J Magazine Spring 2018

In 2015, renderings of a reimagined Jacksonville Landing were shared with the public by the Downtown Investment Authority. Met with luke-warm reaction from the
public, DIA said the design effort was aimed at creating an economically successful development as well as a night-and-day gathering spot for Downtown.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21
The UNF poll showed only 1.3 percent of those questioned believe
apartments are the best use for the Landing site, compared to 24
percent who supported restaurants and bars and 6 percent for retail
stores. Oddly enough, 16 percent said to leave the site the way it is.
There is strong support among Downtown stakeholders and officials
for more public space on the site and more access to the St. Johns
River.
Boyer said the 2015 proposal’s public space plans “just didn’t get
us there in terms of being special and iconic.” The plan also didn’t
offer adequate setback from the river and an expanded Riverwalk.
“I felt that while it was acceptable, acceptable is different than
something that has energy
and enthusiasm and support.
Acceptable is different
from something you become
an advocate for,” Boyer
said.
Barakat said the project
needs a mix of uses so it can
become a 24-hour site. He
believes the city would be
challenged in filling up tens
of thousands or hundreds
of thousands of square feet
of retail or office space and
hundreds more residential
units.
Sleiman, who would not
be interviewed for this story, sent a statement reiterating he has been
waiting to redevelop the Landing since he bought it.
He pointed out the company has spent $1.5 million for redevelopment
plans to help get it there. The statement also touted that
overall his company has developed more than $1.5 billion in commercial
real estate.
Perhaps the reason an agreement hasn’t been reached is as simple
as something Boyer said: There’s no doubt Sleiman has been
successful in building strip malls. But maybe that’s not what the city
wants or needs at the Landing.
“I think there is a certain hesitation as to whether, if we did enter
into a partnership, are we going to get the kind of retail tenants,
restaurant tenants that we really want to see there for our Downtown?”
she said.
Barakat said Sleiman
could perhaps partner with
a team or hire a consultant
with experience in urban
developments to build a
unique offering that can’t be
found anywhere in Jacksonville.
He said if Sleiman is going
to hold on to the Landing
long-term, it would be nice
to see some type of interim
improvement there.
“There are some relatively
inexpensive retail concepts
you can do that might
Wakefield, Beasley and Associates and Urban Design Associates (2)
24
J MAGAZINE | SPRING 2018