by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Nestled among the growing Gate Parkway stretch in Southside, one mass development is putting the pieces together to become a full-fledged community within the community despite the slowdown in the construction and retail markets.
Tapestry Park, a multi-phased, mixed-use development on the corner of Southside Boulevard and Gate Parkway, will ultimately feature 20,000 square feet of both office condominiums and multi-tenant rental office building; nearly 250 boutique hotel rooms; and more than 300 residential units of varying price and style.
Mixed-use developments combine residential, retail and office environments among others, to create a pedestrian friendly and urban environment with vertical — instead of horizontal — planning and construction techniques often employed.
The first phase of Tapestry Park was completed late last year and while the first tenants have settled, many other potential clients are inquiring about available spaces even amid the bad economy, said Chad Holland, of CR Holland Development, which handles retail aspects of the community.
“There’s definitely activity and I get numerous calls each week (about possibilities),” said Holland, whose group has been with the development for more than a year. “I think it’s because a mixed-use project is different for this area and Jacksonville in general.”
Holland said most of the tenants such as Orange Tree Hot Dog and Pavlos Jewelry are reporting steady business, and hopes are high for a new Thai restaurant opening soon.
Holland said there have been talks of acquiring a high-end steakhouse for one of the restaurant parcels and a deal involving a bank should be announced sometime within the next few weeks.
One of the development’s first tenants, Genesis Group, sought out an office condominium in the community due to its layout.
“It’s an example of a good mixed-use project,” said Brian Wheeler, executive vice president of the urban design, planning, landscaping and architecture firm. “It’s vertically and horizontally integrated and centrally located.”
From his second floor window, Wheeler said he’s seen traffic pick up considerably over time and is excited to see more and more people stopping and getting out of their cars to take a closer look.
“That’s what it’s all about,” said Wheeler. “You can’t sell from the drive-thru.”
Wheeler has even been a good business neighbor and said he refers his out-of-town clients and business partners to the development’s newest addition, Hotel Indigo, for lodging.
The 69-room boutique hotel opened late last month and Holland said expectations will most likely result in another similar boutique hotel being built during Tapestry Park’s second phase of construction.
Directly across the brick-laden road from Holland’s retail space, Jim Dixon and Birmingham, Alabama-based Arlington Properties said tenants, such as Rio Hair Studio and The Jacksonville Running Store, have also reported success in the early months — something Dixon, like Holland attributes to the development’s style.
“You can’t really do mixed-use just anywhere,” said Dixon, “but it is working here (at Tapestry Park).”
While 40 percent of Arlington Properties retail units are filled, the organization also handles Tapestry Park’s residential aspects — something that is also slowly picking up.
More than half of the 52 condominiums are filled — many with young professionals — and the 279-unit luxury apartments on the south side of the community just began leasing with an anticipated move-in date of June, according to Dixon.
Like any businessman, Dixon said the goal for 2009 is to sell out the remaining retail and residential units, but even with the construction and economic slowdowns — he said many potential clients have had trouble qualifying for loans in a tough banking market — he’s already noticed progress.
“I’m please with the way things are going,” said Dixon. “I think moving forward we’ll all see even more success.”
For more information on Tapestry Park, go to www.tapestryparkcondos.com.
356-2466