DVI Newsletter

[02roadking]

Many of you probably already get this, but I'll post it for those that don't:
Oh, DVI opposes the BRT through DT as planned 



 
Downtown Vision Inkspots
A Monthly Update on Downtown Vision & Downtown Jacksonville  August 24, 2007

In This Issue
Eat Up Downtown!
Downtown Operations Meetings
Downtown Retailer Meetings
Downtown Advocacy Issues
Downtown Evacuation Plan
State of Downtown Reports Now Available
Downtown Residential Update
Downtown Retail Update
Celebrate the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Art Walk
Mark Your Calendars!

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Quick Links 

Downtown Events Calendar

First Wednesday Art Walk

Downtown Parking Map

Downtown City Markets

This message from Downtown Vision, Inc. (DVI) is intended to provide you with interesting and helpful information on activities occurring in Downtown Jacksonville. Filled with the latest updates on Downtown trends and issues, we hope our Downtown stakeholders, employees and residents find the information useful. Please feel free to forward this message to others who may be interested in Downtown's ongoing revitalization, or click here to subscribe.


Eat Up Downtown!

There are only three days left for your chance to Eat Up Downtown for $25! We invite you to try one of 15 participating Downtown restaurants this week (August 20 - August 26) for Eat Up Downtown! More than a dozen Downtown restaurants have partnered to promote Downtown as a dining destination. From sushi to filet mignon, participating restaurants provide a specially selected (prix fixe) 3-course dinner menu for $25, plus tax and gratuity. There are no coupons to clip or tickets to buy, simply log on to www.EatUpDowntown.com, select a restaurant and call the restaurant for reservations. Try a new restaurant or visit an old favorite and Eat Up Downtown!




Downtown Operations Meetings

Downtown Vision has resumed our regular quarterly Downtown Operations Meetings for Downtown property owners and building managers. At our last meeting, representatives the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, City Department of Special Events and Property Safety Division were in attendance to hear and address the issues of more than 40 Downtown property owners and stakeholders.

We anticipate scheduling our next meeting for early October. We are looking for free space and donations for water and/or coffee for this meeting. If you are interested in hosting or providing beverages for this meeting, or would like more information on our most recent meeting, please contact our Director of District Services, Amy Harrell, at (904) 634.0303 or via email at Amy@DowntownJacksonville.org.



Downtown Retailer Meetings

Downtown Vision has begun convening regular meetings for Downtown retailers, restaurants and nightclubs. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss issues faced by street level businesses and to work with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, Mayor's Office and City Council to resolve ongoing concerns of Downtown retailers. We anticipate holding these meetings approximately every six weeks.

Our next meeting date has not been schedule, but we will notify all Downtown merchants as soon as we have set a date. If you would like more information on our most recent meeting, please contact our Director of District Services, Amy Harrell, at (904) 634.0303 or via email at Amy@DowntownJacksonville.org.



Downtown Advocacy Issues

Downtown Vision is currently working with Jacksonville City Council, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC), the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) and Downtown stakeholders to address various issues of Downtown concern, including:

Proposed Bus Rapid Transit System - The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) has proposed a new Bus Rapid Transit system for Duval County. As part of the system, JTA is proposing to reroute Downtown buses and consolidate routes along a primary Downtown street. Currently under review are Bay Street, Adams Street and Forsyth Street.

Downtown Vision opposes the rerouting of Rapid Transit System buses in Downtown along the following streets: Bay Street, Forsyth Street, and Adams Street between Liberty Street and Clay Street, and along Laura Street and Hogan Street.

We believe the Bus Rapid Transit system should be located off central core streets that are lined with businesses and have high pedestrian traffic, and should instead connect riders to an enhanced Downtown trolley and skyway system, which is more appropriate in scale and speed for active Downtown streets. A proposed connection point is the planned Jacksonville Transit Center in LaVilla, as well as the existing transfer station on Union Street, and Kings Avenue Station on the Southbank.

