ReNew Arlington- Is there hope for Arlington?

[jaxnyc79]

jaxnyc, what are the current sign regulations? Are pole signs allowed? If so, what are the max heights?

I'm no expert on the sign ordinance - just going by what I see when driving around. 

A quick read of what I think is the sign ordinance:  Sign allowances depend on lot zoning.  Free-standing pole signs are definitely allowed in most commercial zones, and may be as tall as 50 feet.  Square footage of the actual sign is based on a formula that considers lot size and street frontage.  It's possible that some of the most offensive-looking signs are old and not in conformance with perhaps an updated ordinance.  Then again, new signs are being erected that certainly are bigger and meeting lower design standards than what you find in Bartram Park or Nocatee.  I'm not saying older neighborhoods need to be plastic-looking, but there's a way to achieve sign creativity and economical viability with monument signs that meet aesthetic design standards of the community at large - and i think it can be done without a great deal of added expense. 

[ProjectMaximus]

It's the one that sits at University and Arlington expressway. Massive complex with few businesses

Thanks. I thought this might have been the hotel campus, a little bit east, which I actually got to see a little bit for a project I was involved with.

[C267A]

The signage and other commercial eyesores in Arlington are mostly grandfathered-in.  Hence, legally non-conforming.  Likewise, Old Arlington has a large number of overly-intense zoning for the area.  (e.g., CCG2 allowing junk yards, outside storage, etc.). However, with the CRA, there does come hope.  The Fla Statutes, if the area is deemed blighted or slum by the State and our City Council, appears to allow many possibilities to take place to "correct" or "eliminate" some of the problem areas.  Imminent domain, for one. But more importantly,  I've heard rumors of a "zoning overlay" or "Historical District overlay" to weed out some of the issues.  Restrictions are placed on the parcels as well as land uses, etc. These tools were very effective in cleaning up San Marco.  I remember during the 70's San Marco looked just like Arlington- -really aged, empty homes and businesses.  And Hendricks was very industrial with wooden warehouses and graffiti.  Likewise, a zoning overlay for Riverside and Springfield certainly boosted those areas.

On another topic, as for the suggested hi-rise for Town and Country, mixed uses, etc. - the suggestion is for the first 2 floors or so to consist of stores, medical offices, lawyer offices, restaurants, pharmacy, grocery, clothing, shopping, etc.  The higher floors might be used for Senior Citizens as Retirement Centers or as assisted living centers.  This would provide an economy to many of the lower income residents of the area as they could provide cleaning services, nursing care, assisted living care.  One thing Arlington definitely does NOT need is Apartment Rentals to the general population, as all of the rental facilities in Arlington are DRUG infested. Sad, but true.  Perhaps, in a controlled situation of supervision, the top floors could be leased out to seniors or more responsible adults.   Just an idea..

But Ms Nasrellah has stated that the eyesores in the CRA will be taken care of in due time.  This shall take years. But it is going to happen and that is the great news.

[jaxnyc79]

The signage and other commercial eyesores in Arlington are mostly grandfathered-in.  Hence, legally non-conforming.  Likewise, Old Arlington has a large number of overly-intense zoning for the area.  (e.g., CCG2 allowing junk yards, outside storage, etc.). However, with the CRA, there does come hope.  The Fla Statutes, if the area is deemed blighted or slum by the State and our City Council, appears to allow many possibilities to take place to "correct" or "eliminate" some of the problem areas.  Imminent domain, for one. But more importantly,  I've heard rumors of a "zoning overlay" or "Historical District overlay" to weed out some of the issues.  Restrictions are placed on the parcels as well as land uses, etc. These tools were very effective in cleaning up San Marco.  I remember during the 70's San Marco looked just like Arlington- -really aged, empty homes and businesses.  And Hendricks was very industrial with wooden warehouses and graffiti.  Likewise, a zoning overlay for Riverside and Springfield certainly boosted those areas.

On another topic, as for the suggested hi-rise for Town and Country, mixed uses, etc. - the suggestion is for the first 2 floors or so to consist of stores, medical offices, lawyer offices, restaurants, pharmacy, grocery, clothing, shopping, etc.  The higher floors might be used for Senior Citizens as Retirement Centers or as assisted living centers.  This would provide an economy to many of the lower income residents of the area as they could provide cleaning services, nursing care, assisted living care.  One thing Arlington definitely does NOT need is Apartment Rentals to the general population, as all of the rental facilities in Arlington are DRUG infested. Sad, but true.  Perhaps, in a controlled situation of supervision, the top floors could be leased out to seniors or more responsible adults.   Just an idea..

But Ms Nasrellah has stated that the eyesores in the CRA will be taken care of in due time.  This shall take years. But it is going to happen and that is the great news.

