What To Do With The Shipyards?

[fieldafm]

But I do know this. Its no longer hearing from a politician over the years and that common response. Nooney if there was just someone else besides yourself showing up then just maybe we can do something. And they are right.

This is one of the most important things I've learned from Noone.  To get things done, you have to get people on board that want to let their voices be heard.

There are companies that will immediately jump on board. And you can't leave out the Springfield residents.

The most exciting thing about the Shipyards site is that I receive very positive feedback from the organizations I talk to about the Bay Street Pier Park concept.  I very much believe this will be one of the biggest public private partnership success stories in our city's recent history.

Regardless of who wins people are listening.

While Noone and I are voting for differnet mayoral candidates, we are both very much on board with this statement.  Regardless of who is in office, our voices are going to be heard.

A significant number of members of my family are voting a different way than I am Tuesday(believe me, I tried all day yesterday to change some of their minds, particularly some of the younger generation)... but that doesn't mean I think any less of them.

Insert Quote
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't public money invested in the Shipyards property already for purposes of public park space?  If so, did the city ever receive any federal matching money?

Well, in a roundabout way yes.  The city gave the developer money.  The developer spent most of that money on bulkhead work designed to accomodate a future Riverwalk extension.  The developer's plans included a promised 680' public pier.  As a matter of fact, one of the reason's often cited by city leaders at the time to not push harder on making the old Fuller Warren into a public pier is that the Landmar-city financed development at the Shipyards would include this promised 680' public pier.

Currently, Lake is right in that the city has no formal plans in place for the property.  That is why it is CRUCIAL to get the city on board with seperating the pier from the rest of the property to ensure the public trust that they will have continued river access.  The Bay Street Pier Park will become Jacksonville's front porch,  but it will only become so if city leaders have the foresight right now at this very critical point in time to allow that access to come to fruition.  It will cost the city nothing to make that first step.

Without it, nothing would stop a developer from cutting off that promised public access.  They would have ZERO incentive to do so.

[north miami]

[quote author=Noone link=topic=9593.msg210276

John Nooney is an outstanding human being and true asset to Jacksonville.  He is at EVERY city council meeting and most Waterways meetings.  He does what he says he is going to do, and I am often in awe of his devotion to the issues he finds important.  (fieldafm)

 I stopped by Roberts Eatery with Jill Dame's campaign sign hanging on his tent he asked me to remind her that when she wins that he can't wait to cook for her. His story is 2010-856 the transient vendor ban and wanting to participate.



I've got tremendous concerns and I don't think that we will be getting more access but less.

Case in point. 2010-675 the USS Adams. One finance amendment that allows for a potential taxpayer bailout.

1. The Jacksonville Civic Council Recommendation of a new Authority.

2. Another group that is excited about the Jacksonville Civic Council Recommendation of a new Authority.

3. A soon to be released JCCI study Recession, Recovery, and Beyond after the elections that who knows may also be excited about a new Authority.


Another concern. FIND The Florida Inland Navigation District representing the East Coast of the state of Florida. Two years ago and counting I went to my first meeting. Susan Grandin was there with the Tust for Public Lands. I asked about a pocket pier for Duval county. The support was awesome. That first meeting I was told that you need a sponsor ( a city council member ) two years later and counting and don't have one.

At the last two Jacksonville Waterways Commission meetings the FIND updates haven't been given. Does anybody care?


The bottom line is that the pier needs to be separate. 2010-604. Redman has dropped the ball on this. Gaffney has also dropped the ball on this.

No I don't know what Hogans plan is for Shipyards. I met the man once. But what has been outlined above is not connected with Hogan.

***** But I do know this. Its no longer hearing from a politician over the years and that common response. Nooney if there was just someone else besides yourself showing up then just maybe we can do something. And they are right.****


Field, what has been inspiring with you is your relentless persuit of Bay St. Pier Park.

****What I'm trying to say is that its no longer one person. Regardless of who wins people are listening.*****

                                           --------------------------------------------------------

Nooney yields a valuable insight.Lesson.I suggest we commit the above quote excerpts to memory.

