Jacksonville - Why?

[DONTBELIEVETHEHYPE]

An open question to discuss.......

Why should we be optimistic that somehow Jacksonville will achieve it's potential?

Jacksonville is ranked near the bottom of every major U.S. City in: viable public transit, downtown vitality, walkability, innovation, culture, and environmental literacy.

Jacksonville's public schools are struggling, the convention center is inadequate, and downtown office vacancy is the highest while the rental rates are the lowest in the southeast.

Jacksonville's budgets are in a terrible deficit while basic public needs aren't being met.  Jacksonville's waste managment and recycling programs are amongst the least progressive in the nation.

Jacksonville's population is one of the least educated amongst major cities, it is recognized as a violent city with a high number of shootings (including staggering statistics for police shootings and murders).

Yet - given all of this, City Leadership hasn't and appears that it won't demonstrate real leadership to initiate or implement policy change which could improve it.  And, State of Florida policies haven't been helpful for Jacksonville either. 

Is there hope for Jacksonville?  Can it ever become a first-tier city?  What are the key factors behind the failings that were mentioned above, and how can those factors be changed?

[JeffreyS]

The better Jacksonville Plan is the answer. The plan isn't the end all be all of plans but it was a very progressive idea of investing in our city and the population stepped up and said we will pay to have a better city.  I believe this population wants to be it's best self but does not understand having a vibrant urban component adds to the quality of life in the burbs and the beach and even the rural areas.  The things that sprawled Jax happened all over the country.  Industry and geography give Jax some big advantages and leadership always changes. Take heart this site has stalled bad plans in Jax and with some of the most educated progressive people in the area have found their voice.  We have grown tremendously, added the NFL, have a nuclear Carrier group coming, a great road system, become a health care center, built high rise residences downtown and a port that will keep our properity on track.

[DONTBELIEVETHEHYPE]

The Better Jacksonville Plan's investments are mostly complete, right?  The circumstances of Jacksonville that I originally mentioned are current - AFTER the Better Jax improvements....

So, how is it that the Better Jax plan is the answer to my questions & observations?  How is it relevant to Jacksonville's future?

[JeffreyS]

It shows the people of jax are willing to invest in this community.

[coredumped]

Why should we be optimistic that somehow Jacksonville will achieve it's potential?

Because the potential is there and not lost. If the SJ river was dried up, Peyton was elected for a life-term, and the beaches were polluted beyond use, then I would have a defeated attitude.
It's hard some times to be optimistic, but remember, the potential is still there. The city has just a "diamond in the rough" right now:)

[DONTBELIEVETHEHYPE]

It shows the people of jax are willing to invest in this community.

How successful and well-conceived were these investments?

If they were well-conceived, why hasn't this investment shown improvement in the issues I initially noted? 

For an isolated instance, Jacksonville has invested a nice, new arena, but no longer has a minor league hockey team.  It basically sits vacant without a regular tenant aside from JU basketball.  While other downtowns have ridden the boom of the past 8 to 10 years, Jacksonville has been left behind.

What do you attribute this too - and how can improvements occur now in a slumping economy if it couldn't happen in a period of robust growth? 

[DONTBELIEVETHEHYPE]

I believe this population wants to be it's best self but does not understand having a vibrant urban component adds to the quality of life in the burbs and the beach and even the rural areas.  The things that sprawled Jax happened all over the country. 

So, if this population doesn't understand the value of a strong downtown, how can downtown become a priority?

The sprawl has happened everywhere, true.  But revitilization has also happened all over the country.  Cities have rediscovered their downtowns, but Jacksonville hasn't.  It's stepped backwards.  Many much smaller cities and are much, much farther ahead of Jacksonville in pretty much every issue I initially mentioned.

[JeffreyS]

Downtown has had slow progress over the past five years, more residents, more clubs and a vocal community has organized here to lobby for it.  I do not want to sound Pollyanna we have had a leadership that will not prioritize infill or transit crucial to urban life.  We get an F for taking full advantage of the last boom. That said the developers still start projects here constantly.