Thanks for this update.  I wonder who could confirm the zoning overlay rumors?  Can you just expand existing San Marco zoning requirements to include Arlington, as opposed to building something from scratch, customized to Arlington (which would probably take years)?

[C267A]

From JTA = == Public Charrette


You're invited to join a 3-day, community wide dialogue and feedback session related to University Blvd. between Ft. Caroline and Arlington roads and Merrill Rd. between University and Townsend boulevards.  We will be discussing potential safety and mobility improvements for the  study areas. And we want your input!


Wednesday, August 5th:    10 am - 8:30 am.   

The design team will be talking with the community and collecting feedback related to future improvements. Open hours format. Come by and share your ideas when your schedule allows.


Thursday, August 6th:  12:30 - 6 p.m.

The team will begin developing drawings for possible improvements based on the information gathered on Monday. Observers are welcome


Friday, August 7th: 2 - 4 p.m.


The team will present its findings to the community


Location:   
Riverhouse at JU
Jacksonville University
2800 University Blvd North

[Bativac]

My family has roots in Arlington - grandma lived there since the 50s and my dad was born and raised there. There's hope but the area definitely has a long, long way to go. Yes there are cheap houses for young couples but it seems like the young couples I know who bought homes over there (granted, just two or three couples doesn't make a trend) couldn't wait to get out as soon as they started having kids.

It's a shame because there are some neat buildings over there that could be cleaned up and turned into something akin to, I dunno, Murray Hill or the Edgewood shopping district... but that would take people with vision, money, patience, and the genuine desire to see Arlington turn around.

As for Town and Country, I know a couple businesses that have been there for decades.... but the place needs to be either seriously refurbished or bulldozed.

[CCMjax]

My family has roots in Arlington - grandma lived there since the 50s and my dad was born and raised there. There's hope but the area definitely has a long, long way to go. Yes there are cheap houses for young couples but it seems like the young couples I know who bought homes over there (granted, just two or three couples doesn't make a trend) couldn't wait to get out as soon as they started having kids.

It's a shame because there are some neat buildings over there that could be cleaned up and turned into something akin to, I dunno, Murray Hill or the Edgewood shopping district... but that would take people with vision, money, patience, and the genuine desire to see Arlington turn around.

As for Town and Country, I know a couple businesses that have been there for decades.... but the place needs to be either seriously refurbished or bulldozed.

The public schools are in that area, like much of Duval, are questionable at best, that is a huge reason people with kids (that can't afford private) want out.  Improving the schools is key to getting people with kids to stick around or come back.  It's no fault to those who leave, when you have kids your mindset changes and most people put their kids' well-being before their own personal tastes.  It's the public school system that needs to change.  Without good public schools you will continue to see young middle class families flock elsewhere once their kids are school aged.  JU is not going to transform Arlington itself, too small of a student population to be that influential.  Something bigger needs to happen . . . . good public schools.

[C267A]

Ordinance 2015-738

Well, it's here!  Legislation to approve/ deny the Renew Arlington CRA efforts ! Ms.  Nasrallah  hopes to have the legislation approved before Dec. 1, 2015.  It has now been filed. Introduced to Council on Oct 27.  2nd reading on Nov 10.  Committee Week is Nov 16.  Final Consideration by City Council, (if there is no deferral), is Nov 24th.

http://cityclts.coj.net/coj/COJbillDetail.asp?F=2015-0738\Original Text

Check out the COJ website and the PDF of the Master Plans. Study them, make your comments, concerns known.  It is a public hearing process before the Council and I suspect, 99.9% of Arlington residents, businesses, etc. will start screaming when the bulldozers get started that "I never got an opportunity to express my opinion! Why wasn't the public told of this?"    (It's been in the FTU, been presented at CPAC and City Hall meetings.  Certainly not a secret. Speak now or hold your objections.)

I have many concerns and questions myself (particularly in regard to maintenance of the greenscape, trees, bulbouts, green walkway corridors,  and also the downsizing of the roadways, particularly Arlington Road which just spent $1.3 Million on Town Center Initiative improvements to become 2 laned on each direction, add medians and new sidewalks.  Arlington Rd has heavy traffic at peak hours.   The CRA wishes to convert it to 1-lane each direction, with parking along the road. For years, Semi-rigs parked up-down Arlington Rd, so the parking was removed per the community's wishes. . There are several large church congregations along Arlington Rd and Sunday traffic which would have to use single lane ingress/ egress.   Also, big concern about a roundabout at Merrill Rd and Rogero Rd next to Lake Lucina Elementary. The traffic is terrible there because of the school traffic queuing, buses, etc. A roundabout would choke out the drivers on intersecting Rogero Road during peak hours.  Another big concern at this locale is the large number of very young kids who wander the area after school, on weekends, and all summer.  They currently use the pedestrian signals to the stop lights to assist in crossing the streets.  If the pedestrian signals are removed --- as with a roundabout -- these kids are going to run across the roadway willy-nilly and get harmed or killed.  It just does not seem like a feasible or good idea for a roundabout at this locale because of the proximity to the school and related issues, ingress, egress, pedestrians- safety to kids.)

