The Jacksonville Civic Council's Plans For Downtown

[Metro Jacksonville]

The Jacksonville Civic Council's Plans For Downtown



Metro Jacksonville takes a look at the Jacksonville Civic Council's recently released Northbank Redevelopment Task Force Final Report.


Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-feb-the-jacksonville-civic-councils-plans-for-downtown

[Noone]

There are a lot of components to this plan that I have concerns with. But for me and I've said it before and I'll say it again. Keep the Promised 680'  Downtown Public Pier separate from the other 40 plus acres that was Shipyards/Landmar. The Public Trust has just been crushed.

The DIA wants total and absolute control over the Entertainment District. That is why if the Pier was separate and allowed to operate immediately without this control I believe you would see an immediate cluster of organic activity that would be the envy of every Downtown merchant.

Got that off my chest.

So who on the civic council wants to paddle Hogans Creek or go under the TU? Do you think anyone attending a convention in Downtown Jacksonville would want to participate in that activity?

[dougskiles]

Lots of things to comment on but I will focus my reaction to one specific element that I believe is missing: transit.

In Section 2, Linkages to Adjacent Sites, an important solution is a streetcar line connecting the west side of Downtown (Performing Arts area) to the east side of Downtown (Sports Complex).  This pedestrian accelerator would keep the activity at street level, promote mixed-use development and eliminate the need for so many parking garages.  What I feel they failed to grasp is that increasing automobile use to and from these areas of Downtown works against the pedestrian-friendly environment they are promoting.  Auto-centricity is too ingrained in our city’s decision making.

In Section 3, Proposed Implementation Agency, the talk is about creating a Development Improvement Agency (DIA) that would take governance of the Public Parking Division.  I believe that consideration should be given for DIA to also take governance of the transit systems serving Downtown.  Decisions regarding the Skyway and a new streetcar line would then be made from the perspective of accomplishing the goals of Downtown improvement.  While I agree that we need more housing Downtown (as discussed in Section 2), I also feel that by providing connections to Downtown from the desirable urban neighborhoods of Riverside, San Marco and Springfield, we can accomplish many of the same goals â€" namely more activity Downtown.

[jcjohnpaint]

I almost chocked when I read this, but:
The Civic Council's report recommends replacing the Hermiker Block with a parking garage?
The council also wants to take down a 19 story building for a 2 fl exhibition space of the same size we already have?  Please tell me I am not the only one who feels this is not being thought out! 

[acme54321]

Yes this plan leaves a lot to be desired.  Taking down that block would be ridiculous.

They want to mow down one of the most historic blocks in downtown for a parking deck and they are basically proposing to build nothing major on the old courthouse site?  How about doing it all on the courthouse site?  It's certainly big enough. 

[jcjohnpaint]

Originally I never thought they would need to move out of the old courthouse site, but hey you wouldn't have Jacksonville without a surface parking lot.  Any group (or council) who wants to tear down more historic sites is not for this city in any why!  I am all for Audrey, but I would rather have a mayor do nothing then appoint such a group of numbskulls!  This council proposes nothing promising.  I am willing to pay taxes for progress, but not for regress!

[Actionville]

That would be criminal to tear down baywater square, especially when there are an abundance if surface lots or just plain abandoned lots right in the vicinity.

[KenFSU]

Replacing the Hermiker Block with a parking garage exemplifies everything that is wrong with downtown. For this reason, I'm certain it will eventually happen.

[Garden guy]

Parking...why do we need parking...there's noone downtown to park....i see nothing but the status quote in everyone running...noone has any real ideas that would help us. Noone wants to be downtown because it's cheaper to build a new building on the southside where all of your employees live..our problems started when our city government started handing out building permits to these massive complexes...we have killed ourselves for what....so a few judges and bankers'll make a few million....well..they've brought this city to its knees. the conservative leadership that was benifiting from this massive exidus from downtown now live in dearwood or julington creek and have no plans on coming back to downtown...maybe we should just bulldoze the entire downtown and turn it back into a cattle crossing again.

[letters and numbers]

You know thats how i feel somrtimrs too that they all live on the southside do they don't really care you know? I know that's not totally try but I think it does probable have some truth!

Hey but you know i like the report supports Laura street trio plans and i guess the landing thing too but wrecking a nice looking historic building for a parking garage is crazy and id definitely protest that to the fullest!

[Bativac]

Just tear down everything Downtown and build one gigantic multi-story parking garage.

I am also excited about the prospect of several "low and mid-rise office structures." After all - the office buildings downtown are already bursting at the seams with tenants! Am I right??

In all seriousness, I'd love to see something happen with the Laura Street trio. The rest of this plan, I'm not impressed with. And the tearing down of more historic buildings is the ONE PART of this plan that I think will 100% come true. Then they'll stop and do another study, and put in either surface parking or another patented Downtown Jacksonville Empty Lot.

[thelakelander]

My hope is that exposing things like the importance of historic preservation, this early in the process, will give everyone the necessary time to develop a project that seamlessly fits into the surrounding urban context.  In decades past, we didn't have venues like MJ to present a different point of view.  Now that we do, we should take advantage of it.  

I almost chocked when I read this, but:
The Civic Council's report recommends replacing the Hermiker Block with a parking garage?
The council also wants to take down a 19 story building for a 2 fl exhibition space of the same size we already have?  Please tell me I am not the only one who feels this is not being thought out!  

Boxing yourself in with an 80,000 square foot hall (basically what already exists at the Prime Osborn) on the courthouse annex site doesn't give room for expansion.  I think more focus may have been placed on cost, due to the fact that the courthouse parking lot is actually a concrete platform built over the river.  Nevertheless, if we're going to do this thing right, that parcel is the most logical place for an exhibition hall.  If the concern is the cost of building on the parking lot, I'd suggest demolishing the courthouse building and constructing an initial exhibition hall with street level retail, in its place.  A skywalk across Market Street could be constructed to directly tie it in with the Hyatt's meeting facilities.  The current courthouse parking lot could then be beautified and left in place so that there would be no need for a parking garage.  When the time comes to expand, that expansion could then take place right over the existing parking lot.

As for the Courthouse Annex building, perhaps we should consider keeping and retrofitting it into a mixed use structure (ex. residential, hotel, office, etc.) with retail and public space at street level, facing Bay.

[BridgeTroll]

due to the fact that the courthouse parking lot is actually a concrete platform built over the river.

Remember folks... that parking lot is basically a pier.

[dougskiles]

Lakelander - did you also feel that transit was a missing element?  Any thoughts on how we can inject this idea into the mix?

[urbanlibertarian]

lakelander wrote:

As for the Courthouse Annex building, perhaps we should consider keeping and retrofitting it into a mixed use structure (ex. residential, hotel, office, etc.) with retail and public space at street level, facing Bay.

Perhaps everything except structural components could be removed from the first 2 floors and new space built out to the edges of the entire lot for exhibition space and retail space.  Then the rest of the floors gutted and refurbished into meeting space and offices.  I know nothing about construction.  Just wondering.