Revised Riverside Park Development Renderings

[thelakelander]

Instead of security fencing like the Lincoln Plan, the buildings will serve as fencing and also shield the interior parking lot from view.

[thelakelander]

Dwell's representative said there wasn't much existing buildings left in the area to architecturally pull from, so they took a look at 220 Riverside's renderings, existing warehouses, and office buildings and decided to strive for something contemporary that breaks down the project's overall mass.

[thelakelander]

Chris Flagg leads off by telling Jason of Dwell Design, thank you. This looks like it's going to go a while but I have to leave. Max and an intern from the Jax Daily Record is here, so I'm sure they'll have a story about the retail center discussion tomorrow.

[thelakelander]

Pollack Shores' Orlando project was the Steel House apartment project.  We actually posted construction images of that project as an example of shielding a parking garage in the Parador garage discussion:

[JeffreyS]

Wow love to hear Dwell's kind of talk in Jacksonville comming from the design/development side. Kudos so far.

[thelakelander]

I hated that I could not stay there past 4pm.  The Brooklyn retail project presentation and discussion was the one I was most interested in hearing.  Listening to the guy from Dwell, it was clear that they get it.  I'd wish Fuqua would let them take a stab at the layout of their retail project next door as well.

[simms3]

This is an Atl architect, Atl developer, Atl landowner.

The adjoining retail is an Atl developer and landowner

220 Riverside is far more exciting to me for nearly any and every reason, but mostly because a Jacksonville developer is the lead and a Jacksonville design studio based out of East Bay St is the lead design firm (and I think they have some quality designs...checked out their website).  Excited for the day to come when Jacksonville developers run Jacksonville development (of course the capital backing will almost always come from elsewhere).  Would also be excited for local architecture studios, or even if we had enough work to lure a Studios branch office of some sort.

[vicupstate]

  My meter runs out at 3:49p, so I'm not sure if I'll be around to get the full discussion on the retail center.

Very Jacksonvillian comment.  WHEN is Jax going to get a clue on those meters.

[simms3]

^^^When are people going to realize that downtown is not held back by "the meter"?  LoL  Nobody would care as much about paying if they wanted to be there in the first place.

[tufsu1]

^ exactly!

[thelakelander]

There are several things that have held back downtown over the years.  However, I also don't think we can make a valid argument that the parking situation (ex. policy, enforcement, etc.) has been a positive contributor to the end user experience over the last few decades.

[thelakelander]

  My meter runs out at 3:49p, so I'm not sure if I'll be around to get the full discussion on the retail center.

Very Jacksonvillian comment.  WHEN is Jax going to get a clue on those meters.

Typically, since I strive to not pay for parking, I park near FSCJ or Kings Avenue and either ride the Skyway or walk into downtown.  However, I didn't have time to do that today.

[simms3]

I always get lucky DT I guess...have never been ticketed and I don't even feed the meter every time I park there.  I do know other cities where I have "never" gotten away with not paying and the tickets are much more expensive (and I'll never forget my $500 boot in Atlanta...current regulation restricts 1st day boots at $75 or $90...which I have also received in the lot next to me when my condo building garage was somehow full even despite me paying to be able to park there)...get your car towed in South Beach, SF, the Loop in Chicago, etc and while in Jax it could be $90 without a timetable in these places it could be $600 IF you can get to your car within 12 hours, LoL (going up from there).

Regardless...my current apt building offers $400/mo parking (hell naw not for me...I struggle for the rent alone, LoL) and my 1.2 million rentable SF office building doesn't even have parking (well except for a taxi queue and a string of town cars along a back alley, LoL)...my boss pays close to $600/mo for parking at his condo building, and $450/mo for very tight underground parking at a nearby office complex (that's enough parking to get you a luxury 3BR apt on the SS of Jax!).  Don't get me started on the hourly rates (I think we are the highest in the country now)...I've seen garages where they literally charge a blowjob for the first 15 minutes (JK, but they wish they could!).

Street parking violations are $68 in most of the city (that is IF you can find a spot...free and "relatively" abundant street parking is relegated to the southern edge of the city only), add $55 during street sweep hours, $1,876 for parking in handicap illegally, $100 if there is a clipper card check on Muni and you board without it, etc.  I'd say getting around and parking in Jax is a breeze!  I will say monthly transit rates here are much cheaper than monthly MARTA rates...and the system is better, too (except during rush hour...yea good luck even boarding the first two trains on your route)

There's just no reason *to* park downtown Jax, so I suppose I agree with you there that there's really no reason to charge to park then either...but what municipal govt isn't strapped and looking for a revenue source?

Jax has plenty of transplants who moved from more crowded, expensive areas...surely these people are not complaining about a having to pay to park or a $25 parking ticket if they risk not paying, LoL.  It has to be the locals who think it's the end of the world that you must pay for parking in an urban environment (don't worry, Atlantans are just as bad despite the much larger, more urban city, even San Franciscans complain because it's the only city in CA where you can go broke paying for parking or having a car...you can park in Beverly Hills for 2 hours for free!)

[thelakelander]

Most complain.  I don't think it's the cost that's the issue.  In the past it's been an enforcement issue but for me it's a why bother situation.  I can easily park for free four blocks out and walk or catch the skyway. In the grand scheme of things, what remains of the built fabric of DT takes up a small footprint.  Any other city, you'd walk a mile and not even notice it.  It's amazing how close free on-street parking on Laura Street, north of Union Street, is (time-wise) to Hemming Plaza.

With the change saved, I then take those quarters to places like Chamblins, Benny's sandwich shop, Chomp Chomp, etc. and spend it supporting them.  Just my personal preference but I'd rather my change go to helping someone keep their doors open.

[vicupstate]

^^^When are people going to realize that downtown is not held back by "the meter"?  LoL  Nobody would care as much about paying if they wanted to be there in the first place.

That might be the case in SF, but not Jax or most cities.  It is a chicken and egg situation.  Why pay to park if there is nothing there?  Take away that disincentive, and more people will start to consider it as an alternative destination. 

There is not nearly enough activity M-F to warrant the current parking meter/enforcement situation in DT Jax.


...you can park in Beverly Hills for 2 hours for free!)   

Kind of proves my point, doesn't it?