. . . . .and connecting our commercial corridors.
Let's use this thread, rather than the "Regressing" thread, to discuss ideas about reviving Main Street and let's use this discussion to make a proposal to submit to SAMBA or another group and let's be the driving force to bringing life to Main Street.
I have a list of ideas/a plan that I will post later today. I'm heading out to a soccer game right now. . . . . . .
I am having a discussion with a Springfield friend about Main Street.
Here are some of my ideas thus far:
1. Get owner contact information for all vacant buildings/spaces.
2. Make friends with people who are business minded to get interest for opening up shop on Main Street.
3. Aggressively contact building owners and work with potential business owners to help them negotiate leases or purchases to open their business, be mediators.
4. Seek funds like redevelopment funds, to dress up Main Street to make it more appealing (the buildings.)
5. Hold a Main Street Open House (after contacting owners of buildings) and have a commercial corridor open house. (I've thought of this for residential as well.) One day where every vacant building on Main is open with the owner and/or broker/agent available on site.
6. Aggressive advertising needs to happen to "lure" folks to Springfield. Advertising in other states and cities.
7. And damn it, the next mayor needs to bring life to downtown, that will boost Springfield instantly.
8. Our commercial corridors on Main Street need to be connected. From downtown to the airport. Period.
9. Ideally, businesses on Main need to be mom and pop and need to have a theme/focus. It is definitely a draw. Antique and thrift stores with country stores and eateries. Music, pet stores, garden stores, gift stores are all mom and pop style. This of course all my opinion. I refer often to 4th/Cherry in Long Beach. It's dubbed "Retro Row" and is just that. The city embraced small/new business owners and revived the street with city and federal funds. Besides all the retro/vintage/thrift stores there is a coffee shop, upscale hair salon, art deco movie theatre, Mexican food joint. Previously this street was shit. Now it is hip. But the city put the money and the work in to revitalizing it. What a concept.
10. I also think Springfield could embrace artists and we could have galleries and shops mixed together. Broadway in LB/Downtown did this and it is phenomenal.
11. Additionally we need a council person on our side. I refer to LB again and our council people are very very good compared to the jackasses in Jacksonville. No doubt we need the love and support.
I think there are two big questions around Main Street:
1 - how important are the large land owners on Main Street (e.g. Hionides) and what will happen with their properties. The Hionides empire is falling appart over the last couple years, so need to check who owns what right now.
2 - how picky can or should we be about new businesses?
One thing I am clueless on is how to "get" businesses to come in.
Besides the obvious of having space leased at reasonable prices, how do you even begin to find folks anyway? I can fumble through just about anything, but someone out there has the knowledge. Do share.
Quotehow picky can or should we be about new businesses?
Beggers can't be choosers. Take what you can get (within reason) and simply work your way up from there. ALMOST anything is better than vacancy. If it doesn't have a stripper pole, X rated videos or create noise or other pollution, you are better having it, than not having anything. Just because it is a Pawn Shop today, doesn't mean it will be one forever. At least a Pawn Shop provides jobs and a service.
Vacant buildings draw vagrancy, blight and poor maintenance, more than just about any type of occupancy ever will.
Physical Appearance is more important than the type of business. When Springfield has the population and demographics to attract the stores you REALLY want, it will get them. In the mean time, something is better than nothing.
Quote from: iloveionia on January 09, 2011, 09:44:42 PM
I am having a discussion with a Springfield friend about Main Street.
Here are some of my ideas thus far:
1. Get owner contact information for all vacant buildings/spaces.
2. Make friends with people who are business minded to get interest for opening up shop on Main Street.
3. Aggressively contact building owners and work with potential business owners to help them negotiate leases or purchases to open their business, be mediators.
4. Seek funds like redevelopment funds, to dress up Main Street to make it more appealing (the buildings.)
5. Hold a Main Street Open House (after contacting owners of buildings) and have a commercial corridor open house. (I've thought of this for residential as well.) One day where every vacant building on Main is open with the owner and/or broker/agent available on site.
6. Aggressive advertising needs to happen to "lure" folks to Springfield. Advertising in other states and cities.
7. And damn it, the next mayor needs to bring life to downtown, that will boost Springfield instantly.
8. Our commercial corridors on Main Street need to be connected. From downtown to the airport. Period.
9. Ideally, businesses on Main need to be mom and pop and need to have a theme/focus. It is definitely a draw. Antique and thrift stores with country stores and eateries. Music, pet stores, garden stores, gift stores are all mom and pop style. This of course all my opinion. I refer often to 4th/Cherry in Long Beach. It's dubbed "Retro Row" and is just that. The city embraced small/new business owners and revived the street with city and federal funds. Besides all the retro/vintage/thrift stores there is a coffee shop, upscale hair salon, art deco movie theatre, Mexican food joint. Previously this street was shit. Now it is hip. But the city put the money and the work in to revitalizing it. What a concept.
10. I also think Springfield could embrace artists and we could have galleries and shops mixed together. Broadway in LB/Downtown did this and it is phenomenal.
