What To Do With The Shipyards?

[billy]

maybre we can get something posted?

[thelakelander]

I'm planning to stop by with the camera.

[Coolyfett]

This area is prime! I hope whatever happens there is the right thing!

[JeffreyS]

I saw it on TV news yesterday.  I think there may be multiple designs presented.  They said the Savanna school approached the city about it originally.

[JeffreyS]

Parallel thread.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,10360.0/topicseen.html

[Noone]

In 2 1/2 hours a "Vision for Jacksonville" will be announced to the people of Jacksonville.

How will the Shipyards/Landmar be part of that vision?

[thelakelander]

I'll let you know how it goes.  Bill Killingsworth is the main speaker.

[CS Foltz]

Look forward to what you post up lake............Time to do something!

[Ocklawaha]

Don't get your hopes up folks, IN FACT --- "Stand by for a ram."

I was at the Charette for Metropolitan Park, and little Johnny came in to tell everyone what to draw on their plan sheets... I kid you not, it was incredible.

Little Johnny wants all of this land to be vacant "flex space."  He explained how everything had to go from the stage and PBS studios, to the buildings and toys at the kids place. "We need more parking and (since I'm too stupid to embrace expanding the Skyway to Everbank Field, or get behind a streetcar project) our citizens need more places to BBQ on the 11 or so games a year downtown, so lets level the place..." Of course like a bunch of damn lemmings that is what each group proceeded to draw, it was absolutely disgusting.

Johnny can now stand before us and claim, "This is what you wanted!"  So please nobody grab their chest and stagger backwards if that's what he proposes for the Shipyards as well.


OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

Well the event covered the 3 different community Vision Plans....Urban Core, Arlington/Beaches, and Southeast....it is important to note that downtown was largely kept out of the Urban Core Vision Plan...this is because downtown is under the guidance of JEDC, not the Planning Department.

btw...the Met Park charrette that Ock describes was a volunteer event led by Jax Pride....it was not afgfiliated with the Vision Plans in any way.

[north miami]

"Stand by for a ram."

I was at the Charette for Metropolitan Park, and little Johnny came in to tell everyone what to draw on their plan sheets... I kid you not, it was incredible.

Of course like a bunch of damn lemmings that is what each group proceeded to draw, it was absolutely disgusting.

Johnny can now stand before us and claim, "This is what you wanted!"

Such predetermined outcome is a common feature of the Design Charade process with many examples a matter of public record.
Examples such as the Clay County Brannon/Chaffee Sector Plan proceedings (Brian Wheeler/Genesis retained by Clay County) a half dozen seperate design charette tables produced near identical depictions,as if by magic.This was the formal breech berth of the Beltway.
Later,during Lake Asbury vision excercises (this time Prosser Hallock retained by Clay County-Brian & Co. on hand and amidst the public on behalf of a key private Beltway 'driver') predetermined and assumed outcome for the routing of the proposed Beltway through State Conservation lands did not initially go in the expected direction,for in this instance (Lake Asbury Sector Plan #1) a certain public participant grouping was not so manageable,the consternation of the public in the face of obvious manipulation a rare episode,throwing the process in to a real tizzy,meeting schedules altered,swerved to "the professionals" at Regional Planning Council.(Finally,LA Sector Plan # 1 deemed non authorized.LA # 2 hammered the same theme-the public prevailed at the State DCA level.)

By Growth Management rule public input is to be considered -but no obligation,there is leeway in arriving at consensus "vision".
There are elements of the process where accountability could be held,or pressed to a higher standard however there has been little formal traction on the matter.Lemmings trapped in the tyranny of Consensus.Or just plain chicken.
During high stakes orchestration such as Sector Plan workshops some citizens have refrained from involvement due to concerns over personal safety,employment.I know what it is like to have 'casual' police escort to and from meeting places-this is not for the faint of heart and it takes very little to instill a sense of futility in the hearts of the general public,keeping many absent and the employment of the concept of "INEVITABLE" cast over those that do participate thanks to hired Planner & Consultants trained in group dynamics, also a matter of public record.

[Noone]

Today going to the Board meeting of the St. Johns River Alliance in Palatka, Putnam county. The current chair is John Delaney. I'm hoping there is an opportunity for Public comment.

Mark Middlebrook will give a presentation of the River Summit.

Linda King a Board member may share an update on the SJRA license plate

The former chair was Sue Carlson, Brevard county and I'll always remember when the Old Fuller Warren Bridge was an opportunity for the people of Jacksonville. The entire Board of the St. Johns River Alliance was seriously considering sponsoring a resolution of support for the OFWB so that it could be saved and used.

At the time Brad Thoburn was the Duval county representative and told the Board thanks but no thanks. "we'll handle it in house." We all know what happened. An opportunity lost.

