Re-Imagining the Jacksonville Landing

[lightninglandon]

I was also a part of the charrette and do not currently live in Jacksonville, but grew up there and spent a good amount of time at the Landing and downtown.

The biggest thing that I proposed was to make absolutely sure that whatever changes were made to the Landing itself were in tune with giving downtown Jacksonville more of a sense of community. Providing that sense of place. Making the downtown district a regular place for people to visit. A place where people want to live.

It is essential to incorporate the design into the Laura street pedestrian mall plans and for the Landing to be a catalyst for the already growing desire for the urban lifestyle that is catching on in downtown Jax. Also making sure that this is incorporated into whatever transportation plans that the city will hopefully, eventually come to. The need for additional parking will be little, if any, if the plan focuses on being a part of the urban lifestyle rather than another mall downtown or a place where people only go for special events or to grab some food before the show at the TU.

This was by far the most interesting thing I participated in at the FAPA conference and I am thankful to those who sponsored the charrette and the Landing staff that gave an excellent tour for those who were not entirely familiar with the history of the site.

[Fallen Buckeye]

I would love it if they left the existing roof as is, but open up the middle part of the building below it so it's almost like a courtyard with a canopy. I have this mental picture of sitting in the existing courtyard looking out at the downtown streets framed by this arch bridging the two sides of the Landing. You could put some outdoor dining and maybe some boutiques in this little courtyard you create and still be shielded from the elements.

I like the idea of putting in some residential and office space there too. And maybe I missed it, but did they address transit somewhere in there?

[stjr]

If I were to stretch my thinking as indicated in this exercise, I would have gone on and included the Hyatt's garage/party room (former State Office) Building in the concepts.  This building is a real block-killer/obstacle to the activity, flow and connectivity along the riverfront from the Stadium/Metropolitan Park/Shipyards/Berkman/Hyatt areas to the Landing/TU Center/Downtown High-rise district.  If this block was in play, I would go on and at least remove the bridge ramp that comes into Newman.  If Main were ever made two-way again, we could take out the Ocean Street ramp as well.

By freeing up this entire block for redevelopment, we could more seamlessly connect activity on the east and west sides of the bridge.  Main Street currently serves as the "great divide" in Downtown, effectively eliminating significant pedestrian connectivity throughout the full Downtown area.  What would be a better connector than one oriented under the bridge and along the riverfront?

Our riverfront is too precious and has too much potential to have land like this so underutilized.

See aerial photo:  http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=jacksonville+florida&sll=30.332184,-81.655651&sspn=0.845108,1.234589&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Jacksonville,+Duval,+Florida&ll=30.324605,-81.656308&spn=0.003302,0.004823&t=h&z=18&iwloc=A

[Ocklawaha]

True to Jacksonville, not a single person seemed to mention streetcars, though someone did mention "Trolley" which as we have seen, translates into diesel bus... Only in Jacksonville.

OCKLAWAHA

[stjr]

True to Jacksonville, not a single person seemed to mention streetcars, though someone did mention "Trolley" which as we have seen, translates into diesel bus... Only in Jacksonville.

OCKLAWAHA

Ock, how about a "scenic" streetcar line running along the downtown stretch of the riverwalk (maybe with some retail fronting the line on the non-riverside of the line), from the end of Pearl Street at CSX to the end of Liberty Street behind the existing courthouse?  Kind of like the rail running down the Savannah riverfront walk, except ours would connect to the greater streetcar grid permeating Downtown and surrounding areas!  Now that would be unique, I am sure.

[JeffreyS]

I think we should  have a streetcar running thru the area.

[Ocklawaha]

True to Jacksonville, not a single person seemed to mention streetcars, though someone did mention "Trolley" which as we have seen, translates into diesel bus... Only in Jacksonville.

OCKLAWAHA

Ock, how about a "scenic" streetcar line running along the downtown stretch of the riverwalk (maybe with some retail fronting the line on the non-riverside of the line), from the end of Pearl Street at CSX to the end of Liberty Street behind the existing courthouse?  Kind of like the rail running down the Savannah riverfront walk, except ours would connect to the greater streetcar grid permeating Downtown and surrounding areas!  Now that would be unique, I am sure.