But I am sure these things will be addressed and resolved.

[aldermanparklover]

We love Jacksonville. We love Arlington. We love Alderman Park where we just bought our residence back in Sept.

NOTHING should be done to improve Arlington UNTIL downtown is renovated and reinvigorated. Jacksonville downtown business needs to grow before Arlington can thrive.

In my opinion:
a. relocate the homeless
b. tear up the waterfront and turn it into someplace people want to go
c. improve parking
d. incentivize business giants from out of state to move - (google, amazon, paypal, etc)

then property in Arlington will become desirable by working people will new money, raising property values, which will then form a business need to service those new people and their new money.

[Carolyn]

We love Jacksonville. We love Arlington. We love Alderman Park where we just bought our residence back in Sept.

NOTHING should be done to improve Arlington UNTIL downtown is renovated and reinvigorated. Jacksonville downtown business needs to grow before Arlington can thrive.

In my opinion:
a. relocate the homeless
b. tear up the waterfront and turn it into someplace people want to go
c. improve parking
d. incentivize business giants from out of state to move - (google, amazon, paypal, etc)

then property in Arlington will become desirable by working people will new money, raising property values, which will then form a business need to service those new people and their new money.

"Relocate the homeless" why does that always sound *not good for the homeless?  Sorry, it just breaks my heart that they do not get help.  I know some of them won't accept *help but...

[Adam White]

I think we should relocate the bigots.

[JBTripper]

If Amazon, Google and Apple ALL spontaneously relocate to downtown Jacksonville and nothing is done to improve Arlington, then all those new employees would live in St. Johns County.

[Know Growth]

We love Jacksonville. We love Arlington. We love Alderman Park where we just bought our residence back in Sept.

NOTHING should be done to improve Arlington UNTIL downtown is renovated and reinvigorated. Jacksonville downtown business needs to grow before Arlington can thrive.

In my opinion:
a. relocate the homeless
b. tear up the waterfront and turn it into someplace people want to go
c. improve parking
d. incentivize business giants from out of state to move - (google, amazon, paypal, etc)

then property in Arlington will become desirable by working people will new money, raising property values, which will then form a business need to service those new people and their new money.

Very interesting.
b. reference to waterfront brings to mind the fact that the very most desirable locales were developed first. Waterfront understandably a big draw.Over time,we turn attention away from the Best Places,expanding out further to locales second rate as far as placement.(And then masterfully name a Town Center straddling the Duval county line "St Johns"  )
Even though I am directly connected to the River in so many ways,I have never really viewed Arlington as a waterfront community.Thank you Aldermanparklover for the insight,reminder.
I recall past Florida Department Of Community Affairs Waterfront Communities efforts...amazing how even Florida waterfront areas end up in Struggle mode.

I knew a Pioneer Arlington developer,Willie Mick.So proud of what he accomplished, he really loved Arlington.

"Hope" and real Progress for Arlington is imperative.Anything less suggests existing 'better' neighborhoods could face creeping decline.

[aldermanparklover]

We love Jacksonville. We love Arlington. We love Alderman Park where we just bought our residence back in Sept.

NOTHING should be done to improve Arlington UNTIL downtown is renovated and reinvigorated. Jacksonville downtown business needs to grow before Arlington can thrive.

In my opinion:
a. relocate the homeless
b. tear up the waterfront and turn it into someplace people want to go
c. improve parking
d. incentivize business giants from out of state to move - (google, amazon, paypal, etc)

then property in Arlington will become desirable by working people will new money, raising property values, which will then form a business need to service those new people and their new money.

"Relocate the homeless" why does that always sound *not good for the homeless?  Sorry, it just breaks my heart that they do not get help.  I know some of them won't accept *help but...

75%+ of true homeless (not the jerks holding signs looking for handouts) suffer from diagnosable and treatable mental illness. In America, we are so wealthy and generous a nation, that no one will be homeless who truly doesn't want to become homeless.

For the chronically homeless due to mental illness, there is nothing we can do to truly change their situation outside of involuntary commitment in a mental health facility. Outside of that, here in Jacksonville, they should be incentivized to loiter somewhere else.

[MarthaARealtor]

There used to be a Day center for the homeless and the current administration decided not to fund it any more last year. Where would we ask them to loiter? They need to be close to the food and the shelter they can get which is downtown.