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.
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.
Tomorrow night, August 14th is the annual neighborhood watch meeting for Murray Hill in the Murry Hill Methodist Church at 4101 College Street.
You know the program…these meetings allow neighbors to network in segments, meet each other in effort to help each other out and “watch the neighborhood”. These types of program seem to be fairly successful in teaming up to deter theft, loitering, and drug activity. I personally invite the effort to keep portions of Murray Hill on their rise to rehabilitation.
During Artwalk last Wednesday at the Thief In The Knight gallery ironically a thief in the night ripped off Yeti the Munny. By knowing how much time and effort the organizers, sponsers, and artists themselves put into this show, it is despicable that someone would steal this piece of art.
An “ABB” all bloggers bulletin has been placed on finding Yeti. I like to concentrate on matters specifically concerning Murray Hill, but this affects all parts of the city. So if you or anyone you know has any information on the location of Yeti please post here or at Urban Jacksonville on the where abouts. Do so anonymously if need be… just do it.
If your looking for an alternative Oriental food delivery establishment, look no further than Aurathai.
A sign on their front window boasts delivery and I called to confirm. You can call in an order for lunch and dinner. They don’t currently have strict area boundaries, but you do have to order a minimum amount of food.
For Murray Hill, Riverside, and Avondale the minimum is $25. Outside of that (Ortega, Westside, and even Downtown) the minimum is $35. I should have pressed to find out if they consider Springfield part of Downtown but I didn’t want to get into that debate.
So when you feel like having a night in you can still get some decent spring rolls and padt thai.
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.
Probably not the way someone wanted to end their Father’s Day. Gun fire erupted in Murray Hill last night on the 3600 block of Dellwood Avenue. In the early evening I personally heard the gun shots in rapid succession. Normally I dismiss those sounds for fireworks but these had a much more ominous tone causing me to realize the severity of the situation. Unfortunately I was correct and a man was killed on the front porch of a Murray Hill home during and apparent domestic dispute.
In an unrelated incident, can someone tell me why I have maple syrup hand prints all over the side of my house and car? Apparently someone with any affinity towards pancakes lost their balance meandering through my yard early Sunday morning. Good thing I wasn’t awake or there could have been two unfortunate incidents in Murray Hill this weekend.
Despite the absence:
For another review of Murray Hill establishments we have Jim Newman’s Family Style Barber Shop. As for family it should be “old school”.
Jim Newman has been at his current location of 1165 South Edgewood Avenue for 22 years after moving from a spot on Normandy near Ellis. A barber by trade for 40+ years, Jim Newman understands the art of the Barber Shop and displays that throughout his gallery. It is the ancient trade of hair cutting, straight razor shaves, and genuine conversation that permeates the Jim Newman shop.
For the inquisitive, I asked Jim about the previous competition at the old Wood’s Pharmacy and their barber. He responded that they never had a big following / business, thus not competition at all. But that just may be Jim.
If you like a good old school barber and you respect your elders check out the Jim Newman’s Barber Shop near the first block in Murray Hill.
Haircuts $8 +
Hours: Tues. – Fri.6:00 am – 5:30 pm, Sat.6:00 am – 3:00 pm
Phone 904.381.0199
The Lakelander has compiled a thorough photo tour on Murray Hill that is posted on the Metro Jacksonville website. A nice compilation of commercial, residential, and park areas that highlight the neighborhood.
Metro Jax has evolved into one of the leading sources of current events in the city. The members of the forum are informative and diverse which spawn relevant debate on subjects that should matter to us all. A definite Hill recommendation.
Although metrojax won’t start a unique thread for Murray Hill I still applaud the Lakelander for their work in shining a bright light on Murray Hill.
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:
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.
