Downtown Catches Young VIbe

[Captain Zissou]

I believe that they are taking the month of January off, but it will continue in February at The Phoenix downtown.

[JFman00]

Nice piece and cheers to all those of my generation who are making downtown vibrant and cool again. I think a lot of this generation aspires to own their own small business and do something that they are passionate about, as opposed to the corporate route (perhaps moreso than the preceding generations). So hats off to those who are making it happen.

I've always loved Riverside and love what has gone on there, but long term, I really hope that some of that success shifts towards downtown. Though King Street has really taken off, the "entertainment district" downtown has so much more potential. Not saying they can't both be successful and coexist, just that I hope more of that energy makes its way Downtown.

Of course they can both coexist.  The possibility of niche based clusters is much wider than anything we already have going on here in Jville.  There still hasnt been anything to replace the indie entertainment scene that we created out in Springfield.

Sure Riverside has bars, coffeehouses, great restaurants and a gallery scene, but there certainly isnt a focus on live entertainment.  Where are the cabaret singers, the burlesques, the experimental theatre environments, the improv house, the band halls, the indie movie shops etc?

Where is the vibrant cross racial performance venue?  Where is the original material performance group?  Where is the lecture hall and scene?

We have a LOT of room for growth and the downtown could be the epicenter of all that if there was only a group of downtown activists and an empowered cultural institution community.

In other cities I've lived in, those ammenties have been provided by *urban* colleges/universities, of which Jacksonville is quite lacking in comparison even to other cities of similar size. By urban I mean schools that are seamlessly integrated into the urban fabric (living on or near campus and being able to go without a car). It's hard to think of a great city (of any size) without a corresponding urban school.

[thelakelander]

Nice piece and cheers to all those of my generation who are making downtown vibrant and cool again. I think a lot of this generation aspires to own their own small business and do something that they are passionate about, as opposed to the corporate route (perhaps moreso than the preceding generations). So hats off to those who are making it happen.

I've always loved Riverside and love what has gone on there, but long term, I really hope that some of that success shifts towards downtown. Though King Street has really taken off, the "entertainment district" downtown has so much more potential. Not saying they can't both be successful and coexist, just that I hope more of that energy makes its way Downtown.

They'll all co-exist peacefully at some point the way Jax's suburban areas do today.  Take a look at any vibrant city and you'll quickly discover that not everything is centered on the central business district. Your Georgetowns, U-Streets, Chinatowns, Dupont Circles, etc. (DC urban core neighborhoods for those who don't know) grow together with the CBD to create a large vibrant urban core.  This is what I believe will happen to Jax as the urban core's population increases over the next decade or two.

[fsquid]

It's hard to think of a great city (of any size) without a corresponding urban school.

Charlotte?  Their urban university is 15 miles east of downtown.

[urbaknight]

Nice piece and cheers to all those of my generation who are making downtown vibrant and cool again. I think a lot of this generation aspires to own their own small business and do something that they are passionate about, as opposed to the corporate route (perhaps moreso than the preceding generations). So hats off to those who are making it happen.

I've always loved Riverside and love what has gone on there, but long term, I really hope that some of that success shifts towards downtown. Though King Street has really taken off, the "entertainment district" downtown has so much more potential. Not saying they can't both be successful and coexist, just that I hope more of that energy makes its way Downtown.

They'll all co-exist peacefully at some point the way Jax's suburban areas do today.  Take a look at any vibrant city and you'll quickly discover that not everything is centered on the central business district. Your Georgetowns, U-Streets, Chinatowns, Dupont Circles, etc. (DC urban core neighborhoods for those who don't know) grow together with the CBD to create a large vibrant urban core.  This is what I believe will happen to Jax as the urban core's population increases over the next decade or two.

But I want the vibrant urban core now! While I'm still young enough to be part of the scene!

[fsujax]

^^me too!

[Tacachale]

Nice piece and cheers to all those of my generation who are making downtown vibrant and cool again. I think a lot of this generation aspires to own their own small business and do something that they are passionate about, as opposed to the corporate route (perhaps moreso than the preceding generations). So hats off to those who are making it happen.

