River City Brewing redevelopment should be mixed use

[thelakelander]

The proposed $93 million redevelopment of the River City Brewing Company site into apartments is an idea worth exploring – but removing one of Downtown's last riverfront dining spaces without replacing it isn't a net gain. Fortunately, there's a easy solution: make it mixed use.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/river-city-brewing-redevelopment-should-be-mixed-use/

[Lostwave]

Couldn't agree with this article more.  Lets not repeat past mistakes and just require the waterfront portion to be public retail/restaurant with views of the river and the rest of the land be their residential development.

[Adam White]

I thought the same thing. My only concern would be whether or not the businesses would struggle - the area doesn't seem to get a lot of foot traffic, IIRC. Of course, I could have no idea what I'm talking about - that's been known to happen from time to time. Perhaps the local businesses would generate lunch traffic, etc?

[thelakelander]

^The rebuttal to whether a business would fail would be that a restaurant has found a way to operate on this site since at least the 1970s. While it would be questionable to expect something the size of the Landing or Lot J to work, RCBC has proven without a doubt that at least one restaurant on the Southbank, west of the Main Street Bridge, should be viable. Then even in the event that there was no market, if we want the riverfront and park to be a worthwhile space that attracts people consistently, it would make sense to carve out future space for an additional use that could become an amenity for the development and the spaces surrounding it.

[Steve]

^Exactly. Look, putting aside 2020 and the pandemic (which I'm sure has hurt significantly), RCBC was certainly in business. Further, Chart House does just fine. They certainly have some help from the hotel, but Chart House isn't that much closer to the Southbank than RCBC is to the Doubletree. There's ZERO reason a decent restaurant shouldn't work at that location.

I think in addition to that, a decent "grab and go" should work there too (could be the same operator). Toss some picnic tables out there and call it a day. Get a bicycle delivery guy that could deliver to the office towers nearby and this would also cater to parkgoers on the weekends.

[JeffreyS]

Couldn't agree more with this article. is there a fighting chance retail/dining happens?

[Adam White]

^The rebuttal to whether a business would fail would be that a restaurant has found a way to operate on this site since at least the 1970s. While it would be questionable to expect something the size of the Landing or Lot J to work, RCBC has proven without a doubt that at least one restaurant on the Southbank, west of the Main Street Bridge, should be viable. Then even in the event that there was no market, if we want the riverfront and park to be a worthwhile space that attracts people consistently, it would make sense to carve out future space for an additional use that could become an amenity for the development and the spaces surrounding it.

That's good to know, then. Of course, I'd hope that it wouldn't just be restaurants located there - but if that's what works, then it makes sense. Obviously we have to start somewhere and it would be wise to make sure this development has scope for businesses. Of course, we need to do a lot more to get people down to the riverfront. Not events and stuff, but development.

[marcuscnelson]

A win-win situation is within our grasp, and all it would take would be the Downtown Investment Authority insisting on a mixed use project before considering incentives. The DIA Strategic Implementation Committee will discuss the project at its hybrid in person/virtual meeting at 9 a.m. Friday, October 9. To participate, Jaxsons can join the Zoom meeting with Meeting ID 978-3841 7287, password: 611231. Alternatively, attend in person at the Ed Ball Building, or email Ina Mezini at Rmezini@coj.net and ask her to read your comments at the meeting.

[tufsu1]

Good article and example Related Group projects. Unfortunately, this proposal seems to closely resemble another project they recently finished in Tampa - Manor Riverwalk. Don't get me wrong, its a high-end apartment complex...but doesn't do much to activate the west side of the Hillsborough Riverwalk.

https://manorriverwalk.com/

[thelakelander]

[martt12]

In The past I’ve always looked at Jacksonville as being very slow but Tampa slower. Tampa is doing much much more than Jacksonville as far as applying action to plans.

[Fallen Buckeye]

Wait...projects like this are viable downtown without $60 million interest free loans and $78 million in infrastructure contributions? Someone better have Lenny's accountants double check the numbers on this...

[Charles Hunter]

MOSH 2.0 gets money from the Terry Foundation.

Jacksonville’s Museum of Science & History will receive a "significant contribution" from the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Foundation toward its MOSH 2.0 expansion project.

The donor requested the amount be confidential, but the gift led to a "prominent component" of the project  — an education center — being named after the Terrys, according to the museum.

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/nonprofits/2020/10/07/c-herman-and-mary-virginia-terry-foundation-donates-mosh-2-0/5909981002/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=ghf-jax-main&fbclid=IwAR0_IJAVKTbL34LAXYl_zS93sAN-LRi-DhVbxGLqxZEkWAwKBC3iMSizKRg

[Ken_FSU]

^VyStar threw in $2.5 million earlier this year as well.

Now, they're extending $1 million line of credit to the Orleck group:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/vystar-to-provide-dollar1-million-credit-line-to-uss-orleck-nonprofit

These guys are really putting their money where their mouth is.

Would love to see the Jags/Khan do the same and match the MOSH donation in particular.

[thelakelander]

Like the old companies that used to be headquartered here. Very refreshing to see.