Downtown Lighting

[GatorShane]

Hello Everyone--This is my first post on Metro Jacksonville.  I have been logging in to this site for quite a while now and I am finally going to get involved. It is exciting ro see that there are so many like minded people in Jax that want to see this city live up to its tremendous potential. After watching the Jags game last night I think the first and easiest way to improve our downtown would be to improve the lighting. You couldnt even see the BoFa tower. Also there is no consistency with some of the buildings and the nighttime lighting. The JEA tower and the Federal Courthouse dont even light up sometimes. Anyway, enuogh rambling, I look forward to discussing many future topics.

[reednavy]

Atleast they turned the MODIS sign back on this week. Riverplace Tower has sometimes been lit from dusk to dawn, but mostly shuts off at midnight. They need to hurry and repair BOA Tower's lighting on top, it looks so lonely.

[Keith-N-Jax]

GatorShane glad you are getting in the action we need more people like you and most of the metrojax community that care about our city. Some of these issues were mention in the Jags vs Steelers thread about BOA lights,which have been off for a very long time now. I taped the game just to see the city scences and they were nice. BOA was very dark and many other buildings can do much better. One thing that stands out always in Jax at night is the bridges. The shot looking over from BC/BS to downtown were beautiful. Our bridges really enhance the beauty of the city at night. Hopefully one day we will no longer need to have this type of conversation.

[jeh1980]

GatorShane glad you are getting in the action we need more people like you and most of the metrojax community that care about our city. Some of these issues were mention in the Jags vs Steelers thread about BOA lights,which have been off for a very long time now. I taped the game just to see the city scences and they were nice. BOA was very dark and many other buildings can do much better. One thing that stands out always in Jax at night is the bridges. The shot looking over from BC/BS to downtown were beautiful. Our bridges really enhance the beauty of the city at night. Hopefully one day we will no longer need to have this type of conversation.

I admit that downtown was a lot darker with the top of the BOA tower and the Modis Tower's concrete edges not lighting up recently. Something must be going on around here! Downtown is not the same without bright lights not just on the streets but on the skyscrapers too. Let's turn that around soon! 

[Charles Hunter]

Could the building owners be trying to save on their electric bills?  It's a shame when such concerns have such visible effects.  C'mon building owners, save money somewhere else, light up the night!

[fsujax]

gatorshane, i did once speak with the head of maintenace at the BofA tower and he told me that they were trying to figure out what to do with the lights on top of the tower. He even told me they were considering adding LED lights. I agree with you though, sometimes our Downtown looks so dark with so many of the buildings lights off. I dont undertand this. You go to other cities and their major buildings are very visible at night. I used to live in Atlanta and the BofA tower there you couldn't miss at night.

[jeh1980]

gatorshane, i did once speak with the head of maintenace at the BofA tower and he told me that they were trying to figure out what to do with the lights on top of the tower. He even told me they were considering adding LED lights. I agree with you though, sometimes our Downtown looks so dark with so many of the buildings lights off. I dont undertand this. You go to other cities and their major buildings are very visible at night. I used to live in Atlanta and the BofA tower there you couldn't miss at night.

LED lights? Hey! Bring it!!

[alta]

The LED lights are still pretty expensive but the only use 1/25 wattage of regular lights.  I recently bought one for my porch light from Wal Mart.

[GatorShane]

Thanks for the fedback everyone. Glad to know that I am not the only one to notice the missing lights at night.

[JeffreyS]

In St. Louis for a Convention this week and the downtown streets where people walk from place to place are seriously bright at night.

[thelakelander]

When we promoted the idea of Lighting Laura Street, our main goal was to...improve lighting.  I believe properly lighting our streets at night is more important than planting new trees and installing brick pavers.

One of the most successful things the City of Detroit did was upgrade lighting throughout their downtown right before the Super Bowl came a few years ago.  These areas are now seeing the type of redevelopment we hope would visit our streets.  Here is an image of a well lit street in Detroit right around Super Bowl time.

[jeh1980]

When we promoted the idea of Lighting Laura Street, our main goal was to...improve lighting.  I believe properly lighting our streets at night is more important than planting new trees and installing brick pavers.

Yeah, but...what about pedestrian traffic. If I would choose between lighting up Laura Street and improving the landscapes, I choose both  . MetroJacksonville's idea is good. But let's not sell the city leaders short. Their idea also call for my pedestian traffic with wider sidewalks which they will put stuff like kiosks, venders, benches, new trees, etc. Hopefully, they will put better lighting on Laura Street in the process too (and perhaps they may install a huge video jumbotron like NYC do on Times Square ).

[thelakelander]

Proper lighting encourages pedestrian traffic because people begin feel safe in those areas.  While nice, when you're working with limited funds, spending money for wider sidewalks, pavers, etc. may not be necessary.  That's why its always important to focus on getting the basics right first and worrying about the bells & whistles later.  If you can create spots where people feel safe, they'll visit those areas regardless of sidewalk color and width.  Btw, enhancing lighting is apart of the city's plans for Laura Street.

[RiversideGator]

Where were those pictures taken, Lake?

[thelakelander]

San Juan, Puerto Rico and Fort Lauderdale.