by David Ball
Staff Writer
One of Jacksonville’s most visible advertising agencies and the only major grocery store in Downtown are slated for facelifts after gaining conceptual approval from the Design Review Committee of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Thursday.
The DRC approved plans for a redesigned exterior at Winn-Dixie on Market Street and approved designs for the new headquarters of the Dalton Agency on Monroe Street.
The Committee deferred approving designs to expand Fire Station No. 4 on Duval Street and also discussed disbanding the DRC as the newly-created Downtown Development Review Board takes its place at the next scheduled meeting July 26.
The DDRB will carry out the same duties as the current DRC and add some Planning Commission duties in an effort to streamline the review and approval of Downtown redevelopment projects. Current DRC members will serve as temporary DDRB members until new appointments are made.
In its last official meeting as the DRC, the committee seemed pleased with the designs of several Downtown projects, including Winn-Dixie.
“I think it’s very well done,” said Committee member Rose Zurawski of the new Winn-Dixie design that will add 3,100 square feet, create a more modern facade and employ anti-graffiti paint, according to architects.
The project will also include an 80 square-foot police substation at the front of the building.
The committee did request Winn-Dixie add more pedestrian seating and use design elements to ease the sight of the large brick walls running along the street fronts before granting final design approval.
The DRC had only minor issues with the proposed Dalton Agency location — mainly a row of trees agency owner and President Jim Dalton said would need to go.
“You should take a look at it,” said Dalton. “It just looks messy.”
Dalton said he would keep one row of oak trees that have reached full maturity, but wanted to remove a second row that is interfering with the mature canopy.
Architects intend to remove features at the building, located across from Hemming Plaza, added during the 1980s and restore it to its original 1950s appearance.
However, the Committee had far more concerns over proposed designs to expand Fire Station No. 4 and wanted Fire Chief Larry Peterson to come back next month with more details on how the proposed prefabricated metal addition would blend with the existing firehouse and surrounding neighborhood.
“I have a fundamental issue with the temporary building,” said Committee member Chris Flagg, who cast the only vote against deferment. “I don’t know if that’s the image we want to project.”
Peterson said brick construction would’ve been preferred, but the metal building is all that can be afforded with the $225,000 in department funds. He added that some building is necessary to house various trucks and equipment now filling up the adjacent parking lot and spilling out into streets.
“It’s almost embarrassing with the eyesore we have,” Peterson said. “We have enough money to make it work.”
DRC Chairman Roland Udenze wasn’t immediately turned off by the idea of a well-designed metal addition.
“I think you can do something nice with metal,” he said. “But missing a site plan and elevation showing the two buildings together ... a lot of issues we can’t react to.”
The DRC also gave conceptual approval for designs of a parking garage at the Riverside Avenue Partners office building. Architects added new design features that more closely matched the design of the office building.