RiversideGator
07-28-2006, 11:46 AM
These look pretty nice. I think they will definitely add to Mayport and help to make it a nicer place. I also dont see why the fishermen cant continue to operate from there, just because some upscale condos are built. Anyway, here is the article and renderings:
From the Florida Times-Union, July 28, 2006:
http://www.jacksonville.com/images/072806/138659_300.jpg
Mayport condo project sets its sights on raising a village
Some see Vestcor's 2.5-acre mixed-use development as a spark that will fuel a revival of the slumping fishing hamlet.
By JOE LIGHT, The Times-Union
A historic fishing village will likely get its first taste of new development next year, when The Vestcor Cos. plans to break ground on a two-and-a-half-acre development in the heart of Mayport village.
On Thursday morning, Vestcor officials presented general plans to the Mayport Waterfront Partnership for a walkable community with about 50 condominiums built on top of 15,000 square feet of retail shop space.
Vestcor chief executive Mark Farrell said he was pleased with the reception he got from the partnership, which was formed by the cities of Jacksonville and Atlantic Beach in 1997 to help revitalize the area.
Condos, retail ready to reshape Mayport Village
The Vestcor Cos. plans a condominium development in the heart of the historic fishing village. This is expected to spark redevelopment for the town, whose fishing industry has been squeezed by high fuel prices and seafood imports. The Mayport Waterfront Partnership has tried to revitalize the area for a decade.
Project details
# 50 units
# 15,000 square feet of retail
# Construction is expected to start next year and take 15 months to complete
# Development will try to maintain the character of a fishing town
# Condos will be built on Ocean Street between Henry and Pearl Streets
"There's been nothing built there in years, and for them to see anything was just a realization that this is really happening," he said.
The Vestcor development, called The Mayport Village, would mark a huge step in local efforts to spark a revival in the town, whose primary fishing industry has suffered as seafood imports and rising fuel costs have squeezed profits.
A number of seafood companies along the river have either sold out or are under contract to sell their businesses, signaling the end of the 60-acre village's traditional livelihood.
"I think we as a partnership really expected this," said Ed Lukacovic, a city senior planner assigned as program manager for the partnership. "Nothing is different than what's happening in the city of Jacksonville. There are large amounts of people moving in here."
Farrell said The Mayport Village will try to retain the rest of the town's charm and make it an asset to the development.
But some locals, many of whom have lived there for decades, are afraid that new condominiums will push out the Mayport they have known all their lives.
Jose Caboz, who said he fished there for 25 years before working for Mat Roland Seafood, said he's disappointed to see old businesses sell out to make way for new communities.
"It's going to destroy the heritage of this community," he said. "Development is squeezing fishermen out of business."
Caboz's current employer may actually sell his seafood company soon. Caboz said the owner has told employees that a potential buyer might purchase the property early next year.
Although they haven't announced plans, other developers are exploring their options.
Paul Fletcher, principal of Fletcher Management Co., said he has several parcels under contract and is figuring out what entitlements he could get on the property before closing. He said his developments, which would include almost 1,000 feet of water frontage, would probably also have condominiums and shopping on the ground floor.
The Vestcor property will be built along the Ocean Street waterfront between Henry and Pearl Streets. Surface parking would go on land on the other side of Ocean Street. Development of the project would probably take about 15 months. Vestcor officials said they did not know the project's final cost.
So far, Farrell said the project hasn't posed any challenges beyond those normally expected with a development. Because projects of that size haven't been built in Mayport before, Vestcor will test the waters with buyers before moving on to develop other parcels it owns in the area. Altogether, Farrell said Vestcor owns about 8 acres.
joe.light@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4689
From the Florida Times-Union, July 28, 2006:
http://www.jacksonville.com/images/072806/138659_300.jpg
Mayport condo project sets its sights on raising a village
Some see Vestcor's 2.5-acre mixed-use development as a spark that will fuel a revival of the slumping fishing hamlet.
By JOE LIGHT, The Times-Union
A historic fishing village will likely get its first taste of new development next year, when The Vestcor Cos. plans to break ground on a two-and-a-half-acre development in the heart of Mayport village.
On Thursday morning, Vestcor officials presented general plans to the Mayport Waterfront Partnership for a walkable community with about 50 condominiums built on top of 15,000 square feet of retail shop space.
Vestcor chief executive Mark Farrell said he was pleased with the reception he got from the partnership, which was formed by the cities of Jacksonville and Atlantic Beach in 1997 to help revitalize the area.
Condos, retail ready to reshape Mayport Village
The Vestcor Cos. plans a condominium development in the heart of the historic fishing village. This is expected to spark redevelopment for the town, whose fishing industry has been squeezed by high fuel prices and seafood imports. The Mayport Waterfront Partnership has tried to revitalize the area for a decade.
Project details
# 50 units
# 15,000 square feet of retail
# Construction is expected to start next year and take 15 months to complete
# Development will try to maintain the character of a fishing town
# Condos will be built on Ocean Street between Henry and Pearl Streets
"There's been nothing built there in years, and for them to see anything was just a realization that this is really happening," he said.
The Vestcor development, called The Mayport Village, would mark a huge step in local efforts to spark a revival in the town, whose primary fishing industry has suffered as seafood imports and rising fuel costs have squeezed profits.
A number of seafood companies along the river have either sold out or are under contract to sell their businesses, signaling the end of the 60-acre village's traditional livelihood.
"I think we as a partnership really expected this," said Ed Lukacovic, a city senior planner assigned as program manager for the partnership. "Nothing is different than what's happening in the city of Jacksonville. There are large amounts of people moving in here."
Farrell said The Mayport Village will try to retain the rest of the town's charm and make it an asset to the development.
But some locals, many of whom have lived there for decades, are afraid that new condominiums will push out the Mayport they have known all their lives.
Jose Caboz, who said he fished there for 25 years before working for Mat Roland Seafood, said he's disappointed to see old businesses sell out to make way for new communities.
"It's going to destroy the heritage of this community," he said. "Development is squeezing fishermen out of business."
Caboz's current employer may actually sell his seafood company soon. Caboz said the owner has told employees that a potential buyer might purchase the property early next year.
Although they haven't announced plans, other developers are exploring their options.
Paul Fletcher, principal of Fletcher Management Co., said he has several parcels under contract and is figuring out what entitlements he could get on the property before closing. He said his developments, which would include almost 1,000 feet of water frontage, would probably also have condominiums and shopping on the ground floor.
The Vestcor property will be built along the Ocean Street waterfront between Henry and Pearl Streets. Surface parking would go on land on the other side of Ocean Street. Development of the project would probably take about 15 months. Vestcor officials said they did not know the project's final cost.
So far, Farrell said the project hasn't posed any challenges beyond those normally expected with a development. Because projects of that size haven't been built in Mayport before, Vestcor will test the waters with buyers before moving on to develop other parcels it owns in the area. Altogether, Farrell said Vestcor owns about 8 acres.
joe.light@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4689