Metro Jacksonville

NAIOP Announces Downtown Revitalization Platform

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NAIOP of Northeast Florida, the region's commercial real estate authority and trade association, announces its Downtown Revitalization Platform, which includes strategies and tactics to improve the urban core's landscape, infrastructure and economy.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-mar-naiop-announces-downtown-revitalization-platform

Interesting take on parking and walking police...

I think these are some good ideas. I have always wondered why you never se any police walking downtown anywhere. If they are there, they are directing traffic out of downtown after games and concerts.

* Establish a single purpose entity dedicated to Downtown revitalization, with jurisdiction over permitting approvals and economic and regulatory incentives.

Sounds reasonable, but in the hands of the GOB network, it would be an instrument of plunder

* Rebate to tenants 50 percent of cost of facade improvements up to $25,000. Improvements can include: storefront/entranceway, renovations, new signs, awnings, window/door replacements and lighting upgrades.
Where do I sign?

* Provide a walking police beat in the Northbank core area from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday for added security.
And fund the mandate

* Create a designated retail core area of Laura Street to Market Street and Bay Street to Adams
I'm not sure limiting properties to retail purposes is a truly wise idea, but perhaps an arbitrarily determined percentage of retail such as 85%?

One thing this does is cut FBC out of what will be referred to as the core, which would exclude them from any TIF funded improvements.  That would force them to put more money towards beautification projects on their campus.

I support all of their points, but we need implementation more than we need good ideas.  We've had a wealth of great things proposed over the past few years, but very few of them have had any kind of action taken on them.  When is Mrs. Moran's start date again...??

Quote from: Captain Zissou on March 10, 2011, 09:14:00 AM
One thing this does is cut FBC out of what will be referred to as the core, which would exclude them from any TIF funded improvements.  That would force them to put more money towards beautification projects on their campus.

I support all of their points, but we need implementation more than we need good ideas.  We've had a wealth of great things proposed over the past few years, but very few of them have had any kind of action taken on them.  When is Mrs. Moran's start date again...????

Is''nt implementation done by the council mostly?

FBC to my knowledge does not take TIF funds. The street improvements that are made around the church are paid for by the church, all in cash. The Chidrens buidling, school streetscape improvements around Laura St are paid for by the church. The church probably doesnt want or need any money from the City of TIF funds.

Quote“As a city and community, we are entering an important year when downtown Jacksonville should be a top priority and focus for the city’s new mayor and leadership team,” said Wyman Duggan, Vice President of Public Affairs for NAIOP of Northeast Florida. “As the region’s commercial real estate organization, we believe it is vital to provide thoughtful strategies and practical tactics to add to the discussion about downtown’s future development and revitalization. It is our hope that the current mayoral candidates and future city leaders take our ideas into consideration and utilize the strategies in the platform to create a vibrant, successful downtown.”

Yawn.  Pretty much the same thing they said years ago.  We need action and implementation, not more BS from the talking heads.

I realize its a granular topic (though discussed widely in these forums), but I'd really like to see downtown signage laws mentioned in these higher level reports.  IMO, vibrant signage can drastically add to a streets "sense of place".  Freeing up signage restrictions can do as much for the core as other points listed.

Quote from: longhaul on March 10, 2011, 09:48:41 AM
IMO, vibrant signage can drastically add to a streets "sense of place".  Freeing up signage restrictions can do as much for the core as other points listed.

+1,000,000,000

At least these goals are more business savvy and allow the private sector to propser on it's own... And they come from a group of people who have a close pulse on downtown tenants who drive the demand for office space at the core

I think a designated retail core should also include Hogan st. There are a few things there already plus, the skyway is there too. What better way is there to include the skyway in all of these plans?

Quote from: longhaul on March 10, 2011, 09:48:41 AM
I realize its a granular topic (though discussed widely in these forums), but I'd really like to see downtown signage laws mentioned in these higher level reports.  IMO, vibrant signage can drastically add to a streets "sense of place".  Freeing up signage restrictions can do as much for the core as other points listed.

Longhaul, I keep bringing that up. I agree 100%.

Sadly, this "platform" reads like yet another lists of recommendations for improving Downtown Jacksonville. Meanwhile, there it sits, abandoned high rise condo and "ODIS" building prominent features of its skyline... Not to mention, at night, THE JACKSONVILLE LANDING actually reads THE JACKSONV      LANDING...

Sigh.

I see police cars parked at Hemming plaza all the time. We should put those cops on bicycles and maybe horses. It would save on gas and/or free up more squad cars to handle the sprawling areas.

Quote from: cline on March 10, 2011, 09:36:25 AM
Yawn.  Pretty much the same thing they said years ago.  We need action and implementation, not more BS from the talking heads.

wait...is cline turniong into CS Foltz?

Quote from: tufsu1 on March 10, 2011, 03:19:15 PM

Quote from: cline on March 10, 2011, 09:36:25 AM
Yawn.  Pretty much the same thing they said years ago.  We need action and implementation, not more BS from the talking heads.

wait...is cline turniong into CS Foltz?

Please NO

QuoteWe should put those cops on bicycles and maybe horses.

Bicycles would be good. A few cops could use a bit more exercise. I have seen horses downtown, but since our illustrious Mayor decided to put that ugly blob of a courthouse in the middle of Monroe, it makes it a bit harder for the horse patrol to make it straight into downtown from the horse stables at Monroe and I-95.

His tombstone will read, "8 years of frozen thinking"

Quote from: urbaknight on March 10, 2011, 12:59:44 PM
What better way is there to include the skyway in all of these plans?

I'm wondering the same thing.  It continues to represent to me the singular focus that our community has on automobiles.  I will admit that I am probably too singularly focused on transit, but to say nothing at all about how transit can be a part of the downtown solution is disappointing.

If there is one reason above all others that we have failed to revitalize downtown, I believe it is because we keep applying suburban solutions.  In that respect, we have succeded.  There are very few people walking around and vast expanses of surface parking lots.

Great point!  I agree.  When you apply suburban based solutions to urban revitalization, you can create situations where walkability and vibrancy still decline despite public investment of over a billion within the last couple of decades.

Quote from: Ocklawaha on March 10, 2011, 09:41:50 PM

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OCKLAWAHA

This photp speaks a thousand words!