 |  | | | Brooklyn Neighborhood Construction Site | Brooklyn Project Moves Forward The city has taken the first step towards creating more favorable conditions for redevelopment of the Brooklyn neighborhood in Downtown by beginning construction of a Regional Stormwater Management System. Plans include reconfiguring the existing retention pond located at Forest Street and Riverside Avenue to allow for development north of Riverside Avenue. This improvement will enable developers within a 45-acre area to tie into the existing system rather than creating individual ponds on each project site. Ultimately, it will reduce costs and encourage redevelopment in our downtown. The project will include a new water feature and eventually a new open space programmed for public use. Construction is expected to be completed within one year. Floating Docks Update - The city team comprised of the JEDC, Public Works and Recreation and Community Services Departments has engaged the services of Callaway Contracting to install floating docks at the western end of the Northbank Riverwalk, in front of Lender Processing Services’ (LPS) building on Riverside Avenue. The proposed 200-foot long L-shaped floating dock will allow the boating community access to the Northbank Riverwalk and the Riverside Arts Market. The JEDC received environmental permits for the project from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the US Army Corps of Engineers. HDR Engineering, Inc., Environmental Services, Inc., Ellis and Associates and Clary and Associates were instrumental in assisting the JEDC in securing these permits. Construction is anticipated to begin in early October and will take approximately three months to complete.
New Office Market Stats - The latest Cushman & Wakefield office report shows that lease rates are virtually equal between Downtown and the suburbs. Hopefully, this signals a tipping point whereby companies will more favorably consider Downtown in their location decisions. In addition, the Southbank of Downtown is $1.45 less expensive than the popular Butler/Baymeadows area, dispelling the myth that there is a cost premium for a Downtown location.
Treaty Oak Park Improvements - Improvements to Treaty Oak Park on the Southbank are coming soon. Fencing around the tree will be removed, benches will be relocated and the sunken sidewalk will be addressed. Construction will begin at the beginning of October and will take three to four months to complete. The Suddath Parking Garage exits will temporarily be closed during construction but will be reinstated upon completion.
Laura Street Progress - Construction of the Laura Street Project is quickly progressing northward. The intersection at Bay Street is finished and the intersection at Forsyth Street is on track to be finished by the end of October. The Andrew Jackson statue was moved to the center of the newly constructed roundabout in July.
Get your 2011 Gator Bowl Tickets! - Tickets for the 2011 Gator Bowl are on sale now. The 2011 Gator Bowl will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on January 1, and will feature a team from the SEC and Big Ten Conference for the first time in 15 years. Visit www.gatorbowl.com to purchase tickets.
Oil Spill Help - Was your business affected by the BP oil spill? Contact the Florida BP Claims Hotline at (800) 440-0858. BP claims are available for all businesses in Florida. The general monthly payout is $5,000 (adjustable for commercial large loss claims).
Met Park Marina Improvements - Mayor John Peyton, City Council member Dr. Johnny Gaffney and the city’s Recreation and Community Services Department recently hosted a celebration and ribbon cutting to honor Metropolitan Park Marina’s designation as a Clean Marina by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). In addition to the Clean Marina designation, the City of Jacksonville unveiled several enhancements to the marina, including the addition of fire prevention equipment and upgrades to electrical services at the marina dock slips. The Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) presented a check to the city for partial funding of the marina enhancements.
Downtown’s Friday Market Relocates to The Landing - The Jacksonville Landing and Downtown Vision, Inc. announced a new partnership to move the Downtown Friday Market from Hemming Plaza to The Jacksonville Landing, beginning Friday, October 1. The new market location will activate the front streetscape of The Landing and complement the city’s Laura Street Improvement Project. The market will continue to operate on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Unlike the Hemming Plaza market, the new Landing location will provide vendors indoor options during inclement weather. Local company Global Greenup will manage the operation of the market. Interested vendors should contact Global Greenup at (904) 236-9966 or visit www.globalgreenup.com.
The Jaguars 2010 season is in full swing! - Fans are invited to “Teal Town,” the newest pre-game entertainment zone. Presented by PRI Productions, Teal Town is a fully interactive pre-game tailgate area featuring live bands, a large LED screen broadcasting the NFL Network RedZone, interactive games, football drills, face painting, as well as discounted concessions. Teal Town also features appearances from The ROAR and Jaxson de Ville, performances by the D-Line and t-shirt giveaways from the Jax Pack. Teal Town is located off Gator Bowl Boulevard, on the south side of EverBank Field, just south of the Pepsi Plaza. Gates open three hours prior to each home game kickoff and entry is free to all fans. Still don’t have season tickets? Call (904) 633-2000 or visit jaguars.com to buy tickets today.
Welcome musical respite in Jacksonville, Florida - Leading Canadian music writer William Littler wrote an article featuring Jacksonville after a recent trip to hear the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Littler writes for Canada's largest daily newspaper, the Toronto Star. Read the article.
Downtown Retail and Business News: - Indochine, a new Thai restaurant, opened at 21 E. Adams St., above Burrito Gallery. Indochine is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m.
- Group 4 Design, Inc., relocated to a new office on the second floor of the Suddath Warehouse Building in Downtown (315 East Bay St., Suite 200). They celebrated with an open house in July. Visit www.g4designinc.com for company information.