11. Additionally we need a council person on our side. I refer to LB again and our council people are very very good compared to the jackasses in Jacksonville. No doubt we need the love and support.
Hey you know that is a good list! I know because I was just in there for this same reason but spar has all the contact information and knows which buildings are in ok shape and which are not. When I was talking with them last week I think they said they had owners they were working with to get grants or something (hope me too soon). Hey what does the samba do anyways?
Quote from: vicupstate on January 10, 2011, 12:04:20 AM
Physical Appearance is more important than the type of business. When Springfield has the population and demographics to attract the stores you REALLY want, it will get them. In the mean time, something is better than nothing.
I agree with this 100%. When I drive thru or walk around the area, a fixed-up pawn shop with decent landscaping and well maintained exterior is more inviting than a run-down pet boutique or cafe would be. I think the only pressure from the neighborhood on local businesses should be "maintain your exterior." Keep weeds from growing around your building, keep the building nicely painted and in repair, make your signage attractive and in working order, etc.
Quote7. And damn it, the next mayor needs to bring life to downtown, that will boost Springfield instantly.
Connecting DT and Springfield needs to be a top priority for the next administration, city council, parks department and planning department.
See said thread:
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,10843.0.html (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,10843.0.html)
For obvious reasons, Main is just not an attractive business hub anymore after that God awful redesign. It's limiting in both foot traffic (having to cross 4 lanes of highway-like traffic) & car traffic (those damn medians).
If you truly wanna make it viable again, and I've said this in other threads, you have to get rid of that design, shrink the car lane back down to a single & get a streetcar line going down it (all the way from the Zoo to the Landing).
I can't stress enough how important this is & how vital it is for a modern 21st century urban neighborhood. Any city that's worth a damn either already has this going or is getting it done now. San Fran & New Orleans never stopped (and have added lines). But what about places like Boston, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Portland, Galveston, Dallas, Memphis, Tampa, Little Rock, & more. All open now, all being used. Some are brand new, some have been restored from their glory days.
Upcoming new ones that are being finalized or have broken ground: Atlanta, Baltimore, Buffalo, Calgary, Charlotte, DC, Dallas, Denver, Edmonton, Houston, Jersey City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Ottawa, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, St Louis, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Jose.
I'm just saying, we're missing the boat (er, rail) big time. No one's gonna take any city serious who doesn't get this going. We probably look like a bunch of backwards hicks to many who have been around (and I can't say I blame them).
Point being, Jacksonville has a strong history with this sorta thing & they need to see the error of their ways like others have & get some of it back. Springfield would be the perfect place to reinstate a heritage streetcar line & restore it right down Main (where the median is now). You wanna really do something that matters instead of picking & plucking at the problem?? That would be it. And don't accept anything less, because this needed done like yesterday.
sorry....but I really doubt the 4-lane design is the primary reason for the failure of Main St. retail....after all, San Marco Square also is a 4 lane road with a median and does just fine.
Quote from: tufsu1 on January 10, 2011, 03:55:49 PM
sorry....but I really doubt the 4-lane design is the primary reason for the failure of Main St. retail....after all, San Marco Square also is a 4 lane road with a median and does just fine.
Oh please. Its not EVEN the same type of setup. San Marco Blvd, especially around the Square, is slow going, curving roads with highly condensed development surrounded by a center point (the actual square part), easily accessible to both sides on foot. It's more like driving through a slow moving winding residential neighborhood & not like the straight-stretch highway type thing Main has going on now. You couldn't drive fast through the Square even if you wanted to. Same as with King, same as with Five Points, same as with Avondale. Main...not so much. See the difference??
Sorry, but they sucked out what little life was left in Main with that design & it's just a car-moving artery now with those extra lanes & not much else. It may not be the "primary" reason, but it sure helped nail the coffin shut IMO. Time to bury the coffin & start over, because this sucks.
Anyways, that's my contribution. Anything else IMO is just putting a band-aid on a fatal wound.
Quote from: peestandingup on January 10, 2011, 04:38:48 PM
Quote from: tufsu1 on January 10, 2011, 03:55:49 PM
sorry....but I really doubt the 4-lane design is the primary reason for the failure of Main St. retail....after all, San Marco Square also is a 4 lane road with a median and does just fine.
Oh please. Its not EVEN the same type of setup. San Marco Blvd, especially around the Square, is slow going, curving roads with highly condensed development surrounded by a center point (the actual square part), easily accessible to both sides on foot. It's more like driving through a slow moving winding residential neighborhood & not like the straight-stretch highway type thing Main has going on now. You couldn't drive fast through the Square even if you wanted to. Same as with King, same as with Five Points, same as with Avondale. Main...not so much. See the difference??
Sorry, but they sucked out what little life was left in Main with that design & it's just a car-moving artery now with those extra lanes & not much else. It may not be the "primary" reason, but it sure helped nail the coffin shut IMO. Time to bury the coffin & start over, because this sucks.
Anyways, that's my contribution. Anything else IMO is just putting a band-aid on a fatal wound.
