Number 1 and Number 2

Jacksonville's Disheartening Downtown Development Discourse

Aug 02, 2024

screenshot, *Daily Record*, July 24, 2024: “Developer’s planned condo tower would be the tallest building in Downtown Jacksonville”

Just when we thought the former Landing site development puzzle couldn't get more complicated, along comes site number 2, otherwise known as Riverfront Plaza, 2, or the East Landing Lot, or developer Cross Regions Group’s proposed Ergisi Tower.

The newly proposed residential tower, which seems like it came out of nowhere, includes 320 condo units, and at 720 feet tall, reportedly would be the tallest building located between Atlanta and Miami. Why that should matter to us is anyone’s guess.

What should matter is talk of a negotiated no-bid agreement between Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) and Cross Regions Group—talk that began a year ago according to press accounts—and the wrench this sized development might throw into completing any semblance of a public park on the former Landing site.

For months, historic downtown and Riverfront Parks Now advocates have argued for a parks first approach to the former Landing site: make the site primarily a public park; build the entire park as designed by high-priced consultants Perkins & Will in one phase, not two; and eliminate private high-rise commercial development on the Northeast corner, otherwise known as site number 1.

Importantly, the Perkins & Will design included significant public input and excited the public’s imagination. DIA, however, has tweaked that design, habitually ignoring public will and hanging tight to the idea of incentivizing high-rise development on site number 1, no matter how long it takes and no matter how long DIA’s indecisiveness delays completing the park the public has been promised.

Lest we forget: the park cannot be built until disposition of site number 1 is decided. Every day DIA delays in making a decision is every day park development is delayed.

Glimmer of Hope?

Don’t hold your breath, but during their July 24 public workshop, DIA staff cited unfavorable “market conditions” and recommended that its board delay—but not terminate—any request to develop site number 1 and pursue “short term activation” instead, something for which the park first folks have also advocated.

Could it be that DIA is beginning to accept the obvious: building a commercial high-rise on the former Landing site is simply too complicated? The property lends itself more properly to life as a public park, easier, quicker, and less expensive to build. And something that by definition serves a public purpose.

Is it possible DIA’s willingness to delay this ill-advised high-rise commercial development will expedite completion of the park?

One can hope.

But Maybe Not

Proceeding with developing the entire park, despite staff’s recommendation to delay commercial development indefinitely, however, is not a done deal. Some DIA board members stubbornly wish to keep alive—sooner rather than later—high-rise commercial development on site number 1.

Despite all its complications. Despite all the delay DIA’s indecisiveness creates in completing the public park.

Further Delay?

With all things DIA and historic downtown, nothing is ever simple and always promises to frustrate public will.

While DIA might delay indefinitely any further commercial development of the former Landing site, it will simultaneously discuss this newly proposed high-rise commercial development—the Ergisi Tower—on the Main Street Bridge east side.

What seems like a perfect compromise—eliminate site number 1, develop site number 2—is presenting itself as another public park delay, given the property constraints posed by site number two and the sheer size of this potential new development.

In a phrase, the proposed Ergisi Tower is too big for the site.

Indeed, this proposed tallest building between Atlanta and Miami would necessitate removing the Main Street Bridge east ramp, an exception to a Florida Department of Transportation rule requiring a 50 foot setback from the Bridge itself, removal of a JEA sewer pipe that lies parallel to the St. Johns River, and according to the Jacksonville Business Journal, a potential “redesign of the eastern side of Riverfront Plaza.”

Say what? A “redesign of the eastern side of Riverfront Plaza?”

Please say it ain’t so.

Your Voice Needed

While DIA’s July 24 workshop yielded no decisions, board chair Patrick Krechowski asked for an additional August workshop to continue discussion of commercial development of sites numbers one and two, a conversation the outcome of which will impinge on completing a public park at the former Landing site.

DIA’s delay in making a decision about site number 1 is inexcusable. The park cannot proceed without a decision on commercial development. Period.

Your voice is needed. Write DIA board members and the City Council Special Committee on the Future of Downtown, with these simple messages:

— complete the people’s park at the former Landing site;

— stop high-rise commercial development on the Landing site’s Northeast corner; and

— insist that any commercial development of site number two—East Landing Lot—be appropriate to the lot’s constraints and not delay completion of the public park at the former Landing site.

DIA Board members:

Jim Citrano: jpcitrano2dia@gmail.com

Sondra Fetner: sfetner@dupontfund.org

Micah Heavener: heavenerm@comcast.net

Patrick Krechowski, chair: pkrechowski@balch.com

Melinda Powers: dia.mbp@outlook.com

Scott Wohlers: scottcwohlers@gmail.com

Carol Worsham: cworsham@bellsouth.net

City Council Special Committee on the Future of Downtown members:

Council Member Kevin Carrico, Chair: KCarrico@coj.net

Council Member Rory Diamond, Vice Chair: RDiamond@coj.net

Council Member Joe Carlucci: JoeCarlucci@coj.net