The Jacksonville Civic Council's Plans For Downtown

[dougskiles]

Hang it from the Hart Bridge and it would be the perfect way to get to a Jaguars game.  Imagine the TV coverage during a prime time football game?

[tufsu1]

What's to be gained by engaging with the civic council?  Would someone please explain that to me?

well among other things, many of them are the power brokers in this City

[Dashing Dan]

What's to be gained by engaging with the civic council?  Would someone please explain that to me?

well among other things, many of them are the power brokers in this City

But more importantly.  Engagement is something that everyone deserves.  We do all share this city together, after all, and I can vouch for the fact that the conversation has been dominated by well meaning but terribly wrong ideas over the years.

I cannot help but think that given the right information, most people are better equipped and generally end up making better decisions.

But this doesnt just extend to the Civic Council.  Weve also engaged many many other groups large and small, powerful and just beginning over the past five years, and the process has always ended up being mutually beneficial, even when we don't agree.

tufsu and stephendare: Thanks for your replies.  Let's hope for the best and see what happens.

[urbaknight]

If bay st becomes a two way street entirely, the middle lane can be used for skyway pylons. Near the POCC the support pylons are small. They may even be small enough to run them down the middle of Bay st! If we can run the skyway over Bay st and put a station next to the current city hall annex, also over the middle of Bay st. (as one stop on the way ultimately to end at the sports complex) There can be park n ride style parking garages around the current POCC. If and, God I hope, when Amtrack comes back to that location, people will have the option to ride the train into town. If not, they can park and ride the skyway to that area.

[tayana42]

I attended the JCCI luncheon and listened to Preston Haskell's presentation re Downtown Redevelopment.  There were very good arguments made for redeveloping downtown, for increasing downtown residents, and for construction of a convention center near the Hyatt.  These are good things.  Questions were asked about public transportation; reply: other organizations are dealing with that.  And someone pointed out the proposed demolition of an historic building;  Preston backed away from that one, saying it was just an idea.  Hopefully a dead idea.

But, without mass transit (not just a bus) this plan is destined for failure.  Wouldn't it be fun to be able to hop on a streetcar operating along Bay Street between Central ASE station and the Sport Complex!  I'd do that.

[Mattius92]

We all know that a streetcar line down Bay is a no-brainer, but JTA and the COJ apparently have no brain.

[dougskiles]

We all know that a streetcar line down Bay is a no-brainer, but JTA and the COJ apparently have no brain.

When enough people in Jacksonville demand it, we will get it.  It is not their fault we don't have it.  It is our fault.

Questions were asked about public transportation; reply: other organizations are dealing with that.

This is a disappointing answer.  Assuming he meant JTA, they aren't dealing with it because organizations like the Civic Council aren't demanding it.

[Noone]

In 11 hours
Presentation by civic council members on Downtown.
Put on by Impact Jax
5:30-7:00pm
Skyline Cafe 42nd Flr Bank of America Tower
50 N. Laura St. Jax
There will also be a JCCI study released shortly called Recession, Recovery, and Beyond.
I'm going to try and make this one tonight.

On a side note. Anyone want to kayak under the Times Union building? Under the Hyatt parking lot? Hogans Creek and when we pop out into the St. Johns River our American Heritage River we can paddle a little further and look at our Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier?

[tufsu1]

I will be there tonight