Nooney is differentiated.His mantra includes recognizing and grasping mental images of,in his own descriptive words, "Pieces of the Puzzle"...dovetailed with "Participation".Each "common response" noted above never allowed to thwart,but rather added to the puzzle board....and Score Board.
Nooney is a jewel.Like the simmering,independent reflections bouncing off the river(even when 'no one' is watching...).And he is a mirror image of many MJ family members.

The sense of concern,constricted by a profound sense of futility,the lack of the empowered individual(s) has been a hallmark of Mayoral election history itself;by most accounts this current election cycle represents the most competitive field of Candidates seen in a long time.

Individual "Activism" itself has been blasted,gutted,to the point that the very term "Activist" conjurs dark images.Don't be selfish!!

I could list here a long diatribe profiling the obscure but grave poor policy actions of Mayors basking in the Green Light and comfy approval ratings...........Surface water wars/COJ River Summit Two and our collective wailing and response with emphasis on evil central Florida without awareness of our own unseen yet vested future development,accommodation of the Beltway/Brannon Chaffee and less effective mitigation (even The Trust for Public Lands in the picture), Federal Corps of Engineers Chief apologizes to this writer via cell phone call at Brannon/Chaffee ground breaking.......then becomes (briefly) COJ Public Works head,Mike Garretson/Gulfstream well placed (briefly) in City Hall,tributary headwaters tangled up in Preservation Jacksonville,Tallahassee big wigs intervene,COJ Chief of Staff morphed to Freedom Commerce Center developer lobbyist....the list goes on but is simply a continuing narrative that extends back to Senator Joe Carlucci and beyond.....and to the horizon.

Know this: Your fellow politician WILL disappoint you.
There is nothing certain yet we love certainty and respond easily to guarantees in advance of action.



(For me personally a pivotal event was the receipt of the COJ Mayor's 2002 Mimi & Lee Adams Environmental Award-"Individual" category,including beautiful Lee Adams Limited Edition piece # 80, for supposed bravery and predictive capability.This created a true awareness for sure- soon after I resigned from an upper level,'powerful' state conservation organization board position.I simply rejoined "The Public")

"The world belongs to the enthusiast who keeps cool" -  William Mc Fee

[dougskiles]

Summer evenings are upon us - lots of daylight and perfect weather for enjoying the river.  Who would be up for a regular kayak outing after work?  We could find a suitable place to launch from the southbank - most likely from the edge of the school board property and head over to Hogans Creek for some cleanup.

When the tides are right and the wind is calm, it is a fairly easy trip - less than 1/2 mile one way.

[fieldafm]

I'm down Doug.

[billy]

When I was in town in early March I was staying at the Wyndham. I considered putting in just beyond the end of the Southbank walkway. I ended up doing Noone's Landing.
It looked like a potential long tide swept, windy 1/2 mile jaunt  that could take me elsewhere, especially on a sit on top.

[dougskiles]

You definitely would not want to attempt this with an outgoing tide and a NE wind.

But when weather conditions are favorable, it is actually pretty easy.  You just have to watch for the large wakes coming from the boats and do your best to point into them.  But heck - what's kayaking without a little adventure!

[Noone]

What to do with the Shipyards?

Last week I attempted to attend the PUBLIC/PRIVATE announcement at Talleyrand of Keystone Industries. I so much wanted to hear from Gov. Scott and our new Mayor Alvin Brown of how we will be doing more PUBLIC/PRIVATE partnerships. It didn't happen.

I was not arrested but I was detained. Thats right I was not allowed to hear about the PUBLIC part of the PUBLIC/PRIVATE partnership. I will be sharing more of this. My city councilman Don Redman is aware of the incident and I hope he will introduce a resolution at the Aug.10 Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting that will adress this statewide embarassment. We are wanting to reach out to our regional counties, JAXUSA, Our port, our St. Johns River our American Heritage River.

I'm still very concerned with whats going to happen with the Shipyards.   

[dougskiles]

That is ridiculous.  What reason did they give for not allowing you to attend?

[Ocklawaha]

A decade ago I visited a Colombian Flagged Ship at Talleyrand, we knew the captain and wanted to extend our hospitality. As my wife and I returned to our car we were split up and strip searched by Federal Agents. I wasn't infected, injected, inspected, and neglected that much when I joined the Navy during Vietnam.

