Main Branch LLC negotiating purchase of Haydon Burns
06/14/06 • Posted in: Downtown Jacksonville by Joey Marchy 4 Comments »
I guess the TU decided to run the article today. Old library’s future may be condos, stores reveals that Main Branch LLC is working with the city to finalize a deal to purchase the old main library. In case you don’t remember here Main Branch’s original intentions for the Haydon Burns:
Main Branch LLC plans to convert the library to condos, office space, a restaurant and a grocery store. Most important, Main branch will preserve the architecture, which is a defining element of Ocean Street.
The environmental concerns that busted Peterbrook’s plans were accounted for by Main Branch when they submitted their original proposal, smart! Tony Allegretti had the following to say:
Until you reach the milestones of contract and closing, you never want to say never. Things can always go wrong,” he said. “Right now, is there a red flag that we’re concerned about? No.
This is great news almost one year to the day I wrote my first Urban Jacksonville post about the redevelopment of the Haydon Burns. Even though I couldn’t spell Haydon Burns, see the post, I knew this was a good opportunity for Downtown Jacksonville development.
I am looking forward to the coming weeks as this story develops. I will be meeting with Tony Allegretti to review some of the details and of course, you know, I will post them here when I do.
Should be able to cram a lot of units in there.
“..Main branch will preserve the architecture…”
That’s going to make for some bad views from some of the condos, at least from the east wall on Ocean St. unless they knock a few holes in the precast walls.
The original architecture includes “provision for addition of fourth floor, with small columns stubbed through the roof and two elevator towers constructed for that purpose.” * So it wouldn’t violate the architect’s intent if the building was expanded upward.
*(http://www.taylorhardwick.com/library.htm)
that’s great…i love that building and am glad they’re finally trying to do something worthwhile. would’ve loved to see a theater there, but the restaurant and grocer will be welcome as well.
Main Branch plans to add two floors to the structure. They would hold the condos. The existing structure would be converted into a mix of uses consisting of retail, office and restaurant space.
Btw, that rendering is from an earlier proposal before the RFP process began.
Thanks for pointing that out Lake, I should have mentioned that in the post. Grocery Store! Grocery Store! Grocery Store! C’mon everybody!