The Ghosts of Jacksonville's Past II

[Metro Jacksonville]

The Ghosts of Jacksonville's Past II



Arguing the merits of historic preservation can be a difficult task in a city that does not value its history. However, they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-nov-the-ghosts-of-jacksonvilles-past-ii

[simms3]

Very good very good, I'm always impressed by the graphics you guys create/superimpose.  Special request: can you do the Row?  I have a book at home that I haven't seen in a while so I would hope I still have it, but it has so many pictures of the Row in Riverside, almost all the houses and street scenes.

[thelakelander]

I'm planning on doing the Row next.  However, I'll have to get with some representatives from RAP to get access to older images.

[JSquared]

Fantastic and eye-opening work. Truly sad to see what's been lost, and what serves as progress Downtown.

[Bativac]

These threads always make me a little sad.

Great job on the images, though!

[duvaldude08]

A prime example of poor leadership. That why the next mayor election is so important. We have to stop this trend.

[grimss]

^ The Row would definitely be cool!

[KenFSU]

Really nice work Ennis.

[Coolyfett]

Interesting. I wonder what it would take company with a history of being downtown to comeback.

[thelakelander]

Drastic measures....think along the lines of 10-year tax abatement, the city giving away city owned property or heavily subsidizing parking.  Basically, things that really level the financial playing field between investing in downtown and the suburbs.  We don't like to talk about these things here but they do have a strong history of jump starting downtown revitalization in cities across America.

[tayana42]

Well done.  Spread the word. Like the idea of a similar piece on the Riverside Avenue "ROW".  RAP has an exhibit of photos of all the original homes and other structures along the row....it's at the Riverside Arts Market every Saturday down near the restrooms.

[fieldafm]

Drastic measures....think along the lines of 10-year tax abatement, the city giving away city owned property or heavily subsidizing parking.  Basically, things that really level the financial playing field between investing in downtown and the suburbs.  We don't like to talk about these things here but they do have a strong history of jump starting downtown revitalization in cities across America.

I agree with Lake.  In my business I see a lot of tax abatements on properties(NYC is particularly good at this) like condominiums(especially popular with college educated young professionals) and industrial buildings(especially in abandoned wharehouse districts that turn into more multi-use commercial districts).

I think tax abatements are particularly attractive for something like an economic enterprise zone along the commercial strip on 8th Street to encourage more medical-research related businesses to sprout up.

[heights unknown]

Great post. Speaking of Main Street, in my younger days in the U.S. Navy (I was quite wild, we're talking 70's and early 80's here), I used to frequent a Bar on Main Street called "The Flamingo Bar." It was right off Main and Duval and all kinds of people met and partied in there. If you walked east from Hemming Park to Main and turned left, there was a Hat Store on the corner, and across the street was Bifano's Restaurant (used to eat there all the time). Also used to eat at Iaeyasu of Tokyo (Chinese Restaurant) which was on Duval just before you got to Main and made that left to the Flamingo.  If you continued north on Main you would hit a couple of awsome strip joints (Midnight Hour and across the street I can't remember the name of that tittie bar but there was a gay bar on top of it). Even in those days there was more activity downtown than now.  After you partied at a couple of those joints, you could then get a room for about $29.00 at the "Heart of Jacksonville" Hotel (Oh, the good ole days!), and I mean a good, quality room. We had a ball!

"HU"

[Jerry Moran]

Drastic measures....think along the lines of 10-year tax abatement, the city giving away city owned property or heavily subsidizing parking.  Basically, things that really level the financial playing field between investing in downtown and the suburbs.  We don't like to talk about these things here but they do have a strong history of jump starting downtown revitalization in cities across America.

Great ideas. I was just a little shocked to find that most of the property owners around my location (the Elk's Building) have not as yet paid their 2009 property taxes.  The Elk's taxes were paid, and I am glad they were because I chip in about $7000 a year towards them.

Check outstanding property taxes here by owner or street.  Entering a particular street  in the street field will list every property on the street that is in arrears.

http://news.jacksonville.com/db/taxes/index.php

I did not know Downtown was quite this bad off.  Makes me wonder about the not so distant future...

[ronchamblin]

Thanks Jerry.  I forgot about the 2009 taxes.  Over $18K now.  If you had a heart, you would come over more often and buy a book.  Certainly you wouldn't need a book covering how to be an excellent Italian Chef, as the food was very good tonight.  Perhaps a book on getting along with bums, vagrants, and the homeless though.