Courthouse Asphalt or Green Space: The Choice Is Yours?

[Bativac]

Good for Peyton and JEDC.  I wish the article had shown a sketch of what Corrigan is proposing and then people could see exactly how many lanes of traffic will have to be crossed by pedestrians.  How about those wonderful comments following the article.  This tells me just how far we have to go in getting the residents in Jacksonville to start thinking beyond the almighty car.

Those comments always kill me, and I'm afraid they are far more representative of Jacksonville-at-large than some might be willing to admit.

It's a shame the article kept mentioning the $629k for "public art." Surefire way to piss off taxpayers who are struggling is to suggest some of their money is going to be spent on "high falutin' art." A sketch or diagram of the proposed park might have helped.

[thelakelander]

The TU added this graphic.

[TheProfessor]

Please send your support of the plaza to the city council members. 

[Bativac]

The TU added this graphic.

Is it really a question of just "keeping the street open?" I was under the impression that a great deal of re-building would need to be done - basically, putting in a new street.

If the reporting on this was accurate, perhaps the opinions of the peanut gallery of commentors would change...

[TheProfessor]

I think that they would have to rebuild Monroe Street.

[comncense]

It's always frustrating / depressing to read the comments from people on the Jax.com site.

[thelakelander]

Bativac, that section of Monroe Street no longer exists.  To replace that connection, a new two block street must be constructed from scratch.  While the plaza can be constructed within the current courthouse budget, a new street can't and will require additional taxpayer funds.

[TheProfessor]

What will they do with the old courthouse?  Loft apartments?

[thelakelander]

Although, we've had our debates here online, it looks like most (ex. mayoral candidates, Jax Chamber, CVB, etc.) believe it should become the future site of the next convention center.

[Basstacular]

It's always frustrating / depressing to read the comments from people on the Jax.com site.

+1
Sometimes I feel like it's pointless to try and respond to some of the people who comment on jax.com.  It's always so laced with negativity, which in the case of this argument is a article about our Mayor doing the right thing and probably saving money as many in this thread have pointed out.

[TheProfessor]

A convention center could go into a million vacant lots downtown. Why knock down a perfectly good building shell. IMO

[urbanlibertarian]

Does Mayor Peyton's support of the plaza help the cause or hurt it?

[Bativac]

Bativac, that section of Monroe Street no longer exists.  To replace that connection, a new two block street must be constructed from scratch.  While the plaza can be constructed within the current courthouse budget, a new street can't and will require additional taxpayer funds.

That's what I thought - so why doesn't the TU article state as much? Also, I noticed in the TU article that city officials "seemed to think" and "assumed" Monroe St would remain open. Did nobody take a close look at this thing? Also, the article mentions that Monroe St was supposed to be the "grand entrance" to the downtown area. Really? Did this somehow not come up while the Courthouse was being planned?

What is going on around here? Is there a planning dept? Or do they just approve stuff without considering how it might impact other stuff???

[Captain Zissou]

Does Mayor Peyton's support of the plaza help the cause or hurt it?

Good Point!!  I bet if he opposed it and the article had the true costs of rebuilding Monroe, the towns people would be up in arms in support of the plaza. 

Look at the extreme angle you would have to take based on Lake's top photo.  They're going to need to stop cars so far back at that intersection so that people on Monroe don't shave off their front bumper.  If they build back Monroe, it will be unsafe for DRIVERS!!!  Coming from 95, you'll hit the intersection, make an extreme right, make an extreme left to follow the curvature of the road, then make another extreme right to get back on the grid section of Monroe.  None of the renderings have done a good job portraying how sharp of a turn the road will be in front of the courthouse.

[dougskiles]

I am disappointed in the article.  I feel that he could have provided more factual information like how much would be spent on re-building Monroe Street in comparison to the plaza.

I understand that Mr. Corrigan is a City Councilman, but when he states that the "general public assumes it's going to be open", I wonder how he came to that conclusion.  It has been 7 years since the general public used Monroe Street to access downtown.