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

[tufsu1]

But now Downtown's Front Door (The Chamber) can take center stage

[Jameson]

I mean, if you really want to showcase the river, why not put a stage on a barge between the Hart and Main St. Bridge and have the river taxis ferry people to and fro?   

[peestandingup]

Last years jazz festival was a little nightmarish logistically.

They stonewalled Theresa Price, who actually knew how everything worked and volunteered to help out.

They fired everyone involved with the previous years events, and lost Tiffany Valla Hutto, who spent hella time developing the talent for the event, and then they simply ignored all of her offers to help out.

While most people on the forums might not have noticed, it was a hot mess.

I noticed: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,18519.msg330234.html It was clearly off last year & now I know why. Seems to me instead of doing what worked before, these new guys in charge are just gonna continue to run it into the ground. Two years ago, Jazz Fest was on its way to being a world class jazz festival. Now? Not so much.

And having it on an abandoned field (which is right next to an abandoned park), waterfront or not, is the stupidest idea that's came out of this city in a while. For one, you'd think eventually that the Shipyards (along with Met Park) are gonna be developed into something else within the near future anyway. So what happens then? They'll likely move it right back to Hemming is what, so there's that.

And as has been said, Hemming is the center of the city, has shade, lots of built-in places to sit, other places to go eat & drink besides a tent, the stretch of Laura has activities up & down it, the Skyway is there, etc.

Seriously dumb move.

[brainstormer]

I thought the move of Jazz Fest to the urban core and Laura Street was such a fantastic decision.  They opened up the old church for live jazz and created a bustling corridor that made you feel like you weren't in Jacksonville anymore.  Moving this to the Shipyards is just dumb.  Talk about a slap in the face to our small businesses downtown.  Remember how used the Skyway was during Jazz Weekend?  There isn't any public transit to the Shipyards which means people will have to drive and I'm sure the city will charge for parking.  Why does Jacksonville have to ruin things just when they become decent?   

[tufsu1]

Not that I agree with the move or was impressed with last year's festival, but it is worth noting the City put it on with a smaller budget each of the last 2 years.

[mtraininjax]

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.

The Office Manager at Farah told me to my face that what the City pays is peanuts compared to the value that they get out of the use of the space. It is not a fair price for the use of the space, hence the statement that it is essentially a strong-arm tactic. Eddie and Chuck did not go to the city and say, "Hey, we want you to take over our parking lot for a week and force our people and clients to go elsewhere", at a time when the whole area suggests you should shut down for that week. Its packed. I'm sure that's exactly what Eddie and Chuck wanted! lol!

Whether or not the elephant and his peanut soldiers are doing to Jazz Fest works downtown, it is obvious he (and it is his name on the show Stephen, not Toney's not Mike's, it is the Alvin Brown Presents show) wants to take the circus down to the river and stomp out any possibly realization that Hemming Park is worth saving.

Again, One Spark will have to save Hemming Plaza. The mayor sees that his constituency on the Southside does not CARE about Hemming Park and wants it moved, and we are getting closer to an election year.......

[fieldafm]

Coming from someone who has rented that same parking lot, the fee is the same.
The Farrahs have been good to downtown.

So, keep on ranting... it makes you look quite intelligent.

[thelakelander]

mtraininjax, Hemming is as good as dead if we're hoping that One Spark or any single special event will save it. Just saying.

[BridgeTroll]

I do not support the move... You would think Don Redman would object to the "noise" wafting across the river. 

[John P]

Is almost like the mayor's office doesnt know what they're doing. That would be something huh.

[CityLife]

Don't fear Jaxons, the City got AARP to sponsor this years event (no joke), so you know it will be exciting.

[I-10east]

Wow. Time to dig some acts from out of the grave.

[I-10east]

Don't fear Jaxons, the City got AARP to sponsor this years event (no joke), so you know it will be exciting.

Although it seems like jazz is generally an older genre of music (no offense to anyone).

[urbaknight]

I can see Jazz fest being moved if the reason was to start rehabbing the Trio and Barnett buildings. Then I'd support the move. But that would be the only acceptable excuse. I'm quite sure that's not the reason, the city just wants to move backward. They saw something that actually works; And they just can't stand it. Maybe it's too much work for them to have it DownTown. Lazy backwoods bastards!

[brainstormer]

Don't fear Jaxons, the City got AARP to sponsor this years event (no joke), so you know it will be exciting.

Although it seems like jazz is generally an older genre of music (no offense to anyone).

The AARP sponsorship is somewhat odd I think.  As far as your reference to jazz being an older genre...Go back two years to Trombone Shorty delivering a spectacular night time performance on the stage at Main and Adams.  There were families with kids dancing, Burrito Gallery was packed with Millennials, and downtown felt alive.  For a mayor who likes to talk about the need to recruit young people to live in the urban core, he certainly hasn't a clue of how to actually do it.