Downtown Revitalization: A Broken Record

[duvaldude08]

If you want to revitalize Jacksonville Downtown, then the very first step that you have to make is GET RID OF THE CHURCH IN IT. Any city that let a Church nearly runs and controls who can and can't open a business downtown, gets what it deserves. Remember when the Super Bowl was here, it was fun to go downtown. Now, that the superbowl is gone and the church has ran off some of the businesses that it did not like, you see it become what it will always be until get rid of one of the root causes.

You will never create a larger or greater community by looking for heretics to expel.

SPAR felt the same way about all those troublesome 'minorities' and 'lower middle class people'.

Actively working to expel them didnt result in Springfield becoming Beverly Hills.

The reputation of that church is way out of bounds with its actual deeds.  The bad guy (in my opinion) was Dr. Jerry Vines, a vain, power grasping intolerant little man who felt it was his mission to make a Pharisee of the Church of Rectitude.

Hes been gone for a number of years, and is characteristically working subtly against the interests of the church that he nearly destroyed during his stewardship.

First Baptist has gone from 23k members down to around 6-8k in attendance.

It is not the problem downtown.

I agree stephen. Im not a huge fan of FBC, however I do not feel there the problem. I think their influence may show through council members who attend the church, but that is about it. They are FAR from the problem. We just need real leeadship and vision. Thats the problem.

[JaxNative23]

You may be correct, but from my experience in the downtown area. I have seen FBC goers going down to city council meeting demanding everything downtown to be closed by a certain hour. I would understand their thinking if they lived downtown, but they don't, they just go to church downtown. Botton line, I just want that fun downtown back that they had when the superbowl was here.

[duvaldude08]

You may be correct, but from my experience in the downtown area. I have seen FBC goers going down to city council meeting demanding everything downtown to be closed by a certain hour. I would understand their thinking if they lived downtown, but they don't, they just go to church downtown. Botton line, I just want that fun downtown back that they had when the superbowl was here.

And if there are FBC member on the city council, there you have it. But that is very sad.

[Debbie Thompson]

If you want to revitalize Jacksonville Downtown, then the very first step that you have to make is GET RID OF THE CHURCH IN IT. Any city that let a Church nearly runs and controls who can and can't open a business downtown, gets what it deserves. Remember when the Super Bowl was here, it was fun to go downtown. Now, that the superbowl is gone and the church has ran off some of the businesses that it did not like, you see it become what it will always be until get rid of one of the root causes.

FBC has been downtown for a really long time...back when we HAD a vibrant downtown.  You may not be a fan, but I don't think you can blame the decline of downtown on FBC.

[CS Foltz]

I concur Ms Debbie! FBC has nothing to do with the downtown area's lack of anything........biggest culprit is City Council and their lack of vision..........along with the Mayor! This to me is something that needs to be addressed or it will continue to rot away! Most of the Mayoral candidates have something to say about it in a generalized way and looking forward to just what blossoms! Needs much help badly!

[cline]

biggest culprit is City Council and their lack of vision

The root of the problem is those who voted these people into office and continue to keep them there.

[buckethead]

So: Free market principles applied to urban fabric=a downtown that is organic and vibrant.

disclaimer: The term "free market" should not be confused with absolutist dogma.

[Jaxson]

You may be correct, but from my experience in the downtown area. I have seen FBC goers going down to city council meeting demanding everything downtown to be closed by a certain hour. I would understand their thinking if they lived downtown, but they don't, they just go to church downtown. Botton line, I just want that fun downtown back that they had when the superbowl was here.

The problem may be that FBC people are active.  I also believe it is because other Jacksonville residents are too passive.  Politicians pay attention to numbers.  If FBC can send their troops in, fine.  Others need to brush up on their political activism, too.  Until then, we know who will win every city council battle. 

[tufsu1]

There is nothing wrong with being active...Even though I don't agree with many of their philosophies, I applaud FBC members for their activism...it is the folks who don't speak up, get involved, and vote that have kept this city from moving forward

[Ocklawaha]

Any city that let a Church nearly runs and controls

you see it become what it will always be until get rid of one of the root causes.

WTF WERE YOU DRINKING?

I'd suggest that right after we get rid of the FBC downtown, and the 2-3,000 new faces they introduce to downtown each month, we should start on Bethel Baptist, There is also an Episcopal, Church, and a Catholic Church. After that we need to focus on the "special interest groups," did you know we have MASONS downtown? And Moose's, and Elke's, and Gnu's. Hell's bells we got Homeless, Criminal's, Hooker's, Businessmen and shoe clerks and preachers all fighting for that same parking space. So let's ship this cattle car full of unfortunates out of here, we wouldn't want to offend your sensibilities.

BTW, the church I attended this morning has some connection with the Baptists...or at least buys some of their printed material.  You'll never guess where we hold "church?" Ever hear of the "OUTBACK CRAB SHACK" Its the perfect church for me, you see we meet in a bar! Ssssh don't tell FBC, because they might send out their Jesus Gestapo and force us all to drink Iced tea!  Sorry newbie, get a life!


OCKLAWAHA

[tayana42]

I want to see a streetcar line built from Jaguar Stadium/Coliseum to the Skyway Express station behind the Omni.  Then I want to see a new convention center built next to the Hyatt and the current convention center converted to the JTA transportation center.
Then I want to see a new owner of the landing.  Lastly, resolve the homeless/vagrant problem and then let private enterprise go to work.