Billiard Parlor Update

The following is the floorplan for Cue’s & Brew’s that I pulled from the permit set of plans.  Cues & Brews Floorplan

Does anyone have an opinion on the storefront windows that they have put in?  A stipulation to the planning department allowing them to have a billiard parlor was that they not have dark or tinted windows.  I appears to me that they have just that.  I will take a closer look.

Cues and Brews Billiards Lounge coming to The First Block

Some of you may have noticed construction progress at 1186 Edgewood Avenue, the old Wood’s Pharmacy building.  This project has been controversial to say the least but is in the works regardless.  I pulled the permit plans from the Building Department to see what is being constructed and it is in fact a billiard parlor.

It appears that the first floor will be developed now with the second floor being prepared for future development.  The reason for this could be many…financial reasons, zoning or permitting issues, or the commercial real estate market.   The original plans show construction on the second floor but it was eliminated at some point indicating to me that it could be for zoning or permitting issues, but that is my speculation.

The first floor shows 10 pool tables throughout with a bar area in the middle and seating and booths around the perimeter of the area.  I wondered about the gaming machines that have been the main source of controversy with this project.  There is one area that shows chairs and a counter against the wall that could be used for gaming machines but there was no indication on the plans of such machines.  The failure of The Games of Atlantis that opened and closed a few doors down hopefully will deter the owner of installing gaming machines.  There is also a kitchen on the first floor indicating that they will be serving food or some sorts.  I am trying to contact the owner to get some concrete information on their ultimate goals and intentions.  I will update when I am able to due so.

I am personally looking forward to Cues and Brews and hope Murray Hill will welcome the new neighbors and support them unless their intentions and establishment dictate otherwise. 

The Hill Gets A Facelift

Word from Murray Hill Neighbors is that the town center improvements  that have been in the planning stages is set to commence.  I referenced this project back in October and am eager to see the design put into place.  You can see some of the work now with the replacement of the utility poles at the corner of Post and Edgewood.   With all of the tenent improvements along to main corridor this will be a welcome project to keep the push going. 

 From the Murray Hill Neighbors website:

Town Center Initiative Work To Begin
It’s finally getting started!! The city has hired a contractor and work should begin the end of June on the long, long awaited Murray Hill Town Center Initiative. This project will make public right-of-way improvements to the Post and Edgewood intersection extending 1 block north and 2 blocks south. There will be landscaping improvements, historic lighting and the replacement of the wooden utility poles with concrete ones. Special thanks and kudos to the Murray Hill Preservation Association for making this project happen!!

Again, this is good news and thanks to Michelle Frericks and the MHPA for their hardwork and dedication to the neighborhood.

Games of Atlantis

Grand opening tonight, at 1190 Edgewood Avenue on the First Block is a gaming room.  I’m not sure yet what all of this means but I do not think this will be well received by the community.  This gaming room is comprised of 60 automated machines, and is not to my knowledge affiliated with the proposed billiard parlor located two doors down at the old Woods Pharmacy.  A dispute arose with the billiard parlor when people thought they would have gaming machines there.  Instead one opens just doors away.  I went to talk to the owner tonight but they were busy trying to get the place open.  I did instead talk with a manager and employee to try to get some details.  The following is what I learned:

• There are sixty total automated machines similar to slots.
• The machines are either a penny or nickel and reward Visa debit cards for redemption if you win money.
• They will also have special games that offer rewards of gift certificates to local merchants in the area.
•  They will be serving free food or non-alcoholic beverages while you play.
• The Alibi bar next door will allow customers of the gaming room of legal age to buy liquor or beer, leave, and bring it back to the gaming room for consumption.

This is probably what had Suzanne Jenkins in an uproar about these gaming machine establishments.  I was under the impression that her riff had to do with the hypothetical use of the billiard parlor but low and behold, it is here in Murray Hill.  

I should have asked more questions…will there be smoking inside (the place smelled like a mixture of wet paint and cigarette smoke), what will the hours be, what was the previous use of this building, what kind of permits did the contractor pull (an electrical permit for a new service for all I can tell, which may be all that is required).   I was just caught up in the fact that there is this new gaming room opening up right on the First Block.  It smells fishy to me and if you’re familiar with my previous posts on the matter I may be eating my words.  It seems like, for all of this time the attention was directed toward the use of the old pharmacy, but instead there is a gaming room opening up two doors down to no attention.  Again, time will tell, but if anyone has any additional input please fell free to contact The Hill. 