Here we go again. Although what is different is that we will have a new city council and mayor. This issue can escalate to the Governor after Jan. 4, 2011. Keep score.

Everyone needs to realize that the Alliance doesn't need to take a position on this issue at this meeting. But at a future Board meeting. You bet.

Also does any other county beside DUVAL have a 1 mile ban on transient river vendors?
 

[thelakelander]

Look forward to what you post up lake............Time to do something!

Went to the ULI event last week.  The meeting was a presentation about the recently completed COJ Vision Plans for the Urban Core, Southeast and Arlington/Beaches districts.  All have been covered on Metro Jacksonville and are available for public viewing on COJ's website:

Metro Jacksonville

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-feb-a-vision-for-arlington-and-the-beaches
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jan-urban-core-vision-plan-to-be-unveiled
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-feb-a-vision-for-jacksonvilles-southside

COJ Website

http://www.coj.net/Departments/Planning+and+Development/Community+Planning/Visioning.htm

Lisa Ransom from COJ and Bernard Zyscovich of Miami-based Zyscovich Architects (www.zyscovich.com) were the main speakers.  There was a brief Q & A session following the presentation that I found to be pretty interesting.  Just about everything Zyscovich said were points that had been made in these forums by several participants over the years.  They include:

1. The belief that an isolated convention center box will not do much for downtown.  Instead, if a convention center as a part of revitalization is the goal, it needs to be designed to basically force it's visitors to interact with its surroundings.  For example, if a convention center is constructed on the old courthouse site, it may need to open up to Bay Street so that guest must walk past the bars and restaurants to enter.

2. The belief that downtown commercial revitalization  and vibrancy will not be successful until we find a way to reconnect downtown with the surrounding urban neighborhoods.

3. The belief that Jacksonville is severely lacking in fixed mass transit and that fixed mass transit (this means rail people) is an affordable method to spur economic revitalization in downtown and the surrounding communities.

4. The belief that urban Jacksonville is an unique place because of its history and remaining historic building fabric.  He mentioned that in other cities, areas like Adams Street and the Springfield Warehouse District have become popular due to the unique atmosphere created by the history and architecture.  He believed more focus should go towards allowing creative uses within existing buildings instead of worrying about constructing new multimillion dollar mega infill developments.

All in all, good stuff.  Representatives from JTA, JEDC and DVI were in the room.  Mayoral candidate Rick Mullaney was also there taking lots of notes.  Let's hope that some of the information presented pricks the hearts of those in attendance in a manner that they actually attempt to do the things that were mentioned.

[Noone]

Look forward to what you post up lake............Time to do something!

Went to the ULI event last week.  The meeting was a presentation about the recently completed COJ Vision Plans for the Urban Core, Southeast and Arlington/Beaches districts.  All have been covered on Metro Jacksonville and are available for public viewing on COJ's website:

Metro Jacksonville

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-feb-a-vision-for-arlington-and-the-beaches
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jan-urban-core-vision-plan-to-be-unveiled
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-feb-a-vision-for-jacksonvilles-southside

COJ Website

http://www.coj.net/Departments/Planning+and+Development/Community+Planning/Visioning.htm

Lisa Ransom from COJ and Bernard Zyscovich of Miami-based Zyscovich Architects (www.zyscovich.com) were the main speakers.  There was a brief Q & A session following the presentation that I found to be pretty interesting.  Just about everything Zyscovich said were points that had been made in these forums by several participants over the years.  They include:

1. The belief that an isolated convention center box will not do much for downtown.  Instead, if a convention center as a part of revitalization is the goal, it needs to be designed to basically force it's visitors to interact with its surroundings.  For example, if a convention center is constructed on the old courthouse site, it may need to open up to Bay Street so that guest must walk past the bars and restaurants to enter.

2. The belief that downtown commercial revitalization  and vibrancy will not be successful until we find a way to reconnect downtown with the surrounding urban neighborhoods.

1. If the convention center is built at the old courthouse site then this is another reason to save and use the Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier. (Bay Street Pier Park) (Downtown Jacksonville Tradeport Pier) USE THE RIVER!

2. Pocket parks- Pocket Piers. Utilizing waterfront Public access street ends that will create a new vibrancy for these historic districts in San Marco, St. Nicholas, Riverside, Avondale, Ortega, Bernard said that leadership from a council member or the new Mayor can change these old entrenched attitudes. This example was more directed at the residential gated communities with one road in and one out and then dumping into another big feeder road. He also mentioned Hogans Creek.

[ricker]

The question is who do we email/mail/call about this getting underway and how many of us will it take to get any sort of ball moving on this possible passive green space?

^^^^
exactly.