Live Blog: Riverside/Avondale Parking Committee 9/16

[Stephen]

It sure does look funny if what you say is true....are RAP members elected? What is the level of accountability?

[If_I_Loved_you]

Folks on this site who denigrate RAP mostly don't listen well or don't understand the nuances of situations.  They definitely are not on the inside; some don't even live in the neighborhood.  So take what they say with a grain of salt.

"some don't even live in the neighborhood." You don't have to live in the Avondale Neighborhood to have a opinion on anything in Jacksonville. RAP isn't the blessing you believe it to be? It's best if people take what you say with a gain of salt Kay! I remember when RAP put it's two cents into the Riviera Parkway Apartments several years ago. The owner of the apartments wanted to remove all of the buildings. And RAP said it was OK because none of the buildings were really old? But the older apartments on Riviera Parkway have been around for a long time. But RAP said no the buildings on Riviera Parkway were not worth saving? Now this development never went through Thank God. But RAP and a lot of it's stuck up friends want Avondale to be the quiet little haven it once was, well to bad!

[Stephen]

Would someone please answer my question? To whom are the members of RAP accountable, how are they chosen and how much power to they actually have ?

[Kay]

Would someone please answer my question? To whom are the members of RAP accountable, how are they chosen and how much power to they actually have ?

Anyone can become a regular member of RAP.  RAP's board has a nominating committee that recommends the board of director slate.  We advertise for folks interested in becoming board members and interested in supporting RAP's mission and vision as laid out in its strategic plan.  The nominating committee is made up of a few board members and a few community members.  They go through an interview process and the nominating committee recommends new board members to the membership at its annual meeting.  The membership then votes on the new board slate.

The City of Jacksonville through the Jacksonville Historic Planning Commission, the Planning Dept., Planning Commission and Council's Land Use and Zoning Committee vote on projects/issues that come before them applying either the preservance ordiance or the overlay ordinance.  RAP is a neighborhood organization that advocates for the neighborhood just like any lone citizen can do. 

[Stephen]

Thats what I'm thinking StephenDare.....Maybe somebody with some guts should start a Riverside/Avondale Business Committee to speak up for the businesses in the community. RAP really sounds to me as if it has gotten very full of itself.

[Kay]

Tell me one non-profit organization who brings on board members who pledge NOT to support its mission and vision?

There currently are 3 merchant associations in the historic district. 

[Kay]

There you go again Stephen.  Read the strategic plan which includes vision and mission.  Wonder of wonders it even discusses supporting merchants and the commerical districts.  And hey, guess what?  The development of the strategic plan included community survey input and focus groups, including focus groups with merchants. 

RAP works with the merchant associations as evidenced by our partnership with the 5 Points merchants on the walkability project in 5 Points. 

The blatant anti-RAP biases on this board is why I don't typically post.  One cannot have a rationale conversation. 

[fieldafm]

One cannot have a rationale conversation. 

Why is supporting a J-Bill that promotes the 'intensification of use' of what could be maybe 4-5 dozens of commercial structures ok?  Doesn't that kind of go against the whole 'moratorium on bars and restaurants' philosophy- which is grounded in 'intensification' concerns?

That's an honest question.

[MEGATRON]

One cannot have a rationale conversation. 

Why is supporting a J-Bill that promotes the 'intensification of use' of what could be maybe 4-5 dozens of commercial structures ok?  Doesn't that kind of go against the whole 'moratorium on bars and restaurants' philosophy- which is grounded in 'intensification' concerns?

That's an honest question.

Really want to hear Kay's answer to this question.  Its the type of rational question she does not believe exists on this board.

[Stephen]

I think the more bars the better...Lets become a real city not some swampy country backwater

[Cheshire Cat]

I think the more bars the better...Lets become a real city not some swampy country backwater

Do you see Jacksonville as a swampy country backwater town? 

[icarus]

The only good justification they could have for support of intensification of use is that it relates to existing structures.  An intensification of use for Casbah or Biscottis is not going to magically result in a tumultuous wave of new patrons.  It simply changes what they can serve.

If anything, the intensification, if applied to a broader area than just those two establishments, would a nice break from the rather puritanical standards of the City's past.   Of course, I'm saying this as someone who keenly remembers having to drive to St. Johns County with friends and family to purchase alcohol on Sundays.

Also, as much as I miss the back patio at Loft, there is a big difference between the outdoor seating at Casbah or the Brick which faces the commercial street area and a rear patio that adjoins residential property.  Its just a shame a time period of use or noise control could not have resulted in a compromise.

[If_I_Loved_you]

Thats what I'm thinking StephenDare.....Maybe somebody with some guts should start a Riverside/Avondale Business Committee to speak up for the businesses in the community. RAP really sounds to me as if it has gotten very full of itself.

(gotten very full of itself.) RAP has always been this way!

[Stephen]

The Casbah could be a great place as is Biscotti's...Too bad Mellow Mushroom did not have their connections?

[ChriswUfGator]

There you go again Stephen.  Read the strategic plan which includes vision and mission.  Wonder of wonders it even discusses supporting merchants and the commerical districts.  And hey, guess what?  The development of the strategic plan included community survey input and focus groups, including focus groups with merchants. 

RAP works with the merchant associations as evidenced by our partnership with the 5 Points merchants on the walkability project in 5 Points. 

The blatant anti-RAP biases on this board is why I don't typically post.  One cannot have a rationale conversation. 

I don't know that you could call it bias, really.

I'm just asking this; What's the difference between mellow mushroom serving alcohol with outdoor seating, and biscottis and the casbah serving alcohol with outdoor seating? We heard for months how the former = death to the neighborhood, but now you've just stated that RAP has decided not to treat two restaurants (owned by RAP members) in the same area the same way when they want to do the same thing. I'm curious as to hear the basis for this blatant contradiction.

You've failed to answer the question, by the way.