+1
Everyone needs to remember that the design of Main street was the result of thousands of hours over many, many years of hard work to get it done at all. It is perhaps not the best design, but as Main Street is a State Highway, and we needed federal and State funds to get it done ever, this is what we had to have. The bike lanes were given up in order to have ANY on street parking. Complaining about the design is self defeating. It ain;t gonna change any time soon. In fact, good or bad design, we also got all new infrastructure including the electrical moved to the alleys. If we hadn't done the street at all, things like a street car would most likely be less likely due to the extra costs involved. So, our best bet is to just deal with it.
Frankly, the complaints about the design seem to more stem from it's lack of drivability rather than walkability issies. You can only turn left every fourth street. One Springfield resident complained that her property was harder to get to (by car). I have heard that it might effect funding if the project is too hard to drive to.
Then of course, you have to walk an extra block or so to cross the street. You either have to go to a light or walk the mid-median walk throughs.
Here, I thought what we wanted was a walkable commercial corridor.
It is true that the idea of a state highway is to move cars, but that is the hand we have been dealt.
So , it seems to me we need ideas to market the walkability of Main Street. You do not have to worry about as many cars turning left through the walking traffic. You can set up smaller parking Parks to encourage people to park and walk rather than like at 3rd and main which actually encourages park, eat and drive. If banks don't understand the concept of walking to the stores and restaurants then we need to teach them. Use what most see as issues with Main Street as the benefits.
Quote from: vicupstate on January 10, 2011, 12:04:20 AM
Quotehow picky can or should we be about new businesses?
Beggers can't be choosers. Take what you can get (within reason) and simply work your way up from there. ALMOST anything is better than vacancy. If it doesn't have a stripper pole, X rated videos or create noise or other pollution, you are better having it, than not having anything. Just because it is a Pawn Shop today, doesn't mean it will be one forever. At least a Pawn Shop provides jobs and a service.
Vacant buildings draw vagrancy, blight and poor maintenance, more than just about any type of occupancy ever will.
Physical Appearance is more important than the type of business. When Springfield has the population and demographics to attract the stores you REALLY want, it will get them. In the mean time, something is better than nothing.
+1
It is also important to have a real understanding of the overlay. Running around yelling "it's against the overlay" without fully understanding it, is silliness.
Some of the overlay, IMHO, is unenforceable anyway. You cannot single out items...for example...it is "illegal" for a special use to have a chain link fence, but okay for other uses? Now, how is THAT going to hold up in a court of law? (I'm talking about existing chain link fence, not new which cannot be for any use).
When we looked around for a place to put the thrift store, building owners and realtors told us "you can't have a thrift store in Springfield, its against the overlay". Well, it certainly is not, but that is what people have been told.
The overlay should never be used to hurt businesses or displace a class of people. Promoting it as such only weakens the strength of the actual overlay, itself.
Quote from: strider on January 10, 2011, 08:41:17 PM
Everyone needs to remember that the design of Main street was the result of thousands of hours over many, many years of hard work to get it done at all. It is perhaps not the best design, but as Main Street is a State Highway, and we needed federal and State funds to get it done ever, this is what we had to have. The bike lanes were given up in order to have ANY on street parking. Complaining about the design is self defeating. It ain;t gonna change any time soon. In fact, good or bad design, we also got all new infrastructure including the electrical moved to the alleys. If we hadn't done the street at all, things like a street car would most likely be less likely due to the extra costs involved. So, our best bet is to just deal with it.
Frankly, the complaints about the design seem to more stem from it's lack of drivability rather than walkability issies. You can only turn left every fourth street. One Springfield resident complained that her property was harder to get to (by car). I have heard that it might effect funding if the project is too hard to drive to.
Then of course, you have to walk an extra block or so to cross the street. You either have to go to a light or walk the mid-median walk throughs.
Here, I thought what we wanted was a walkable commercial corridor.
It is true that the idea of a state highway is to move cars, but that is the hand we have been dealt.
So , it seems to me we need ideas to market the walkability of Main Street. You do not have to worry about as many cars turning left through the walking traffic. You can set up smaller parking Parks to encourage people to park and walk rather than like at 3rd and main which actually encourages park, eat and drive. If banks don't understand the concept of walking to the stores and restaurants then we need to teach them. Use what most see as issues with Main Street as the benefits.
+2
He is right. We have to deal with the hand that was dealt.
No offense to our few existing businesses, but if the vacant store fronts had life, the medians et. al would not be that big of a deal, meaning it could be overlooked.
And Stephen, thanks for your offer. You bet.
I think Lakeland's Dixieland Historic District would be a good example for Springfield's Main Street. Dixieland is split by Florida Avenue (SR 37), which happens to be that city's main north/south spine. The highway through Dixieland is a narrow five lane facility with heavy traffic. Historically, it had been a three lane road with parallel parking. To facilitate redevelopment, parking is located in the rear for commercial buildings and accessed with alleys. The commercial strip happens to be a CRA and has been a hot spot for revitalization over the past couple of years, despite no streetscape improvements.
http://www.lakelandgov.net/commdev/cra/dixieland.html
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/944305638_mcJWQ-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/944305545_VyQAm-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/944305741_AMhG3-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/944306378_e8k7c-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/944306117_8KHzY-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/944306277_ZvwyW-M.jpg)
Parking located behind buildings.
