Beaches Construction Update: April 2012

[Metro Jacksonville]

Beaches Construction Update: April 2012



Here's a look at new businesses, closings, and renovations this month in the Jacksonville - Neptune - Atlantic Beaches area.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-apr-beaches-construction-update-april-2012

[John P]

Is there an idea whats going in to the Publix on Atlantic blvd?

[Tacachale]

Good stuff. Looking forward to the North Beach Fish Camp.

[Ocklawaha]

What a place for a streetcar! A strip of towns a half a mile wide and 10 miles long... What more could you ask?

[Anti redneck]

What a place for a streetcar! A strip of towns a half a mile wide and 10 miles long... What more could you ask?

That streetcars and mass transit actually be supported.

[Overstreet]

Aren't they "opening" the beaches today?

[Ocklawaha]

What a place for a streetcar! A strip of towns a half a mile wide and 10 miles long... What more could you ask?

That streetcars and mass transit actually be supported.

PUBLIC SUPPORT: Streetcar is a case of 'build it and they will come,' to use a tired and oft attacked phrase. The difference with Streetcar is we have the numbers to back it up, in virtually every case the new lines have exceeded ridership projections. A streetcar system is a proved, 150 year old, American invention that now spans the globe. Unlike the "60,000 passengers a day," Skyway that JTA pushed on the city, or the impending, 'this will ultimately cost more then streetcar BRT project,' they are determined to implement today.

Buses have a bad image, even the industry admits this and having worked as a supervisor for Trailway's, I agree. Buses have a much lower passenger capacity and cannot run entrain, meaning they have higher O&M cost. Lastly, busways or bus lanes as well as the buses themselves have a much shorter life then streetcars. Several cities have streetcars running that are 100 years old and even the FTA admits that railroad track is good for something between 50 and 100 years. Eventually the cost of patching potholes and rebuilding or ordering new buses will surpass the cost of building rail in the first place. While JTA claims they'll build this to 'increase demand' then, and I quote: "We'll just slide rails under it and we'll have light-rail." Sorry boys there is not a single case of that happening ANYWHERE, but I can show you 'world BRT showcase cities,' that are now building completely new rail system's because BRT hasn't produced.

POLITICALLY: Yeah, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Ponte Vedra/Sawgrass, or the City of Jacksonville doesn't have a single politician pushing sensible fixed rail mass transit. If we did, he'd be out on the Inter-coastal Waterway walking on water.

[Tacachale]

I'm temporarily staying out at the Beach again, and it's my dream to one day see a street car line run from the Town Center south on 3rd. On top of all the standard benefits streetcars have, a Beaches streetcar would have an appreciable effect on safety (proportionately fewer drunk drivers and car-on-pedestrian accidents) and encourage smarter development than the ticky-tacky car-oriented strip malls currently blighting 3rd. Some locals are worried about even more development on 3rd, but the real issue is the clustering of businesses that require car trips to visit them. Walking/biking/transit oriented development would be a huge asset to the community.

[thelakelander]

Is there an idea whats going in to the Publix on Atlantic blvd?

LA Fitness

http://jacksonville.com/business/2012-04-29/story/business-notebook-clothing-store-kirklands-join-citys-retail-sprawl

[I-10east]

Although it's not 'technically' in the Beaches area, do anyone know what going on in the Super Walmart Plaza on Beach & Hodges? They are erecting a building from the ground up, and I read the 'coming soon' sign, said "Something's Cookin". I tried to find info about it on the web to no avail.

[fieldafm]

Although it's not 'technically' in the Beaches area, do anyone know what going on in the Super Walmart Plaza on Beach & Hodges? They are erecting a building from the ground up, and I read the 'coming soon' sign, said "Something's Cookin". I tried to find info about it on the web to no avail.

First Watch

[I-10east]

^^^Thanks for the info.