I've always loved Riverside and love what has gone on there, but long term, I really hope that some of that success shifts towards downtown. Though King Street has really taken off, the "entertainment district" downtown has so much more potential. Not saying they can't both be successful and coexist, just that I hope more of that energy makes its way Downtown.

Of course they can both coexist.  The possibility of niche based clusters is much wider than anything we already have going on here in Jville.  There still hasnt been anything to replace the indie entertainment scene that we created out in Springfield.

Sure Riverside has bars, coffeehouses, great restaurants and a gallery scene, but there certainly isnt a focus on live entertainment.  Where are the cabaret singers, the burlesques, the experimental theatre environments, the improv house, the band halls, the indie movie shops etc?

Where is the vibrant cross racial performance venue?  Where is the original material performance group?  Where is the lecture hall and scene?

We have a LOT of room for growth and the downtown could be the epicenter of all that if there was only a group of downtown activists and an empowered cultural institution community.

In other cities I've lived in, those ammenties have been provided by *urban* colleges/universities, of which Jacksonville is quite lacking in comparison even to other cities of similar size. By urban I mean schools that are seamlessly integrated into the urban fabric (living on or near campus and being able to go without a car). It's hard to think of a great city (of any size) without a corresponding urban school.

Most of Florida's cities have the same problem. Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Pensacola, etc. have no sizeable urban colleges. The major exceptions include Tampa (UT), Lakeland (Florida Southern), and obviously Tallahassee and Gainesville. Depending on what you count, other cities without a real "urban" college of size would include Charlotte, and possibly Houston and Dallas. However, some cities (like Charlotte) have attracted satellite campuses of other colleges, and it's increasingly common for Florida universities to open in-town centers and branches. IMO UNF will go that route at some point.

[BackinJax05]

Geez!  You all are laying a serious guilt trip on me.  Sometimes hidden amongst the ads, crime reports and general shite you may find a gem or two. This was one of them.
Their one redeeming quality for me is the continuing of crossword puzzles and Sunday's book reviews.
I do get annoyd at the shrinking size compared to the fact that the price has not shrunk in comparison.

So true. Thats one of the reasons I ditched the T-U: The comics have gotten so small you need a microscope to read them. Oh well, at least they finally quit printing the Sunday comics sideways. God, that was annoying.

[Tacachale]

Nice piece and cheers to all those of my generation who are making downtown vibrant and cool again. I think a lot of this generation aspires to own their own small business and do something that they are passionate about, as opposed to the corporate route (perhaps moreso than the preceding generations). So hats off to those who are making it happen.

I've always loved Riverside and love what has gone on there, but long term, I really hope that some of that success shifts towards downtown. Though King Street has really taken off, the "entertainment district" downtown has so much more potential. Not saying they can't both be successful and coexist, just that I hope more of that energy makes its way Downtown.

They'll all co-exist peacefully at some point the way Jax's suburban areas do today.  Take a look at any vibrant city and you'll quickly discover that not everything is centered on the central business district. Your Georgetowns, U-Streets, Chinatowns, Dupont Circles, etc. (DC urban core neighborhoods for those who don't know) grow together with the CBD to create a large vibrant urban core.  This is what I believe will happen to Jax as the urban core's population increases over the next decade or two.

Yes, definitely. In fact they'll probably benefit mutually from the close proximity.

[BIG CHEESE 723]

Back in Jax:  There was a while back when the real estate transactions on Saturday were so small I DID use a magnifier. 
But, sometimes they DO come up with something worth reading.  Is it me that seems to think the sports section has the most pages than The World Nws and Metro section combined?
There was also a time when they drove me crazy putting the obits in with the classified section.

[JaxDiablo]

They do the Rock-a-Billy Burlesque at the Loft.

I was told that it has been moved downtown because they were drawing too big of a crowd for the Loft.  This is a perfect example of why even though much of the energy started in Riverside, downtown needs to be the place where the ultimate transformation and growth will be achieved.  You could say the same thing happened to Underbelly.