One thing that stands out about Dixieland to me is its diverse range of businesses. It has a little something for everyone, from pawn shops, convenience stores and gas stations to art galleries, locksmiths, office condominiums and wine shops.
Good stuff Lake.
You hit the nail on the head "a little something for everyone."
Mid median walk through? We are usually hustling our rear ends across four lanes of traffic and giant median of half dead plants and bushes in the dark to get from the East to West side of Springfield (remember Christmas Carrolling???!!!) There was discussion around cutting walkthroughs at each corner, but I have not seen anything happen. Besides the State Highway difference, San Marco and St. Johns both have directional parking, lots of it. It is a sad fact, but most people do not know how to parallel park.
Want to promote walkabilty of Main St. ? Keep the vacant lots and buildings clean of trash and overgrowth, put in some metal benches to sit on, some decent trash cans, some landscaping (not scrub palms), and perhaps some seasonal decorations? Some color can go a long way. Just hanging some flower pots from the light poles or painting the buildings vibrant colors would make a HUGE difference in the look of Main St. (and would not cost a lot). The one building painted green with the black and white tiles is a real standout now!
What is going on with the apartments/commercial space Van Horn redid? It looks gorgeous but has been vacant since I have been here (six years!). Is it in ownership limbo or is it just too damn high?
What apartments/commercial? 11th & Silver?
Quote from: strider on January 10, 2011, 08:41:17 PM
Everyone needs to remember that the design of Main street was the result of thousands of hours over many, many years of hard work to get it done at all. It is perhaps not the best design, but as Main Street is a State Highway, and we needed federal and State funds to get it done ever, this is what we had to have. The bike lanes were given up in order to have ANY on street parking. Complaining about the design is self defeating. It ain;t gonna change any time soon. In fact, good or bad design, we also got all new infrastructure including the electrical moved to the alleys. If we hadn't done the street at all, things like a street car would most likely be less likely due to the extra costs involved. So, our best bet is to just deal with it.
Frankly, the complaints about the design seem to more stem from it's lack of drivability rather than walkability issies. You can only turn left every fourth street. One Springfield resident complained that her property was harder to get to (by car). I have heard that it might effect funding if the project is too hard to drive to.
Then of course, you have to walk an extra block or so to cross the street. You either have to go to a light or walk the mid-median walk throughs.
Here, I thought what we wanted was a walkable commercial corridor.
It is true that the idea of a state highway is to move cars, but that is the hand we have been dealt.
So , it seems to me we need ideas to market the walkability of Main Street. You do not have to worry about as many cars turning left through the walking traffic. You can set up smaller parking Parks to encourage people to park and walk rather than like at 3rd and main which actually encourages park, eat and drive. If banks don't understand the concept of walking to the stores and restaurants then we need to teach them. Use what most see as issues with Main Street as the benefits.
Marketing something that doesn't exist just makes everyone look silly. Main street is not walkable in its present form, and you won't have the storefronts filled until it becomes walkable again, or at least drivable. Not only is it not walkable but it's not even drivable in that you have to drive up four blocks out of your way and cut a dangerous U-turn across two lanes of oncoming traffic just to get to a business.
Frankly, this new street design did far more harm than good, and everyone would have been far better off with the old street layout even if that meant sacrificing a couple of pretty palm trees. Just saying "it's here now there's nothing to be done about it" isn't an option because the street is going to stay dead until the problem is fixed. There need to be pedestrian walkways cut through those horrible medians, car turn lanes need to be put back in, hell ideally the medians should just come back out entirely.
That is entirely possible, by the way. Having been born and raised in Florida I'm very familiar with the state's multiple redesigns of state highway A1A to add in these horrible medians, only to have businesses and municipalities complain and then they came right back out again. This is no different. And a new group needs to replace SPAR when it comes to giving input on these types of planning decisions, because asinine "let's design it to get rid of the darkies" motives wind up costing everyone.
Stephen Dare remembers some of the planning sessions, and can confirm that the current design of Main Street was deliberately intended to be unfriendly to pedestrians. Unfortunately there is no way to make a street unfriendly to low income pedestrians and friendly to the rest, so the outcome was predictably disastrous for everyone. It needs to be undone or I can't see Main having any chance of success. This street design would kill Avondale or San Marco dead if it were implemented there, let alone an area that already lacks a commercial base and is trying to get off the ground.
Also Main street may technically be a state highway, but nobody uses it for that purpose anymore. The state recognizes this and lets you designate enterprise zones that get exempted from the median requirements and lack of crosswalks and car turn lanes. This went deliberately unexplored because SPAR was set on intentionally making the new design pedestrian unfriendly. Then they went a step further and even removed all the bus stops. It's a travesty. If you look at what those idiots did, they traded the commercial viability of the whole street for some palm trees. Brilliant.
