JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Dallas, Texas-based designer landed its bid to mold the future of the former Jacksonville Landing location. City leaders announced Thursday that Perkins & Will won the competition for Riverfront Plaza, a new downtown park.
Soon after renderings of the design were released, many began questioning the look on social media. The planned 151-foot tall stainless steel structure will say "Jax," but many are saying that's not what it looks like.
Here's what people are saying about the estimated $12 million project.
- "This is sad, it doesn't even look like a J at the beginning. Everytime I see this it looks like it says something else. Money could be spent in a better way than this for what was a great place once." - Shanna Bullard
- "What does 'jerp' mean?" - Christopher Hamer
- "I thought it said 'derp' in fancy writing." - Kota Williams
- "I seriously thought it said lax." - Jack Dejinoza
- "Ok! I thought it was trying to say Love or something." - Kwanza Yates
- "Looks like DERP to me. Now that you've seen it, you can't unsee it." - Kevin C. Dias
- "We lack cursive instruction in education today! This structure says lex!" - Cheryl McHenry Saoud
- "Meanwhile back at the ranch... one mall is condemned, the other is on the way out, and the town center is closing stores daily. And y’all getting a statue that says 'derp'" - Danielle Mammarella
- "How did this win? It doesn't even look like it spells "Jax" one bit." - Jamie Kress Smith
- "Sooooo. $12 million plus so we can have a 150’ tall DERP on our riverfront?" - Glen Smith
- "It looks like it can say many different things, but the important thing to remember is that it should be much bigger and also a roller coaster." - Lance Akins
- "The cursive is bad, not a clear “JAX”. Stainless steel in sunshine state? Everyone put on your sunglasses and keep your hands off that hot burning steel!" - Alan Duke
More than 1,500 people have commented on this Facebook post on the project. Join the conversation.