A year or so ago, Metrojacksonville got a tour of the Port Terminals, and we WERE allowed to take photos but only in the presence of a Port Official and only from the inside of the port vehicle. At no time did we touch the ground from the moment they picked us up outside the gates until they brought us back.

Wasn't the dedication at the Port held on the Keystone Property? All of that area if a Federally Designated SUPER PORT ZONE, and homeland security will not even let a long-distance trucker through the gates unless he has proper Port/Transportation Security Credentials. Security at the port is at war time heights and DON'T get caught pointing a camera across Talleyrand Avenue unless your willing to lose it.

The Talleyrand Terminal had an official visit by the Homeland Security Storm Troopers, because they got a 'new' locomotive (actually a used engine off the Apalachicola Northern) and they made the grave mistake of taking its picture next to the crossing on Talleyrand. The company officer I was talking to said the response was immediate and bordered on brutal.

There are signs posted as you enter the Port Zone, so consider yourselves warned. As the laws are currently written you are under a marshall law type existence if you are within the zone.

OCKLAWAHA

[north miami]

You definitely would not want to attempt this with an outgoing tide and a NE wind.

Pretty much describes conditions underway with Masterful Guide John Noone July 17,2011.
Planned around incoming flood tide,which even under the influence of full moon and NE fetch tide inevitably shifted to outgo before we bailed out of a research/recreation destination,pressing on to the next.

[Noone]

The reason given for being detained and not arrested for wanting to attend a PUBLIC/PRIVATE Partnership announcement being given by our new Governor of Florida and Mayor of our city of Jacksonville was that I wasn't on the list.

I was in line outside on Talleyrand waiting in traffic like everyone else. Both lanes were turned one way to help with traffic entering the property. I had my license out and informed the guard that I was wanting to hear our Governor and Mayor speak about the PUBLIC part of our PUBLIC/PRIVATE Partnership. It was on the news, radio, in the paper and I wanted to be a part of this special day. I was asked to drive around and park adjacent to the entrance. I get out of my vehicle and a guard is standing there next to me and I'm watching and recognizing so many people and I'm sharing this with the guard. I see Governor Scott and just wanted to shout out to him but I chose to refrain. I'm thinking to myself as I'm just standing there that here is what is supposed to be a special day and the absolute explosion of so called perceived PUBLIC/PRIVATE Partnerships that will now be flooding our city. Palms Fish Camp, Palms Fish Camp, Palms Fish Camp, Who's going to jail for that?   Keystone Industries is special in my book because they overcame the JPA using eminent domain to originally take their property and then lost in court and are here now today after using their money to Make it Happen.

Another reason why I wanted to participate was the river component to this project. I remember years ago and attending Waterway meetings and the discussion of this project as well as others. The sentencing of Tony Nelson will be occurring shortly and it will be a great day for the city of Jacksonville. The Public Trust has just been totally crushed in this community especially when it relates to a conspiracy to deny access and economic opportunity to our St. Johns River our American Heritage River. This project is also an example of a little guy overcoming  the corruption of power.

I met with a number of Commissioners of FIND last week. They inspire me.

[thelakelander]

A settlement has been reached regarding the amount of money the city lost on the Shipyards.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=534527

[Tacachale]

^Well the article doesn't begin to do justice to the TriLegacy fraud, but the situation appears to be moving in the right direction at least. The city has the land and hopefully some money, we may finally see some progress on the property.

[Noone]

The settlement is a JOKE.

The Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier, Downtown's Tradeport Pier needs to be separate and outside the control of a yet to be voted on and created Downtown Authority.

The Pier issue was highlighted at a special Waterways FIND subcommittee meeting Aug. 31.

Be concerned. more under 2011-560

[Noone]

What to do with the Shipyards? Waterways in 8 1/2 hours. This is Shipyards III. The Public Trust has been crushed. Redman is leading the conspiracy to deny the opportunity for Public Access and Economic opportunity to our St. Johns River our American Heritage River.

Be concerned. 

The Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier needs to be outside the control of the yet to be created total Govt takeover of our Downtown.

Free Parking  (meters)
Free docking  ( The Pier)