Bailey: Downtown Jacksonville 'silos' are hindering revitalization

[thelakelander]

A year after the city created an independent authority to spearhead Downtown revitalization, those efforts are still "random and all over the place," the authority's vice chairman charged Thursday.

The Downtown Investment Authority held a special meeting Thursday to discuss communication strategies with the Jacksonville City Council leading up to the final vote on the city's budget, which will be Sept. 24. The $9 million originally pegged for revitalization efforts has been slashed to $4.1 million, and the authority will also have $1.5 million from a separate fund.

full article: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/09/12/bailey-downtown-jacksonville-silos.html

[Noone]

And also hindering Tourism!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 9/12/13 Downtown Investment Authority SPECIAL MEETING again was well attended. From the Board Oliver Barakat- Chairman, James Bailey -Vice Chairman, Kay Harper Williams- Secretary, Don Harris, TonyAllegretti, Mike Saylor, and No shows were Robert Clements, Paul Perez, and Melody Bishop.

Also there Jason Gabriel-OGC, Lori Boyer- DIA Council Liason from Dist.5 who continues to be a fantastic tool in the tool box.

Is Jack Shad OK? Public Parking Officer. Maybe it's just me but Parking is, has, and will continue to be one of the biggest pieces of the Downtown Puzzle and when a question or a situation presents itself you are left with a big question mark.

And the man who will be the glue that will put it all together was our new CEO of our DIA - Aundra Wallace

Another sparse crowd. And I would have to give the attendance award to JaxPak who was well represented with a number of Downtown Merchants.

Mr. Bailey used the blackboard and captivated the room with a passion about wanting this to work. We all do. I like Mr. Bailey

During Public Comment I shared with everyone the front page 9/3/13 Florida Times Union story about the new CEO of VISIT JACKSONVILLE Paul Astleford and how he identified 32 organizations hindering Tourism. Can we all say "RICO!"

I immediately shared the super concerns of the previous day Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting and the significant omission of the FIND update from the agenda. The Commissioners of FIND are meeting in south Florida this weekend and are aware of these concerns. This is our ad valorem property taxes. Open the Silo's! misrepresentation of our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a FEDERAL Initiative in our new highly restricted DIA zone.

I immediately made the DIA Board aware of pending legislation 2013-384 and that after the meeting I was immediately going up there and launch a kayak from the Public Access spot that is there right now and could be lost if an amendment is not attached to 2013-384 that would guarantee that revitalization and tourism option for everyone.

The conditions at the armory were educational. It was a 1.9 high tide. Had the kayak in Hogans creek in a snap. It is has to be 5 O'clock because I here Big Ben. I'm bringing a cold one next time. The tides are too high to get under the bridges. So very brief paddle, a little floating debris clean up. I get out and I'm taking it to Washington and Beaver behind the fire station.

At this location there is a man fishing and it must have been the grand kids with him. He had a nice slot red 22-24" in the grass with about 4 poles in the water the tide was turning and heading out. This will be a part of the Sept. 21 Hogans Creek cleanup. The site location is behind the Jacksonville Historical society and for anyone that wants to participate what an opportunity to see a Downtown treasure.

The most disturbing thing about this encounter with the fisherman was the painted turtle that was left dying on the shore. It appears that the turtle was caught and the hook was ripped from the mouth. It is just gut wrenching to see a resource so wastefully destroyed. I'll always remember Michelle Tappouni when she was running for council and there was a painted turtle before we even started our trip in the water at the same spot.

Revitalization, Education, Tourism, Open the Silo's!

Another DIA event today open to the Public and it will be at 4pm 1st floor city hall. Anyone going? I am.

A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It will embrace Us

[Noone]

Next DIA event 4 hours out. 1st floor city hall. Very positive.

[urbaknight]

We should get rid of the DDRB, those suburban lovers can go back to their mcmansions and stop trying to make dt line the SJTC. And like the JTA, we need to bring New Yorkers down to run the DIA. Those people don't take shit from anybody, especially from the country bumpkins in city council. They really look down on the kind of people we have in council. It would be interesting to see them interact with them. And I'd love to see a New Yorker tell council to stick it!

[Ocklawaha]

I'd give that New York business savvy, attitude and culture about 32 seconds in Jacksonville. That's about how long it would take for the face to turn red, sweat would began to pour down the brow, then the BP would spike somewhere above 250/150. He'd grab his heart, stagger backward and collapse into a blithering, babbling, incoherent mass of human waste.
JACKSONVILLE - 1
NYC - 0

[Noone]

Less than an hour to the next DIA meeting. 1st floor city hall at 4pm.

[Noone]

Positive meeting on the USS Adams for Downtown. Only 3 people from the Public we're in attendance. Moving forward in the DIA process.

[JayBird]

I'd give that New York business savvy, attitude and culture about 32 seconds in Jacksonville. That's about how long it would take for the face to turn red, sweat would began to pour down the brow, then the BP would spike somewhere above 250/150. He'd grab his heart, stagger backward and collapse into a blithering, babbling, incoherent mass of human waste.
JACKSONVILLE - 1
NYC - 0

Ha the NYer would laugh and probably leave from mind numbing stupidity before any heart attack happens. It would be like taking a professor and moving them to 2nd grade teacher. Instead of dissecting Frost they'll be concentrating on getting Little Jimmy to hold onto the rope.

[JayBird]

But in seriousness, I think they need to send department heads and council people to other cities  to see how they do it and combine that knowledge with what they know about Jacksonville and its unique "things" and actually make some good ideas.

[jcjohnpaint]

Maybe they won't come back