(http://bp0.blogger.com/_2o3E7tD3TEA/Rm3bDenkXZI/AAAAAAAAATQ/IgMmTMsjwh4/s400/Hogan+Street+Park-SLIDE2+(2).JPG)
image courtesy of http://theurbancoredotcom.blogspot.com/ (http://theurbancoredotcom.blogspot.com/)
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=47655 (http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=47655)
Originally, when I heard about this story, I had the opinion that this would not be a good site for additional park space. However, after seeing the plan, it certainly has merit. Unlike typical Jacksonville public spaces, this has the potential to be well integrated with the Times Union Center, the Landing and it's already a poorly designed urban greenspace. So really, we would be improving an existing spot. Concerning the Landing, with Sleiman's plans to possibly reorient the mall shops to face Independent Drive, it sets up well to become a spot of vibrant pedestrian activity that can be seen from the streets of downtown. That's something we need in our core.
The only thing I'd like to see take place is the addition of retail/sidewalk face space on city property adjoining the Times Union Center. It doesn't have to be anything large, but it would be a great spot for something that could add additional activity within a compact setting.
This would be a huge improvement over the current riverfront dumpster access road.
While the park looks nice, I seem to think the homeless and vagrants will benefit most from this park (just like the riverwalk expansion and other parks).
All I think is that this will just be filled wih the wrong element as soon as it is completed.
The best way to keep them out is to integrate the park with the TU Center and Landing. By integration, I mean they become the park's walls and they both open their activities up to it. For the Landing, this means adding street/park front storefronts to vacant row of mall shops on the west corridor. For the TU, this means the city using a portion of it's under utilized land for additional private sector dining space (outdoor cafe?) or cultural use (perhaps a larger maritime museum or a new cultural attraction, altogether). By doing so, the park becomes what Hemming Plaza should have been... a cultural melting pot with a diverse mix of uses, that attracts a diverse mix of people around the clock on a regular basis.
Just as it is not a party if nobody comes . . . the best thing we can all do is use any downtown park whenever possible. More activity from people like us discourages vagrants and their less-than-savory activities.
This park-as-presented has a significant amount of greenspace AND look at the potential for canopy!!!! Certainly a departure from the norm in the Core. A project like this offers beauty and environmental benefits plus - enjoying grass would sure beat setting one's butt on the hardscape in Heming or our pocket parks.
I think it's great. Think of the view! Better yet: take a look-see and imagine . . . how could we NOT want something like this?
In addition:
I have read a couple of posts confirming that the City isn't the best choice for Landlord or RE development. I agree; however, it is the city's land as a contiguous parcel. Not sure how they could or "we" would want them to start retail development as a public initiative. Any ideas?
Chipwich - whether anybody likes it or not, the "wrong element" is a reality of urban America. I don't like it but know from experience that desired activity rids undesired activity. Six years ago, Laura and Adams was Prostitute Central (a major drop-off and pick-up intersection). Further, crack deals were cut all day, everyday. Contrary to what Jerry Moran would have the public believe, this is no longer the situation.
I agree that downown has come a long way in recent years and I truely hope that this park suceeds.
Like you, I would love to use it and see more greenspace in the urban core, but it just seems like every time new green-space is added, drunken vagrants just seem to get there before the rest of us.
Hopefully this space will be filled with enough activity to avoid these problems.
Where there's a will there's a way. Regarding retail development in public spaces, I'd suggest looking at how Detroit (of all places) has made retail/cultural development a part of it's public spaces. I'm getting ready to hit the road to head back to Jax (I'm in Michigan right now), so i'll elaborate later.
It's possible this park maybe a little to centralized for most homeless people. They seem to like a little bit off the beaten path better.
Detroit is one example of about 15 that have proven successful within the last few years; that is true. However . . .
I want to see this happen!! I am thinking achievable goals. I wouldn't want to muddy the waters by adding to this project (throwing additional requirements into the mix). Why spend time on stuff requiring more stuff? For heavens sake let's get the park in place!
This park would establish a new form of leadership and landlords will fall into place. Once they know they'll their increase returns - they move! Think amenity as revenue.
Plus, there is room for the park to expand westward on Water towards the burn-around in front of CSX. Easily accessed green space (omitted when designing the River Walk).
JAX PARKS - GET OUT THERE!
QuoteI want to see this happen!! I am thinking achievable goals. I wouldn't want to muddy the waters by adding to this project (throwing additional requirements into the mix). Why spend time on stuff requiring more stuff? For heavens sake let's get the park in place!
Its a sad day for Jax, when in 2007 making an urban park that actually works is an unachievable goal. Nevertheless, retail space on city owned property doesn't have to be a requirement. If the intention is not to even ask or work with Sleiman on his plans to retrofit the shops bordering this park, then at the very least, make sure there's no dead spaces within it and that it's an active (ex. includes something like monuments, tot lots, interactive fountain, a carousel or has a theme, etc.), rather than passive (only grass, sidewalks & trees) space. If that isn't done, then this space is no better than any of the other under utilized public spaces in the urban core.
QuoteThis park would establish a new form of leadership and landlords will fall into place. Once they know they'll their increase returns - they move! Think amenity as revenue.
Have a master plan intact and make sure what's being planned is and can be properly integrated with it's surroundings (ex. connectivity). The best urban public spaces carry this out well and the poor ones don't. Just because you can't shoot for the moon on the first try, doesn't mean you don't plan to accomodate it in the future. Btw, the Northbank Riverwalk master plan from the 1980s had a park planned in that exact area. Here's a link to a report we did on it last year.
Downtown Frankenstein: The Riverwalks: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/239/68/ (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/239/68/)
QuotePlus, there is room for the park to expand westward on Water towards the burn-around in front of CSX. Easily accessed green space (omitted when designing the River Walk).
Passive greenspace in urban areas, such as our riverwalks is highly overrated, ihmo. The walks need life, vibrancy and an energetic atmosphere. That means loading them with a diverse mix of uses, while open greenspace, in the immediate area, serves more as an accessory or gathering spot for those uses. Over the next few weeks, I'll load this site with images from a variety of urban waterfronts I visited across the country and in Canada during the last week and a half. They should stimulate a lot of discussion.
Anyway, hopefully everything works out for the best with this space. Heck, maybe even the Landing could be the private entity that helps bring it to reality. At least, if that happened, the park would recieve decent foot traffic on a regular basis because it would have a built in user.
While this plan is better than what is presently there (an asphalt cul-de-sac), it is not the highest and best use. Lake is right in that there needs to be integration with the Landing. There needs to be a reason and a purpose for being there besides just grass and a few trees.