I was the top editorial today! Slightly shortened, I wanted to make the point that downtown/core already has existing infrastructure that "merely" needs to be maintained instead of newly constructed, but I'm glad they ran it.
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/letters-readers/2011-04-08/story/election-observation-consolidation-no-longer-makes-sense
I have another editorial I wrote for the paper that should come out within a month.
Congrats! How much did they edit your piece? Can you post the unedited version here?
Well done, Simms3! I read it this morning and think it is great!
Mr. Simmons, excellent post in the TU, I read it loud and clear. Great idea too! Do you think we can convince anyone in town of the idea?
After reading Littlepage, I am more convinced than ever that he and Stephen are related somehow.
Orrr... Stephen has more influence around town than is readily visible.
As you can see, they did not do much editing, which is nice (but I have a hard time being concise and being tactful with my writing so I had to edit it down to as short as I could make it).
Should Consolidation be Revisited?
1968 was hailed by many in our city as the year that marked Jacksonville as one of the most cutting edge cities in America. It was the year of consolidation between various neighborhoods, the county, and the beaches. This process required a visionary mayor in the form of Hans Tanzler and a unified and invigorated constituency.
2011 tells a different story as the election results give us evidence that Jacksonville has separated into three or four entirely different towns, each with people who express entirely different viewpoints and believe they need entirely different things. Given this brewing division, I believe it is time for Jacksonville to deconsolidate from the county and from outlying suburban areas. The new city limits should encompass merely the Moran voting territory along the riverfront and around downtown and some of Alvin Brown’s voting territory, as well.
There are financial and political reasons for doing this. For one, Jacksonville has spread out to unsustainable proportions. Not two decades ago, one square mile of downtown provided close to 15% of our city’s taxable base. Because of endless sprawl creating a skyrocketing city budget and because of the failure of any leadership downtown to keep companies rooted, that number has plummeted to 2-3%. Downtown and the urban core have existing infrastructure that only need be maintained and that which supports the highest intensity land use in our metro.
It is painfully obvious that most of our suburban population believes that downtown and the surrounding urban core is a money pit filled with people unlike themselves, but as a former 18 year intown resident and long time proponent of downtown, I believe it is the other way around. Let us keep downtown and our established neighborhood communities and let those on the Southside and Westside finally get a chance to be in complete control of their own communities. I believe this will benefit all areas and all people politically and will benefit the inner ring of Jacksonville, including downtown, financially.
Given the fact that each candidate could not have had a more different message and that clear voting lines were able to be discerned from a map, the people of Jacksonville have spoken and they demand a municipality split.
My other editorial, which may or may not run (the editor told me he would run it in about a month...). I rewrote this piece over and over again until I was still not satisfied and submitted it anyway.
Putting a Finger on Our Economy’s Stagnation
Jacksonville was recently seen as a boom town with 2% annual metro area growth, a condo explosion, and several high profile F500 corporate relocations. It is no secret that the supposed boom did not leave us in any better financial or political shape, and it can be just as easily argued that Jacksonville is currently on track to become the next Birmingham, AL: forgotten, stagnant economy, low population growth, no professional sports team, and butt of jeers.
It is time to wake up, smell the Maxwell coffee, and take a hard look at reality. Whether we would like to admit it or not, Jacksonville cannot focus solely on attracting middle class families fleeing South Florida or Upstate New York who may or may not arrive with a job lined up. We must focus our effort on attracting the 18-32 year old professional class, otherwise referred to as Generation Y.
Generation Y is urban minded, worldly, informed, involved, arguably moderate to left of center politically but mostly ambivalent, and incredibly fast paced. Just as CEOs love their pet projects for improving the cities in which they live in, Generation Y likes to be engaged, as well. More of them than ever have graduated from top notch colleges and so the collaborative, walkable, open, university mindset has not left them and likely will not leave them for a long time.