I think they are at 6th and Main. On the corner, really pretty but empty forever...last I heardVan horn owned them. I think there are people living upstairs (I see lights and cars parked in back).
NOTICE the Rail line... . IS this to the S-Line through Gateway, into Sprinfield, DT, sports complex and Jax Terminal?Quote from: simms3 on November 30, 2010, 09:00:54 PM
Jacksonville International Airport:
A model of what the airport will look like when built out.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/JIA%20Food%20Pans%20and%20RAM/Yes043.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/JIA%20Food%20Pans%20and%20RAM/Yes044.jpg)
Space still UC (recently remodeled)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/JIA%20Food%20Pans%20and%20RAM/Yes045.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/JIA%20Food%20Pans%20and%20RAM/Yes046.jpg)
The above photo seen from the plane:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/JIA%20Food%20Pans%20and%20RAM/Yes055.jpg)
Haskell gallery had some interesting art:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/JIA%20Food%20Pans%20and%20RAM/Yes047.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/JIA%20Food%20Pans%20and%20RAM/Yes048.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/JIA%20Food%20Pans%20and%20RAM/Yes050.jpg)
One of many food spots, the food court in the concourse with Sbarro, Freshens, and Quizno's.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/JIA%20Food%20Pans%20and%20RAM/Yes051.jpg)
One of the new concourses:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/JIA%20Food%20Pans%20and%20RAM/Yes052.jpg)
Planes at the airport:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/JIA%20Food%20Pans%20and%20RAM/Yes056.jpg)
connections will bring life back to the core.
In the model,
which rail line is this? HSR? Street car? monorail?
Quote from: uptowngirl on January 11, 2011, 12:10:28 PM
I think they are at 6th and Main. On the corner, really pretty but empty forever...last I heardVan horn owned them. I think there are people living upstairs (I see lights and cars parked in back).
My place is at 6th & Main, across from Shantytown. There are two townhouse style loft units. One is leased and has always been leased since it was completed. The second was constructed as a shell about a year ago to take advantage of lower construction costs, depsite the fact that the market was still pretty bad. Right now, I'm contemplating building it out and moving into it myself. There's room for two more units but market conditions aren't right to justify the financial investment.
On the north-west corner of 7th and Main there are lovely remodeled units in an all brick building with apartments above. The lease signs say "Cord Butler" I called in July and at that time he stated everything was leased. I'll bet they are still empty (the storefronts.) Uptown, is this the building?
That's the Goffin Building. That never was CVH's. I can't remember his name right now but Stephendare knows the owner pretty well.
That is the one Ionia! Yep they are still completely vacant (the stores on the first floor).
WOW. WOW. WOW.
We need Kevin Gay on the side of Springfield.
That's a lot of property. A lot of lots. A lot of vacancy.
Hoo Rah.
Cool.
I'm gonna make me a new friend.
Kevin Gay, here I come.
If he's such a good guy for Springfield, why is he leaving the roof caved in at the Boomtown location while still advertising the space is for rent (who would even rent that in that shape)?? Also, he's asking $1500 for his spaces in the Goffin Building next to it (red brick mixed use on Main @ 7th, the one with the Tax office), knowing damn well he's never gonna rent them for that. In this market with Main in the shape its in, they should be like half that price.
I'm just saying, he may be an awesome guy (I dont know him), but this isn't doing the neighborhood any favors. Stuff like that is kind of what's wrong & holding Main up right now, no??
Quote from: stephendare on January 13, 2011, 08:16:24 AM
And I may have spoken a minute too soon.
Chatting with Kevin, he told me:
QuoteAll three commercial units are now leased! The last being the corner unit to.... SunTrust. They will begin work in Late Feb and move in in June. That will be a fully leased building to all national tenants.
That is fantastic news! Is it going to be a bank with lots of traffic, or one of their lendning divisions with less foot traffic?
Quote from: stephendare on January 13, 2011, 08:16:24 AM
And I may have spoken a minute too soon.
Chatting with Kevin, he told me:
QuoteAll three commercial units are now leased! The last being the corner unit to.... SunTrust. They will begin work in Late Feb and move in in June. That will be a fully leased building to all national tenants.
Wait, wait, wait...so let me get this straight...
So you mean to tell me that, after all of SPAR's petty wars, boycotts, and campaigns to drive out all the 'wrong' businesses on main, to pave the way for SPAR's 'redevelopment' that promised to bring in that phantom Starbucks and nvrenuf's world-famous disappearing Panera Bread, that after demolishing half the historic properties in the neighborhood and closing down all of these businesses, the only person who has managed to bring a national tenant to Springfield is the very same guy that SPAR spent years trash-talking and vilifying as a 'slumlord'?
LMAO! SPAR is an abject failure.
A Suntrust?? woohoo! the closest one to me now is in the Modis Building. I hope this actually happens.
Thats good news that they're filled. I mean, I figured it was probably gonna take a bigger entity like that (a bank) to lease at those prices & I would have much preferred something more local with a bit more substance, but still good news.
