Peyton priority shifting to downtown, riverfront development

Lucasjj · May 21, 2009, 03:04:35 PM

QuoteMayor John Peyton said heâ€™s making riverfront and downtown development a priority for his final two years in office.

Peyton announced a sweeping number of developments today. The projects would revamp Metropolitan and Friendship parks among other potential developments â€" including a stylish gateway leading from the Brooklyn area into downtown.

Peyton did not have a cost for the wide array of projects, which are still conceptual. He said he wanted to open the ideas to community discussion so that taxpayers could determine the best path for their tax money.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-05-21/story/peyton_priority_shifting_to_downtown_riverfront_development

copperfiend · May 21, 2009, 03:18:30 PM

Mea Culpa

BridgeTroll · May 21, 2009, 03:19:08 PM

Im betting this means ... Death to the Fountain...

CrysG · May 21, 2009, 03:22:23 PM

I would really hate to see the fountain go. I have some really fond memories there.

BridgeTroll · May 21, 2009, 03:26:08 PM

It is another icon of Jacksonville that some are willing to sacrifice.

copperfiend · May 21, 2009, 03:28:46 PM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 21, 2009, 03:19:08 PM
Im betting this means ... Death to the Fountain...

Anything is possible.

Springfield Girl · May 22, 2009, 03:07:35 PM

I heard this on the radio this morning. I would love nothing better than to see Downtown developed but there is a much easier way. Move the social services, jail and bus station and don't let the vagrants hang out and I think we would see a huge change. All the amenities in the world won't bring in people or development if the core is overrun with bums and panhandlers. I was at the Library last night for the Historic Commission awards and was greeted on arrival with vagrants fighting and screaming in Hemming Plaza. All this right next to the tents set up for the Jazz Festival. I'd put up with the rain at functions anyday over having to deal with vagrants. Ideally I would have liked to hang around and check out the goings on but not with that pack of shady characters carrying on. I was in Pittsburgh last week and it was awesome. We wandered around Downtown, the riverfront and a cool entertainment/shopping area near the Universities and saw a grand total of ONE bum. It actually startled me a little because I didn't even see him until he stuck a cup in front of me as I passed the doorway he was standing in. That was it, not a word, just a cup that was there and gone in a second. We went down to the Riverfront where the 3 rivers meet. It was beautiful with benches all along the water and nothing, no one on the benches, no one asking for money. There was a Pirates game going on right next to us in the stadium but no cops, just parking attendants at the garages and no craziness. We sat at sidewalk cafes and went to bars and experienced nothing but pleasant patrons. It was all so enjoyable.

Adam Hollingsworth · May 23, 2009, 05:28:32 PM

Consider yourselves recruited...the door is open. Thanks!

nestliving · May 23, 2009, 05:38:20 PM

Quote from: CrysG on May 21, 2009, 03:22:23 PM
I would really hate to see the fountain go. I have some really fond memories there.

would it not be cool if we as a city gave the original architect (Taylor Hardwick) the opportunity to redesign the fountain and it's surroundings.....His work should be respected in some way like this.

urbanlibertarian · May 23, 2009, 09:21:33 PM

Maybe I'm being nostalgic but I'd like to see Friendship Fountain restored to its original functionality.

CrysG · May 23, 2009, 11:25:01 PM

Quote from: urbanlibertarian on May 23, 2009, 09:21:33 PM
Maybe I'm being nostalgic but I'd like to see Friendship Fountain restored to its original functionality.

So would I. I know brides that plan their wedding around that fountain.

JaxNole · May 24, 2009, 01:41:28 AM

How much would it cost to install tables and seating (not just one or two) and lighting to make it a gathering space rather than only a fountain surrounded by concrete?

There aren't many choice spots to have lunch or a picnic, despite the scenic Northbank backdrop.

thelakelander · May 24, 2009, 07:03:30 AM

There are already several benches between the fountain and river. However, better utilization of the grounds is definitely in need.

tpot · May 24, 2009, 07:33:00 AM

You are correct Springfield girl. The city continues to allow more and more of these facilities to be put downtown. When I have friends from out of town who visit they are always shocked at the numbers of homeless they see. State St & Union St are lined with the homeless waiting to be fed. They even have a huge bom fire they keep going there 24 hours a day. Hemming Plaza is overrun with homeless, the main library is used as their showering facilities, and the new pocket park on Main Street is a new place for them to hang out as they wait for their next hand out.............

heights unknown · May 24, 2009, 10:09:28 AM

Quote from: tpot on May 24, 2009, 07:33:00 AM
You are correct Springfield girl. The city continues to allow more and more of these facilities to be put downtown. When I have friends from out of town who visit they are always shocked at the numbers of homeless they see. State St & Union St are lined with the homeless waiting to be fed. They even have a huge bom fire they keep going there 24 hours a day. Hemming Plaza is overrun with homeless, the main library is used as their showering facilities, and the new pocket park on Main Street is a new place for them to hang out as they wait for their next hand out.............

And?.......

Heights Unknown