The reason why our peer cities such as Charlotte, Nashville, and Austin are leaving Jacksonville in their dust in terms of employment, GDP, salaries, educational attainment, and other measures is because they are actively pursuing the ultimate transformation from being sprawl havens suitable for middle class families to mature cities suitable for young professionals, corporate executives, and empty nester baby boomers who are moving back in.
Here are a couple of pointers for Jacksonville. First, do not give up or abandon downtown and the surrounding established neighborhoods. Jacksonville already has no identity as it is, but surely won’t create one on Gate Parkway. Secondly, Jacksonville’s historic areas need to embrace contemporary design and infill. At this point Jacksonville needs to take what it can get in terms of infill and development, and if someone wants to build a contemporary home or mid-rise on a vacant parcel in Springfield or Riverside, then SPAR and RAP need to encourage it rather than demand some historic look-a-like single family home. Thirdly, we toot our own horn all the time about having the most extensive urban park system in America and we have no great parks to speak of. Improve our urban parks and expand the riverwalk so that townies have somewhere to congregate other than the mall.
I’ll end on a brighter note. Even if Jacksonville increased property taxes by 20%, we would still be cheaper than almost any other city in America, and we have the abundant sunshine to throw on top. There is no reason why we should not be the most desirable city to live in in America.
(Now I realize that my point is jumbled because I forgot to say "here are some tips for attracting Gen Y....").
Nice work Simms. I agree with the majority of your points. I realize you weren't able to list your tips for attracting Gen Y, so I assume removing prohibitive and antiquated policies downtown is among them. That is one huge sticking point for me. A few friends and I are considering buying property in one of the core neighborhoods to start a business, but I am very hesitant to choose DT because of the uphill battle we'd face in getting up and running.
I know what the experts say about attracting young, well-educated professionals. I think Richard Florida has that research on lock. However, I'd like for the young professionals in Jacksonville to tell us what's missing. When I hear the drone of "there is nothing to do here" and all the other negativity it sometimes boils down to the lack of a wild entertainment scene or the perception that "everyone else" is a hick. I recently heard from a very dear 30 something that Jacksonville has no young professional groups, but there are over 40 such groups looking for members. Another 30 something was surprised that Jax. has a population of 900,000 people - more than the Cities of Orlando or Atlanta. Why all the misperceptions? Is it all about DT entertainment venues, intolerant newsmakers, and not having enough $100,000 jobs for college grads? What else is at play here with regard to attracting and retaining talent?
Like the editorial, sums up the sprawl issues that killed Jacksonville.
I have to say you have certainly grown on me simms.
QuoteAnother 30 something was surprised that Jax. has a population of 900,000 people - more than the Cities of Orlando or Atlanta.
I don't thinking using the city population data is helpful. Atlanta metro has 5 times our population. If you go into DT Atlanta, this becomes very obvious.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on April 08, 2011, 11:26:47 AM
QuoteAnother 30 something was surprised that Jax. has a population of 900,000 people - more than the Cities of Orlando or Atlanta.
I don't thinking using the city population data is helpful. Atlanta metro has 5 times our population. If you go into DT Atlanta, this becomes very obvious.
According to our skewed population statistics, we actually have more people than Boston. Useless bunk.
Definitely some good points made.
I'd like to know: has any city like this ever de-consolidated? How could that ever possibly happen? Also, if it never happens, is there a viable alternative, perhaps a restructuring of government to some decentralized hubs specific to certain neighborhoods?
Quote from: SeaEmBee on April 08, 2011, 11:13:47 AM
I know what the experts say about attracting young, well-educated professionals. I think Richard Florida has that research on lock. However, I'd like for the young professionals in Jacksonville to tell us what's missing. When I hear the drone of "there is nothing to do here" and all the other negativity it sometimes boils down to the lack of a wild entertainment scene or the perception that "everyone else" is a hick. I recently heard from a very dear 30 something that Jacksonville has no young professional groups, but there are over 40 such groups looking for members. Another 30 something was surprised that Jax. has a population of 900,000 people - more than the Cities of Orlando or Atlanta. Why all the misperceptions? Is it all about DT entertainment venues, intolerant newsmakers, and not having enough $100,000 jobs for college grads? What else is at play here with regard to attracting and retaining talent?
