A "Technology Innovation Research Center" in Jax

[rjp2008]

Jacksonville boasts about it's huge land area, and much of this land remains available for use. Lately, developers have been quick to establish more mixed-use retail centers on this land. The city has also enacted a long term plan to improve itself, focusing on development near the river, public building creation (courthouse, new ballparks, library) early childhood initatives and crime prevention. Many here want to see Jax become a "world class" city.

I see a private sector Technology Innovation Research Center located here as being a launching point to that goal. What unique future technology/product could Jax offer this country/world? That's how you take a leap forward. Instead of just being known as the city being very capable of transporting a lot of other cities innovations, why not R&D something that Jax itself produces!
Couples ideas might be:
- A new type of Mag Lev train system
- New military application for the Navy
- Revolutionary new computer
- An agricultural advance
- Even something in entertainment/music technology
It could be anything. Orlando created a world class entertainment/media giant. Miami pioneered new art/culture/music. Boca created the desktop PC. Palm Beach Gardens is launching a huge biotech research facility. Etc, etc.

[thebrokenforum]

There are a lot of things that could be built in that vein it's just finding the interest and money to do it. I doubt the city is interesting in building anything fun/interesting anytime soon so I'm guessing you would have to find investors. But the city could seriously use:

- an aquarium (we have such great marine wildlife here it's a shame there's no aquarium)
- naval museum
- history of Jax entertainment museum or exhibit/ walk of fame
- negro leagues baseball museum
- amusement park (it still blows me away that the company that runs six flags is based here)