Monroe Street Closure On The Brink Of Happening

[ProjectMaximus]

I feel so helpless. Watching a ship run aground and there's nothing anyone can do.

[Ralph W]

You haven't seen the rest of the plans yet.

Saved all that money by not building that pedestrian bridge for the few lawyers but they'll have a pedestrian concourse over the streets from the parking structure. Also going to throw in an Orange Julius at the bottom of the stairs... and an elevator.

[jcjohnpaint]

Maybe we can get the price up to 5 mil by having a gold brick walkway with all of the names of our esteemed council on each gold brick. 

[Tacachale]

Where is Brown on all this?

[tufsu1]

Early on, the Mayor made a decision to stay out of this and let it be a Council issue.

But last week, a few of us met with someone from the Mayor's staff, showed them the various concepts, and urged them to get involved.

[thelakelander]

From the article:

Before Finance Committee members rejected that idea, Mayor Alvin Brown's council liaison, Jessica Deal, told them people "involved in the courthouse have concerns about the safety of the road design." Deal also said Schneider had mentioned it to the Mayor's Office.

[Bridges]

I saw Mayor Brown yesterday.  He repeatedly used the Court House as an example of waste.  He actually tried to distance himself from it.

I didn't get a chance to ask about Monroe Street.  However, it seems like he would be receptive to coming out against the road and wasted money. 

[fsujax]

This is another example of why many on this site need to run for Council seats. Our city can no longer afford for us to sit behind keyboards and screens (i know not everone does)! we need to become the decision makers!

[Captain Zissou]

Keep in mind the traffic will be coming from the opposite directions than is normal.  I almost got nailed a few times in London because I was looking the wrong way.  I fancy myself as smarter than the average bear, so I think it's safe to say there will be a few new hood ornaments on the cars driving down Adam's and Monroe.

Also, don't forget the hundreds of bollards they will have to install absolutely everywhere to keep people safe from me trying to powerslide that perfect arc around the courthouse.  It seriously looks perfect for a drift competition.

[thelakelander]

This is another example of why many on this site need to run for Council seats. Our city can no longer afford for us to sit behind keyboards and screens (i know not everone does)! we need to become the decision makers!

Are you thinking about running for Gaffney's vacated seat next election?

[fsujax]

it is a strong possibility I am exploring.

[JeffreyS]

I have sent emails to the Council and the Mayor's office.

[Bridges]

The spite plan is an interesting take. 

I still think the best way to get the common person behind the closure is to focus on the wasted taxpayer money for the project.  The council can do it's spite plan all it wants, but if we tie their names to the waste of the courthouse maybe they'll back off.

[fieldafm]

"Project Spiteful Frogger"

Ron Littlepage: A Finance Committee temper tantrum

A majority of the City Council's Finance Committee is determined to do something really dumb.

Councilwoman Lori Boyer has offered a reasonable solution to the controversy over whether to rebuild Monroe Street so that it jogs around the new county courthouse, potentially creating a pedestrian nightmare.

She wants to delay spending the $700,000 it will cost to rebuild the road until after the courthouse opens to better gauge the traffic patterns.

Nope. Four Finance Committee members, led by Bill Bishop, voted against Boyer's proposal this morning. Only Richard Clark and Greg Anderson supported it.

The four gave several reasons, but there was an interesting undercurrent. They don't like the courthouse â€" who does? â€" and they think the judiciary has been "thumbing its nose" at the council's wishes, and they aren't going to take it anymore.

That's a heck of a reason to build a road that will have pedestrians negotiating Adams Street and Monroe Street back-to-back before they can reach the new courthouse.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/406107/ron-littlepage/2011-10-18/finance-committee-temper-tantrum

In every instance, whenever we have talked to someone that is intent on rebuilding this road... every time, it's been out of personal spite for someone else.  I have yet to hear a logical reason for re-opening this road.  I'm sorry, that's just unacceptable.

[JeffreyS]

A big thank you to Ron for calling them out.