Artists..... the "hip" factor. Most of which is the same age group. But that will change now with the King street art district.
QuoteBut that will change now with the King street art district.
We have a King street art district??
Quote from: danem on April 08, 2011, 02:23:00 PM
Definitely some good points made.
I'd like to know: has any city like this ever de-consolidated? How could that ever possibly happen? Also, if it never happens, is there a viable alternative, perhaps a restructuring of government to some decentralized hubs specific to certain neighborhoods?
Sandy Springs split off from Atlanta. What is now Fulton County may very well turn back into two counties (Milton and Fulton). Suburban cities/areas split off all the time all over the place, as frequently as cities annex on to larger cities.
I doubt Jacksonville can financially deconsolidate right now, at least until 2019 or 2029. We have complex tax structures and bond issues that are tied up, so it would be a really complicated process. Then again, if companies with market caps much greater than the size of the annual budget of the City of Jacksonville can re-organize and "deconsolidate" then I see no reason why the city can't hire a few brains from the M&A department of some FI or some brains from KKR or some other large PE firm.
I don't see why the City can't enter into a partnership with a private firm to work this kind of deal out. If public sentiment is any indication, political support for such a move would not necessarily be a huge hurdle either.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on April 08, 2011, 02:31:18 PM
QuoteBut that will change now with the King street art district.
We have a King street art district??
Yes. CoRK!
What is CoRK?
Quote from: Captain Zissou on April 08, 2011, 02:57:15 PM
What is CoRK?
Artist Dolf James new studio.... Corner of Roselle and King!
Quote from: SeaEmBee on April 08, 2011, 11:13:47 AM
I know what the experts say about attracting young, well-educated professionals. I think Richard Florida has that research on lock. However, I'd like for the young professionals in Jacksonville to tell us what's missing. When I hear the drone of "there is nothing to do here" and all the other negativity it sometimes boils down to the lack of a wild entertainment scene or the perception that "everyone else" is a hick. I recently heard from a very dear 30 something that Jacksonville has no young professional groups, but there are over 40 such groups looking for members. Another 30 something was surprised that Jax. has a population of 900,000 people - more than the Cities of Orlando or Atlanta. Why all the misperceptions? Is it all about DT entertainment venues, intolerant newsmakers, and not having enough $100,000 jobs for college grads? What else is at play here with regard to attracting and retaining talent?
It's not all about the ease or lack thereof of owning investment properties in downtown that makes Jacksonville the least attractive city in America for young singles and young professionals. A lot of it is politically oriented.
Jacksonville may have 40 young professional groups, and Austin, TX may have only 5. That doesn't matter either.
What Jacksonville is missing is excitement, energy, vibe, social connections, progressive attitudes, etc etc. Young professionals are very much like middle-aged CEOs; both like to be involved and "leave their mark." I for one have tried to become involved in Jacksonville, and while I really don't give up easily, I have found that it's a waste of time.
Here are two Atlanta Business Chronicle blogs that ran just in the past week. Attitudes like this coming from 50 year old WASP men. The under 35 crowd in Atlanta is even more engaged and in tune. The bigger difference between Atlanta and Jacksonville is that the politicians listen more closely to the business leaders up here and both groups largely agree. Progressive voices and business leaders in Jacksonville have a huge uphill battle, not to mention the voices on our side aren't nearly as active to begin with.