- City Hall Pub celebrated their one year anniversary in August. The bar/restaurant located next to Veterans Memorial Arena has been successful at attracting patrons on non-event days. Visit www.cityhallpub.com for more information.
- There’s an old time candy and ice cream shop in town! Sweet Pete’s opened at 1922 Pearl St. in historic Springfield. Visit www.sweetpete.net for store hours and information.
Don’t Miss These Upcoming Downtown Events! - North Florida Land Trust and Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville present the 2nd annual “Painting the Region: A Plein Air Paint-Out.” The six-day juried art event will begin on October 4, at The Jacksonville Landing and will benefit the North Florida Land Trust. More than 30 artists will be there painting scenes of Downtown. There will be free art-related activities for the public. Visit www.paintingtheregion.com for more information.
- October’s First Wednesday Art Walk will celebrate Hispanic Heritage! On Wednesday, October 6, from 5 to 9 p.m., there will be street parties, live music, salsa dancing and more. More than 40 Downtown venues including galleries and museums, clubs, restaurants and businesses participate in Art Walk. Visit www.downtownjacksonville.org or www.DTJAX.org by mobile phone for event information. Click here to download a map of the Art Walk.
- The 2010 Jacksonville Film Festival is scheduled for October 14-17. Highlights will include an emphasis on industry workshops and panels, supporting filmmaking and filmmakers in Florida and highlighting new venues and neighborhood celebrations. This year’s venues include: San Marco Theatre, Theatre Jacksonville, Five Points Theatre, Jacksonville Public Library, Florida Theatre, Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Moca Jacksonville and The Ritz. Visit www.jacksonvillefilmfestival.com for a complete line up of films, panels and events.
- The City of Jacksonville presents, Rocky Horror Picture Show, at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, October 22 at midnight. A street festival beginning at 8 p.m. on the Northbank Riverwalk will kick off the night. Theater doors open at 11 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.MakeASceneDowntown.com or call (904) 630-3690.
- Activities for the 88th annual Georgia vs. Florida Football Classic begin Wednesday, October 27. Click here for a full schedule of events.
- The 15th annual Outback Steakhouse Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is on Friday, October 29 at noon. For more information, check out the new Hall of Fame Web site at www.gaflhalloffame.com.
- The City of Jacksonville invites all captain and crews to register for the 2010 Jacksonville Light Parade. Scheduled for Saturday, November 27 at 7 p.m. on the downtown riverfront, the parade is open to all sailboats and powerboats. Registration is free but is limited to the first 100 vessels. Awards will be given for Grand Overall, Best New Entry, Private Individual 30’ and Over, Private Individual Under 30’, Sailboat, Corporate/Commercial, Organized Club and Holiday Spirit. There will be a fireworks display following the parade. To register or for more information boaters should call (904) 630-3690 or visit www.MakeASceneDowntown.com.
Looking for more to do in Downtown? Click on the links below:
Make a Scene Downtown!
DVI
ExperienceJax.com
| WORK BEGINS ON FRIENDSHIP FOUNTAIN RESTORATION PROJECT
| | On September 1, Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton and City Council member Warren Jones joined the project’s contractor AC General, Inc., downtown partners and representatives of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC), Public Works and the Recreation and Community Services departments to officially break ground on the Friendship Fountain restoration project. Improvement plans include replacement of the broken concrete areas surrounding the fountain with natural grass surfaces, adding seating opportunities for passive recreation and installing new sidewalks, lighting and trees. The project also includes refurbishment of the fountain infrastructure, including the pumps, piping and electrical systems, to make it fully operational again and help make it the iconic downtown attraction it was in the past. “I want to thank our downtown partners and supporters for working with the city as we begin this project to restore one of downtown’s most prominent attractions to further enhance downtown as a destination that all can enjoy,” said Mayor John Peyton. “The greening and softening of the area surrounding the fountain will provide another opportunity for workers, residents and visitors to congregate and enjoy the city’s assets of the Southbank Riverwalk and St. Johns River.” Currently, Friendship Fountain and the Southbank Riverwalk west of the Jacksonville Maritime Museum are closed. Click here to download a detour map. Expected completion of the project is early summer 2011. LAURA STREET BARNETT AND TRIO BUILDINGS PROJECT UPDATE
Plans to redevelop the historic Barnett Bank and Laura Street Trio buildings continue to progress. The development team- Linea LLC of Jacksonville and Capital City Partners of Tallahassee announced their plans in May, after entering into an agreement in April to purchase the buildings from JDI Realty of Chicago. The project received conceptual approval from the Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB) at its August meeting.
Plans include converting the Barnett building into “The Bank Hotel,” a 125-room boutique hotel that will feature multiple bars, cafes and entertainment venues. Forty exclusive rental apartments are also planned for the building and will share the amenities and concierge services of the hotel. Renovation plans for the Trio Buildings – the former Florida Life Building, Bisbee Building and Florida National Bank Building – include 98 loft-style apartment homes and more than 17,000 square feet of retail space, including an upscale restaurant and a roof deck. The proposed development also includes construction of a new 248-space, integrated parking structure. The project’s economic impact would be substantial. The estimated cost of the project is $75 million and the construction effort would create approximately 1,000 temporary jobs during a 24-36 month period. An additional 275 permanent jobs would be created from the operational phase of the project. The proposed development would be located prominently in the emerging Laura Street corridor, complementing the $2.7 million Laura Street Enhancement Project currently underway. |
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