An Atlanta-based developer proposing to build a 297-unit rental community along Park Street in Brooklyn was literally sent back to the drawing board Thursday by the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission’s Downtown Development Review Board.
Lincoln Property Co. Executive Vice President Charles Shallat presented the site plan for “Riverside Park” intended for the western half of a 10.5-acre parcel between Park Street and Riverside Avenue near the EverBank Building and the Fidelity campus.
The site plan included four multifamily buildings, 10 two-story carriage house units and 430 surface parking spaces inside a gated fence.
Shallat said his company is “fully aware of the development guidelines” that apply to Downtown projects, but that factors other than design led to the site plan presented.
“This is a deal that can get done in today’s economic environment,” he said.
“We want it to look as urban as it can while being economically feasible,” Shallat said “As a developer, it has to make sense to our investors.”
Questioned by board members about the placement of parking around the perimeter of the development and asked why the design didn’t include multilevel parking more consistent with urban design standards, Shallat said that too was an economically based decision.
He said surface parking would cost $900 per parking space compared to $11,000 per parking space for a garage. Building a garage would add about $5 million to the investment for the project and likely would prevent the project from being financed, he said.
The fenced perimeter and security gates also were questioned about their consistency with accepted urban design. Shallat again cited financial consideration and said that the gates might be removed later.
“One day, we don’t want the gates. We have to provide them to get financing. People have to want to live there,” he said.
The board questioned the design in terms of parking lots surrounding the project and asked if more parking could be designed for the center of the property.
Shallat said that would give the exterior a look “similar to a Walmart” and that the site plan intended the central area to resemble “an internal community along the lines of what you see in Riverside and Avondale.”
“I don’t see anything that makes me want to live there instead of in Baymeadows. To me, it’s a pure suburban development,” said board member Chris Flagg.
“It’s hard to grasp what it’s going to look like with what you have (presented),” said board member Tim Miller.
“It’s a tough design problem. It’s not the best area. You have to protect people and the investment,” said board member John Fischer.
Board Chairman Andy Sikes administratively deferred the review without a motion or vote, but said the board did not want to send Shallat away “without any guidance.”
Assistant General Counsel Jason Teal suggested the board schedule a publicly noticed workshop at which the board could share ideas for the design with Lincoln’s architects and urban planners.
Shallat said that would be advantageous and said waiting until the board meets next month for approval of the conceptual design would not adversely affect the project.
“We’re here to help you. That’s what we want to do,” said Miller.
The board unanimously approved another Brooklyn area project on the agenda, the proposed 220 Riverside mixed-use development by Hallmark Properties.
In January 2007, the board approved a larger but similar Hallmark project that never went beyond the design stage due to the recession.
The proposed development includes 16,500 square feet of ground floor office/retail space, 285 residential units and amenities including a fitness center, clubhouse facilities and 386 garage parking spaces.
Architect Jason Faulkner described the project as “holistic” and designed to complement infrastructure improvements made by the City adjacent to the project site.
He said the design presented Thursday was the third iteration of the project. “I think it’s the best,” he said.
Faulkner said the wood-frame structure would be the first five-story wooden structure built in Jacksonville and the material was chosen to control the cost of the development.
The board also approved a signage plan for EverBank Center, the former AT&T Building at 301 W. Bay St.
The AT&T signage at the top of the building will be removed and replaced with EverBank logo signs and four street-level signs will be installed on the building.
DDRB’s next meeting is scheduled at 2 p.m. April 5 in the JEDC suite at 1 W. Adams St.
356-2466