RD River City Brewing Apartment Renderings

[thelakelander]

Miami-based Related Group will seek conceptual approval from the Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB) for an eight-story, 333-unit apartment building on January 14th. The project would include a 535-space parking garage and be built on the site of River City Brewing Company. The project includes a restaurant overlooking Friendship Fountain that will require separate DDRB design approval. Here is the presentation illustrating the project's proposed conceptual design. Let us know what you think about the conceptual design.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/rd-river-city-brewing-apartment-renderings/

[jaxlongtimer]

My previously stated concern about the disproportionate impact on the perimeter of the river's aesthetics is magnified by these renderings.  Its scale is inappropriate for the size of the site and proximity to the river.

The whole project comes across as an effort to develop every last square foot, effectively shoe-horning the site.

Add, the architecture looks like a mass produced Orlando time share development.

Not impressed.

[vicupstate]

Architecture is about as beachy-cookie-cutter as it gets. This is a very high visibility site as well. This is a hard and loud 'NO'.

[acme54321]

I like that it's something other than the River House/SoBa/Brooklyn/220/etc vibe but that has the beach all over it.

[CityLife]

The east and west elevations are appalling (particularly the east) and need to be broken up. The north (river facing) elevation is ok architecturally, but looks like it's inspired by Rosemary Beach. This isn't compatible with existing or desired architecture in Downtown. If it doesn't get eaten alive by the DDRB, just shut the board down.

Rosemary Beach

[jaxlongtimer]

The east and west elevations are appalling (particularly the east)...

All sides are not good but I think the west side is the worst if we are taking a poll on ugliness  :

[CityLife]

Skimmed the DIA report and it's not very critical other than this section.

Façade Differentiation
"The current design is reminiscent of resort style architecture which is seen in Key West FL, Seaside FL, St. Augustine, FL and other resort destinations. Staff is unsure how this fits contextually along the St. John’s River in Jacksonville. The design should present a perceptible unity within the area. Surrounding buildings and developments present a contemporary, modern style as shown below. Staff would like to see the proposed architecture have some unity with the surrounding area."

There is no mention of issues with the Soviet Bloc apartment style massing and the DIA is recommending approval with a very loose condition to "elevate the architectural design".

Based on the foregoing, the Downtown Development Review Board Staff supports CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL of DDRB Application 2020-023 with the following recommendations:

(A) Prior to submittal for final review, the developer shall meet with staff to:
i) identify any deviations sought;
(B) Elevate the Architectural Design;
(C) Enhance the Parking Deck with additional screening and provide additional features to meet the fifth elevation requirement for the parking deck roof;
(D) At final review, the developer shall provide enough detail so as to illustrate that the “Pedestrian Zone” meets the definition of such in the Ordinance Code, and meets the various requirements and design / amenity features for the “Pedestrian Zone;”
(E) Streetlights, benches and street furnishings shall be placed in the Amenity Area. Street furnishings (e.g. benches, trash receptacles) shall be in accordance with the Downtown Streetscape Design Guidelines;
(F) Riverwalk design shall follow the Riverwalk Design Guidelines including landscape material proposed.

[CityLife]

The east and west elevations are appalling (particularly the east)...

All sides are not good but I think the west side is the worst if we are taking a poll on ugliness  :

The west is ugliest in a flat 2d elevation that does not show how the building is broken up and because of the parking garage, but in 3d and real life the east elevation will probably look the worst, imo. It's a several hundred foot long mass that is not broken up at all and has little architectural detailing. That said, the west elevation is possibly more prominent and I presume visible from the river, Acosta, and nearby buildings. That garage needs some work...

[jaxlongtimer]

If we want the urban core to shine, the DIA should require, in my humble opinion, architecture to be at a level that is unique, innovative, contextual, approachable, create interest, be aesthetically pleasing, lacks a sense of mass, constructed of higher grade and diverse materials and with sufficient greenery and setbacks to have some connection to the land and/or to provide some level of outdoor use.

When is the last time a local urban core building won a regional or national architecture award? 

Much of the urban core is taking on the look of indistinct suburban developments.  A Downtown should be the architectural jewel of a city, its show place.  Architecture can be an economic development asset when properly deployed.  People are attracted to unique and special landmarks.  If we want Downtown to be special, so should its architecture.

Once again, Jacksonville seems to take on projects for the sake of doing them, not for incorporating them into a long term vision that is sustainable and has standards.

[itsfantastic1]

It also looks the tiered height restrictions from the river are undergoing the average total height calc that the San Marco Presbyterian project is doing to surpass the maximum restrictions.

...However this appears to result in a huge wall facing the river by allowing an exceedence of the max by 40'. The San Marco project only added a few feet if I'm remember correctly. Visually very claustrophobic and intimidating.

[thelakelander]

This building is two blocks long. Other than the Duval County Courthouse, you'll be hard pressed to find something taking up that much linear footprint in downtown. It needs to be broken up. It's already 8 floors. Some consideration should be given to chopping the footprint in have and making it a 16 story structure that only wraps the garage. Make an impact on a stagnant skyline and create more riverfront green space at the same time by removing the footprint out of Zones A, B and C.

[jaxjaguar]

This would be a great location for something similar to Orlando's 'The Plaza'. It's about the same square footage as this project, but uses 3 connected buildings of varying heights to make the most impact on the skyline. It has a movie theater, several restaurants, luxury apartments, office space and integrated parking in a 1 block footprint.

[Adam White]

Architecture is about as beachy-cookie-cutter as it gets. This is a very high visibility site as well. This is a hard and loud 'NO'.

+1

[Des]

Does anyone know what the proposed cost is?

[Captain Zissou]

I'm in agreement with what has been said here, but I was immediately struck by how out of context this would look.  To me this looks like one of those disney hotels surrounded by 10 acres of parking or the new Marriot going in at San Pablo and JTB.  Even the Margaritaville hotel at the beach would look better than this at that site.  This is shoddy work and should be struck down by the DDRB. 

From a practical standpoint, it looks like some of the units on the river (likely the most expensive) will have about 100+ yards to walk from their parking space to their door.  Not an easy task with arms full of groceries.