The FTU ran one of my editorials!

[Garden guy]

Do we need to build a convention center?...for me that would be the biggest mistake we could make...with all of the empty space in this city, building anything is idiotic and wasteful.

[dougskiles]

Nice job on the editorial, simms3.

However...

It is no secret that the supposed boom did not leave us in any better financial or political shape, and it can be just as easily argued that Jacksonville is currently on track to become the next Birmingham, AL: forgotten, stagnant economy, low population growth, no professional sports team, and butt of jeers.

I believe that Jacksonville would do well to be more like Birmingham in many ways.  I realize that most people from Atlanta snub their nose at the delightful city 2 hours west of them, but after living there for 5 years, I can say Birmingham has one of the highest QOL that I have ever experienced.  They have a great sense of local pride and a passion for style that we are sorely missing.  Instead of rampant destruction of their downtown historic building fabric, they spent the last several years restoring these gems into lofts, offices and boutique restaurants.  Not to mention that they have a thriving medical school in the heart of downtown.

Take a closer look someday - I am confident that you will like what you see.

[tufsu1]

I have driven the Northside plenty.  It's ghetto.  Much of Jacksonville appears ghetto to me, even some of the nice parts.  Even Ortega is spotty.  Ironically, the only non-ghetto appearing area of town is on the Southside near the SJTC and along JTB, but it's very suburban appearing.

simms, I appreciate your views on issues and your interest in urban planning...but sometimes you seem to be a little elitist...and always an Atlanta apologist....understand that Atlanta pre-1995 wasn't a good place for young professionals...plus the city is practically bankrupt...and tons of people in lots of cities have no desire to be the next ATL

[dougskiles]

...and tons of people in lots of cities have no desire to be the next ATL

+1,000,000

[Timkin]

Congrats, Simms3!!  Nice Article !