Renderings: Shipyards West Park

[thelakelander]

A look at the conceptual redevelopment plans for Shipyards West Park. Let us know what you think!

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/renderings-shipyards-west-park/

[jax_hwy_engineer]

I like the look of this, would be a good use of that area

[Steve]

I can't believe I'm saying this...but I actually like this a lot.

 - The Berkman 2 Lot, when redeveloped, should complement this, for example a restaurant on the corner of Bay and the Park
 - The surface lot on Bay sucks, but I know the purpose of it and unfortunately nothing is likely to happen until the Jail moves
 - I do like the carve out for private development and it will be key to have that complement the park space.

Finally, this one seems to be somewhat well thought out.

[Ken_FSU]

I quite like it as well!

Especially if those "Recreation Room" spots turn into the amenities originally floated like volleyball, pickleball, etc.

Strongly, strongly believe - like with Riverfront Plaza - that the vibrancy of these parks is going to live or die based on whether the permanent dining components actually get added or not.

Concerns me a little bit that funding for the originally proposed food hall and/or floating restaurant was pulled and the DIA is now talking about food trucks as a long-term dining solution for Shipyards West. Rationale was that demand doesn't exist for a food hall/restaurant at this space, but that kind of feels like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Glad the funding will be hopefully shifted in the short-term toward the Riverfront Plaza restaurant, but hopefully we develop the food hall alongside the park when construction starts.

Really good stuff though from a park perspective. I'm glad we partnered with Agency after their strong showing for the Riverfront Plaza RFP.

[marcuscnelson]

Interesting design. Curious about positioning the exhibition space and pavilion on top of parking though. Also question the need for more on-site parking when JSO is moving to the Florida Blue building which should free up spaces across the street. Definitely agree on incorporating Berkman 2 into this somehow.

I imagine the "bus stop" is the extent of consideration given to the Bay Street Innovation Corridor, which I'm sure is a good indication of the value that brings to Downtown.

All in all, this is a nice plan, and does well to establish a museum district between the Naval Museum, Fire Museum, and eventually MOSH. Hope we can find the money to build and maintain it.

[acme54321]

This looks really cool, but I have a really hard time taking these things seriously with the city's track record in programming and maintaining parks.  Same goes for the landing space.

[fsu813]

- The surface lot on Bay sucks, but I know the purpose of it and unfortunately nothing is likely to happen until the Jail moves

I don't think there's any surface/uncovered parking along Bay.

[fsu813]

The most important aspect of this park is the piers.

Having those fully funded and come to fruition will be the key to making this park truly outstanding/unique.

There's a danger that those will be seen as an extra amenity and not necessary. They're also very expensive to do. Seeing the piers redeveloped will likely be an advocacy priority.

[fsu813]

This looks really cool, but I have a really hard time taking these things seriously with the city's track record in programming and maintaining parks.  Same goes for the landing space.

There's an opportunity with the Jags stadium deal. Hopefully the community benefit agreement will include longterm funding for enhanced maintenance along our riverfront spaces.

[thelakelander]

The most important aspect of this park is the piers.

Having those fully funded and come to fruition will be the key to making this park truly outstanding/unique.

There's a danger that those will be seen as an extra amenity and not necessary. They're also very expensive to do. Seeing the piers redeveloped will likely be an advocacy priority.

I'm a big fan of the piers. They are the last piers remaining on the downtown riverfront. We already ripped down the buildings and cranes. You can't talk or embrace that site's history without their inclusion.

[Steve]

- The surface lot on Bay sucks, but I know the purpose of it and unfortunately nothing is likely to happen until the Jail moves

I don't think there's any surface/uncovered parking along Bay.

It's the lot bounded by Bay, Catherine, Forsyth, and Marsh. It's in the rendering just above the fire museum. JSO uses it but not sure how many cars are taken up by the Police Memorial Building versus the Corrections operation. Thus, how many spaces are freed up assuming the Police Memorial Building folks move to Florida Blue?

[Captain Zissou]

One thing that I expected to see on here is a veterans wall and exhibit.  It would make sense to locate it with the Orleck and the fire museum.  Now would be the time to incorporate it into the plans vs later when this area is finished and the existing memorial is surrounded on 3 sides by midrise construction.

[acme54321]

The most important aspect of this park is the piers.

Having those fully funded and come to fruition will be the key to making this park truly outstanding/unique.

There's a danger that those will be seen as an extra amenity and not necessary. They're also very expensive to do. Seeing the piers redeveloped will likely be an advocacy priority.

From those renderings it looks like they just plan to leave the wesernmost pier in situ and then either remove and replace or mostly demolish and reuse the one east of it.

[Ken_FSU]

The most important aspect of this park is the piers.

Having those fully funded and come to fruition will be the key to making this park truly outstanding/unique.

There's a danger that those will be seen as an extra amenity and not necessary. They're also very expensive to do. Seeing the piers redeveloped will likely be an advocacy priority.

An earlier design proposed redeveloping the piers (they would have had to be demolished and rebuilt) and turning them into park & amenity space. Estimates came in at $30 million for the piers alone, to be considered as a second phase of the project.



New design looks like it abandons that idea, at least in the short term, while maybe leaving open the possibility down the line for the two Western piers?

[jaxlongtimer]

Any chance the piers could host a mini-version of Pier 39 in San Francisco?  I already know the answer but one can dream  .