DIA's Downtown Development Investment Strategy Draft Plan Released

[thelakelander]

The JBJ has a draft version of the DIA's Downtown Development Investment Strategy.

The first draft of the long-awaited Downtown redevelopment plans outlines some lofty ambitions for urban revitalization — everything from redeveloping the Jacksonville Landing to creating affordable live-work studios for artists — but few that are new or surprising.

The plans, which cover Downtown's Northbank and Southbank, provide the framework for development efforts for years to come. The Business Journal on Friday obtained a draft of the plans given to board members this week

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/02/28/downtown-jacksonville-redevelopment-plan.html

Here's a break down of items and timelines.  If things work out as planned, many of us probably won't be around to enjoy it.

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/02/28/downtown-jacksonville-redevelopment-plan.html?s=image_gallery

2014-2019

Creative placemaking and public art

Hemming Plaza programming and Snyder Memorial Church reuse

Jacksonville Landing repositioning

Increased bicycle parking

Improved wayfarer signage

Retail enhancement grant program

Lighting improvements

Homeless assistance program


2020-2030

Friendship Park Redesign

Northbank East-West Circulator (a bus)

"Park Once Promotion"

Live-work spaces for artists

Housing incentives and finance (5,000 additional housing units by 2025)

Reinforce the branding of the Elbow

Water launch network


2021-2045

Redesign Metropolitan Park

Improve links to the Emerald Necklace (bike trails between DT and urban neighborhoods)

Improvements to Jesse Ball DuPont Park

[TomHurst]

Wow!  I'm all for setting realistically achievable timelines for our goals but this schedule seems a bit drawn out.  Half of the items on the list could be done in half the time or less if the powers-that-be were motivated to make it happen.

[Tacachale]

So basically, no major plans for another 6 years at least. Great...

[L.P. Hovercraft]

Noone, Noone, paging Noone:

Water launch network
Priority: Mid-term, 2020-2030
Northbank and Southbank
''The plan update recommends the creation of a network of sustainable water launches and accesses for those who enjoy our waters in non-motorized boats. The network would help non-motorized boating Downtown be a less anxious experience; not just kayaks, but providing river access paddlers, rowers and small sail boat owners.''

Would have also been nice to see something about returning most of the one way streets to two way.  Never have an issue with parking, but those one-ways are what I find especially infuriating about driving downtown, especially if you miss your turn and have to go several blocks out of your way to backtrack.

[icarus]

Please tell me if I am reading this wrong but we paid $120,000 to a group of consultants to provide no original ideas but simply take existing ideas and format it into a report.

It seems completely ridiculous but then again, its Jacksonville. Is there like a central depository for the millions of dollars worth of studies and plans we've paid consultants to prepare?

If anything happens downtown, it will be inspite of our City leaders instead of because of them.

[jcjohnpaint]

Yeah we paid them that much to steal all the ideas on MJ and then turn around and say... Well maybe we can wait for the city to get out of the way to let this happen.  NO SHIT!  I like the ideas, but most of them have been discussed on here since the site started.  We are still waiting for saving grace leadership and the numbskulls to step aside. 

Well we might as well wait for Riverside to grow into Brooklyn and Brooklyn to grow into Lavilla and.... Eventually downtown.  Things have been happening organic here and I guess that is how it will have to happen. 

[tufsu1]

To be fair, it is entirely possible that the consultant team recommended some other projects and/or different timelines, and their suggestions were negated.

[Noone]

So basically, no major plans for another 6 years at least. Great...

+1

[exile]

Yeah we paid them that much to steal all the ideas on MJ and then turn around and say... Well maybe we can wait for the city to get out of the way to let this happen.  NO SHIT!  I like the ideas, but most of them have been discussed on here since the site started.  We are still waiting for saving grace leadership and the numbskulls to step aside. 

Well we might as well wait for Riverside to grow into Brooklyn and Brooklyn to grow into Lavilla and.... Eventually downtown.  Things have been happening organic here and I guess that is how it will have to happen. 

Organic and lean is the way to go. Centralized, grandiose development strategies are doomed to fail. Maybe the DIA should build that "catalyst" project themselves. Imagine what just $400,000 (almost as much as parts 1 and 2 of the study costs) could do on empty land in LaVilla or Brooklyn. A few rowhouses, a small two story artist work-live loft, or maybe a half block of Katrina cottages....Those are catalyst projects that would open the door for new development. Small, but tangible projects that pack a lot of punch. Easy to finance, easy to build. And what really irks me is this timeline. Our timeline to get to the moon was shorter. All but two or three of these strategies should be happening right now. 2020-2030 for a "Park Once Promotion?!!? Can't that be done Monday morning before finishing your first cup of coffee? Jacksonville needs to wake up if it wants to survive. Many, many cities around the world, including many in the third world, are moving much faster and getting things done. It's not just competition from Charlotte, Atlanta, Greenville, etc, it's the second and third tier cities in Central/South America, Africa and Asia that will be eating Jacksonville's lunch.

[urbaknight]

I was walking up Laura st the other day and I saw some guys taking the wood off of the bottom floor windows. I asked them if they were finally getting the go ahead to start revitalizing the building. They said that they were. does anyone else know what's going on? I remain doubtful they're actually doing anything that we would be wanting them to do.

[billy]

2046-2099

Get Starbucks back.

Hand sanitizer stations.

Rehearse native dances for invading alien overlords meet and greet.

[Ocklawaha]

My short list would be a bit more ambitious.

3+ diversely located splash fountains. (perhaps in pocket parks?)

SHADE - Hanging gardens under the Hogan Street Monorail

Optical Illusion - a street diet somewhere in the East Bay AREA entertainment district (not Bay St. ) where a large sidewalk would be painted with occasionally changing optical illusions as an attraction.

Aquarium, but not a monolithic building, 'fish pods' along the riverwalk similar to the old mushrooms in the original Dallas Thomas (FRIENDSHIP PARK). The more you walk - the more you see.

JACKSONVILLE STARS - add the famous and the infamous historical Jacksonville figures in life-size bronze all along the riverwalk system. Have your photo taken with the Creature, Babe Hardy, Al Capone and 'the runners' all on the same day.

Trash 75% of all parking meters.

Lose the stop light cameras before the rear ender accident attorneys figure out that is what is causing the epidemic of whiplash suits.

Make the downtown east-west shuttle bus ELECTRIC with induction charged batteries.

World destination signpost for a 'world port' city... all sister cities and major trade partner cities + 'mandatory' locations such as 'Tipperary' and 'Timbuktu.'

Holographic Fountain on Northbank Shipyards park area with children's stories, music, Jacksonville PR ad's and dramatic 3-d renditions of our amazing history in 5-10 minute shows.

Make the Fuller Warren America's 'Bridge of Light.'

Laura Streetscape x URBAN CORE!

Did anyone mention streetcar?

[CG7]

Wow Ock,  I like your ideas much better. I wonder if we can find their idea book, and do a switcheroo.

[tufsu1]

I was walking up Laura st the other day and I saw some guys taking the wood off of the bottom floor windows. I asked them if they were finally getting the go ahead to start revitalizing the building. They said that they were. does anyone else know what's going on? I remain doubtful they're actually doing anything that we would be wanting them to do.

the building will be open for One Spark

[jcjohnpaint]

but, are they going to get to work restoring the building anytime soon?