Public Feedings of Homeless People - On June 12th, Downtown Vision testified before City Council regarding resolution 2007-611, which would allow an exception for any person, motivated by bona fide religious beliefs as protected by the First Amendment, to practice their religion on public property without a permit. The immediate impact of that legislation on Downtown is that it would allow for religious organizations to conduct public feedings for the homeless.

While we cannot and do not want to get in the middle of a discussion on the merits of the First Amendment, we do know that homeless services are better provided by the many organizations that offer these services on a daily basis.

We are working with the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition and reaching out to the churches that provide the feedings Downtown in hopes of educating them about existing services and encouraging them to be respectful of existing Downtown businesses and residents.

Advertising on Bus Shelters - Legislation to allow JTA to contract with a third party to provide bus shelters paid for by advertising on the shelters has recently been resurrected in City Council committees. The legislation is currently deferred pending concerns from the community. Downtown Vision has communicated its concern regarding the cleanliness, maintenance and design of Downtown bus shelters to Jacksonville City Council and will continue to follow the discussion on this legislation.

Nuisance Crimes and Public Safety Concerns - Numerous Downtown stakeholders have contacted Downtown Vision about their concerns about nuisance crimes in Downtown. We continue to work with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Jacksonville City Council and the Mayor's Office to address these concerns. Currently, our Downtown Ambassadors and staff maintain regular contact with the JSO about nuisance activity in Downtown and we look forward to continuing and expanding this partnership in the future.

Should you have any questions regarding any of these issues, please contact our Director of District Services, Amy Harrell, at (904) 634.0303 x 224 or via email at Amy@DowntownJacksonville.org.



Downtown Evacuation Plan

Downtown Vision is working with the City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, JEA, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Northeast Florida Red Cross and United Research Systems of Boston to develop an updated Downtown Evacuation Plan. The purpose of this plan is to develop an overall evacuation plan for Downtown Jacksonville, while working in conjunction with existing individual property evacuation plans. The plan should be completed by the end of 2007, and Downtown Vision will continue to keep you informed as the plan progresses.

Due to the large number of employees, residents and visitors in Downtown, we would find it extremely helpful if Downtown properties could provide a basic outline of their existing evacuation procedures, including information on how they communicate an evacuation to building tenants, what gathering points have been established and any policies on accessing vehicles or leaving the premises before or after checking in. We will use this information to determine if there is any significant overlap in use of space, and identify any areas that would see significant pedestrian or vehicular traffic or access issues in the event of an evacuation.

Downtown Vision will follow up individually with Downtown property owners and building managers regarding this request. We ask that you direct this information, or any suggestions, questions or concerns, to our Director of District Service, Amy Harrell, at Amy@DowntownJacksonville.org.



State of Downtown Reports Now Available

Our most recent State of Downtown Report, a joint effort between Downtown Vision and the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, is now available! Click here to view a PDF copy of the document or contact our Director of District Services, Amy Harrell, at (904) 634.0303 x 224 or via email at Amy@DowntownJacksonville.org for copies.



Downtown Residential Update

In the past few months, two new Downtown residential communities have been completed. San Marco Place (141 units) and The Strand (295 units) are now home to new Downtown residents.

There are now 2,110 existing residential units in Downtown, with an additional 605 units under construction and more than 4,000 units proposed for development.

We are often asked about Downtown residents. Based on our research, approximately 72% of sold Downtown condos are owner-occupied, while the remaining 28% are owned by people with primary addresses in Northeast Florida, South Florida and the Northeast United States. According to our 2006 Survey of Downtown Residents, 54% moved Downtown from a Northeast Florida suburb, 19% moved from another Florida city, and 26% moved from a state other than Florida.

If you would like more information on living Downtown or are interested in a tour of Downtown residential options, please contact our Director of District Services, Amy Harrell, at (904) 634.0303 x 224 or via email at Amy@DowntownJacksonville.org.