You know when I was talking to the people at the spar office building I asked about those spaces because they are do cool. They told me they were all rented out too but said they could call Mr. Gay for me to make sure. Man they are nice but expensive so I'm still looking
When I joined they gave me book with like 100 people I bet but hey do you have a photograph of that Kevin gay building?
Hold up! SPAR gives out a book with members names? How about addresses or phone numbers? The names are bad enough, so anyone with $40 bucks can get a member list? WOW! Glad I dropped my membership!
QuoteAll three commercial units are now leased! The last being the corner unit to.... SunTrust. They will begin work in Late Feb and move in in June. That will be a fully leased building to all national tenants.
That is fantastic news! Banks are a great way to increase foot traffic on a given block.
You know I don't know how many guitarists or beginners there are in the area but hopefully a lot and there's not a good guitars store near downtown. Hey what about S.a.m.b.a.? Do they have a website I can use and how can I join? Are there any other groups that help businesses?
www.sambajax.org
I would suggest contacting a Springfield Realtor who could help you navigate a lease or buy on Main Street for your guitar shop.
Or, take a trolley (not literally unfortunately,) up Main on foot or bike and many of the storefronts have signs and numbers to call. There is a very small store front b/w 7th/8th on the west side of Main that has a sign for lease and if I remember correctly, it is priced fair. I think the old Fat Cat Grocery is up for sale at $140k. I'd have to go back and look on the MLS. I may be able to easily find my list of names and numbers from my personal trolley up and down Main b/w 4th/8th Streets. PM me.
Quote from: letters and numbers on January 13, 2011, 11:27:16 AM
When I joined they gave me book with like 100 people I bet but hey do you have a photograph of that Kevin gay building?
Wow, 100 people or less out of a neighborhood of 5,000. I'm impressed...
And this is the Kevin Gay's building, which he bought after SPAR's golden child Craig VanHorn lost it in foreclosure following his fraudulent financial meltdown;
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3435469377_59711e05b5.jpg)
There was a smaller, but nice place by oe and Glorias between 7th and 8th and I think it could be got for a reasonable price! I have a daughter that would lOVE guitar lessons!
For years everyone has talked about the great potential for Springfield. However it seems that it may always hold that terrible "potential" title unless we can get everyone on the same page. There have been those who didn't want change at all. There have been those who were "one hit wonders" and have gone their own way (for better or for worse). For most thus far its always been about making a dime and in the work of urban development you come to know that doesn't happen fast and it has to happen in concert with many other strategic partners. There is a place for for-profit and non-profit organizations. Thus there is no silver bullet. Have we not learned by now that there is no urban messiah that can come in and deliver. There has to be a place at the table for everyone. Why do people love going to New York and Chicago..etc? Because the commonality is a wildly woven fabric of diversity. Springfield has had that unique diversity but we let folks come in and try to tell us what we should look like, what kind of houses we should build, who should live here, etc etc. Its unique characteristics define it and should help craft the way it looks and not someone or some design. So....do the litmus test. What has worked? Who has worked? How do we build bridges between the gulf of differences so that there is "a seat out there for every ass"?
Peace
Quote from: letters and numbers on January 13, 2011, 11:27:16 AM
When I joined they gave me book with like 100 people I bet ...
Are you saying you were given a directory with members' names & contact info?
Quote from: standtogether on January 13, 2011, 03:41:05 PM
For years everyone has talked about the great potential for Springfield. However it seems that it may always hold that terrible "potential" title unless we can get everyone on the same page. There have been those who didn't want change at all. There have been those who were "one hit wonders" and have gone their own way (for better or for worse). For most thus far its always been about making a dime and in the work of urban development you come to know that doesn't happen fast and it has to happen in concert with many other strategic partners. There is a place for for-profit and non-profit organizations. Thus there is no silver bullet. Have we not learned by now that there is no urban messiah that can come in and deliver. There has to be a place at the table for everyone. Why do people love going to New York and Chicago..etc? Because the commonality is a wildly woven fabric of diversity. Springfield has had that unique diversity but we let folks come in and try to tell us what we should look like, what kind of houses we should build, who should live here, etc etc. Its unique characteristics define it and should help craft the way it looks and not someone or some design. So....do the litmus test. What has worked? Who has worked? How do we build bridges between the gulf of differences so that there is "a seat out there for every ass"?
Peace
*kiss, kiss* great post.
Main street needs business, period. The more stores the merrier. We definitely shop at local Springfield businesses, when we can, more than we do elsewhere. I think new stores will find a lot of customers. Sweet Pete's on Pearl street is doing well, for example.
Quote from: stephendare on January 13, 2011, 08:16:24 AM
And I may have spoken a minute too soon.
Chatting with Kevin, he told me:
QuoteAll three commercial units are now leased! The last being the corner unit to.... SunTrust. They will begin work in Late Feb and move in in June. That will be a fully leased building to all national tenants.
If SunTrust moves in, I may switch my accounts to them. That is great news!
