just another example of the local guys just can't make things work on a bigger scale.
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Uh-oh.....
I may be reading a little too much into it, but if
There should be an announcement by...
is anything like
...is going to be announced shortly....
Then we might start seeing something around 2025. ;)
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I think there might be a few other downtown announcements before then...perhaps starting this Sunday
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I don't want any City money going to the Landing unless Tony Sleiman has an approved plan and can pay for it. I disagree with the Chamber in that the Landing is the most important thing we need to do downtown.
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I think there might be a few other downtown announcements before then...perhaps starting this Sunday
Like the new Downtown docking zone map that was announced at the 8/13/14 Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting? I know Scott Wilson and Don Redman are excited. Rumor has it.
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I was thinking about a few bigger items, but sure...add it to the list
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I don't want any City money going to the Landing unless Tony Sleiman has an approved plan and can pay for it. I disagree with the Chamber in that the Landing is the most important thing we need to do downtown.
Agree.
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I think there might be a few other downtown announcements before then...perhaps starting this Sunday
What, no Jimmy Johns because metro Jax posters are appalled at the mr jimmy? Two steps forward, three steps back. Damn
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Uh-oh.....
I may be reading a little too much into it, but if
There should be an announcement by...
is anything like
...is going to be announced shortly....
Then we might start seeing something around 2025. ;)
+1000. Funny stuff.
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No Jimmy Johns WAS the announcement. Or maybe an old folks home for Springfield! Blue hairs in the hizzle!