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_talk/2011/04/how-atlanta-looks-to-the-world.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_talk/2011/04/no-curb-appeal.html
Here is a retail real estate blog I follow and occasionally post on. There are several sites like it. Lots of young guys here in the city run blogs and have made names for themselves.
http://whatnowatlanta.com/
This blog has tons of great photos and insights, mainly on residential condo real estate, but on other things, too.
http://www.atlantaskyriseblog.com
MetroJacksonville does some great things for Jacksonville and many cities should be really jealous that we have a better blog and news site than almost anywhere else, but Jacksonville as a city in its entirety is missing some heavy hitters. This is an area where I have been debated on this site before, but I believe that in order for big things to happen, Jacksonville will need big money and big companies. Grassroots is great and is absolutely vital, especially in start up phases of renewal and development and even in marketing of practically everything nowadays, but Jacksonville is basically invisible as a place to invest for almost every F500 company, every privately traded fund, every REIT, every development firm, every law firm, everyone.
I personally have a huge ego, but even my confidence is sometimes completely shot up here in Atlanta. Everyone oozes sophistication, competitive attitudes, worldliness, hard work, money, etc etc. This is not the case in Jacksonville, and it's reflected in our leadership, our politics/populace, our appearance, our news articles, and our economy.
We need the cool factor. We need the Green factor. We need the hip factor (and I'm really not even talking nightclubs here). We need the money factor. We need the progressive factor. We also have to want the change. Right now everyone from the average citizens to the city leaders seems to try to prevent change and growth, but that is precisely what keeps us in stagnation and in the poor house.
We already have the weather. We already have the cheap factor (which really doesn't make a difference to a single 30 year old professional working 80 hours a week and volunteering, pulling in $150K + a year). That's really all we have. We have great bones to build on, but we have major osteoporosis right now and we need Caltrate fast.
Personally, I would not want to live in a city dominated by politicians who belong to a Baptist megachurch. I got tired of living in a city dominated by a population that viewed higher education as the scourge of liberal ideas and that viewed people who made only $100K a year the evil rich who control everything.
I actually think this "Socially Networked" ranking by Men's Health is a great indicator of the respective communities. Jacksonville was nearly at the bottom down with Toledo, OH, Bakersfield, CA, and Detroit, MI. Granted I wouldn't place Atlanta as #2, but definitely in the top 10. Look at this list, though. Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis, Austin, Portland, Boston, and DC are all magnets for young professionals (as is Atlanta for sure). My cousin just moved to DC and loves it and my other "working" cousins are loving life in Boston, New York, and LA. Companies from Houston, LA, Chicago, DC, Nashville, Boston, and San Francisco snatched up my pledge brothers from school.
Most socially networked
1 Washington, DC A+
2 Atlanta, GA A+
3 Denver, CO A+
4 Minneapolis, MN A+
5 Seattle, WA A+
6 San Francisco, CA A
7 Orlando, FL A
8 Austin, TX A
9 Boston, MA A
10 Salt Lake City, UT A-
11 Cincinnati, OH A-
12 Raleigh, NC A-
13 Burlington, VT A-
14 Portland, OR B+
15 Madison, WI B+
16 Dallas, TX B+
17 Portland, ME B
18 Sacramento, CA B
19 Aurora, CO B
20 Boise, ID B
21 Charlotte, NC B
22 Wilmington, DE B
23 Oakland, CA B
24 St. Louis, MO B
25 Las Vegas, NV B
26 Columbus, OH B
27 San Diego, CA B
28 San Jose, CA B
29 St. Paul, MN B-
30 Plano, TX B-
31 Tampa, FL B-
32 Nashville, TN B-
33 Los Angeles, CA B-
34 Phoenix, AZ B-
35 Newark, NJ B-
36 Miami, FL B-
Yes, the cheap,affordable cost of living cuts both ways. While its one of the cheapest cities to live in, its one of the lowest paying metro areas for earning income.
While this is a boon for artists, its a deterrant for young professionals. Too bad. The affordability makes Jax one of the best places to buy a home. Then again not many people are in to buying a home right now.
Quote from: stephendare on April 08, 2011, 02:50:37 PM
Deconsolidating will only double our taxes and give us less service in return, in my opinion.