Downtown Retail Update

With all the buzz about Downtown retail generated from discussions by the Downtown Committee Retail Task Force and the recent openings of Downtown venues including Shelby's, Chew, and Einstein Bros. Bagels, it's easy to see that Downtown Jacksonville's retail market is picking up speed.

Well, we aren't the only ones who've noticed. Downtown Jacksonville was recently named the Best Downtown Retail Development Opportunity by Retail Traffic magazine. Along with other cities including Las Vegas and Brooklyn, Downtown Jacksonville was highlighted in the May issue of the magazine, and was described as "a city to be reckoned with."

In the words of the retailers we've spoken to, "now's the time to get into Downtown Jacksonville," and we look forward to continued retail growth as the City of Jacksonville and Downtown Vision focus on improving the retail and pedestrian environment in Downtown.

Check out the list of new businesses that have opened in Downtown Jacksonville this year:

Bourbon Bayou
Cafe 331
Cafe Nola @ MOCA
Dipper Dan's
Daniel James Salon Store
Einstein Bros. Bagels
Happy Landing
Needless Things
Shelby's Coffee Shoppe
Starbucks at 11 E.
Tastings, A Wine Experience
VyStar Credit Union

Coming soon to Downtown:

Bread N' Butter Cafe
Chamblin's Uptown
Foolish Things Boutique
Fuddruckers
Healthy Way Cafe
Nicky G's Brick Oven Pizza
Metropolis



Celebrate the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Art Walk

WHAT: First Wednesday Art Walk

WHERE: 40 venues in historic Downtown Jacksonville

WHEN: Wednesday, September 5, 2007, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (Rain or Shine)

COST: FREE

The Jacksonville Jaguars host a pep-rally in Hemming Plaza to gear up for their first home game versus the Tennessee Titans on September 9th. Featuring live performances by the Drum-Line and appearances by Jaxson de Ville and the ROAR from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Register to win give-a-ways, including two tickets to the Monday Night game versus the Indianapolis Colts, autographed merchandise and prize packs. Season tickets and Jaguar merchandise will be available for purchase. Add a touch of teal, black or gold to your night and come out and support our hometown team!

Main Library - The Jacksonville Public Library launches this year's JaxREADS - The BigREAD at 6:30 p.m.. Nationally reknowned actress Phyllis McEwen presents her one woman show "Zora Live: An Evening with Zora Neal Hurston."

Tailgate at Gold's Gym, enjoy BBQ and learn how to line dance. Register to win a Gold's membership, personal training, a fruit arrangement provided by Edible Arrangements and two Club seat tickets to the Tennessee Titans versus Jacksonville Jaguars game.

The Official Art Walk After Party at The Twisted Martini. Turn in your flyer at the door for a complimentary premium cocktail, bottled or draft beer, glass of house wine, or the featured martini of the day. Must be 21 and over with proper ID and attire.

Each month hundreds of guests fill the Downtown core, viewing art and enjoying live music and hors d'oeuvres at Downtown restaurants and businesses.

Click here for more information.



Mark Your Calendars!

Downtown Vision's 7th Annual Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 4 at 5:00 p.m. at The Strand. Hear about our successes in the past year, and don't miss this opportunity to mingle with your fellow Downtowners. Special thanks to The Strand and Tastings, A Wine Experience for sponsoring this event.


If you're surfing the web for information about Downtown, look no further than the Downtown website. Our website includes comprehensive information on Downtown parking, dining, events, living and much more!

Downtown Vision, Inc. is Downtown Jacksonville's neighborhood improvement and advocacy organization.





Downtown Vision, Inc.


email: info@downtownjacksonville.org
phone: (904) 634.0303
web: http://www.DowntownJacksonville.org 

Downtown Vision, Inc. | 214 N Hogan St., Ste. 120 | Jacksonville | FL | 32202 

[Jason]

Thanks for posting.

The DVI seems to agree with many of the ideas suggested on this site.