Jazz Fest Moving to Shipyards, One Step Closer to Return to MetPark

Started by fieldafm, February 12, 2014, 06:33:14 AM

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fieldafm

February 12, 2014, 06:33:14 AM
The Office of Special Events is moving the Hemming Plaza stage to the parking lot next to the Blackstone Building and the Main Street Stage to the Shipyards.
Thoughts?

Personally, I think it's a mistake moving it away from the central core of downtown and literally turning its back on the small businesses along Adams, Forsyth, Laura, etc (but I guess the Office of Special Events will rake in more with vendor fees since they can pack the Shipyards with more outside food vendors). When Theresa O'Donnel-Price moved the event into downtown, it was the best thing to happen to Jazz Fest... since, ever.

If the Administration really cared about Hemming, you wouldn't see something like Jazz Fest being moved away from it.

IMO, it would be better to keep the venue as it has been for the past few years, which has been proven to be wildly successful, and further develop the Jazz After Dark program along Bay Street for special after hour performances (Bay Street is filled with bars). 

Maybe the Office of Special Events will prove me wrong, but I have serious doubts. Im all for celebrating our river, but moving this festival in the middle of downtown was what made it work so well. Moving it back to an isolated site defeats the synergy created of having activity within a compact setting where downtown businesses can reap the rewards. For the past year, several people have told me that OSE wouldn't mind Jazz Fest being moved back to MetroPark.

thelakelander

#1
February 12, 2014, 06:57:00 AM
Moving the Jazz Fest back to MetroPark is the dumbest thing I've heard in a while. Hopefully, that never happens.

Hemming, Laura Street and the surrounding venues seemed pretty ideal for an event like the Jazz Fest.  I guess, we'll find out pretty soon if OSE really knows what they are doing with events that should be designed to help expose and support local businesses and the core.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

Bridges

#2
February 12, 2014, 08:05:59 AM
I can't believe they're actually going to do this.  The downtown set up was amazing. 
So I said to him: Arthur, Artie come on, why does the salesman have to die? Change the title; The life of a salesman. That's what people want to see.

JayBird

#3
February 12, 2014, 08:24:13 AM
Well now Mayor Brown can have a headline saying he saved the Shipyards!
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urbanlibertarian

#4
February 12, 2014, 09:32:33 AM
On the bright side there will be 2 waterfront venues instead of just one and hopefully the shipyards will be developed soon necessitating another change in the near future.  Laura St's loss will be Bay St's gain.
Sed quis custodiet ipsos cutodes (Who watches the watchmen?)

fieldafm

#5
February 12, 2014, 09:37:01 AM
QuoteWell now Mayor Brown can have a headline saying he saved the Shipyards!

Sarcasm aside... this seems to be more about the Administration wanting to distance themselves from previous administrations by putting their own stamp on the festival.

I'll leave that up to you to decide whether that's good leadership or not.


QuoteLaura St's loss will be Bay St's gain.

Or, you could choose to have win-win solutions like keeping a WILDLY SUCCESSFUL format intact and continuing to work with the Bay Street bars to host exclusive 'Jazz After Hours' performers... and grow that portion of the festival.  That would seem to more beneficial then having 'winners' and 'losers'.

I-10east

#6
February 12, 2014, 09:40:26 AM Last Edit: February 12, 2014, 09:45:58 AM by I-10east
I agree Urban. Also it's not like the Jazz Fest 'makes' Hemming Plaza, as they have quite a bit of other events (Art Walk, One Spark etc). I'm kinda at a 'wait & see for more info' approach concerning this proposed move. Like you said, atleast we would be getting another venue. 

CityLife

#7
February 12, 2014, 09:41:09 AM Last Edit: February 12, 2014, 09:50:16 AM by CityLife
Agree with every word in the original post. I'd really like to hear their thought process behind the proposed move.

Jameson

#8
February 12, 2014, 10:33:29 AM
The news of this change is very disappointing. The Hemming / BG Stage / Landing setup has been awesome and put such an emphasis on the urban core.

