220 Riverside Coming To Brooklyn

[Bativac]

Thank goodness.  This project will bring some much needed life and hopefully momentum to the Brooklyn area.  Last week I saw three developer type gentlemen walking around the Brooklyn Park site and eyeing the surroundings.  They kept pointing towards the river and what looked like the YMCA.  Not sure what they were doing, but any activity over there is good news.

Not to hijack the thread, but wtf is going on with the YMCA? Talk to five different people you'll get five different stories or theories on if they're selling, staying, tearing it down, leaving it, etc.

My wife works for the YMCA (not at that location) and says the word from the higher-ups is they plan to build a bigger more updated facility on the same site, closer to the river, and tear down the current one. Not sure what the timetable is other than "soon."

[vicupstate]

Thank goodness.  This project will bring some much needed life and hopefully momentum to the Brooklyn area.  Last week I saw three developer type gentlemen walking around the Brooklyn Park site and eyeing the surroundings.  They kept pointing towards the river and what looked like the YMCA.  Not sure what they were doing, but any activity over there is good news.

Not to hijack the thread, but wtf is going on with the YMCA? Talk to five different people you'll get five different stories or theories on if they're selling, staying, tearing it down, leaving it, etc.

My wife works for the YMCA (not at that location) and says the word from the higher-ups is they plan to build a bigger more updated facility on the same site, closer to the river, and tear down the current one. Not sure what the timetable is other than "soon."

If true, then that would be a big waste of that site.  They should sell the entire thing and built nearby but land-ward.  That site is perfect for a high-density mixed use project, which the Y could be a PART of, but not the sole user.  I hope the mayor or  someone can convince then to change there mind.

[duvaldude08]

Thank goodness.  This project will bring some much needed life and hopefully momentum to the Brooklyn area.  Last week I saw three developer type gentlemen walking around the Brooklyn Park site and eyeing the surroundings.  They kept pointing towards the river and what looked like the YMCA.  Not sure what they were doing, but any activity over there is good news.

Not to hijack the thread, but wtf is going on with the YMCA? Talk to five different people you'll get five different stories or theories on if they're selling, staying, tearing it down, leaving it, etc.

My wife works for the YMCA (not at that location) and says the word from the higher-ups is they plan to build a bigger more updated facility on the same site, closer to the river, and tear down the current one. Not sure what the timetable is other than "soon."

If true, then that would be a big waste of that site.  They should sell the entire thing and built nearby but land-ward.  That site is perfect for a high-density mixed use project, which the Y could be a PART of, but not the sole user.  I hope the mayor or  someone can convince then to change there mind.

The Mayor has already told them no about building closer to the river.

[CityLife]

Agreed Vic. The Y should find a partner to do residential or office on the site and then occupy the top floor or two. Imagine the view of the St. Johns and Downtown from a 10 story+ Y. The residential or office use wouldn't even need to build a gym, pool, or spa either. They could just work out an agreement with the Y for its residents.

[ben says]

Agreed Vic. The Y should find a partner to do residential or office on the site and then occupy the top floor or two. Imagine the view of the St. Johns and Downtown from a 10 story+ Y. The residential or office use wouldn't even need to build a gym, pool, or spa either. They could just work out an agreement with the Y for its residents.

Let's cross our fingers

[Captain Zissou]

Why do the YMCA and Schoolboard think they deserve to build on the river?  That is one of our most valuable and limited resources, so we should get the maximum use out of it that we can.  It would also greatly benefit their profitability to sell their riverfront property and move elsewhere.  The city should offer to help them in their relocation process in order to get some tax paying owners on these two parcels.

[WmNussbaum]

Well, the YMCA is a private non-profit, and owns the land from the river to the street, and that might explain why it thinks it is entitled to build on the river. The School Board probably figured that if the jail, and the courthouse and City Hall could be on the river, it could be too. In hindsight that all seems so stupid, but when it was going on, I wonder if it was; after all, back then there were no high rise condos being built around here.

With the Shipyards [not a] Project and the old courthouse, and the S.side Generating Station land available for riverfront use, there is plenty this City could get done if only someone with money and a viable plan or two showed up. So the School Board might as well stay where it is for awhile.

What I would like to see off the riverfront is our beloved Times-Union, with all of its rusty trucks and newspaper racks uglying up the scene and covering the outflow of McCoys Creek. (Oops, on second thought, that might not be such a bad state of affairs considering the condition of that creek.) That T-U site sure ain't much to look at from the Riverwalk.

[JUGrad]

Why do the YMCA and Schoolboard think they deserve to build on the river?  That is one of our most valuable and limited resources, so we should get the maximum use out of it that we can.  It would also greatly benefit their profitability to sell their riverfront property and move elsewhere.  The city should offer to help them in their relocation process in order to get some tax paying owners on these two parcels.

I agree, but it's not like there's anything happening on the riverfront property that is and has been already available... (Old JEA plant, Shipyards, etc....)

[duvaldude08]

Why do the YMCA and Schoolboard think they deserve to build on the river?  That is one of our most valuable and limited resources, so we should get the maximum use out of it that we can.  It would also greatly benefit their profitability to sell their riverfront property and move elsewhere.  The city should offer to help them in their relocation process in order to get some tax paying owners on these two parcels.

I agree, but it's not like there's anything happening on the riverfront property that is and has been already available... (Old JEA plant, Shipyards, etc....)

But it also would be senseless to give up riverfront property for a bigger gym. It may be un-used, but riverfront property is considered prime real estate.

[Yossarianlives]

Why do the YMCA and Schoolboard think they deserve to build on the river?  That is one of our most valuable and limited resources, so we should get the maximum use out of it that we can.  It would also greatly benefit their profitability to sell their riverfront property and move elsewhere.  The city should offer to help them in their relocation process in order to get some tax paying owners on these two parcels.

I don't know about the YMCA, but the school board set up shop down on the river because it was cheap at the time.  The neighborhood was a dump and the property was affordable as a result.  I like your idea of giving them money to move so the land could be developed.  Maybe on the other side of the rive near the new courthouse to help develop over there.

[Tacachale]

^Yes, the School Board built there at a time when that property was not particularly valuable. The riverfront in general was a much different place when they bought it. FWIW they've been trying to move and sell the property, but the market has made it more difficult. They dragged their feet a few years ago when they could have sold it for a nice bit of money.

[vicupstate]

It may be un-used, but riverfront property is considered prime real estate.

All the more reason it should be put to it's highest use, which is not a 1-2 story single use building.  They are sitting on assets that they are not deploying.   They should liquidate it or partner with someone that will pay them for this prime location and include them in their plans.

[mtraininjax]

Anyone know any resources at WTLV-12/25? They believe this area is called Riverside. I have the Fox/CBS 30/47 people on speed dial, but someone needs to educate the masses at 12/25 on where Brooklyn is and Riverside begins/ends.