Quote from: ricker on January 11, 2011, 12:28:55 PM
NOTICE the Rail line... . IS this to the S-Line through Gateway, into Sprinfield, DT, sports complex and Jax Terminal?
Quote from: simms3 on November 30, 2010, 09:00:54 PM
Jacksonville International Airport:
A model of what the airport will look like when built out.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/JIA%20Food%20Pans%20and%20RAM/Yes043.jpg)
connections will bring life back to the core.
In the model,
which rail line is this? HSR? Street car? monorail?
(http://buzzer.translink.ca/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/mkii-skytrain.jpg)
SKYTRAIN VANCOUVERQ1 - No, but it is an architectural model showing that the airport was designed to include a rail link. If this line is ever built it would probably be an extension from the "s" near Main and Airport Road down the median to JIA and operated as LRT or with a DMU.
Q2- I've seen the model and based on that I'd say they were thinking LRT or something like Vancouver's SKYTRAIN (which BTW would be a good rebuild of the Skyway)OCKLAWAHA
QuoteIf SunTrust moves in, I may switch my accounts to them. That is great news!
Danno, that's the kind of attitude Springfield needs.
You may be interested in this blog from Carmen Godwin(RAP):
letsgolo.wordpress.com (http://letsgolo.wordpress.com)
Quote from: peestandingup on January 10, 2011, 02:38:24 PM
For obvious reasons, Main is just not an attractive business hub anymore after that God awful redesign. It's limiting in both foot traffic (having to cross 4 lanes of highway-like traffic) & car traffic (those damn medians).
If you truly wanna make it viable again, and I've said this in other threads, you have to get rid of that design, shrink the car lane back down to a single & get a streetcar line going down it (all the way from the Zoo to the Landing).
I can't stress enough how important this is & how vital it is for a modern 21st century urban neighborhood. Any city that's worth a damn either already has this going or is getting it done now. San Fran & New Orleans never stopped (and have added lines). But what about places like Boston, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Portland, Galveston, Dallas, Memphis, Tampa, Little Rock, & more. All open now, all being used. Some are brand new, some have been restored from their glory days.
Upcoming new ones that are being finalized or have broken ground: Atlanta, Baltimore, Buffalo, Calgary, Charlotte, DC, Dallas, Denver, Edmonton, Houston, Jersey City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Ottawa, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, St Louis, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Jose.
I'm just saying, we're missing the boat (er, rail) big time. No one's gonna take any city serious who doesn't get this going. We probably look like a bunch of backwards hicks to many who have been around (and I can't say I blame them).
Point being, Jacksonville has a strong history with this sorta thing & they need to see the error of their ways like others have & get some of it back. Springfield would be the perfect place to reinstate a heritage streetcar line & restore it right down Main (where the median is now). You wanna really do something that matters instead of picking & plucking at the problem?? That would be it. And don't accept anything less, because this needed done like yesterday.
You are of course 100% right, you can pick at the problem or make a sweeping change that will consequently change the futurity of the entire neighborhood. Springfield will also need to embrace North Springfield, and Brentwood for Main Street to really thrive.
Something that would be an immediate change SOS or RAP or both should solicit the neighbors to the north and get the city to do a beauty makeover of the MLK from I-95 to the hairpin turn.
If I was in the drivers seat everything south of that turn would become the "JaxPort Parkway", the MLK would end at Talleyrand, and I'd take a serious look at taking the "Parkway" north as a multimodal link to the Northside at Zoo Parkway.
Meanwhile back in Springfield, three transit projects could bring major mega-buck changes if we could just get JTA to follow through.
1. The largest development engine by far is fixed rail transit. Tear up Main again? At least the inside two lanes and recreate the "Most Beautiful Streetcar Line in the World," as it was once known. A north-south link from Water to Independence to Newnan to ? to Main would do the trick. Perhaps use Orange as the connecting link and blend it in with the Parkview project which seems to be planned incrementally. Pulling the line North would require a strong alliance with North or New Springfield and Brentwood.
2. The "S" line, already owned by the city and usable even though some bumbling moron allowed an elementary school to be plopped right in the middle of it... Dumb as ducks. Anyway, the "S" can be rebuilt and it runs from the grand old Union Terminal up through Durkeeville and would join the existing NORFOLK SOUTHERN right-of-way behind Shand's. The "S" is key to ALL Northside commuter rail, any LRT and the Gateway Mall segment provides for another "streetcar parkway" up the east boundary of Springfield. So streetcar, LRT, or Commuter Rail needs the "S".
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bQsuhPJduqQ/TTCMy2E3mNI/AAAAAAAADsM/7zrPzsEngbM/s800/monorails-Tamar.jpg)
Like I've been preaching for years... The SKYWAY doesn't have to be 100% in the sky. No reason why at the endpoint stations it can't come down to earth such as this monorail so passengers could transfer to bus or train WITHOUT going upstairs.