MHPA Meeting Tonight

The Murray Hill Preservation Association is holding their monthly meeting tonight at the Murray Hill Presbyterian Church at 7:00 p.m.  Tonight’s guests are from New South, the contractor that performed the architectural survey phase I for Murray Hill.  They will be discussing their findings from the survey and some history of the homes in Murray Hill. 

Kriss Duckett, the MHPA President will also hopefully have some new information regarding the Murray Hill Town Center project that was slated to begin this fall.  The Hill inquired to the MHPA for some new information regarding the final plan and when construction was supposed to commence.  Hopefully these questions can be answered tonight.

Murray Hill Town Center

The Murray Hill Community Newsletter reveals that the Murray Hill Town Center Initiative will be breaking ground this fall.  MHPA deserves a majority of the credit for this project.  They have pushed and been an intricate part of the process since its inception.  This is why we should all belong to MHPA and do what we can for our neighborhood.  I have read the Town Center Vision Plan Phase I Initiative published by the City of Jacksonville Planning and Development Department in March of 2004.  That is my only reference for this article.  I have put in request for information to see if the initiative has been revised since then and have not received a response so I am writing this under the assumption that the Phase III construction about to commence is relatively unaltered from this Phase I report. The Murray Hill Town Center Initiative is part of the larger Town Center Program backed by the City of Jacksonville and City Council Member Suzanne Jenkins.  It provides support to local organizations in helping to revitalize community areas that have some historic or aesthetic character.  For the main corridor through Murray Hill, Edgewood Avenue, the Murray Hill Preservation Association has sought the assistance of the Town Center Program to redevelop and improve that stretch of Murray Hill.  In late 2002 the MHPA received a grant from the City of Jacksonville for Phase I of the Town Center Program which designated funds to the association for research, analysis, and planning of improvements to the Murray Hill area.  

Phase I is just the first of three phases to the process.  Phase I grants money to gather important planning information from the city, state, and the community to create a vision of the most efficient way to improve the neighborhood.  After site visits and community meetings and workshops to get input from the residents, a perspective plan was created that visually summarizes the Town Center Vision.  The project team then took the plan and created a cost estimate for all of the work involved, thus creating a budget for the project and Performa to take to the City of Jacksonville for funding.  With the help of the professional planners and members of the Planning Department the information gathered during Phase I, the plan and the budget were used to create a comprehensive report utilized when MHPA applied for Phase II funding.  Approval of Phase II and Phase III applications are never guaranteed, each one is evaluated separately from the others but are necessary to the process.  Upon approval of Phase II the City grants funds to create the construction plans for the project.  This involves hiring civil engineers, surveyors, contractors, and keeping the City and the State government agencies that control the roads involved.  After the construction plans are complete, assuming everything in the plan is feasible, the local and state agencies are on board with the project, and the work to be performed is within the approved budget the team can apply for Phase III funding which will grant money to implement the work described in the Phase I report, thus constructing the Town Center Vision.   

That takes me to the vision.  To those familiar with the Murray Hill area, you’ll find that the plan is impressive.  It is solely focused on Edgewood Avenue from Mayflower Street at The First Block to Hamilton Street near Lenox Avenue.  One goal of the Town Center Team was to prioritize the improvements in order to get the most done for the money granted to Murray Hill.  The following is the list of improvements contained in the Phase I Town Center Initiative.

•  Right of way improvements:  Edgewood Avenue from Falmouth Street to Mayflower Street would become two lanes opposed to the current four lane configuration.  This would create room for turning lanes going each way to improve traffic patterns through the main corridor.  This also creates room for a central median that would be landscaped with trees, shrubs, and sod.  This is going to generate a much more inviting atmosphere while driving down Edgewood.  There are plans to continue this two lane configuration all the way to Lenox Avenue, but again the team had to prioritize and there are other items that they felt were more important to focus on towards the Southeastern portion of Edgewood.  The block between Mayflower Street and Plymouth Street has been previously enhanced as part of a separate project also put together by MHPA.            
• Pedestrian lighting:  This is an important part of creating that unique Town Center aura.  We currently have the street lighting that is used for practical purposes, but it not aesthetically pleasing.  Instead of using funding to replace those lights that have to conform to minimum City and Sate standards the team decided to add Pedestrian Lighting to supplement and take the focus off of the Street Lighting.  The budget calls for an estimated 56 new twelve foot posts with globe fixtures to be installed along Edgewood to illuminate the night and create a more pedestrian friendly environment to promote activity in the area.                      
• Sidewalk Improvements:  In addition to new lighting the plan calls for a new four foot sidewalk on the Southwest side of Edgewood Avenue from Hamilton Street leading to the Murray Hill Methodist Church.  I have jogged through that area and it becomes tenuous as you proceed towards Lenox Avenue.  As well as adding the section of sidewalk the condition of all the existing sidewalks will be assessed and repaired as needed. 
• Reduction of Curb Cuts:  As Murray Hill has developed over the years and the codes and ordinances for road construction evolve the curbs and gutters around Murray Hill have become quite inconsistent.   Time has created one long exit off of Edgewood into any one of the merchants along the corridor.  The town Center Initiative will work to reduce the number of unnecessary curb cuts.  It will be evaluated on a case by case basis, but areas with the extra curb cuts such as the Chevron at Post Street and Edgewood Avenue will have those replaced with curbs, sidewalks and landscaping. 

