Landing/Downtown Market Study Results

[IrvAdams]

I'd be happy to build a 27 sstory apartment building in Jacksonville than the one I'm doing in Houston. I've never experienced such a struggle.  Unfriendly government officials, neighbors ...etc

With all the talk we hear from public officials beating the drums about the need for downtown development, this amazes me. You'd think it would all be open arms and giggles.

[mtraininjax]

I believe viewing DT Jax with imaginary borders hurts us to a degree. At times we forgot about the importance of linking and tying in the thousands of existing residents and workers just outside the imaginary bubble.

Downtown to me is the 32202 zip code, but even that is blurred as the boundary line runs down Riverside Avenue to include 220 Riverside, and some of Springfield is included in this zip,  but I can't see including all of Springfield with downtown's population. People in Springfield have an independent identity, separate from downtown.

[strider]

There is so much truth in that.  And not just from the consulting and endless studies.

I believe viewing DT Jax with imaginary borders hurts us to a degree. At times we forgot about the importance of linking and tying in the thousands of existing residents and workers just outside the imaginary bubble.

Downtown to me is the 32202 zip code, but even that is blurred as the boundary line runs down Riverside Avenue to include 220 Riverside, and some of Springfield is included in this zip,  but I can't see including all of Springfield with downtown's population. People in Springfield have an independent identity, separate from downtown.

I disagree.  I think the same basic mind set exists but the ingrained desire for some of the elements from the suburbia that most grew up in steers people to the separating of houses that exist in the urban "suburbs".  The people still hope for the same walk-ability and commercial density that successful downtowns offer.  Ask the residents of Springfield, they will often  tell you they live Downtown.  They must be included as part of downtown and nurtured just like downtown if we are ever gong to have a successful urban part of the city.

[GoldenEst82]

*yawn*  Another year, another study on downtown.  It's well past time to stop "studying" the problem and actually DO something.

I would love to see the grand total of the money spent over the last thirty years "studying" what's wrong with downtown Jacksonville.

+100000
My A-#1 grievance with this city. I swear its a pocket lining scheme; the amount of money wasted on consultants and studies, for projects that the city has little intention of going through with.
I wonder how many studies they did on leveling Lavilla? My guess, none.

(I am being simplistic, natch)

[thelakelander]

Lol. Studies were done on the "revitalization" of LaVilla too. One study had a chunk of the neighborhood being replaced with surface parking and recreational ball fields. They tore stuff down and kicked people out. But that was about it.

[spuwho]

Consulting studies can be useful if there is a specific goal in mind. ( I used to consult).

But when you hire a consultant to help you determine what the goal should be, then you always get somewhat useful data and plans but not a whole lot of decisions. (and it will cost you plenty)

And there is where the problem lies. Many politicos hire consultants because they are unable or unwilling to make a decision on their own. They would rather reduce the risk by deferring to a "consultants studies" or blame the research on why something can't be done. They can be educational and they can be used as a tool to develop plans and supporting legislation in support of a decision.

On the flip side you have other politicos who make decisions completely in the blind without any data to back up or provide foundation to what they are attempting to accomplish, because expedience is their catapult, the "we have to do it, or else" mentality rules.

It's unfortunate as there are some people out there that are well qualified in their field.  The problem is that it is abused or misused often.

Also another factor to extensive use of consultants in Jax is the lack of internal expertise or the high amount of turnover in higher level leadership. This leads to a lot of restudy/re-education to leadership to get them up to speed.

Sometimes I think that before a new mayor or COJ board member comes on board, they need to go through a COJ101 and 201 class that goes through some of the civic initiatives in the past 10-20 years so they have some context or education on what their predecessors had done or were thinking. It would save a lot of time and money I would think.

[finehoe]

Sometimes I think that before a new mayor or COJ board member comes on board, they need to go through a COJ101 and 201 class that goes through some of the civic initiatives in the past 10-20 years so they have some context or education on what their predecessors had done or were thinking. It would save a lot of time and money I would think.

I love this.  Too bad it will never happen.

[IrvAdams]

^^ They should be required to read most of the major threads and posts from Metro Jax for the last five years, that would probably provide a better education and more positive suggestions than anything.

[simms3]

I'd be happy to build a 27 sstory apartment building in Jacksonville than the one I'm doing in Houston. I've never experienced such a struggle.  Unfriendly government officials, neighbors ...etc

Wait, what?  Do you work for the GC or something?  Houston may seem difficult to you, but is generally considered one of the easiest cities in America to get something built, with minimal oversight and minimal political obstacles.  Also, Houston is growing by leaps and bounds and has a major demand for infill housing (and people that can afford it), quite the opposite story of Jacksonville.

The only project receiving what I would call a "normal" amount of opposition is the Ashby tower (but my perspective has since been changed by nature of where I live, arguably the most bureaucratic and political city in America).

[IrvAdams]

I'd be happy to build a 27 sstory apartment building in Jacksonville than the one I'm doing in Houston. I've never experienced such a struggle.  Unfriendly government officials, neighbors ...etc

Wait, what?  Do you work for the GC or something?  Houston may seem difficult to you, but is generally considered one of the easiest cities in America to get something built, with minimal oversight and minimal political obstacles.  Also, Houston is growing by leaps and bounds and has a major demand for infill housing (and people that can afford it), quite the opposite story of Jacksonville.

The only project receiving what I would call a "normal" amount of opposition is the Ashby tower (but my perspective has since been changed by nature of where I live, arguably the most bureaucratic and political city in America).

Oh I interpreted that wrong, I thought he was saying Jax was the one with the roadblocks, etc.

[Overstreet]

Perhaps.......Houston may be "easy" in your eyes but the bank highrise (28 flrs) next door can't put my webcam on the roof without the approval of the neighborhood association.