Suburban Infill: Tapestry Park

[thelakelander]

The point I'm trying to make is that all of the communities I mentioned above, including the city of Fort Worth, don't add up to the areas that make Jacksonville.  It works there because everything is split into it's own entity.  We see development on the Southside here and scream about Jax having it's priorities wrong, but would you more than likely wouldn't feel that way if it was the Township of Southside, and downtown probably wouldn't be in the state it's in now if that area was known simply as Jacksonville.  In fact, it might generate some jealousy and competition, but what do I know.

Interesting observation and good point.  It would most likely be viewed in the same light as Downtown Norfolk and Virginia Beach's Town Center area.  A little jealousy and competition from both to be the dominate urban focal point in the same metro area.  However, the difference is they both are major focal points of their respective municipal governments.  On the other hand we have one entity overseeing both areas.  When that entity does not have the vision or a good idea of how to get from Point A to Point B, both areas fail to reach their ultimate potential.

[Canon]

If all these other areas are so great and get it right then why are you living here??? What I hate is people here are screaming about things to which they know little about outside the fact they can’t walk place to place. First this is a free market, it’s not your money so it really doesn’t matter what you think about the viability of a project. Secondly, I think the architecture is far better than most projects currently seen in the area. Finally, if you don’t like the project, don’t live there or patronage the shops. As far as Downtown is concerned, I wish there where better restaurants and bars. I work Downtown and, trust me the residential dwellings are becoming better and more prevalent. But understand that you have a core that is bisected by a river that is both a benefit and hindrance. Jacksonville is spread out so it will take time for things to reach critical mass in different parts of the city like they have on the Gate Parkway area.

[Duke]

If all these other areas are so great and get it right then why are you living here??? What I hate is people here are screaming about things to which they know little about outside the fact they can’t walk place to place. First this is a free market, it’s not your money so it really doesn’t matter what you think about the viability of a project. Secondly, I think the architecture is far better than most projects currently seen in the area. Finally, if you don’t like the project, don’t live there or patronage the shops. As far as Downtown is concerned, I wish there where better restaurants and bars. I work Downtown and, trust me the residential dwellings are becoming better and more prevalent. But understand that you have a core that is bisected by a river that is both a benefit and hindrance. Jacksonville is spread out so it will take time for things to reach critical mass in different parts of the city like they have on the Gate Parkway area.

AMEN TO THAT!

[thelakelander]

If all these other areas are so great and get it right then why are you living here???

Good question, Canon.  Being a concerned resident of this community, I have a passion to want to see our community improve and take advantage of the potential that it has.  With that said, I feel its better to use my education in a manner that exposes our short comings and potential ways to overcome them, instead of accepting things as status quo.

What I hate is people here are screaming about things to which they know little about outside the fact they can't walk place to place.  First this is a free market, it's not your money so it really doesn't matter what you think about the viability of a project.

Correct, the great thing about living in America is that we all have our opinions and are free to discuss them.  Its also good to have options.  One man's trash is another one's treasure.  However, from a public planning standpoint, we have a major say in pushing for the local region to develop in a manner that builds upon its quality of life, as opposed to straining it.

Secondly, I think the architecture is far better than most projects currently seen in the area. Finally, if you don't like the project, don't live there or patronage the shops.

I can't speak for the others in this thread (and for all I know, you may not be even talking to my responses), but I do believe the architecture is better than most projects in the area, as well.  I won't live there, but I'll probably visit the Village Tavern for a meal, since I live currently live in the area.

As far as Downtown is concerned, I wish there where better restaurants and bars. I work Downtown and, trust me the residential dwellings are becoming better and more prevalent. But understand that you have a core that is bisected by a river that is both a benefit and hindrance. Jacksonville is spread out so it will take time for things to reach critical mass in different parts of the city like they have on the Gate Parkway area.

Sounds like an excuse to me.  Nearly every major metropolitan region could say something similar about their natural landscape.  Nothing is new under the sun.  There's good and bad examples out there that we can tap into to make our efforts for greatness easier to achieve.  If we let the free market have a little more say, I think Downtown will boom just as much as the Gate Parkway area.

[second_pancake]

Well said, Lake.  I'm glad you responded before I did.  I have a tendancy to get hot-headed and I don't think anyone would have understood all the special character inserts

[tufsu1]

I still question the ultimate decision of building 40,000 square feet of retail (roughly the size of a typical Publix store) on a side street with limited visibility and access.  370 residents and office workers at Merrill Lynch can't support that much retail square footage.  The hotel will help, but other than a destination restaurant or two, in key locations (where signage can be still seen from Southside) most of the retail space at Tapestry will end up being service oriented type businesses (Day Spas, Salons, real estate offices, etc.) that don't have to rely as much on direct access and visibility.  

6,000 employees at BC/BS should be more than enough support

[thelakelander]

Sure, if they were all forced to shop and eat there as opposed to the Town Center, Markets at Town Center or Tinseltown, all of which are just as easy to get to and offer a lot more.  Downtown has 60,000, but still can't pull in a McDonalds, CVS or Walgreens.  The restaurant should be able to pull in hotel guests and a few Merrill Lynch employees, but lets not forget that these major corporations also have their own in-house food services.  I'm a realist, however I do wish them the best, because it beats the typical stuff lining the corridor.

[thelakelander]

Btw, don't get me wrong.  I'm not saying that the retail space will sit empty.  However, what I am saying is that certain physical features (indirect access, visibility, no stoplight, etc.) in the plan set it up to be the type of space that will most likely draw service oriented retail (there's nothing negative about this).  There is precedence in the area.  Two similar type situations that come to mind are Lantern Square at Kendall Pointe and the interior courtyard shops in the Publix anchored Deerwood shopping center on the corner of Baymeadows and Southside.

[jenthom0225]

I'm pretty new to the Jacksonville/Southside area and I LOVE have all of the mixed use opportunities available.  I'm going to explore moving into Tapestry Park as soon as my lease expires in 3 months.  Where else in Jacksonville can you walk to great restaurants and the movies?  The Town Center is two traffic lights away and I can be in downtown Jacksonville or the beach in 20 minutes.  Bring on all the new stores and cool places to eat, drink and shop!

[copperfiend]

Not sure if this has been brought up but I drove by Tapestry Park this morning and it appears they are adding a direct entrance from Southside Blvd. This should be great news for the development and it tenants.

[Steve]

Where else in Jacksonville can you walk to great restaurants and the movies?

Riverside and San Marco.

[fieldafm]

I've worked in this area for the past 8 years.  I drive past Tapestry Park constantly, but have never been in the development.  I stopped by to pick up a quick sandwich from Jimmy Johns and drove through the development.  It's not for me, but the concept and execution really suprised me.  For what it is, Tapestry is a very well executed multi-use development.