• Street Trees:  In addition to the landscaping in the new medians the plan calls for street trees to be planted along Edgewood Avenue on both sides of the street.  The recommended street trees are Live Oaks, Palatka Holly, and Cabbage Palms to create shade and further promote pedestrian activity.   

• Intersection Improvements:  The intersections of Edgewood Avenue and Falmouth Street, Edgewood Avenue and Post Street, Edgewood Avenue and Trask Street will all get new single mast arm traffic signals, similar to those going up along Post Street and College Street in Riverside.  These intersections along with Edgewood Avenue and College Street, Edgewood Avenue and Antisdale Street, Edgewood Avenue and Corby Street, and Edgewood Avenue and Mayflower Street will get a new eight foot pedestrian crosswalk of red brick pavers enclosed with a concrete header curb.   
• Additional Parking:  New angle parking will be installed on each side of Edgewood between Antisdale Street and Corby Street.  This new parking is mainly provided to facilitate the Florida Christian Home and the businesses across the street. 
• Bus Stop Improvements:  Many of you around Murray Hill recognize the extensive use of City Buses around the neighborhood.  There is most likely someone at every stop whenever the busses are running.  The bus stops along the Edgewood corridor will receive new benches and shelter where space allows.  The plan calls for new bus stops at the corners of Antisdale Street and College Street, Trask Street and College Street, and Mayflower Street and College Street.  They do not show one at the corners of Post Street and College Street which is surprising.  The Jacksonville Transportation Association has developed guidelines for bus shelters and is currently funded for 40 shelters citywide.  They have committed funds to the Murray Hill Town Center Initiative to match funds to install these new bus shelters.   

• Street Furniture:  In addition to new bus shelters the plan calls for forty five new benches and trash receptacle to be installed along the corridor as space allows.  This new furniture will be iron and help keep the neighborhood quaint and hopefully clean providing receptacles for litter.   

• Finally the plan calls for an Entry Monument similar to the one currently at The First Block to be placed in the median at the intersection of Plymouth Street and Edgewood.  Also a display Kiosk will be installed near the Murray Hill Theater to serve as a central information source for community news or flyers as opposed to telephone poles throughout the neighborhood.

Ultimately the MHPA and partners in this project could not fit everything they wanted into the Town Center Vision due to budget constraints.  The estimated cost for the work described above came to $1,094,000.00 at 2004 estimated costs.  Construction materials and labor have gone up quite a bit in the last two years.  Hopefully some of the items do not get cut out because of costs inflation, we will see by the spring when the work is scheduled to be completed.  Some items that were discussed that did not make the cut are still part of the long term vision:

• Moving utilities underground:  not feasible until major water or sewer work is necessary.
• Overhead string lights:  possibly to be funded directly by MHPA to light up the new trees to be planted to create a festive atmosphere year round.
• Overpass wall improvements:  Possible future project to spruce up the Roosevelt overpass with murals or landscaping.
• Pocket Park:  There was no publicly owned land to create this park off Edgewood but there is a parcel at 1020 Edgewood Avenue that is centrally located that was recommended in the Phase I staff report.
• Community Center: Not financially feasible at this point but The Jones College building has been discussed as a location for such a center.
• Building improvements:  Renovations to existing buildings along the Edgewood corridor can be suggested but not mandatory and takes the investment of the property owners.  Regulations can be put in place though that would require certain guidelines be met if any alteration or renovation were to occur.  This goes back to the discussion about designating Murray Hill as a Historic District.   

