Downtown Dilemma on Urban Jacksonville Weekly Monday December 14th

[vicupstate]

What will it take?

Bold Leadership.

[braeburn]

How do you figure that Riverside is transient, Braeburn?   yes, there are rentals (mostly duplex and quads), but this adds a diversity to the residents.  IMO having younger residents just out of high school or college adds vibrancy to a neighborhood that would otherwise gentrify into something resembling Ortega.   I am a Realtor specializing in the downtown neighborhoods and used to do quite a bit of business in Springfield, but almost every time I showed potential buyers both Riverside and Springfield, the former was the ultimate choice.  Even without the Publix, there are still dozens more dining and shopping options in Riverside than Springfield.

Springfield has some beautiful architecture, but I think the lack of smaller bungalows restricts the housing choices for singles or young couples with limited budgets.  Especially if they are planning on tackling a restoration project.  As for the suburban Realtors not knowing the area, that's fine.  I think there are plenty of Realtors with a passion for urban living to go around.   Any buyers with an interest in historic/downtown neighborhoods will find a Realtor that matches their interest.

Riverside is transient. As stated it's not a negative though. Each neighborhood has something different to offer. I surmise that once Springfield reaches its fullest potential and a revitalization, that inward growth into downtown will take off.

[stjr]

First article in Times Union series now online.  See article and link posted at thread below.  Note that many of the points made in the article were also discussed previously in the below thread.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,6638.msg117300.html#msg117300

[Dan B]

What will it take?

Bold Leadership.

I dont even know if BOLD leadership is needed, so much as just plain old, GOOD leadership.

[heights unknown]

What will it take?

Bold Leadership.

Something we don't have at present.

"HU"

[heights unknown]

What will it take?

Bold Leadership.

I dont even know if BOLD leadership is needed, so much as just plain old, GOOD leadership.

In my opinion "goodness" and "boldness" go hand in hand.  First be bold, and in your boldness, do a GOOD job!

And of course you have to plan well before adding the boldness and the goodness.

"HU"

[heights unknown]

Jake Godbold?

"HU"

[floridaforester]

yes, braeburn, Springfield has lots to offer.  You still didn't answer the question how Riverside was transient.  I'll take transient (if that's the case) over halfway house.  I hope Springfield's potential will be fully realized, but having witnessed the leadership of this city while growing up here, I don't have much faith.  the powers that be, currently, have a vested interest in pushing growth into the exurbs and hinterlands of NE Fl.   I find it awfullly ironic that Peyton would even have something to say in the TU series on Downtown development considering he and his ilk have a huge interest in steering $ as far from downtown as possible.  That's always been Jax's problem,  the decision makers in this town have, or are controlled, by the land owners in the remote areas of the county.  Maybe that's one of the areas that consolidation screwed the pooch for Jacksonville's future progress.

[vicupstate]

Question for Monday's show:

The T-U stats on Sunday showed a dramatic collapse of 'Mental Health' crime stats.  What was the cause of this?  What exactly does this category represent,  and were the component crimes 're-classified' to produce this near elimination of crime in this category?   

[braeburn]

There we go comparing again floridaforester.

For the 3rd time, Riverside being transient does not equal a negative. It is very much transient, in the constant moving in and moving out of residences and businesses. A vast majority of inventory in Riverside caters to renters, commercial and residential alike. While not a bad thing, what it offers differs greatly from Springfield. Apples and oranges.

I am not certain what you mean by halfway house versus transient, or if those are directed towards their "respective" neighborhoods and that you are partial to one or the other.

Think of the urban neighborhoods surrounding Downtown as a circle. The missing link is Springfield, but it won't be for long. As soon as the circle is complete (sounds like some tragic 90's movie about Witchcraft here), then inward growth into Downtown will stand a better chance.

[Ocklawaha]

We still need answers, why is Peyton and JTA still pushing BRT when this city needs rail?

Streetcars anyone?

OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

There is a direct relationship between fixed mass transit and dense, walkable private sector development.  It would be nice to understand why Jax can't make this connection and does not take it seriously.  The money proposed for an isolated project like Metro Park could easily fund a decent starter line and be a catalyst for connectivity and attracting density between isolated nodes.

Also, should Jax consider establishing a 10-year tax abatement program for DT and the urban core? Coupled with transit, these things could really boost the quality of living in the area giving it a much stronger chance to compete against the burbs.

[fsujax]

God could those articles be anymore depressing? I just believe so much of this has to do with poor leadership within City government. I spend alot of time downtown and sometimes I just get down right depressed, looking around and imagining what it would be like if things were different. I love how people blame the church or homeless, as stephen pointed out earlier. I think it goes beyound that. We have acres and acres of vancat land along our riverfront in Downtown! Can you imagine what some other city would have done with all that land by now? Fixed mass transit would help, but there also needs to be strong land use policies in place that will support the growth of transit supportive uses in this city as well. So much potential and very little to show. Maybe our next mayor can get a better handle on this.

[vicupstate]

FBC is a very CONVENIENT overused excuse.  Bay Street has a few bars and clubs now as does the Landing, did FBC oppose any of them?  I don't remember hearing it and if they did, they weren't successful. 

It's time to lay down the excuses, especially that one. 

[thelakelander]

FBC should be an asset.  We just have to find a way to better take advantage of the amount of people they pull into the core.