Want to Run Through Friendship Fountain? ULI Panel Presents Southbank Thoughts

[KenFSU]

What's does this even mean? Who, dare I ask, is funding this study?

By way of the Daily Record:

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547312

The best use in the next 50 years for the centerpiece of the Southbank could be to go back in time by about 50 years.

Their report won't be published for at least six weeks, but that was the early impression presented Wednesday by a seven-member panel commissioned to study the area between the Acosta and Main Street bridges and Prudential Drive and the St. Johns River.

A Technical Assistance Panel comprised of Urban Land Institute members spent two days touring the site, meeting stakeholders and considering options for redevelopment. Panel members are architects, planners and administrators.

"It's a great group with a lot of disciplines," said David Powell, a land-use attorney from Tallahassee who chaired the panel.

He described the 15-acre site, owned by the city, as a keystone parcel and "the lynchpin for the whole district."

It includes the Museum of Science & History, the River City Brewing Co. restaurant, Friendship Park, a boat ramp and marina, and two mid-rise office buildings.

The institute advocates for healthy living places that promote economic growth, diverse public and private uses of sites and mobility, Powell said.

Steve Lovett, a planner, landscape architect and partner at Ervin, Lovett and Miller, was the only member of the panel from Jacksonville.

He said the property is one of the few St. Johns River public access points Downtown and therefore must be treated "carefully and with respect."

The panel concluded there should be more public interaction with the site and more greenspace — much like the original design of the park and fountain that opened in 1964 — but with a few modifications.

Lovett said the fountain is large and impressive when viewed from the Northbank, "but when you're there, the only opportunity is to look at it."

Tom Murphy, former mayor of Pittsburgh and ULI senior resident fellow for urban development, said the fountain could be more of a destination if people had the opportunity to run through it.

"Water and people want to come together," he said.

Full article at the link

[KenFSU]

Per the JBJ:

The groups strongest recommendation would turn the two quadrants closest to the river into green space while leaving the space where MOSH currently sits as a cultural use, but the space next to MOSH would be turned into a mixed-use development.

They also suggest opening up the property with a road/pedestrian path that would cut it in half thereby giving better visible access to the St. Johns River.

The group does not believe that the River City Brewing Company is using the space the best it could, and does not complete the vision of what the land was originally planned. One planner said that the restaurant could be moved somewhere else on the property to help achieve the vision of "tomorrow's park."

Again, I respectfully ask, why is this pie-in-the-sky study of one of downtown's more (relatively) functional areas a priority right now, when much bigger issues like Shipyards remediation, Trio redevelopment, Berkman blight, etc. sit stagnant.

Seems akin to rearranging your garden while the house is burning down.

[FlaBoy]

It is a pretty easy solution. More greenspace in the park with some amenities. Get rid of the parking lot. Close in the road with the round about.  Expand the park to even under the bridge with maybe a small dog park and playground. Use the Acosta Bridge similar to what has been done in Riverside.

I don't know about letting people run in the Fountain but there are ways to make a safe area to stand and put your feat in. Jumping fountain could be added somewhere similar to a Curtis Hixon Park in DT Tampa.  Eventually, create a riverwalk that goes all the way over past Baptist to the edge of San Marco would help connect people to the Park.



You can see the jumping fountains at the bottom of Curtis Hixon and the Museums to the right.

[spuwho]

He described the 15-acre site, owned by the city, as a keystone parcel and "the lynchpin for the whole district."

Ouch, Daily Record needs to update the spell check.

Lake belongs to the ULI, is he still in Mexico or did he participate in this?

[ProjectMaximus]

He described the 15-acre site, owned by the city, as a keystone parcel and "the lynchpin for the whole district."

Ouch, Daily Record needs to update the spell check.

Lake belongs to the ULI, is he still in Mexico or did he participate in this?

You prompted me to look it up and apparently either spelling is acceptable.

[tufsu1]

What's does this even mean? Who, dare I ask, is funding this study?

It's the second ULI panel focused on a downtown area in the last few months.  A panel looked at the Cathedral district back in January and the report from that was recently released.  The Southbank panel was primarily financed by DIA. 

[thelakelander]

He described the 15-acre site, owned by the city, as a keystone parcel and "the lynchpin for the whole district."

Ouch, Daily Record needs to update the spell check.

Lake belongs to the ULI, is he still in Mexico or did he participate in this?

I'm not a ULI member, although I have several friends who are. I'm back from Mexico but I still have a lot of missed emails and calls to follow up with. I believe a few had to do with this event.

[Noone]

What's does this even mean? Who, dare I ask, is funding this study?

It's the second ULI panel focused on a downtown area in the last few months.  A panel looked at the Cathedral district back in January and the report from that was recently released.  The Southbank panel was primarily financed by DIA. 

We have a SMART BARGE!

[Noone]

Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting today 4/13/16 at 9:30 am in council chambers. Open to the Public. Has the removal of the boat ramp and kayak launch at RCB been commented on by the Riverkeeper or anyone on the Waterways Commission? How about any fishing group?

[InnerCityPressure]

I feel like the obvious comparison is Coolidge Park in Chattanooga.  Splash Park and Carousel on the North Shore (Southbank) leading to greenspace on the river.  Walnut St Bridge (Main St Bridge) across to the aquarium (Landing) and Downtown.  The big difference is that Walnut St Bridge is pedestrian only and makes a comfortable walk from one side to the other.  The same should be done with Main St. Bridge imo.

[FlaBoy]

1) That is just a jumping fountain, not a full fledged fountain like Friendship.

2) Making Main St. Bridge exclusively pedestrian will never happen.

[InnerCityPressure]

1) How else would one "run through Friendship Fountain" aside from converting it into a jumping fountain?

2) Never?  Ok...

[FlaBoy]

1) How else would one "run through Friendship Fountain" aside from converting it into a jumping fountain?

2) Never?  Ok...

I think that was the question.

And I will amend my statement. Main Street Bridge will not be exclusively pedestrian in any foreseeable future.

[Debbie Thompson]

Didn't we just fight this fight a few years ago over Friendship Fountain when they wanted to demolish it and build a splash fountain like the one shown above? The only thing you can do is look at it?  So what?  Maybe we LIKE looking at it!   Preservationists rallied and saved the fountain, and the City repaired it.  Do we have to fight for it again?  You can build a splash fountain elsewhere on the property.  No reason why you can't have two fountains in a city park, is there?  Sheesh.

[FlaBoy]

^ Yes.