I again want to applaud the MHPA, the citizens of Murray Hill who participated in the Phase I design, the city council members who helped push through the red tape, and the Planning and Development Department for offering their administrative and monetary assistance.  This Town Center Initiative is just the next step in the revitalization of Murray Hill.

Who Said Gaming Machines?

I ran across some current news on the Billiard Parlor to be located at the old Woods Pharmacy on the Murray Hill Neighbors website.  It is concerning the use of gaming machines at the establishment that has caused uproar since it was mentioned at the exception hearing before the Planning Commission back in July.  In a recent post I discussed this contentious point at length and still don’t understand what the problem is.  As someone who took the time to read the minutes from the entire hearing on E-06-24 my opinion is still that the owners of the establishment hypothetically mentioned that gaming machines at that location would be legal under the current zoning laws.  They did not say that is what they wanted only that they could do it, by law, where the Billiard Parlor was being opposed.  Maybe I don’t have all the facts on the owner’s intentions or I am reading the hearing minutes incorrectly.  Here is an excerpt from the minutes from the original exception hearing in which Tim Franklin (I assume the owner’s legal council) talks about what the owner could and would do if his application for an exception allowing many pool tables were denied.

 

“Were Mr. Goff here for any other reason, simply to turn a profit or get something going and sell this as opposed to following his dream here, he would most likely open up a sports bar, frankly, serving beer and wine in conjunction with the sale of food, order from a menu and served on premises.

 

He’s got two pool tables, allowed by right.  He would have a number of dart boards, which there is no limitation in the code on.  In addition, he would have a number of online gaming facilities there and big screen televisions.  The same thing you would see that the –for a lack of a better term, the sports bar concept. As they will tell you, your staff, able staff will tell you that’s permitted by right in the zoning district.”

Now I may be crazy, but what was stated at the meeting is the exact opposite of  “I want to have online gaming machines in my bar”.  There may be more that meets the eye and I have not talked to the owner but I think everyone is missing the boat here. 

With that said, there was a new bill introduced to the Jacksonville City Council that intends to restrict the use of gaming machines in the Jacksonville city limits.  Though it is a city wide restriction it appears to be directed at this particular location.  The bill is separate from the City of Jacksonville ongoing litigation to determine whether amusement gambling machines are illegal under current Florida statues.  Ordinance 2006-739 would restrict the use of amusement gambling machines only to establishment that are considered amusement centers.

“A bona fide amusement center is an establishment that derives 50 percent of its revenue through one or a combination of the following:

1)                  the sale of food, which is ordered from a menu, prepared and served for pay for consumption on the premises only, and

2)                  the operation of video, pin ball machines, pool tables or other recreational machines or devices which do not entitle the person operating the machine to receive points or coupons.”

The Murray Hill Neighbors community news report leads you to believe that this bill introduced by Council Members Jenkins, Davis, Fussell, Daniels, Johnson, and Yates is in reference to the proposed Billiard Parlor on Edgewood but I do not see the correlation.  I would like to see how this bill could affect the likes of the dog tracks, Dave & Buster’s, or Chuck e Cheese for that matter before I worry about the effect it is going to have on the new Billiard Parlor on the First Block

Chevron Update

The gas station tank replacement seems to be complete.  Not to dwell on such a meager subject but that station at Post and Edgewood is one of two places to get gas in Murray Hill, the other being on the corner of Lenox and Cassat. 

With that said, people are interested in the improvements being done at the Chevron.  I inquired last night of the gas pumps, whether they now took credit cards or had they worked on the pumps at all?  The answer is no.  The owner doesn’t want to pay the fee to have operational credit or debit card payments at the pumps.  I assume this involves a financial service and possibly an extra phone line at the business, but either way the owner doesn’t want to pay up, and thus you have to walk into the store to pay.  I told the cashier that people would be more inclined to get gas there if they were able to complete their transaction without having to come in and talk to him.  There would be more commerce, and in turn credit card machines at the pumps would pay for themselves.

In finally the improvements at the Chevron Station were nothing more than a necessity, not cosmetic or convenience upgrades.  Shoot

Billiards at the First Block

In case you haven’t heard, the current owner of the old Woods Pharmacy at 1136 Edgewood Avenue, on the First Block, has been trying to get approval from the city to covert that building to a Billiard Parlor.  Since the building is currently zoned CCG-1 there could only be a Billiard Parlor there by exception from the City of Jacksonville Planning Commission.  

