Tampa Versus Charlotte and Jacksonville

tufsu1 · December 15, 2009, 09:41:51 AM

Quote from: mtraininjax on December 15, 2009, 04:33:21 AM
I can tell you the city is isolated from the activities near their stadium.

That's because the stadium is isolated from the City!

JeffreyS · December 15, 2009, 09:59:06 AM

Yes but it started as Fort Caroline then Port Caroline.

jtournade · December 16, 2009, 01:37:48 PM

I move to the Jax area this year from the Tampa area where I lived for over 40 years.
One of the problems Tampa has not overcome is sprawl, it is so spread out that there is no "One place" that identifies it. The diversity of Ybor city (past and present), the history of being "The Cigar City", and the proximity to beaches has formed the city identity.
Jacksonville suffers from the question "Jacksonville, So what?" From what I've seen around the rest of the state, Jacksonville is a city that you don't hate it or love it you just don't care. I was transferred here, would have never moved here. Not that it is a bad city, it is just an unknown city to the rest of the state. It has no identity, history, or attractions. We learned in Tampa that a winning NFL team will help in the eyes of the rest of the country but in the end you have to offer something more.
Until Jacksonville can give it's residents a reason to be proud to be here it won't matter how much money you throw at Mass transit plans, "River city" name, or downtown development.
I look forward to the day when I can answer the "Jax, so what?" question and hold my head high when I say "I live in Jacksonville"

JT

Jason · December 16, 2009, 01:42:22 PM

Welcome JT and thanks for the input.

As a newbie, if you haven't already, check out the History section of the forum and read for days on Jacksonville's rich and prestigious history and your question will be answered.

The new question is "How do we market Jacksonville and celebrate what we have?"

fsujax · December 16, 2009, 01:43:33 PM

We have lots too be proud of here in Jacksonville, especially our history! we just do not play it up the way it should be.

David · December 16, 2009, 01:52:08 PM

Quote from: jtournade on December 16, 2009, 01:37:48 PM
. It has no identity, history, or attractions. We learned in Tampa that a winning NFL team will help in the eyes of the rest of the country but in the end you have to offer something more.

Yeah you're pretty much wrong about the history. In fact that's the one thing I feel is lacking when I travel to other Floridian cities. They all feel relatively new, recently built (as in the last 30-50 years)

I've yet to find any city in Florida that has historical neighborhoods on the scale that Jax has. If there is such a place, i'd like to know about it so I could explore for myself.

As for the rest of the big picture..yeah we have some catching up to do.

Cricket · December 16, 2009, 02:03:25 PM

People don't move to a city because of its history, they may visit an historical city but then they leave. People are drawn to a city for what it offers today or even will tomorrow.

David · December 16, 2009, 02:27:25 PM

I'd move to a city for it's history. Family and friends hold me in Jax, but I love visiting the old cities in the Northeast and throughout the deep south.

But you're right, for a majority of people it's about the amentities.

JaxNative68 · December 16, 2009, 04:30:46 PM

i thought that whole previously know as Cowford thing was already debunked on this site?

heights unknown · December 16, 2009, 04:59:13 PM

Quote from: jtournade on December 16, 2009, 01:37:48 PM
I move to the Jax area this year from the Tampa area where I lived for over 40 years.
One of the problems Tampa has not overcome is sprawl, it is so spread out that there is no "One place" that identifies it. The diversity of Ybor city (past and present), the history of being "The Cigar City", and the proximity to beaches has formed the city identity.
Jacksonville suffers from the question "Jacksonville, So what?" From what I've seen around the rest of the state, Jacksonville is a city that you don't hate it or love it you just don't care. I was transferred here, would have never moved here. Not that it is a bad city, it is just an unknown city to the rest of the state. It has no identity, history, or attractions. We learned in Tampa that a winning NFL team will help in the eyes of the rest of the country but in the end you have to offer something more.
Until Jacksonville can give it's residents a reason to be proud to be here it won't matter how much money you throw at Mass transit plans, "River city" name, or downtown development.
I look forward to the day when I can answer the "Jax, so what?" question and hold my head high when I say "I live in Jacksonville"

JT

Well said and well put "JT." It's good when outsiders or previous outsiders who just moved here and give us more insight as to what we look like and are viewed from the outside; and it is not good in my opinion. Sad thing is, for the most part, excepting the history part, you're right JT!

"HU"

Seraphs · December 16, 2009, 05:20:04 PM

Quote from: Cricket on December 15, 2009, 09:24:31 AM
But other cities see Jacksonville as the big and older brother who refuses to go to college, and really ought to know better.

Now this is funny. I've never quite heard it put like this before.

Seraphs · December 16, 2009, 05:30:58 PM

jtournade you are absolutely wrong about us not having history, as many of the others have stated. We are steeped in history. I agree with Jason we Need to market and celebrate it much more.

Cricket · December 16, 2009, 06:30:07 PM

Well, the problem with history especially southern history is that it can be a two-edged sword, great and not so great, and I hate to say it, but a big chunk of Jacksonville's history aint exactly pretty, if ya know what I mean. It is not easy to pick and choose the parts of history that make us feel good about ourselves although some of our historians try to do just that. Sooooo, I would prefer to look ahead to the kind of city that Jacksonville could become, rather than look back and try to find identity in our past..

urbanlibertarian · December 16, 2009, 06:50:56 PM

IMO our identity is our present and our potential. History isn't who we are it's how we became who we are. The goal is not perfection but improvement.

hillary supporter · December 16, 2009, 09:56:39 PM

QuoteIMO our identity is our present and our potential.

Jacksonville has a very progressive art/music scene, based on my experience living in NYC since
1987. But it isn't to be measured in$$$. And you arent gonna find out about it just anywhere. NYC is the greatest city in the world and the 20Th century
was the century of the city. But this is the 21st century and fast moving times are changing rules
for the city. In my opinion. Jax beaches and natural environments are treasures that i feel happy to
behold. With a most hospitable people.
Im sure Charlotte and Tampa are great places, but im not trading in my choice of Jax. Next year i believe our
population will increase because the city is such a treasure and good urban growth will come with it.