3. Skyway as originally planned would blow through FSCJ and angle over to the west side of Springfield Park, in so doing it would pass through potential stations at FSCJ, COUNTY HEALTH, HOGAN CREEK TOWERS, VA CLINIC, SHAND'S. Want to see the Skyway packed out? GET R' DONE!(http://thecityfix.com/files/2010/07/BRT2ndAve.jpg)
BRT doesn't have to cost a billion dollars, in this photo 4 things make it work CHEAP. #1 A well placed bus stop with INFORMATION, real time readout information (like the Skyway) with mobile phone apps at larger stations. #2 A larger, more comfortable, better suspension, low floor, accessible, BRT bus. #3 Signal priority for buses which could be workable 24/7 or perhaps just in rush hours. The only queue jumper lanes I could imagine on these routes is in the Norwood-Gateway-Golfair area. #4 Distinct marking of the bus lanes, even if they are part time bus lanes. This has proved to increase ridership where color or L.E.D.S have "mapped out" the busway. Traffic could be controlled by lane lights such as on East Bay Street... This just doesn't have to be JTA difficult.
4. BRT, as proposed on Boulevard should jog to Pearl and up to the extreme Northside on Lem Turner at I-295 WALMART plaza. In the process it could run all the way to Tallulah and hence to Edgewood to Lem Turner. Another option would be from Tallulah to Airport/Marketplace via a short stretch of 95. Access from North Pearl to Lem Turner via GATEWAY could be achieved from Pearl to Beechwood to Norwood.
Get these 4 things done and you'll be worrying about 10,000 new residents and businesses rather then renting Craig's old storefront. OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: iloveionia on January 09, 2011, 09:44:42 PM
I am having a discussion with a Springfield friend about Main Street.
Here are some of my ideas thus far:
1. Get owner contact information for all vacant buildings/spaces.
2. Make friends with people who are business minded to get interest for opening up shop on Main Street.
3. Aggressively contact building owners and work with potential business owners to help them negotiate leases or purchases to open their business, be mediators.
4. Seek funds like redevelopment funds, to dress up Main Street to make it more appealing (the buildings.)
5. Hold a Main Street Open House (after contacting owners of buildings) and have a commercial corridor open house. (I've thought of this for residential as well.) One day where every vacant building on Main is open with the owner and/or broker/agent available on site.
6. Aggressive advertising needs to happen to "lure" folks to Springfield. Advertising in other states and cities.
7. And damn it, the next mayor needs to bring life to downtown, that will boost Springfield instantly.
8. Our commercial corridors on Main Street need to be connected. From downtown to the airport. Period.
9. Ideally, businesses on Main need to be mom and pop and need to have a theme/focus. It is definitely a draw. Antique and thrift stores with country stores and eateries. Music, pet stores, garden stores, gift stores are all mom and pop style. This of course all my opinion. I refer often to 4th/Cherry in Long Beach. It's dubbed "Retro Row" and is just that. The city embraced small/new business owners and revived the street with city and federal funds. Besides all the retro/vintage/thrift stores there is a coffee shop, upscale hair salon, art deco movie theatre, Mexican food joint. Previously this street was shit. Now it is hip. But the city put the money and the work in to revitalizing it. What a concept.
10. I also think Springfield could embrace artists and we could have galleries and shops mixed together. Broadway in LB/Downtown did this and it is phenomenal.
11. Additionally we need a council person on our side. I refer to LB again and our council people are very very good compared to the jackasses in Jacksonville. No doubt we need the love and support.
Reviving a thread I started about Main Street and it's revival. As stated previously we were ready to take it on. When I posted this, I received a verbal message from a close friend who was asked to tell me "stay away from Main Street" or something to that effect.
Apparently when I posted these ideas (after success with preservation of our housing stock) someone(s) got their panties in a bunch.
What was their reason for asking you to stay away?
I don't have a clue, other than speculations.
My speculations? I'm an outsider. I lack southern charm. I'm vocal and honest. They wouldn't get credit and someone else would.
Speculations.
Oh you are charming enough, Ionia.
We were told that plans were in place and we would muck up the deal. Or something like that.
No telling. Hard as we work for houses, working for Main Street might just have killed us :)
Looking back on the situation, most of what was being done and being said was a smoke screen for what was really going on. A few were making sure they got theirs and nothing else mattered. When you build a house of cards, you don't want real movers and shakers around. Those cards then fall down and people see what is really going on.
Has Jacksonville ever applied for Florida Main Street grant through the State Historic Office?
http://www.flheritage.com/preservation/mainstreet/
Seems like this would be a plus for downtown and Springfield.
I've asked about that in the past and do not think I ever got a real answer from SPAR Council at the time. My sister is in Norwalk, Ohio and they have a similar program that Norwalk has used to good success. In Ohio, it does take some amount of financial participation on the part of the merchants. It is also all based on a Federal program - now called National Main Street Center, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/#.UhpWD5Im7Sg
It would be cool to have a program like that for Main. The DIA's Aundra Wallace may be a good person to talk to. Before coming to Jax, the Detroit agency he oversaw, targeted inner city neighborhoods like Springfield.