If the problem is that we accidentally built in a mechanism which no longer favors sustainable growth and planning, then we fix that structural flaw.
Since the computer logged me out and erased my initialy response, I'll just say this:
1) Taxes need to be higher. Personally, knowing what rates are in other cities and what I pay now, even if it's somewhat wasteful, I just feel weird paying 17 mil in a major city.
2) Many subdivision and zoning regulations are subject to national precedent. Legalities have literally made replicating Savannah illegal now.
3) Land in Jacksonville is soooo cheap, partly because there is so much of it and partly because there is no demand for it. It is more expensive for developers to build up than to build on a massive subdivision with impact fees. It's actually cheap enough for Publix to transfer the lease rights to a neighborhood center location on Atlantic and move to a new center down the street with $1 higher rents and the same CAM/taxes. Barriers to entry in Jacksonville are non-existent, rents/concessions are dirt cheap, land is cheap, taxes are non-existent, and growth is there but real demand is not.
4) The biggest difficulty in deconsolidating won't be financially related. There are people in my building who work out deals for companies and split companies in deals many times greater than the entire budget of Jacksonville or even most states. A small team of them can easily come up with multiple solutions to deconsolidating.
A) The greatest difficulty will be a political battle about what to do with the Northside. Will we force it to become its own entity and thereby become the Camden of the South, or will the inner core neighborhoods eat that cost? That is the biggest area of contention in the City of Atlanta whereby one half of the city encompasses some of the greatest wealth in the world and the other half of the city is one of the most dangerous ghettoes in the country, providing little taxable base.
I think 90% of the progressive voices in Jacksonville reside within the established core neighborhoods. Demand for companies and young people to flock to our town is not here yet, but if we have any chance of making great strides in becoming more attractive to these groups, then we need better political support for chance. This support will come from these neighborhoods and would otherwise be muted by other parts of town. If we have the support, enact the changes, and encourage infill development/fix our parks/increase the marketing and dialogue, then we can attract enough demand of young people and companies to offset any losses of tax revenue we encounter.
I have driven the Northside plenty. It's ghetto. Much of Jacksonville appears ghetto to me, even some of the nice parts. Even Ortega is spotty. Ironically, the only non-ghetto appearing area of town is on the Southside near the SJTC and along JTB, but it's very suburban appearing.
Also, if "rich" areas of Jacksonville still don't have a huge tax base, the Northside has almost no tax base. Property values in Jacksonville are lower than almost any other city, combine that with lower tax rates than any other city and you have barely any public cash flow. The Northside would be a drain on a small amount of intown neighborhoods in Jacksonville. If College Park is a drain on a neighborhood with 5 billionaires in Atlanta and homes that sell for $10M +, then Paxon/Durkeeville/NW Jax would be a drain on a few neighborhoods with a few barely million dollar houses and an empty downtown. That's where the contention would lie and it's hard to deny.
Quote from: stephendare on April 08, 2011, 03:54:58 PM
So redefine the roles of the five At Large Councilpeople.
Make this their job. Starting with five votes on a council of 19 is a pretty good place to begin.
And don't sell the progressives of the Southside and the Beaches short.
There are many many people who long for a real 'city' that are convinced that the aging baboons in charge arent competent to provide one for them.
I agree that there are progressives on the Southside and definitely at the Beach. I'm generalizing here. Aside from MetroJacksonville, there aren't any ideas ever floated about anything in Jacksonville. People with ideas either avoid the place altogether or have given up if they live there already. I'm not even sure I am all for my ideas, but I'm just trying to think outside the box and start a discussion that will maybe lead to people coming up with ideas that you are putting out right now.
Talk one extreme and you'll end up with a result in the middle (or no result at all in Jacksonville's case). In fact, in the ultimate irony I would not be surprised if Jacksonville abandoned the Northside and took on Orange Park and World Golf Village instead! LOL
QuoteI think 90% of the progressive voices in Jacksonville reside within the established core neighborhoods.
