The design for a new Greyhound intercity bus terminal was granted final approval Thursday by the Downtown Development Review Board of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.
The terminal is planned near the Skyway Station next to the Osborn Center. It’s the first phase of the proposed Regional Transportation Center intended to consolidate JTA including Bus Rapid Transit, Amtrak and Greyhound with retail space and offices for the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Highway Patrol.
When the concept for the design was presented to the board in September, there were issues with allowing fewer entrances than are usually approved for Downtown designs and issues concerning the amount of window area in the design.
The choice of construction materials was also questioned in terms of being compatible with existing structures in the area.
Ethan Lubriel, an architect with AECOM in Sunrise, made his third presentation on the project.
The design showed a precast concrete and brick structure, a change from the first concept, which was well-received by the board.
Lubriel said Greyhound is committed to limiting the number of entrances to the facility for security reasons. The board approved a deviation from the standard.
The lack of windows on one side of the building’s design remained. Lubriel said the interior design of the terminal puts the kitchen and storage area against that wall.
Lubriel suggested planting shrubbery along that side of the building to block the blank wall from the sidewalk and street, which the board approved.
After seeing the proposed outdoor lighting fixtures for the terminal, board member Chris Flagg suggested it might be time to re-evaluate the design standards for such fixtures.
He said it might be time to amend the City’s design regulations to permit the use of some of the new LED light fixtures that have become available since the standards were adopted.
Lubriel also showed the final landscape design, which includes more plant material than what was part of the conceptual design.
One element of the design presented that did not receive approval was a proposal to deviate from the streetscape standard by replacing brick pavers in the sidewalks and crosswalks around the terminal with a stamped concrete material that would mimic the appearance of pavers.
“I haven’t seen any stamped concrete pavers that looked good,” said board member Logan Rink.
Board member Tim Miller pointed out DDRB has never granted a design deviation to allow any alternative to brick pavers.
“We don’t want to set a precedent,” he said.
Before the board approved the design other than the stamped concrete element, board Chair Andy Sikes commented on the final product.
“As an urban planner, I think this is a wonderful addition to Downtown. Based on the presentation, it looks like you’re driving by an arboretum, not a bus station,” he said.
A design presented for a proposed 7-Eleven convenience store and gas station at Main and Union streets didn’t receive as warm a reception from the board.
The design for a convenience store, café and gas station had previously been approved by the board, but the property owner has elected to lease the site to 7-Eleven.
Peter Zent, project manager with Lend Lease (U.S.) Construction Inc. in St. Petersburg, presented a design for a smaller store without the café and outdoor seating that was part of the approved concept.
He said the firm is the project manager for 7-Eleven in the United States and Canada. It has opened 42 7-Eleven stores in Florida this year and has 28 active projects in North Florida.
“We’re coming back and we’re going to be very aggressive,” he said.
The design of the proposed 7-Eleven also reduced the number of entrances to the store from three to one. Zent said that was for security reasons.
“Everything goes in and out of the front door,” he said.
Questioned about the lack of outdoor seating in the design, Zent said while 7-Eleven sells packaged sandwiches, there isn’t a café element in the operation.
He also said 7-Eleven is “worried about loitering. We do sell beer and wine.”
The major contention from the board was the appearance of the building.
“It looks like a suburban design in an urban environment. This kind of stuff belongs in the ‘burbs,” said Rink.
Miller said he thought the property owner presented a better design for the site.
“What you’re proposing is a step back from that,” he said.
While he said he liked the idea of bringing retail Downtown, board member Roland Udenze said it wouldn’t be possible to approve a conceptual design for the exterior without seeing a floor plan of the interior of the store, which was not provided in the presentation. He also agreed with Rink’s assessment of the exterior design.
“I think you need an urban concept for the exterior. You probably have something that would fit Jacksonville better that you’re not showing us,” said Udenze.
After hearing the comments from the board members, Sikes deferred the 7-Eleven proposal to the Jan. 5 board meeting.
Zent said he would return to present a floor plan and alternative exterior designs.
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