Via the Daily Record! Latitude 30 downtown? Letter of Intent Signed!

[Gators312]

I think most of the customers will come from the urban neighborhoods surrounding downtown.  It will be much more convenient than going down to the Avenues.

This was my first thought about the project.  Plus the brand awareness will help with those people, rather than some brand new entrant into the market.

[CityLife]

I think most of the customers will come from the urban neighborhoods surrounding downtown.  It will be much more convenient than going down to the Avenues.

This was my first thought about the project.  Plus the brand awareness will help with those people, rather than some brand new entrant into the market.

I agree to an extent, but I also think this type of project that will draw in more people from around the city to DT. I think a lot of people in town don't even realize how quickly you can travel to stuff along the I-95 corridor. For instance, its only a 15 minute drive (with no traffic) from the Library to the Latitude 30 on Phillips. With the ability to go to The Riverwalk, dining options, Florida Theater, Museums, Friendship Fountain, Landing, events, etc, I think a lot of people would make nights out of going DT to go bowling and/or dining out there. Even people who live much closer to the Phillips location.

I go to Seminole Booster functions at Latitude 30 from time to time and its nice and a fun time, but the ability to pop in and out and go to other events, restaurants, bars, etc, is simply something the Phillips location can't offer that DT can.

[Tacachale]

I think most of the customers will come from the urban neighborhoods surrounding downtown.  It will be much more convenient than going down to the Avenues.

This was my first thought about the project.  Plus the brand awareness will help with those people, rather than some brand new entrant into the market.

I agree to an extent, but I also think this type of project that will draw in more people from around the city to DT. I think a lot of people in town don't even realize how quickly you can travel to stuff along the I-95 corridor. For instance, its only a 15 minute drive (with no traffic) from the Library to the Latitude 30 on Phillips. With the ability to go to The Riverwalk, dining options, Florida Theater, Museums, Friendship Fountain, Landing, events, etc, I think a lot of people would make nights out of going DT to go bowling and/or dining out there. Even people who live much closer to the Phillips location.

I go to Seminole Booster functions at Latitude 30 from time to time and its nice and a fun time, but the ability to pop in and out and go to other events, restaurants, bars, etc, is simply something the Phillips location can't offer that DT can.

You're definitely onto something there. The only time I've been to Latitude 30 was for a gathering of one of my old college classes. We had a really good time, but afterward we couldn't find much suitable to our tastes for dinner and drinks nearby, and it's a good 15-20 minute drive to really any other part of town. As those of us who still live in Jax all lived in the urban core, we ended up heading to Riverside. I haven't been back due to a combination of distance and lack of anything else nearby that would make it worth the trouble. But I'd absolutely have other events like that at a downtown location.

[jcjohnpaint]

I really think that the parking will not be an issue at all.  I always find parking dt pretty quick (especially in and around that area).  True, so much more to eat in the area.  I also think that most people (in town) don't venture out for this kind of stuff, so the there is a lot of pent up demand. 

[KEGreene1]

1st Mellow passes then I hear Latitude 30 looking to open location/Corp HQ downtown (great idea, help keep people downtown after work - maybe the old firestation could be next?) and then just heard FreshMarket looking to build across from the Haskell building http://bit.ly/QrR2WO  Things are looking up!!!

[copperfiend]

I've been to Latitude 30 a few times and have never been disappointed. We had a corporate outing there last winter and we were very happy with the food and service we received. We are going back. I mentioned the possibility of a downtown location to some people in the office and they were all pretty upbeat about it. For the most part, everybody wants to go downtown. They just need more reasons to do so.

[JaxJag]

Any news on this?

[duvaldude08]

They have 90 days to do their "due diligence"  before they actually committ to anything. Like making sure the build out is fesiable, etc etc etc, I havent heard of any major concerns about the building so I dont see anything major coming up. I think someone posted  on here earlier about the elevators needing some work and a new AC system needing to be installed.

[ben says]

I think someone posted  on here earlier about the elevators needing some work and a new AC system needing to be installed.

That was Ron. I think the post is a few pages back.

[Bill Hoff]

Any news on this?

They're in the process of figuring out the financial gymnastics.

[thelakelander]

Here is an update:

There’s no word yet on whether Latitude Global will take over the old downtown library. Although the news broke in September that the company behind the Latitude 30 entertainment complex had signed a letter of intent for the entire building, the 90-day letter didn’t go into effect until Nov. 1. So Latitude Global has until Feb. 1 to decide if the dollars and cents add up.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/472000/roger-bull/2012-12-28/entertainment-complex-downtown-library-still-not-settled

[tufsu1]

from people I've talked with at Latitude 30, the old library is very much in play....they've even been doing some design/layout work

[urbanlibertarian]

from people I've talked with at Latitude 30, the old library is very much in play....they've even been doing some design/layout work

Excellent!

[FSBA]

from people I've talked with at Latitude 30, the old library is very much in play....they've even been doing some design/layout work

All but assuring the city will find some way to screw this deal up

[duvaldude08]

Well the city has been working with them directly behind the scenes to make sure it gets done. I think it will be fine.