Hard Love, a concert venue, opened at the old Kirby Vacuums in Murray Hill, which was a constant victim of cars crashing into the side.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A new face in Murray Hill is hoping a road project will help protect that face.
The Florida Department of Transportation is upgrading Post Street in Murray Hill with a roundabout and new safety measures.
The crew at Hard Love was engaged in setting it up as a fresh venue for concerts and events, while outside, FDOT was actively working to prevent vehicles from crashing into it.
“Something cool that I think we all believe will help the community and neighborhood,” said Mike Brancaccio while preparing a new room at Hard Love.
Brancaccio is part of the team helping to bring a new face to Murray Hill – Hard Love, a music and event space on Post Street that opened in June.
The team knows a bit about the history of the old Kirby’s Vacuums storefront.
“It was already damaged a few times. Yeah, it’s a concern,” said Brancaccio.
First Coast News highlighted a 2019 incident where a vehicle crashed into Kirby Vacuums, and local residents remarked that it happened so frequently that the owner eventually painted a stop sign mural on the wall.
Brancaccio says they’ve done their best to make sure that wall can withstand any more hits.
“It had been repaired, but part of that wall we had to reinforce with some additional concrete and bracing,” said Brancaccio.
“Probably going to try to get one of those big metal U poles to put right over that area,” added fellow employee Colby Bacon.
In a perfect world, it wouldn’t be hit at all, and that’s what FDOT is working on.
Crews just finished resurfacing and painting Post Street at the curve.
“The new pavement markings we are applying are designed to be more visible and brightly colored,” stated FDOT Spokesperson Jacob Pickering. “Resurfacing the road with new asphalt significantly enhances safety. This means no more issues with uneven surfaces or drivers swerving to avoid bumps or manholes.”
Pickering says the paint on the curve is retroreflective to catch drivers’ attention to add to the arrows that are already at the curve.
The resurfacing is part of a larger project along several miles of Post Street, including a brand new roundabout at Old Roosevelt and Post Street.
“The majority of the issues we’ve seen in the past at that intersection are rear-ending,” said Pickering. “You have two stoplights right in front of you, then people are stopped in the middle of the road. The project is aimed to reduce crashes by 70%, at least.”
Brancaccio would still like to see some flashing lights at the curve by Hard Love, but he won’t complain about the resurfacing giving their guests a much smoother ride when they come out for concerts.
“I think this’ll be a good step in the right direction,” said Brancaccio. “At least a good first step.”
FDOT is hoping to have the new roundabout open by Labor Day.
