Landing turns 25 years old

[Pinky]

I'm a fairly menacing looking person (shaved head, covered in tattoos, muscular), my demeanor is definitely not "warm and inviting", and yet I'm routinely accosted by bums downtown;

I am the opposite of what you describe (clean cut, usually well-dressed, smiling and very approachable).

I walk through Hemming Plaza just about every day, starting my trip from the Skyway station and then walking either to the Ed Ball building, City Hall or JEA.

Every Saturday morning I run through downtown and the riverwalk.

I can't remember the last time I was panhandled.  Seriously.

One friend who works at the Ed Ball building (Public Works) tells me he is constantly panhandled in Hemming Park.  And I believe all of the stories I read here.  It is a mystery to me why some people are approached and others are not.

I am very comfortable around the people in the park and often try to make eye contact with them first and smile, say hello, or anything to be polite.  They usually just smile back, rarely do they ask for anything.

I suspect it's more of a function of where and when you're downtown; Hemming Plaza during the work day usually has cops around, and the bums know to behave themselves.  And of course, if you're running, it's unlikely that some panhandler is going to trot along to accost you. 

I, on the other hand, live here downtown and as a result I'm on less crowded streets during off-hours.

[Pinky]

....which doesn't change the fact that in conversations I have "the homeless problem" is cited more than all other factors combined as a reason why people are reluctant to come downtown.  Perception is everything, and it seems to me that the high concentration of bums downtown make people think that it's not safe to be here. 

[ben says]

Perception is everything

You can say that again--especially about downtown. I hear the same complaints you speak of, ALL THE TIME.

[Overstreet]

Did the Chick-Fil_A ever open @ Baptist?  Is it inside only (i.e. - is there any signage on the street?)?

Yes.....it is in the Pavallian first floor.  It is not made for drive up traffic. Walk up or park in the Palm ave garage and take the elevator to the first floor. Walk to the lobby and take a left turn. Don't go towards the hospital it is in the MOB.

[BackinJax05]

The whole place reeks of stale pee and truck stop matinenance...

...Where the hell are the bulldozers?

...Who's hoarding the infamous Jacksonville dynamite?

We finally have a building complex that needs that good old Jacksonville treatment and now EVERYONE wants to turn preservationist.

This place needs the mother of all reconstruction.

Amen to that!

Here's an idea: (I know its crazy, but I dont care)

Knock down the Landing, or at least completely gut it.

Build some railroad tracks down the middle of Water Street.

Make the former Landing site the new transportation center.

[exnewsman]

I'm a fairly menacing looking person (shaved head, covered in tattoos, muscular), my demeanor is definitely not "warm and inviting", and yet I'm routinely accosted by bums downtown;

I am the opposite of what you describe (clean cut, usually well-dressed, smiling and very approachable).

I walk through Hemming Plaza just about every day, starting my trip from the Skyway station and then walking either to the Ed Ball building, City Hall or JEA.

Every Saturday morning I run through downtown and the riverwalk.

I can't remember the last time I was panhandled.  Seriously.

One friend who works at the Ed Ball building (Public Works) tells me he is constantly panhandled in Hemming Park.  And I believe all of the stories I read here.  It is a mystery to me why some people are approached and others are not.

I am very comfortable around the people in the park and often try to make eye contact with them first and smile, say hello, or anything to be polite.  They usually just smile back, rarely do they ask for anything.

I suspect it's more of a function of where and when you're downtown; Hemming Plaza during the work day usually has cops around, and the bums know to behave themselves.  And of course, if you're running, it's unlikely that some panhandler is going to trot along to accost you. 

I, on the other hand, live here downtown and as a result I'm on less crowded streets during off-hours.

I lived in Downtown until a few months ago and before that in Riverside for 4 years. I got hit up for money (or whatever) much more in Riverside than I ever did Downtown.

[mtraininjax]

I don't just give out money, I get them to pickup trash for the money. Every intersection has cigarette butts or general trash, so no dinero without doing some cleanup. Everyone can pickup trash.