Just touching on something I'm intimately involved in (I manage the aforementioned burlesque/vaudeville group www.professorwhiskey.com).  We were very happy with the location at theLOFT, unfortunately the last show we played there we were literally packed out the door at a little over 175 folks showing up on the night of a tropical storm with the bridges shutting down at 7pm when our show went on at 8:30. 

Now we perform at The Phoenix Taproom on a monthly basis with additional shows as we are requested (Jacksonville University, The Norm, Johnny's in St. Augustine).  Our next show is February 15th (http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5269104032), and we will be opening for Hellzapoppin' (nationally touring side show revue) at Underbelly on March 1st.

facebook.com/professorwhiskeytravelingbizarrebazaar

As for the needs and growth of downtown, we need to have much more involvement and/or growth from the city and we need to find a way to generate more traffic and a reason for people to come downtown on the weekends.  There are so many bars, clubs, art venues, and just generally awesome places that exist down there.

[downtownjag]

I think it would be absolutely awesome if someone would throw a party in the alley behind Underbelly.  Not just use it as an outside section, but a full-blown party in that old alleyway that we have so few of.  Band, beerpong, whatever.  It's really cool back there, if you've ever walked it. 

Not sure if it's totally safe, given the condition of the Bostwick...

[thelakelander]

It's safe.  The Bostwick isn't in danger of collapsing on its own.  Several years ago, Jim Bailey pitched the idea of turning that alley into an entertainment space for all the places backing up into it.  Unfortunately, the idea fizzled out.

[fieldafm]

That was part of Bailey's Bay Street Entertainment District plan that got 'shelved'  (shelved would be a polite way to put it). 

[CityLife]

Nice piece and cheers to all those of my generation who are making downtown vibrant and cool again. I think a lot of this generation aspires to own their own small business and do something that they are passionate about, as opposed to the corporate route (perhaps moreso than the preceding generations). So hats off to those who are making it happen.

I've always loved Riverside and love what has gone on there, but long term, I really hope that some of that success shifts towards downtown. Though King Street has really taken off, the "entertainment district" downtown has so much more potential. Not saying they can't both be successful and coexist, just that I hope more of that energy makes its way Downtown.

They'll all co-exist peacefully at some point the way Jax's suburban areas do today.  Take a look at any vibrant city and you'll quickly discover that not everything is centered on the central business district. Your Georgetowns, U-Streets, Chinatowns, Dupont Circles, etc. (DC urban core neighborhoods for those who don't know) grow together with the CBD to create a large vibrant urban core.  This is what I believe will happen to Jax as the urban core's population increases over the next decade or two.

What we technically call "Downtown Jax" is much larger than our central business district. It would actually be about 5+ different neighborhoods in other large cities, with unique residential districts. I'll use San Francisco as an example. It is a little under (roughly) 2 miles from Market and Powell Street (origin of the cable car) to Fisherman's Wharf or The Marina District. That route takes you through or near the CDB, Tenderloin, Nob Hill, Chinatown, Russian Hill, and Marina District which are some of the most well known and prominent neighborhoods in San Francisco.

Based on my rudimentary estimate, it is about the same distance from the Prime Osborn to Everbank Field as from Market and Powell to the Bay, though not as wide. Which is certainly enough room to create some very dense urban neighborhoods in the middle of what we consider our downtown. I agree with your point about a strong urban core of interconnected neighborhoods, but I also think we need a strong urban neighborhood or neighborhoods "downtown", otherwise people will just stay in their little pockets.

IMO, to truly create a vibrant 24 hour downtown, we need more of the young people that are innovating, creating, moving and shaking to live downtown or on the direct fringes of downtown, not a couple miles away in Riverside (or we need a direct transit connection). It would be nice if there was an infinite amount of people that fit that mold, but there aren't. Right now, there are a finite amount of people that fit this bill and a great deal of them live in Riverside and eat, drink, and play in the King Street area. Like I said, I'm happy to see King Street doing well, but I can't help but think that more of the great new places that have opened up would have opened downtown if not for the emergence of King Street. Given the recent issues in Riverside/Avondale, lack of future development opportunities, and parking issues, I believe all of this great energy could turn into much, much more Downtown than it ever can along King Street.