Hemming Park Problem

[Adam W]

IMO, you don't need to close a street.  Extending the tree canopy from Hemming to the new courthouse would make Monroe from Laura to Pearl a natural pedestrian-centric connecting artery to the only other 'pedestrian centric(that term is used loosely)' artery downtown now in Laura Street.

Not to use this as a cynical attempt to ignite discussion on a thread I started (that's not even about Jax), but I think this might be an option for (some) streets downtown:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,14785.0.html

[KenFSU]

Hemming Park before the Great Fire of 1901:



Hemming Park after the Great Fire of 1901:

[Miss Fixit]

I participated in the Urban Land Institute's Jane's Walk on Sunday.  A number of architects and planning professionals toured downtown and brainstormed ideas for improving the pedestrian experience there.

We started in Hemming Park.  The consensus was that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the park itself.  The problem is with the  park's "edges."  Government offices that are closed on the weekends and shut down at 5 pm on weekdays; vacant buildings; little retail.  Suggestions included increased programming, especially on Fridays from 5 to 8 pm (perhaps a band and food trucks in the area closest to the Skyway); activities and amenities for families and children on the side of the park close to MOCA and the main library; and incentives for additional retail in the block across from City Hall.

Just imagine what might happen if the City provided $1 million in grants to encourage new retail around the park rather than spending those funds on an unnecessary redesign ....

[thelakelander]

^You're absolutely right.  You're suggestions are absolutely correct as well.  If we can reactivate the dead spaces surrounding it at a pedestrian scale level, it will be humming again in no time.

[avonjax]

Jacksonville doesn't repair with good ideas, they deface with badly misspent money.

[John P]

I participated in the Urban Land Institute's Jane's Walk on Sunday.  A number of architects and planning professionals toured downtown and brainstormed ideas for improving the pedestrian experience there.

We started in Hemming Park.  The consensus was that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the park itself.  The problem is with the  park's "edges."  Government offices that are closed on the weekends and shut down at 5 pm on weekdays; vacant buildings; little retail.  Suggestions included increased programming, especially on Fridays from 5 to 8 pm (perhaps a band and food trucks in the area closest to the Skyway); activities and amenities for families and children on the side of the park close to MOCA and the main library; and incentives for additional retail in the block across from City Hall.

Just imagine what might happen if the City provided $1 million in grants to encourage new retail around the park rather than spending those funds on an unnecessary redesign ....

I hope ULI is in communication with the Hemming plaza committee and City council about their recommendations.

[downtownjag]

I participated in the Urban Land Institute's Jane's Walk on Sunday.  A number of architects and planning professionals toured downtown and brainstormed ideas for improving the pedestrian experience there.

We started in Hemming Park.  The consensus was that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the park itself.  The problem is with the  park's "edges."  Government offices that are closed on the weekends and shut down at 5 pm on weekdays; vacant buildings; little retail.  Suggestions included increased programming, especially on Fridays from 5 to 8 pm (perhaps a band and food trucks in the area closest to the Skyway); activities and amenities for families and children on the side of the park close to MOCA and the main library; and incentives for additional retail in the block across from City Hall.

Just imagine what might happen if the City provided $1 million in grants to encourage new retail around the park rather than spending those funds on an unnecessary redesign ....

I hope ULI is in communication with the Hemming plaza committee and City council about their recommendations.

EXCELLENT group to get involved in

[sheclown]

I participated in the Urban Land Institute's Jane's Walk on Sunday.  A number of architects and planning professionals toured downtown and brainstormed ideas for improving the pedestrian experience there.

We started in Hemming Park.  The consensus was that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the park itself.  The problem is with the  park's "edges."  Government offices that are closed on the weekends and shut down at 5 pm on weekdays; vacant buildings; little retail.  Suggestions included increased programming, especially on Fridays from 5 to 8 pm (perhaps a band and food trucks in the area closest to the Skyway); activities and amenities for families and children on the side of the park close to MOCA and the main library; and incentives for additional retail in the block across from City Hall.

Just imagine what might happen if the City provided $1 million in grants to encourage new retail around the park rather than spending those funds on an unnecessary redesign ....

absolutely agree.