Urban Construction Update - November 2022

[thelakelander]

A brief look at the status of various developments under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/urban-construction-update-november-2022/

[acme54321]

Does anyone know if anything came about from SMPS's issues with the Toll Bros townhouse design?

[thelakelander]

Nothing much. Toll Brothers made some minor cosmetic modifications but that was about it.

[Ken_FSU]

Unless something else has been negotiated, I'm pretty sure the Jags have got like 13 days to start horizontal construction on the Four Seasons project, lest they default on their six-month extension from the DIA.

[Ken_FSU]

Pretty wild how little urgency the city seems to have on some of these projects.

Friendship Fountain park has been closed for more than TWO YEARS and was supposed to be finished Spring 2021. Sure doesn't look anywhere close to opening.

Bulkhead work at the Times-Union center has been going on for what feels like ages.

No one seems to care that the Ford on Bay site that we RFP'd a year ago doesn't even have to break ground until mid-2024.

The Fuller Warren pedestrian overpass appears to have been nearly finished months ago, but still isn't open to pedestrians (I know it's FDOT, but the DIA should be turning the screws on this thing).

Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing park was supposed to be open by the Fall.

The city and DIA are just awful collectively at sticking to project timelines.

Meanwhile, economic recession continues to loom.

[jcjohnpaint]

Riverside Presbyterian Church has something going on the corner of Oak and Post. Also, a building was demolished on Oak next to Homespun Kitchen. I hope it isn't for parking.
Also, didn't know about the Old Stanton School rehab. That's good news.

[fsu813]

Pretty wild how little urgency the city seems to have on some of these projects.

Friendship Fountain park has been closed for more than TWO YEARS and was supposed to be finished Spring 2021. Sure doesn't look anywhere close to opening.

Phase 1 is scheduled to open in May 2023, phase 2 in 2024, I believe.

[fsu813]

Riverside Presbyterian Church has something going on the corner of Oak and Post. Also, a building was demolished on Oak next to Homespun Kitchen. I hope it isn't for parking.
Also, didn't know about the Old Stanton School rehab. That's good news.

They're building a gym at that corner.

And the building (owned by the church) was demolished to compensate for parking lost by the new gym.

[Ken_FSU]

Pretty wild how little urgency the city seems to have on some of these projects.

Friendship Fountain park has been closed for more than TWO YEARS and was supposed to be finished Spring 2021. Sure doesn't look anywhere close to opening.

Phase 1 is scheduled to open in May 2023, phase 2 in 2024, I believe.

This is just insane.

[fsu813]

Pretty wild how little urgency the city seems to have on some of these projects.

Friendship Fountain park has been closed for more than TWO YEARS and was supposed to be finished Spring 2021. Sure doesn't look anywhere close to opening.

Phase 1 is scheduled to open in May 2023, phase 2 in 2024, I believe.

This is just insane.

Time is but a flat circle....

[thelakelander]

Any thoughts on what happens with the MOSH space after they move?

[Tacachale]

Any thoughts on what happens with the MOSH space after they move?

The city transfers the property to the first well-connected developer that asks, for free. Then they offer $240 million in incentives to said developer to "reenvision the future of this critical riverfront space." The building is demolished and we get some cool renderings; based on one particular cool rendering, DIA approves a plan for the site that includes a giant Ferris wheel. which becomes the only thing people talk about. Circa 2034, we start the process over.

[jaxjags]

Related's project doesn't seem to be moving. Is it just bulkhead work at this time? Columbia Ventures doesn't seem to let much grass grow under their feet. Wearhouse project moving and plans for Lennox on Park in review.

[Captain Zissou]

Does anyone know if anything came about from SMPS's issues with the Toll Bros townhouse design?

Toll Bros said that SMPS would be involved in the design process and then ignored the organization for 6 months while most of the design work was done.  They finally came to the table with SMPS because the city was holding their vertical construction permits until SMPS gave sign off.  At that point the design was nearly complete, so Toll Brothers refused any changes other than paint color and minor architectural changes. SMPS got a few small wins, but the design still violates the terms of the PUD.  Toll Brothers claimed that the design for san marco was "prairie style", but presented almost identical renderings for their proposed townhomes at RiversEdge and claimed those were "modern design that fits in with the aesthetic of
 the new construction".  They are doing as little as possible to uphold design standards and product quality while charging over $300 psf. 

[Captain Zissou]

Unless something else has been negotiated, I'm pretty sure the Jags have got like 13 days to start horizontal construction on the Four Seasons project, lest they default on their six-month extension from the DIA.

Keep your eyes on that space!