Elements of Urbanism: Indianapolis 2009

[thelakelander]

Have we applied what we've learned from the Kansas City trip on our landscape yet?  Also, be prepared for a lesson on what compact clustering and connectivity can do for a second tier city's urban environment.

Indianapolis will be the destination for the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual leadership trip in October, the chamber announced today.

"It is a very comparable city to Jacksonville and one where leadership has accomplished impressive results during the last 30 years," said Hugh Greene, chair-elect for the chamber and president of Baptist Health.

http://jacksonville.com/business/2010-05-12/story/jacksonville-chambers-annual-trip-will-head-indianpolis

[vicupstate]

Prediction:  The Chamber will see Circle Centre, and insist all DT needs is a mall to be successful. Not a Jax Landing, but a full-scale fully enclosed mall like Circle Centre.   

[Ocklawaha]

Has anyplace REALLY developed a TOWN CENTER within a TOWN CENTER? Not just a mall, but a destination...  No big single developer, rather developed by a City Corporation run by THE PEOPLE.  Okay, so we'll call it "The Peoples Mall at Jacksonville!" While this would not solve our needs like connectivity, transit or homelessness, it would certainly create vibrancy that could make the next logical steps a bit less painful.

Imagine for a moment that Bay Street Station became "LA VILLA STATION," or perhaps the "BROOKLYN BUSINESS DISTRICT". Streetscaping, park, livability, transit and social service improvements continue along on a faster track then today, and one of these area's of downtown become a transit connected sea of "Hard Rock," "Bass Pro", "Ikea", etc...

The Peoples Mall! I like it! Power to the people!


Comrade
OCKLAWAHA

[fieldafm]

Have we applied what we've learned from the Kansas City trip on our landscape yet? 

Good question!!!  Some of the highlights of the Kansas City trip were:
-the importance of a vibrant downtown(TBD, although Laura Street seems to be a start)
-public and private funding ventures(like refusing to work with the Landing over contractual parking issues?)
-medical research opportunities(not currently in the Chamber's official stated focus for 2010, but mayoral candidate Jim Bailey does mention this focus repeatedly and Dr William Rupp of Mayo enthusiastically talks of this issue as well)
-creation of a Civic Council(an organization is being formed/reorganized to align with this mission),
-urban living and commodity opportunities by creating a reason for people to come, stay, and live downtown(TBD)
-offering incentives to business(there has been headway here, Digital Risk-LPS-Saft-et al have recently received approval for relocation/expansion to the area)

What was 'learned' from the KC trip pretty much mirrors the DVI and JEDC downtown studies... the jury is still out as to what results will come from this new knowledge.  As the hosts from KC and DVI/JEDC's own studies note very clearly, focused leadership is needed.  The time to 'just get by' has passed.

"People are starved for two things, the truth and leadership, and when they get the truth and they get the leadership, they respond favorably. And they don’t get enough of it."
David Walker, former US Comptroller