Downtown Construction Update - May 2009

[Metro Jacksonville]

Downtown Construction Update - May 2009



A look at the status of various projects under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville during the month of May.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/1079

[brainstormer]

Wow!  If I was the mayor, I wouldn't be so quick to plaster the fence with renderings of the building.  Is this honestly the best our city could come up with?  It is ugly and unimaginative and certainly does not fit in with the surrounding buildings.  I know I am not the only one that was hoping it actually would never be built.  And that beautiful parking garage that is about equal in height!  Awesome!  I think this might be Peyton's Guantanamo Bay 

And not to be totally negative, I'm glad there are a number of small projects moving forward.  My dad told me that small business would bring us out of a recession and by the looks of it, a lot of people are moving forward on private restaurant, retail and living spaces.  I can't wait for 3rd and Main to be completed!

[jason_contentdg]

Man, those signs on Oral Explosions are very imaginative...

[tufsu1]

I am so sick of hearing people whine about the courthouse....first you get annoyed that it had cost overruns and time delays...but then when you don't like the look, you say delay it even more...which is it?

[thelakelander]

Its been delayed so long and the plan is so bad, that at this point, many believe it may be worth it to have a future Mayor deal with it.  My personal thinking is that its going to happen and "it is what it is."  My hope is that we can do something positive with the left over land surrounding the actual structure.

[ChriswUfGator]

Its been delayed so long and the plan is so bad, that at this point, many believe it may be worth it to have a future Mayor deal with it.  My person thinking is that its going to happen and "it is what it is."  My hope is that we can do something positive with the left over land surrounding the actual structure.

+1

This administration has been so utterly incompetent in its handling of that particular project that, at this point, I'd rather just scrap the whole damned thing and let someone better qualified deal with it at a later date. It's crystal-clear that the more Peyton tries to mess with it, the worse it's going to get.

[Doctor_K]

Both. 

Redesign it, get it right the first time.  That means make it more urban of a design so it fits in with the surrounding fabric (what's left of it).

If we'd had collective direction from effective leadership, we'd have the courthouse well under construction.  Vertically.  Not this absurdity that's not even gotten off the ground yet.

On the other hand, I agree with brainstormer that it's great to see smaller projects moving forward in spite of the downturn.  Hooray baby steps!

[Springfield Girl]

Anyone who tags a historic building, or any building that doesn't belong to them for that matter ought to be shot!

[Jason]

Not a bad list of projects.  I really like the new annex.  The city/developer really pulled out all of the stops with the renovation because that building looks like it was just built from the ground up.

Also, Oral Explosions and Hightide Burrito will be on my radar.  I can't wait to give them a try and expect them to do very well.

[Ocklawaha]

I am so sick of hearing people whine about the courthouse....first you get annoyed that it had cost overruns and time delays...but then when you don't like the look, you say delay it even more...which is it?

I'm with you on this on TUFSU1, I'm sick of the whole project. Just build the damn thing and get over it folks. Yes I think it's ugly (on paper). Like I said, to me, it looks like an explosion in a pillar factory.

But there is a flip side.

Several major projects hinge on getting the Courthouse out of the ground. In fact we referenced 3 M/L major construction projects just a couple of weeks past, all waiting for dirt to move. So what if I think it should have been vertical, it's going to be a BIG catalyst as construction leads to more construction.

Another thing is the appearance from the ground might be stunning. I'm a huge fan of those 14 massive sandstone columns in front of The Jacksonville Terminal, and from ground level this might have the same effect. As Lake has said, "it is what it is". I'm looking forward to this project setting off a chain reaction of new development.

OCKLAWAHA

[Deuce]

Anyone who tags a historic building, or any building that doesn't belong to them for that matter ought to be shot!

I feel the same way about people who litter.

This month's update seems to be reaching a bit. Photos of the empty lots for the courthouse, int. shots of Fuddruckers that look the same the last time Fuddruckers was included on the monthly update. I don't know about others on the board, but I would rather only see shots of projects that have made significant gains in the previous month or are at least on track (3rd & Main), even if it means only two projects being featured. These monthly updates remind me of a grade-schooler's attempts to hit the mark on a 500 word essay.

e.g. Downtown continues to build many very very very large buildings. I'm am very very very upset that the courthouse looks like a very very very big piece of...

[Jason]

I don't think it's reaching Deuce.  These projects still have an impact on the neighborhood level.  I'm sure that the folks in San Marco and Springfield are very excited about many of these.

[thelakelander]

This month's update seems to be reaching a bit. Photos of the empty lots for the courthouse,

After years of looking at a grass lot, there has been change over the last week or so.  The construction fencing has been installed and it appears surveying is taking place.  This will probably be the first month of a three year continuous run of the courthouse project in the monthly DT construction update.

int. shots of Fuddruckers that look the same the last time Fuddruckers was included on the monthly update.

Since work on Fuddruckers started back up, last month was the first that we included of this project after a long period of inaction. 

April 2009 Fuddruckers


Work is still slow, but its taking place.

I don't know about others on the board, but I would rather only see shots of projects that have made significant gains in the previous month or are at least on track (3rd & Main), even if it means only two projects being featured. These monthly updates remind me of a grade-schooler's attempts to hit the mark on a 500 word essay.

For the most part, that's what we try to cover.  However, if significant news comes out about projects, we also try include those updates from time to time (ex. courthouse fencing and surveying taking place).

[heights unknown]

The Courthouse - Build the damn thing already! Just hope it spurs more development and growth on that end of downtown and on into LaVilla.

City Hall Annex - Pleased that they named it after Jake Godbold; good thing naming it after "Jake the Snake."

Laura Trio - Under Contract; what does this mean?

Barnett Building - Again, under contract; what does this mean?

Does "under contract" mean that someone has bought it and are contemplating developing it into something useful?  Or does it also mean that it has been purchased, plans have been drawn, and development is imminent?

You could say from this month's thread that downtown is "snail pacing" ahead, but again, as I always say, something is better than nothing. Can only hope that all of the previous "tall" developments that were proposed and then put on hold because of the economy come out of the closet and get back on the drawing boards to approval and construction.

Heights Unknown

[Traveller]

Heights-

While I know nothing about this particular deal, "under contract" typically means the buyer and seller have signed a purchase & sale agreement, but the actual closing of the sale has not happened and is contingent upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
- The seller having good title, free from liens
- The buyer obtaining acceptable financing
- A satisfactory building inspection and environmental report
- Closing happening on or before a certain date