Six properties the DIA wants to return to the tax rolls

[Metro Jacksonville]

Six properties the DIA wants to return to the tax rolls



The City of Jacksonville may be its own worst enemy when it comes to urban revitalization and redevelopment. A major land owner, a significant portion of its properties are a blight on their surroundings. Although it serves as the city's development arm for the downtown district, the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) has no control over what happens or doesn't happen with most of these properties. However, what the DIA does control, it plans to move forward in returning to the tax rolls. Here's six downtown properties the DIA plans to attempt to dispose of over the next few months.

Read More: https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2018-jan-six-properties-the-dia-wants-to-return-to-the-tax-rolls

[remc86007]

Maybe we should put these properties to good use while the city owns them. Next city council meeting under the awning of the Sax Seafood Grill & Bar?

[marcuscnelson]

So let's (amateurly) break it down:

324 NORTH BROAD STREET

The building's pretty small, but it has a nice small outdoor space behind it. In the right hands, it could be a great bar or small restaurant type space, although I question if you'd want residential or anything of that sort above it. The condition could be a problem, though.

SAX SEAFOOD BAR & GRILL

How the city managed to let this kind of disaster even happen, let alone before the recession, I have no idea. It doesn't help that the location seems a little distant from the Sports Complex. But in the right hands, it seems reasonable to just actually put a restaurant there. Find some local spaces that would benefit the surrounding neighborhood, and try to pull in local crowds during game days.

905 WEST FORSYTH STREET

The fact that this sits a block away from JAXIS makes this basically a no-brainer for either foot-accessible retail or another kind of TOD.

OLD CITY HALL ANNEX AND COUNTY COURTHOUSE

With the way Curry's gone full Reagan with tearing down this place, it's really anyone's guess on how this turns out.

SNYDER MEMORIAL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

I'm still astonished at how the city just didn't bother actually issuing an RFP last time, but the potential for a historic reimagination using Snyder in the heart of downtown could have a great effect on Laura Street as a whole, especially with the Trio and Barnett finally getting back in the game.

LAVILLA RAILROAD ROW TRACKS

Pretty sure this going to be TOD, not expecting any surprises.

[remc86007]

^A little distant from the Sports Complex? It's the other side of downtown (over 2 miles). If somebody is going to a restaurant during game day, Crispy's in Springfield is about as close.

I think the best hope for the property is for the new residential development in Lavilla to continue and hopefully, eventually push northeast toward the property.

[MusicMan]

Am I the only person in Jax who is sick of the "RFP" concept of property disposition?

How many examples of this failing does one city need?  Just put the damn properties up for sale or auction them off for God's sake.  Stop trying to develop or influence the development of these smaller projects. 

The only one I know of that was successful was John Gorrie, and even when the Weavers did it, it took years to sell out the units.

I can sort of understand it's use with props like the old Courthouse, but it hasn't even been demolished yet, so what is the use in putting out an RFP until the site is clear? 

[marcuscnelson]

^A little distant from the Sports Complex? It's the other side of downtown (over 2 miles). If somebody is going to a restaurant during game day, Crispy's in Springfield is about as close.

I think the best hope for the property is for the new residential development in Lavilla to continue and hopefully, eventually push northeast toward the property.

Oops, my bad. I accidentally typed 816 East Union Street instead of 816 Union Street.

In that case, what you said is fine.

[Gunnar]

Am I the only person in Jax who is sick of the "RFP" concept of property disposition?

How many examples of this failing does one city need?  Just put the damn properties up for sale or auction them off for God's sake.  Stop trying to develop or influence the development of these smaller projects. 

The only one I know of that was successful was John Gorrie, and even when the Weavers did it, it took years to sell out the units.

I can sort of understand it's use with props like the old Courthouse, but it hasn't even been demolished yet, so what is the use in putting out an RFP until the site is clear?

+1

I am under the impression that bidders can be quite "liberal" when it comes to making proposals but there are no safeguards in place in case they don't follow through.

Or am I mistaken here ?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Am I the only person in Jax who is sick of the "RFP" concept of property disposition?

How many examples of this failing does one city need?  Just put the damn properties up for sale or auction them off for God's sake.  Stop trying to develop or influence the development of these smaller projects. 

The only one I know of that was successful was John Gorrie, and even when the Weavers did it, it took years to sell out the units.

I can sort of understand it's use with props like the old Courthouse, but it hasn't even been demolished yet, so what is the use in putting out an RFP until the site is clear?

+1

I am under the impression that bidders can be quite "liberal" when it comes to making proposals but there are no safeguards in place in case they don't follow through.

Or am I mistaken here ?

I believe that most of these properties still fall under the DIA umbrella with regards to what they're allowed to build - it would still be under a (often times toothless) review for standards. 

MMs idea of selling them outright absolutely puts the properties back on the tax-rolls even if they stay undeveloped.

I think the biggest problem is they're thinking short-term and trying to recoup lost money with inflated pricing when instead, they should be thinking long-term, put the properties in the hands of the market at market pricing (free if that's what it takes), and at least allow them to begin to generate revenue.