Trouble is from a traffic standpoint you only get 50% exposure to people spaces thus you reduce connectivity. Scenic to be certain, but not unique, SEATTLE, MEMPHIS and best of all KENOSHA all have streetcar right on the waterfront. It sure can be pretty:

http://www.youtube.com/v/5g0Qxg9nfMY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1

BTW, not a single one of the new buildings and the entire condo blocks was built before the streetcar, in fact it was said to be a "dead town," by many. Streetcars really are magic development machines.


OCKLAWAHA

[stjr]

Trouble is from a traffic standpoint you only get 50% exposure to people spaces thus you reduce connectivity.

Ock, not sure what you mean by 50% exposure.  You mean only one side of the route has buildings?  If  so, this should be more than offset by the higher volume of traffic likely along the river and the connectivity created by bringing people direct to the river and river walk, riverwalk taxi landings and boat docks, the T-U center, the CSX building, the Landing courtyard, the front door of the Hyatt, and other future riverfront venues.

[Keith-N-Jax]

All this is really pointless to be honest. Another master plan, another study, another trip for the chamber. I am so tired of this place. The city will find a way to block any major development downtown. Its what they do best. The Landing will be no more than what it is. You guys do realize the Landing could have been redeveloped before the Super Bowl and what happen. I'm sorry to rant, but I have lost hope in this city.

[Ocklawaha]

30 years I have battled for a streetcar in this city, I believe I'm about to see victory in that struggle...

Keith, you CAN FIGHT CITY HALL, NEVER GIVE UP... NEVER SURRENDER...

OCKLAWAHA

[north miami]

All this is really pointless to be honest. Another master plan, another study, another trip for the chamber. I am so tired of this place. The city will find a way to block any major development downtown. Its what they do best. The Landing will be no more than what it is. You guys do realize the Landing could have been redeveloped before the Super Bowl and what happen. I'm sorry to rant, but I have lost hope in this city.

There of course is a Downtown element within the Chamber of Commerce however the Chamber "Beltway" interests and related gets the juice.

As a full time employee in the area pleasure boat business I have become aware of the fact that with increasing frequency boaters steer clear of the Landing outside of major events.It is a subtle trend,sure to be rationalized away for a time.
Downtown advocates exhibit zeal and possibly an irrational idealism.

As a student of such issues since the late 70's,including Growth Management 'activism' that resulted in 'winning' the City of Jacksonville Mimi & Lee Adams award,I and many others have engaged in enthusiastic manner with confidence and anticipation.Now in my early 50's,individuals such as myself must consider just how long one is willing to engage, wait and anticipate.I too have come to the same conclusion that 'moved' me decades ago while residing in my native Miami.
And I am not alone.

[JeffreyS]

The city really only needs to sell the land to the Landing to get big changes done. The Laura street improvements are happening now.

[BridgeTroll]

As a full time employee in the area pleasure boat business I have become aware of the fact that with increasing frequency boaters steer clear of the Landing outside of major events.It is a subtle trend,sure to be rationalized away for a time.

You have mentioned this more than once.  The question is why?  Why is it an area to be avoided?

[tpkfla]

Your all wrong!  Close the Landing and sell the property to a tower developer. Take the proceeds and build another venue in metro park. Sell all government property on or near the water and resell property to high tax paying properties. Don't waste money by trying to improve the Landing. Put it on the forclosure list for it sound like "Crash Landing" and has a negative reputation. All the strengths listed above in one thru four are really negatives. The recent graffiti the city had painted on the sidewalks was another blunder and waste of money. Condemn old buildings, redesign codes and zoning, and get the city out of the downtown (including the jail). How many more times will you have to try to improve the blighted downtown and jacksonville landing?

[Captain Zissou]

Nice try tpkfla...

There are height restrictions for that area.  A tower developer couldn't go more than 6 or seven stories.  We need the city offices downtown.  They put thousands of workers in the urban core.  While they shouldn't be using riverfront property, to move them out of downtown would be a disaster. Ideas like yours are the reason downtown is "blighted" in the first place.

Welcome to the forum.