[GatorShane]

Although I have not totally lost hope, it is certainly waning. As a Jax native(42 years), I am sick and tired of hearing about how things are about to change. Lets start with the BJP. In theory it was a great and exciting idea to improve infrastructure and build public facilities. The infrastructure projects are falling behind(partly because of Jax being punished by the state due to the ridiculous property tax reduction). The public works projects, although nice and a vast improvement over what we had, still lag behind other cities in terms of ammenities and usage. Dont even get me started on the courthouse. I guess what I am trying to say as far as the BJP is that we seem to have built venues without thinking that far into the future. There is nothing really exciting or unique about any of our venues. Just like J-ville, mediocre, middle of the pack, non aggressive, vanilla, just do enough to get by attitude. I also keep haering about how the bad economy is slowing downtown construction. Have any of you ever been on the skyscraper links on this site? Cities all over this country have cranes all over the place. And why is it that when you go to any other city, town, tent village, whatever in this country, they have an actual entertainment area downtown. We have 4 bars and not 1 restaurant open after 9 pm. That is pathetic. Any other city with the shipyards property would have turned that land into something special by now. Not us. We cant get the cruise terminal started because people are upset that they will have to clean the old cars and broken down washing machines out of their charector rich Mayport yards. I guess my whole rambling point is that we had so much potential in the past and lost it with Bush Gardens, World Golf Hall of Fame, Florida Aquarium, Six Flags and so on and so on. What makes anyone think that we will ever change. I love this place, but maybe it is just time for me to accept the fact that all we may ever be is one huge suburban city.

[chipwich]

I promise I am not trying to hijack this thread, but to answer your question:

There is a lot wrong with Jacksonville.  There is also a lot wrong with other cities in the US as well.  In fact, I don't think you can count yourself as a true Jacksonville resident until you have seriously contemplated leaving this place at least 3 or 4 times.  In the end, I think the reason people stay is that Jacksonville is that in the end, this place is our home.  It is my home and even with its imperfections, for better or worse, I am proud of it.

Am I proud of a lot of the citizens?  Nope.  I don't like country music, pick-up trucks, monster truck rallies, Rush Limbaugh, rap music, gold teeth or shooting at things.

I wish more people in Jacksonville would instead take a greater interest in reading, learning, recycling, and listening to NPR.  Would it kill our city to be a little more "cultured or educated"?  Heck No.  

Would it hurt our city to think bigger and invest in a viable downtown and connecting transit system?  No!  I however believe our city will grow up and so too will its people.  I have faith in Jacksonville.  Every improvement we get helps our city become that much better.  Every new school, every computer, every teacher, new road, solar panel, downtown residence, new shop, restaurant, artist and musician that decides to open in Jacksonville will make our city and quality of life that much better.

For all its painful deficiencies, Jacksonville can take pride in its beautiful river, beaches, and climate (except for July and August). And....even though many of our citizens will never work towards any major economic or scientific breakthroughs (or be able to locate Sweden on a map for that matter), they are some of the kindest and most warm-hearted people you will ever meet.   Our people are not dumb.  Most have just never needed to know much about news or issues not concerning Jacksonville.  It is the small town mentality of Jacksonville that keeps it back.  There is potential for improvement here, you just have to look for it.

Instead of complaining about our City, why don't the disgruntled work towards making it better?  Help a child or an adult learn how to read.  Sit with the elderly, help the homeless get on their feet, or help clean up some trash.  Our city leaders may not be very good at what they do, that we can be.  We can vote them out over time, while helping our community in the meantime.  Educate your friends on why good urban planning is important and why their current leaders are too short-sited and putting the city into a backwards spiral that is getting harder to climb out of.  I will admit I don’t volunteer too often nor have I done much to better the community, but I imagine many readers (especially the disgruntled) haven’t done much either.  That is why it is so important for each of us to get up and do something.  Even small steps like donating to homeless shelters and food banks can go a long way.  

You want a viable downtown?  Then come downtown and patronize the local restaurants and shops.  Business leads to more business.  More business will eventually force local gov’t to focus on the needs of downtown and then hopefully the momentum will be there to help Jacksonville and its citizens grow up, urbanize and make our city more balanced and enjoyable place to live

[DONTBELIEVETHEHYPE]

I promise I am not trying to hijack this thread, but to answer your question:

There is a lot wrong with Jacksonville.  There is also a lot wrong with other cities in the US as well.  In fact, I don't think you can count yourself as a true Jacksonville resident until you have seriously contemplated leaving this place at least 3 or 4 times.  In the end, I think the reason people stay is that Jacksonville is that in the end, this place is our home.  It is my home and even with its imperfections, for better or worse, I am proud of it.

Am I proud of a lot of the citizens?  Nope.  I don't like country music, pick-up trucks, monster truck rallies, Rush Limbaugh, rap music, gold teeth or shooting at things.

