How I would fix Downtown right now:

[MusicMan]

Gosh, we are currently spending $400 million on a new courthouse
that we really did not need. Do you think we could have fixed the entire downtown for $400 million???

[Timkin]

Sure could put a major dent into revitalizing it with that sort of funding.....

[Steve_Lovett]

And it costs nothing.  I'm not even suggesting that we use the money saved for Downtown projects.  Stopping the bleeding would be good enough.

To take it a step further --- how much could we have done if we had the money spent on major interchange and roadway expansion projects and invested in public infrastructure systems and amenities that add to our quality of life.  Think about it - 9A, I-95/9A interchange, JTB expansion, I-10/I-95 interchange, Kernan/Beach overpasses, Cecil Commerce highways, the proposed Spaghetti Junction Overland Bridge project, etc - hundreds of millions, or more.  Think about mass transit/light rail, world-class parks on the river where our chain link fences now stand, public/private partnerships to restore major downtown buildings, convention centers, and all of the private development that spawns from it. 

[tufsu1]

Gosh, we are currently spending $400 million on a new courthouse
that we really did not need. Do you think we could have fixed the entire downtown for $400 million???

it is pretty tough to argue that we didn't need a new courthouse...have you been in the existinmg building?  how about the overbooked courtrooms?

[Timkin]

Gosh, we are currently spending $400 million on a new courthouse
that we really did not need. Do you think we could have fixed the entire downtown for $400 million???

it is pretty tough to argue that we didn't need a new courthouse...have you been in the existinmg building?  how about the overbooked courtrooms?

Do you think we needed to spend 400 million for one?  and the project is not even finished. It probably will run more before it is complete.   

I personally would rather have built something maybe vertical ,instead of taking up the land area this concrete monstrosity takes up. Or added to the existing Courthouse.. much like Clay County did with theirs.   But I doubt many would buy into that idea, particularly for wanting it to be razed to make way for a convention center we also cannot afford at this point .

[marksjax]

I wonder if you guys could condense this into a list that could be submitted as a Letter to the Editor. I'd love to send it to Mike Clark and see if he'd run it, perhaps even as an op-ed piece?

There are just some really great suggestions here. I'd love to see them pushed into the discussion.


That is a nice offer Abel. Timely to get this out now as well.
Anyone want to do the honors?
I know there are better writers than me on this site, lol!
If not I will be happy to do so.
Regards, Mark  

[dougskiles]

To take it a step further --- how much could we have done if we had the money spent on major interchange and roadway expansion projects and invested in public infrastructure systems and amenities that add to our quality of life.  Think about it - 9A, I-95/9A interchange, JTB expansion, I-10/I-95 interchange, Kernan/Beach overpasses, Cecil Commerce highways, the proposed Spaghetti Junction Overland Bridge project, etc - hundreds of millions, or more.  Think about mass transit/light rail, world-class parks on the river where our chain link fences now stand, public/private partnerships to restore major downtown buildings, convention centers, and all of the private development that spawns from it. 

The overpasses bother me the most.  Not only could the money have been better spent on a transit system getting people to and from the beach communities, overpasses are the greatest neighborhood killers that I know of.

[Keith-N-Jax]

We needed a new court house yes, a 400 million one, that's where the debate comes in. Anyway time to move on from that since its nearing completion.

[BridgeTroll]

I wonder if you guys could condense this into a list that could be submitted as a Letter to the Editor. I'd love to send it to Mike Clark and see if he'd run it, perhaps even as an op-ed piece?

There are just some really great suggestions here. I'd love to see them pushed into the discussion.


That is a nice offer Abel. Timely to get this out now as well.
Anyone want to do the honors?
I know there are better writers than me on this site, lol!
If not I will be happy to do so.
Regards, Mark 

I think it might carry more weight coming from you Mark... a business owner downtown.

[marksjax]

BridgeTroll I'm in!

At the risk of being shunned by the city I will put something together but will include MJ in the letter and not lay claim to all these ideas as mine. Share the wealth (or burden, lol) with everyone on here. IF that is ok with everyone I will get started on this later today, Friday at the latest.

Mark 

[BridgeTroll]

BridgeTroll I'm in!

At the risk of being shunned by the city I will put something together but will include MJ in the letter and not lay claim to all these ideas as mine. Share the wealth (or burden, lol) with everyone on here. IF that is ok with everyone I will get started on this later today, Friday at the latest.

Mark 

I feel for you man.  If a simple letter to the editor risks "shunning" by the powers that be then you guys and your patrons are in worse shape than we imagine.  This city MUST listen to the small business owners and operators downtown.  Perhaps you can send it to Abel for him to proof...

[JeffreyS]

I think Mark started a great thread here but if an op-ed is going to the TU with the MetroJacksonville name I think Lake would be my vote to write it.

[marksjax]

Yes I would agree with that too.

My post was from my specific point of view rather than the larger list that long term contributors here have been working on for years. For instance, light rail isn't one of my priorities to be honest.

So, if I send a letter it will be from myself with only my thoughts and not represent this thread and it members.

But I would welcome having my ideas included if one of the members here wishes to do the letter.

Regards, Mark

[mtraininjax]

Other cities have successfully rebuilt downtowns.

Just so we are clear, what cities rebuilt themselves? Which ones compare to the ratio of citizens per square mile as we have inside Duval County as well? Jax is very different from other cities and counties. If it were so similar as others would have you believe, don't you think the politicians would have tried more solutions?

Just as the JTA article in the paper cried about Jax being so spread out, is part of the reason for the lack of solutions to resolve vacancies in downtown Jacksonville.

The boom of downtown (2000-2008), where we added The Peninsula, The Strand, the San Marco, were predicated on economic conditions being right, and the downtown overlay legislation of 2000. This plan is working, its just taking a breathier with the economy. When money is being lent out, we will see more development downtown.

[thelakelander]

I think Mark started a great thread here but if an op-ed is going to the TU with the MetroJacksonville name I think Lake would be my vote to write it.

I would but I'm in Detroit until the 17th and my cell is my internet connection.