Councilwoman has warning for developer of JEA site

[bobliocatt]

Douglas McNeill, president of Case Pomeroy Properties, said he has "no thoughts whatsoever" about asking for incentives at this time. An umbrella company of Case Pomeroy bid $40.6 million for the land on May 17. That was the highest bid.

Though McNeill said he hasn't prepared any plans for developing the land -- his company has yet to close on the property -- and he doesn't envision any high-rise structures on the site. To him, that means anything over eight stories tall.

"It should be an urban village," said McNeill, whose firm is based in Jacksonville Beach. "While we don't have any plans at this point, I think [Jenkins']comments seem on target."

In response, Jenkins said eight-story buildings would be unacceptable to her because they would cause those living around the site to lose their privacy. What she has in mind are two- or three-story buildings.

McNeill said Case Pomeroy's proposal for the site is at least seven months away.

Full article

[bobliocatt]

Normally, I agree with her positions concerning downtown, but this point-of-view makes little sense. You can easily wall off the river with a row of one story buildings. Just check out the wall of one story warehouses lining the river along Commodore Point for proof. I see the point of stepping down in height once you get closer to the existing low rise residential neighborhoods to the SE. But saying no structure on the site should exceed 3 stories is rediculous. We don't need to move the Jax Beach attitude to downtown.

[BosTech]

Make elevated parking lot??

[vicupstate]

Normally, I agree with her positions concerning downtown, but this point-of-view makes little sense.  You can easily wall off the river with a row of one story buildings.  Just check out the wall of one story warehouses lining the river along Commodore Point for proof.  I see the point of stepping down in height once you get closer to the existing low rise residential neighborhoods to the SE.  But saying no structure on the site should exceed 3 stories is rediculous.  We don't need to move the Jax Beach attitude to downtown.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agreed. I think someone needs to just sit down and have a chat with her. Hopefully the developer will do that and nip this in the bud. I wonder why she didn't say something when Haskell and St. Joe made their proposal? Frankly I was surprised that the developer plans to build only up to eight floors given the price they are paying.

[Captain Obvious]

Jenkins rarely makes such blatantly bad decisions. Hopefully she will change her mind.

Regardless, there is little city council can do about it, if there are no incentives. The JEA site will be zoned CBD. The DRC is not beholden to the suburbanites in St. Nicholas, and neither is any city council member other than Jenkins and maybe Shad.

To hell with 8-story buildings ... I want to see some more 30-story skyscrapers. Cowford LLC has to make a profit on that $40 million site somehow.

[afh]

I don't like when politicans try to tell property owners what to do with their property. As long as what they build on the property is offensive, why does she need to step and tell them what they should build? If anything Cowford LLC should keep with the theme that is taking place on the Southbank. I'm disappointed by what the rep for Cowford said about not building highrises. If he wants to build an "urban low rise village", fine do it on the other side of the river where it would fit in better. With all of the proposed high rise condos for the SB, a urban village on the river doesn't make sense to me and I think that it could be a bad idea.

[RiversideGator]

Jenkins is a socialist cow. I would ignore her. She probably wont be in the City Council anyway when this goes forward. As to the people who live in that area, I am getting a little tired of that small group dictating to the rest of us what can happen downtown (see proposed amphitheater in Metro Park). They knew what they were getting into when they bought their houses right next to downtown.

[wolfdawg54]

Well, this issue is a two-sided road. I am all in favor of big development but I don't want to upset people who may have lived there for countless years. I think that a compromise should be reached between the community and the developer. The developers should consider the area before building. Also, the people should not force the developer to abide by their ideas. After all, doesn't the developer own the property?

[Urban_Legend]

I envision 10-15 story towers near the river rise and 5-8 story midrises near the San Marco side. Who knows?

[La Florida]

I want to see more skyscrapers!!! An "urban village"??? Hell, id even be happy with 10-15 story buildings. If 3 story building sre built there then the scale with still be off because it wont match up to the neighboring San Marco Village with its 30+ story buildings. they could at least give us two high rises on the school board side of the property....By the way..the School Board should be making its way to issue rfps for its riverfront land soon while the area is hot

[crazy cuban]

who the hell asked her anyways, another fine example of how the city council is starting dictate more and more the way we live. Is she spending 40 mill on the property? then she sould stay out of the developer's business. and as for the people in the neighborhood>>> we all uphold these community groups that stand up to Mr. Big Developer... "halt with your plans!" but then again>>> part of me has to say, "if you don't like it, then don't let the door hit you on the way out." if the developer isn't asking for incentives (and there is a nice change of pace!) then the councilwoman will just need to sit there and bite her tongue!

[RiversideGator]

If the buildings are limited to 5-8 stories by the developer, I would have no problem. If you think of European cities, they are very vibrant and have many residents downtown but have very few highrises. Make it Paris or London on the St Johns over there.

I just dont like these city council types who dont have a clue how to make money sticking their noses in other people's business.

[RiversideGator]

Here are some examples of mid-rise European buildings in Paris: http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.ph...90entry120290

Something on this order (I know I am probably dreaming) would be nice anywhere in Jax.

[jjoshjl]

Ahhhh...

I have always dreamed about such an area like that to have nearby. the JEA site would be a great locale if properly planned. I mean it realy is quite beautiful to see. They also tend to be extremly vibrant areas. The asthetics are unfortunantly from a time long since past. Now it is how much can we build for the least amount of money. If you spend the money (and spend it well) you will attrack people in droves.

IE. Though it was a far mroe organic growth, look at king st in Charlestown. I used to love going up adn down that street when I lived in SC. I dont even think Savannah has anything like it. It is a great nearby example of lowrises creating amazin street interaction.

Anyway.. I will always dream to either a) be in a city with that kind of atmosphere, or B) Build something like that.

(As a note, when I was still in college in Florence SC, I failed in an attempt to get funding to develope an area directly accross from Francis Marion Unv. I had plans to build a 6 story apt building, for starters with a club & small grocery on the bottom floor. then later building a region about 1 square mile liek king street in charlsetown. Everyone I spoke to was enthrawled witht eh idea, but could never get funding because of the fact that I was a nobody. Whats funny is, I was later hearing rumors around campus about a developer wanting to build on that site. Turned out, the developer was me, and the plans were mine... Everyone was excited to see something go up that i talked to. Ohh to have then personal wealth to have built it...)

Anyway

Cheers

[120North]

So when it was a 60' POWER PLANT, it was perfectly fine and everyone who lived in the neighborhood lived with it in symbiosis. When it is a beautiful high rise development it is going to destroy the fabric of society. JENKINS=NIMBY.

[Urban_Legend]

^lol, interesting point!

I'm sure some urban development is WAY worse than a power plant, lol.