I wish more people in Jacksonville would instead take a greater interest in reading, learning, recycling, and listening to NPR.  Would it kill our city to be a little more "cultured or educated"?  Heck No.  

Would it hurt our city to think bigger and invest in a viable downtown and connecting transit system?  No!  I however believe our city will grow up and so too will its people.  I have faith in Jacksonville.  Every improvement we get helps our city become that much better.  Every new school, every computer, every teacher, new road, solar panel, downtown residence, new shop, restaurant, artist and musician that decides to open in Jacksonville will make our city and quality of life that much better.

For all its painful deficiencies, Jacksonville can take pride in its beautiful river, beaches, and climate (except for July and August). And....even though many of our citizens will never work towards any major economic or scientific breakthroughs (or be able to locate Sweden on a map for that matter), they are some of the kindest and most warm-hearted people you will ever meet.   Our people are not dumb.  Most have just never needed to know much about news or issues not concerning Jacksonville.  It is the small town mentality of Jacksonville that keeps it back.  There is potential for improvement here, you just have to look for it.

Instead of complaining about our City, why don't the disgruntled work towards making it better?  Help a child or an adult learn how to read.  Sit with the elderly, help the homeless get on their feet, or help clean up some trash.  Our city leaders may not be very good at what they do, that we can be.  We can vote them out over time, while helping our community in the meantime.  Educate your friends on why good urban planning is important and why their current leaders are too short-sited and putting the city into a backwards spiral that is getting harder to climb out of.  I will admit I don’t volunteer too often nor have I done much to better the community, but I imagine many readers (especially the disgruntled) haven’t done much either.  That is why it is so important for each of us to get up and do something.  Even small steps like donating to homeless shelters and food banks can go a long way.  

You want a viable downtown?  Then come downtown and patronize the local restaurants and shops.  Business leads to more business.  More business will eventually force local gov’t to focus on the needs of downtown and then hopefully the momentum will be there to help Jacksonville and its citizens grow up, urbanize and make our city more balanced and enjoyable place to live

Not sure if your post was directed at me personally, or toward the general population.  I'm not complaining.  I'm making observations for discussion.  BTW my business is downtown and I support downtown, through patronage and volunteerism.  I'm looking for answers, not complaining from the sidelines.

[JeffreyS]

^They are questions that should be asked and observations that should be made.  No one here will criticize a person for being frustrated by downtown.

[Joe]

There's a lot wrong with Jacksonville, particularly pertaining to sprawl and our city leader's hostile attitude towards urban development.

However, some of your "facts" are simply false. For example, by national standards our office vacancy rates are normal, and our budget situation is actually in decent shape compared to most other cities.

Other issues you highlighted are more like partisan political issues, and have nothing to do with the quality of life for the majority of people. Most people don't care about progressive waste management or environmental literacy. And indeed, many people are happy when police officers shoot criminals.

[downtownjag]

DONTBELIEVETHEHYPE, your choice of member name would seem that you are frustrated with Jacksonville's downtown presence, not that you are just making conversation.  I don't mean to start an argument, just an observation.  However, I am glad to hear, and thank you; for locating your business downtown.  

Why should we believe the hype?  Because there is too much potential in Jacksonville to be overlooked by the private sector.  I don't think Jacksonville is going to be turned into a city with a bustling downtown district overnight, but I do believe it will happen.  I don't think Jacksonville is the "trend" right now, but that will change.  When the economy comes back developers will be looking for a city with a strong economy, and Jax has that; I am sure you will agree with that.  I also do not believe our city leaders are going to lead the way, but I also don't think they can stand in the way.  Sure Downtown Vision helps, but money changes things.  

Lastly, every town has their fair share of mistakes, and it's easy to find that in Jacksonville right now.  There was a time when Jacksonville had a robust downtown, and I sincerly believe it will return.  I have personally lived downtown for 2 years and am moving, but to another apartment downtown.  Everybody that I bring downtown looks at our urban core as something that they have forgotten, but love and can't wait to come back to.  I think that says our downtown has a chance.  

Again, thanks for choosing to locate your business downtown, we are all in this together.  Great questions, you got me stirring this morning!

[BridgeTroll]

I am a suburbanite who has rediscovered the downtown.  In 2004 I found a little pub in the middle of nowhere downtown... London Bridge... and have been a downtown convert ever since.  I have seen the crowds grow businesses open.  We all know there is plenty of room for improvement but now unlike the past there are activists and advocates for the downtown area.  keep the pressure on... keep the faith... keep on truckin...