Peyton flip-flops courthouse support

[thelakelander]

I think it takes up at least two blocks, not including the existing courthouse and empty parking garage.  A few months ago, Peyton said Monroe would remain open.  If so, then I assume a block of Pearl will be closed.

[Jason]

I think KBJ's design is an attractive building for a much smaller municipality, say Baker County.  Jacksonville/Duval is 50 times that and should be represented accordingly.  Tell the judges to shove-it and give the people a damn tower to be proud of.  This whole fiasco has been an embarrasment to the people of Jacksonville. 

[Seraphs]

This whole fiasco has been an embarrasment to the people of Jacksonville. 

Agreed!  This is a total embarrasment to all people everywhere.  They should've just built the original design for a lot less.

[thelakelander]

Judge Moran wants a taller structure.

Get it done

By The Times-Union

Mayor John Peyton's most recent courthouse plan likely will be controversial, but at least it gives the project a renewed sense of direction.

The mayor announced last week that he wants to build the entire courthouse at once, which he estimates will cost between $360 million and $400 million.

That's approximately twice what voters were told when they approved bonds for the project in 2000.

And it was an abrupt shift in policy by Peyton, who had been insisting he would construct only a criminal courts building now - and add space for the civil courts later, when more money becomes available.

Why the change of mind?

The mayor says he became convinced it would be less expensive, in the long run, to build it all now.

This, however, would require up to $8 million a year in new debt payments - no small matter for a city already cutting services and raising fees to pay its bills.

Yet, that somehow isn't enough for the Courthouse Architectural Review Committee - which, at the urging of Chief Circuit Judge Donald Moran, recommended on Friday that an eighth floor be added to the structure.

That, Moran said, would allow for future growth.

But how much extra space is needed? The county has 46 judges, and Peyton's plan calls for 51 courtrooms.

Surely, that's adequate - if not generous - for a county with so many needs and so little money.

It's bad enough that the judges want to spare no expense on their own behalf. But it's shameful that the committee allowed itself to be used in such a way.

The judges should count their blessings.

They could be getting exactly what the voters intended to give them - a $190 million building.

Ultimately, however, neither they nor the mayor will decide what they get. That's up to the City Council - hopefully with a little input from the public, which, after all, is paying the bill.

Let the debate begin.

After a thorough vetting of the issues, the council needs to vote.

Then, stick to it.

The courthouse is long overdue. It's time to move forward.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/112007/opi_218913815.shtml

[Ocklawaha]

Don't worry, Monroe Street will be converted to a BRT busway, and blow right through the building, after which JTA will claim the Courthouse as nearly a billion dollars in new TOD development along the BRT...
Ocklawaha

[Jason]

Let the debate begin.

The damn debate has been going on since the BJP was enacted!!  How much more debate is necessary?

[avonjax]

I know this is a very late post on this subject, but who makes the final design decisions for projects like these. With each new design the project looks worse and worse. The one here is is my least liked of all. And what about the new buildings in LaVilla. That area is dead even during the day and not a single person there at nights or weekends. What a botched plan. Is this common in all cities the size of Jax? We need to think a little differently when building downtown. This is NOT Southside.

[thelakelander]

NO....This is not common in most American cities the size of Jacksonville.  We dropped the ball big time, mainly because there has never really been a vision that was fully implemented and carried out for an extended period of time.  The result has been a poorly planned pattern of hodge podge urban development.

[spidey]

I agree, Lake.  It seems like every Mayor has had a different vision for downtown, and as a result, anytime we seem to be gathering steam on redeveloping downtown....we get another Mayor, and then have to wait for them to get their vision together, and then we start on the road again, and repeat this cycle over and over.

Is there anything we can do to put an end to the cycle?

[fsujax]

Yeah , it is called the Downtown Master Plan.  Unfortunately, we do not stick to it.

[vicupstate]

Yeah , it is called the Downtown Master Plan.  Unfortunately, we do not stick to it.

Actually, this hits on a major pet peeve of mine.  While it is true there is a Master Plan for DT, that relates to streetscaping, parking, appearances, etc.  What is missing is a Master Plan for FACILITIES. 

What I envision is a study that looks at ALL the present and future facilities of the city and LOOKING AT THE WHOLE PICTURE (as oppose to one project at a time in a vacuum) and deciding a master plan for locating ALL city projects.  These would include the courthouse, the convention center the Transportation center, as well as what to do when the jail is eventually moved.  Parks and parking facilities would be addressed too.  The best sites for residential development could be identified.     

Last but certainly NOT least, would be identifying ways to 'knit together' the disjointed 'sections' of DT.  (ie Sports district, Northbank core, Southbank, Lavilla, Brooklyn, Springfield, etc.   

Projects need to be clustered to create snergy and linkages to other DT 'anchors'. 

[jeh1980]

Here is an image of the current design on the table:

That proposal's not so bad. I hope they build it soon. Oh...we due respect, but despite of Mayor Peyton's short comings about the new courthouse, we should forgive him. Not because we have to, but because we want to.