This proposed use has created quite a stir with the residents here in Murray Hill.  Many have voiced their opposition at the public meetings or just to themselves and neighbors in private.  Their main argument is that particular area of the neighborhood, being so visible, does not need, nor does anyone want, a dark, seedy pool hall, attracting unsavory characters at all hours of the night.  I completely understand and agree with that viewpoint.  The owner on the other hand argues that he is a billiard aficionado, and that is his love and hobby.  He wants to open a family and community friendly, upscale billiard establishment.  Furthermore he argues, and is correct, that he could open a pub, or sports bar at that location without anyone’s consent.  This would in turn create the potential for the same type of establishment that those in opposition of the Billiard Parlor fear.  To top it off, rumors and assumptions have spread on the subject that I would like to clear up.  I have included an excerpt from a recent post on The Metro Jax forum concerning the speculation that in conjunction with a “pool hall” there would also be a plethora of gaming machines: 

“I just read the minutes from the Planning commission meeting from June 15 concerning the Exception E-06-24 for a Billiard parlor at the old Woods pharmacy. The only mention of gaming machines was a hypothetical assessment of what the owner could do if it were not granted the exception. Their (the owner and legal council) argument is that they could open a sports bar, with two pool tables, darts, and gaming machines in that location immediately without approval from anyone. In addition, a coffee shop was mentioned, which I think we all agree Murray Hill needs. Instead the owner claims that his passion is Billiards and as previously stated wants to open a family and community friendly billiard parlor.

There were six Murray Hill residents that showed up to oppose the exception. Their main arguments were related to parking, late hours of operation, and the general opposition to the idea of a “pool hall” in the neighborhood. They argue that there are as many as four locations in the area to get a game of pool. Not many of the opposition had very valid arguments. They mostly referred to the chaos that was Fat Cats, the previous bar that is now Martini’s.

With that said a brief synopsis of the owner’s intent…..these conditions were part of the public record and ultimately are going to be part of the legal requirements of the exceptions approval:

-Reduce the maximum number of tables from 22 on the original application down to 17.
-Beer and wine only, no liquor
-Maintain the existing Wood’s Pharmacy facade….this included not tinting or smoking the windows to create the dark, gloomy look.
-Make the exception non-transferable upon sale of the property. Thus the next owner would not be able to operate a Billiard parlor.
-A dress code. Men on the weekends required to wear collard shirts. This is in response to the oppositions concerns that there will be an overflow from Martini’s across the thoroughfare and the two could combine crowds to increase traffic and noise in the area.
-No live music or outdoor amplification of music.
-Tables rented by the hour required a deposit of a driver’s license or credit card.
-Limit the hours of operation to 1 am Monday through Thursday, 2 am on Friday and Saturday, and 12 midnight on Sunday.

There were twelve conditions the owner submitted in his package but I could only find the one’s listed above in the minutes.

With that said the commission ultimately decided to approve the exception, overturning the staff recommendations of denial. They almost had to. This proposed used does not contradict the intent of the Zoning Code. I understand why the neighborhood is apprehensive of the idea but we have to take the man (Owner – Gary Goff) at his word. The Commission approved the exception but in doing so leveled some restrictions on it, all listed above. In addition they added a condition that the closing hours be 12 midnight every night no exceptions. Their main concern in the end was the enforceability of those conditions.

Parking also came up a bit. That argument goes like this: A building of that size (7,800 square feet) at the previous use as a pharmacy, at retail parking generation rate would require 26 spaces. For a pool hall three parking spaces are required for every two pool tables thus at 17 tables the required parking would be 25.5 = 26 spaces. Since the pharmacy originally required 26 spaces, the owner vested these spaces and is now going to use them. The commission further pointed out that if the exception was denied and the owner opened up a sports bar there would be a much higher demand for parking and thus the Billiard parlor parking would help mitigate the parking problem. It’s semantics at that point but that is the logic.

I’m the last person that wants a seedy pool hall opened on the First Block Who wants to be intimidated in their own neighborhood. You would want to walk or ride your bike to Moon River. Or take your children down. Without any prior knowledge of the owner, I tend to believe that the owner has community friendly intentions. Legally there is little to stop him now so why not embrace the idea and visit the place. If he opens an upscale Billiard parlor and we all visit generating business and the buzz then why would anyone want to change that into a run down pool hall (not that he would be able to).”

From here I’m not sure what will happen.  There has not been any visible activity at the site, and all efforts to contact the owner have been to no avail.  It will come down to……is the owner telling the truth?  Can the area support an upscale Billiard Parlor?  If so, what other venues will be attracted to the First Block?  If not, can the City enforcing its own restrictions on the exception they approved?