I am with Stephen in that I do not think deconsolidation is the answer. I AM hearing your arguments though. I agree with your assessment regarding where the progressive voters are located. (At least folks who care about the core) The problem is... there are not enough of them/us. I have always believed that for downtown to grow and flourish the folks who vote that live in the suburbs have to support that view. The established core neighborhoods are unlikely to win all by themselves. The suburbanites of Jacksonville need to be included. Their support should be sought. There are more than a few folks who live in these areas who view a vibrant core as an asset. A VITAL asset. They may not live in it for a variety of reasons... but they visit, they party, they love the river. I am a fan/supporter of MJ because I think this place has the power to convince enough folks in the burbs to support a vibrant core. :)
QuoteLol. As I offered....you should tour the Northside with me. There is more there than you realize.
I lived on a waterfront home on the Northside for a few years.
There are vast areas of the Northside that are not 'ghetto' The Northside is a vast, vast expanse of land... most of which is nestled within beautiful marsh land.
The new mall near the airport is evidence of the explosive growth the Northside is going to go through over the next decade(it already experienced tremendous growth once the Dames Point opened up). I remember the Jiffy Mart getting torn down to build the Dames Point and thinking 'who in the hell wants to live out here with us?' Well, apparently a lot nowadays.
simms3, Congrats on the letter in the TU. I enjoy reading your insight on issues. Good timing for the conversation with district boundry lines being drawn.
Quote from: stephendare on April 08, 2011, 10:45:29 AM
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 08, 2011, 08:42:45 AM
Mr. Simmons, excellent post in the TU, I read it loud and clear. Great idea too! Do you think we can convince anyone in town of the idea?
After reading Littlepage, I am more convinced than ever that he and Stephen are related somehow.
If you are talking about the bed tax and the leadership funds, then I am proud to be associated.
Littlepage nailed the issue on both.
We disagree on building a convention center though.
I don't have any firm opinion on the future of a convention center. I would like to read any of your posts. Do you have handy any references to other subject discussions where you may have given some details regarding your thoughts?
Even though I disagree with you, congrats simms3!
Do we need to build a convention center?...for me that would be the biggest mistake we could make...with all of the empty space in this city, building anything is idiotic and wasteful.
Nice job on the editorial, simms3.
However...
Quote from: simms3 on April 08, 2011, 09:47:07 AM
It is no secret that the supposed boom did not leave us in any better financial or political shape, and it can be just as easily argued that Jacksonville is currently on track to become the next Birmingham, AL: forgotten, stagnant economy, low population growth, no professional sports team, and butt of jeers.
I believe that Jacksonville would do well to be more like Birmingham in many ways. I realize that most people from Atlanta snub their nose at the delightful city 2 hours west of them, but after living there for 5 years, I can say Birmingham has one of the highest QOL that I have ever experienced. They have a great sense of local pride and a passion for style that we are sorely missing. Instead of rampant destruction of their downtown historic building fabric, they spent the last several years restoring these gems into lofts, offices and boutique restaurants. Not to mention that they have a thriving medical school in the heart of downtown.
Take a closer look someday - I am confident that you will like what you see.
Quote from: simms3 on April 08, 2011, 03:59:20 PM
I have driven the Northside plenty. It's ghetto. Much of Jacksonville appears ghetto to me, even some of the nice parts. Even Ortega is spotty. Ironically, the only non-ghetto appearing area of town is on the Southside near the SJTC and along JTB, but it's very suburban appearing.
simms, I appreciate your views on issues and your interest in urban planning...but sometimes you seem to be a little elitist...and always an Atlanta apologist....understand that Atlanta pre-1995 wasn't a good place for young professionals...plus the city is practically bankrupt...and tons of people in lots of cities have no desire to be the next ATL
Quote from: tufsu1 on April 08, 2011, 08:40:14 PM
...and tons of people in lots of cities have no desire to be the next ATL
+1,000,000
Congrats, Simms3!! Nice Article !