It also provided several natural places for relief from the heat should festival goers want to escape it for a bit, while at the same time supporting local businesses. Hemming Plaza for the most part was shaded, there were natural pockets of shade from the surrounding buildings all throughout the fest and if that wasn't enough, there were several options to go inside to escape it for a few - BG, Burro, Dos, Chamblin's, etc. all within blocks. Now, festival goers are going to be in a big lot at the Shipyards? And sitting along Bay St. in the direct sun?

Sounds to me like change just for the sake of change.

thelakelander

#9
February 12, 2014, 10:45:29 AM
^but you'll get to look at the river and the closed off weed-filled industrial remains of the Shipyards through a chain link fence. Plus you can take advantage of the view of Berkman 2's corpse. There's no Chamblins or other little boutiques to visit but Maxwell House has a pretty large brick wall to serve as a backdrop. Anyway, one good thing is, if you're too disorderly, the jail is right across the street.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

Tacachale

#10
February 12, 2014, 10:54:00 AM
Change for the sake of change. Pretty disappointing. It's even more disappointing that they think Metro Park would somehow be better.
Do you believe that when the blue jay or another bird sings and the body is trembling, that is a signal that people are coming or something important is about to happen?

CityLife

#11
February 12, 2014, 11:01:35 AM Last Edit: February 12, 2014, 11:05:54 AM by CityLife
Stephen, haven't they done the gated VIP thing before last year? I missed it in 2012 (or was it canceled?), but seem to remember it in 2011. You're right though, its a mess.

L.P. Hovercraft

#12
February 12, 2014, 11:07:04 AM
WTF?!  Is this definitely happening or just being talked about at this point?
This is straight up a BAD idea--why ruin one of the very few times of the year that our downtown is actually fun, alive and filled with people instead of looking like the set of a post-apocalyptic zombie movie? 
Is it just the "hassle" and logistics of having to close down multiple streets for a weekend?  Ugh, I don't get it.
"Let us not be blind to our differences, but let us also direct attention to our common interests and the means by which those differences can be resolved.  And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity."
--John F. Kennedy, 6/10/1963

mtraininjax

#13
February 12, 2014, 11:19:21 AM
QuoteIf the Administration really cared about Hemming, you wouldn't see something like Jazz Fest being moved away from it.

Hey, where are all the I'm with Alvin crowd?

The event belongs on city owned property, not a parking lot owned by the Farahs or anyone else where the city comes in and says they are using it and if you don't like it, well screw you.

Move it the RIVER, its the best asset the city has. Hemming Plaza is now up to One Spark to revive. The Jazz fest belongs in Met Park. Even if it is Mayor Alvin Brown Presents the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, as if he owns it, which he will again this year, I am sure.
And, that $115 will save Jacksonville from financial ruin. - Mayor John Peyton

"This is a game-changer. This is what I mean when I say taking Jacksonville to the next level."
-Mayor Alvin Brown on new video boards at Everbank Field

fieldafm

#14
February 12, 2014, 11:32:23 AM
Quote from: mtraininjax on February 12, 2014, 11:19:21 AM
QuoteIf the Administration really cared about Hemming, you wouldn't see something like Jazz Fest being moved away from it.

Hey, where are all the I'm with Alvin crowd?

The event belongs on city owned property, not a parking lot owned by the Farahs or anyone else where the city comes in and says they are using it and if you don't like it, well screw you.

Move it the RIVER, its the best asset the city has. Hemming Plaza is now up to One Spark to revive. The Jazz fest belongs in Met Park. Even if it is Mayor Alvin Brown Presents the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, as if he owns it, which he will again this year, I am sure.

Thoughtful, well reasoned and succint points.  Nothing but the best from mtrainjax!  :o

BTW, the City pays for the use of Farrah's parking lot... just as they will pay for the use of Petra's parking lot in this newest iteration.
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